American Motorcyclist 10 2013 Dirt Version

THE JOURNAL OF THE

Phot

o Je

ff G

ucia

rdo

OCTOBER 2013

Fun & Mud at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle DaysMatt Bisceglia Wins AMA Motocross Horizon Award

OCTOBER 2013

Fun & Mud at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle DaysMatt Bisceglia Wins AMA Motocross Horizon Award

DIRT 1AM_10_2013_sec01d_DirtCover.indd 1 8/16/13 4:13 PM

Watch this space for updates about your valuable benefi ts as an AMA member.AMA REWARDS

STAYING INFORMEDAmerican MotorcyclistEach month, you receive the best magazine covering the motorcycle lifestyle with two versions to choose from: street or dirt.

THE ESSENTIALSAMA Roadside AssistanceThe Best Deal In TowingGet peace of mind with AMA Roadside Assistance, which covers all your vehicles, as well as those of your family members living with you. Best of all, you can get this coverage at no additional charge. For details, call (800) 262-5646.

LodgingSave At Choice Hotels, Motel 6, Red Roof InnAt Choice hotels, save15 percent off the best available rates at participating Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay, Rodeway Inn and Econo Lodge hotels. Use the Member Discount code #00947556. Special discounts at Motel 6 are also available up to 10 percent off . Use the Member Discount code CP540176. Plus, get a 20 percent discount off available rates at Red Roof Inn. For discounts, call (800) RED-ROOF and use the code VP+ 503343. You can also make reservations online at www.redroof.com. Just enter the code VP+ 503343 in the fi eld labeled “VP+/ID#” when making reservations. The discount will be automatically applied.

EagleRider Motorcycle RentalsArrive And RideEagleRider off ers a 15 percent discount on Harley-Davidson, Honda, BMW and Polaris rentals and tours. Call (888) 900-9901 or book at AmericanMotorcyclist.

com/Membership/EagleRider.aspx, using discount code AMA014.

Motorcycle ShippingRide Where You WantIn the United States, call Federal Companies, an agent for Specialized Transportation, Inc., at (877) 518-7376 for at least $60 off standard rates. For international shipments, call Motorcycle Express at (800) 245-8726. To get your discount, be sure to have your AMA number handy. Motorcycle Express also off ers temporary international insurance.

Car RentalsSave Money When You DriveGet up to 25 percent off prevailing rates at any Avis or Budget car rental agency. For Avis, enter discount code: D388100. For Budget, enter code: Z942000.

AMA Gear Buy AMA Stuff OnlineFind unique patches, pins, posters, T-shirts and books at AmericanMotorcyclist.com and at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio. Details at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

PRODUCT DISCOUNTSActionStation/Bohn Body ArmorSave 10 percent. Go to www.actionstation.com/ama/ and use coupon code AMAB4U at checkout.

AIMExpoGo to AIMExpoUSA.com and enter code AMA2013 to save on tickets.

AMA Motorcycle Hall Of FameSave $5 on admission to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame at AMA headquarters in Pickerington, Ohio.

AMA/Sprocketlist Online Classifi edsAMA members can place free ads in the AMA member classifi eds at AMA.Sprocketlist.com or AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Shop > Classifi eds.

AMA Supercross And AMA Arenacross TicketsSave on advanced tickets; AMA members can get $5 off . Call (800) 262-5646 for details.

Biker Rain ChapsSave 25 percent. Visit www.bikerrainchaps.com/ama/.

BikeBandit.comGet 10 percent off your order at BikeBandit.com by entering your AMA number at checkout.

Bill’s Sport Motor RV Parts & AccessoriesBill’s Sport Motor Off ers up to 20 percent off to AMA Members. Order your RV Parts & Accessories catalog at www.BillsSportMotor.com or call Bill’s Sport Motor at (518) 487-9569 to order a catalog, or place an order and receive your discount.

GiFOR USA/GOLDfrenSave 15 percent on brake pads and 10 percent on brake discs at GiForUSA.com

Heat DemonAMA members receive 10% off all products. Visit www.heatdemon.com/AMA and use the code AMAheat13 at checkout to receive your discount.

LifeLock Identity Theft ProtectionGet 30 free days and 10 percent off . Use promo code AMACYCLE at LifeLock.com or by calling (800) 543-3562

AMA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCEThe Best Deal In Towing For All Your Vehicles

Maximize your riding time and minimize the inconvenience of a mechanical breakdown with AMA Roadside Assistance, which off ers peace of mind for you and all your family members.AMA Roadside Assistance Off ers:

• Coverage for bikes, cars, pickups, motorhomes and trailers (excluding utility trailers) registered to you, your spouse, and dependent children under the age of 24, living at home or away at college.

• Coverage in all 50 states and Canada.• Towing up to 35 miles, with all dispatch

and hook-up fees.• Flat tire, lockout, battery and minor-

mechanical assistance.• Emergency fuel, oil, water, fl uid delivery.• No exclusions for older motorcycles. • Toll-free assistance available 24/7/365. • AMA Roadside Assistance pays fi rst.

No need to pay and wait for reimbursement.

Available At No Extra Charge!if you choose to

automatically renew your

AMA membership—call (800) AMA-JOIN today

to add it to your membership!

MEMBERS ONLY DISCOUNT CODES

Parts And GearSave With BikeBandit.comGet 10 percent off your order at BikeBandit.com by entering your AMA number at checkout.

AMA Government RelationsA full-time staff in Washington D.C., California and Ohio protects your right to ride.

AMA Credit CardShow your motorcycling passion and enjoy special rates with the AMA Visa Card from Capital One. Go to AMAVisa.com.

FEATURED BENEFITS

MAD MapsThe best routes made easy. Save 20 percent. Use promo code AMATHXU at MADmaps.com.Powertye Tie-DownsSave 10 percent. Enter code TYES4AMA at checkout from www.powertye.com/ama

Race TechGet 15 percent off your order at www.racetech.com by calling Race Tech directly at (951) 279-6655 and providing your AMA number.

RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel magazineRoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel magazine off ers a 20 percent subscription discount to AMA members. RoadRUNNER is the touring expert of North America, providing info on the best places to ride. AMA discount code is CRIAMA at www.roadrunner.travel/promo/ama.

Schampa Cold-Weather GearSave 15 percent. Enter SCHAMA during checkout at Schampa.com.

*OFFER SUBJECT TO CREDIT APPROVAL. OFFER MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH CERTAIN OTHER OFFERS, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, AND MAY BE EXTENDED OR TERMINATED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE. TERMS UP TO 36 MONTHS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASES BASED ON CREDIT-APPROVAL CRITERIA. FIXED APR OF 0.99%, 3.99%, OR 5.99% WILL APPLY. AN EXAMPLE OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS REQUIRED ON A 36-MONTH TERM AT 0.99% IS $28.20 PER $1,000 FINANCED. AN EXAMPLE OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS REQUIRED ON A 36-MONTH TERM AT 5.99% APR IS $30.42 PER $1,000 FINANCED. TERMS UP TO 72 MONTHS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASES BASED ON CREDIT-APPROVAL CRITERIA. FIXED APR OF 2.99%, 5.99%, OR 7.99% WILL APPLY. EXAMPLES OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS REQUIRED OVER A 72-MONTH TERM AT A 2.99% RATE: $15.19 PER $1,000 FINANCED; AND AT A 7.99% RATE: $17.53 PER $1,000 FINANCED. SEE PARTICIPATING RETAILERS FOR COMPLETE DETAILS AND CONDITIONS. OFFER ENDS SEPT. 30, 2013. **THE FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY IS AVAILABLE ON NEW 2011 THROUGH 2013 VICTORY® MODELS. OFFER IS VALID ONLY IN THE U.S. AND CANADA AND DOES NOT APPLY TO PRIOR PURCHASES. FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY CONSISTS OF 12 MONTHS’ FACTORY WARRANTY, PLUS 48 MONTHS’ POLARISTAR® POWER PROTECTION ESC. SUBJECT TO $50 DEDUCTIBLE, NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS. REBATES VARY BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR. MUST PURCHASE A 2011 THROUGH 2014 VICTORY MODEL BETWEEN JULY 30 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2013. OFFER MUST BE REDEEMED BY SEPTEMBER 30, 2013. VICTORY OR POLARIS® DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS OFFER. VICTORY AND VICTORY MOTORCYCLES® ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION, AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, AND OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT. NEVER RIDE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. ©2013 POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.

VICTORYMOTORCYCLES.COM

PROOFING: Lasers: # ______ Contone: # ______ Dot Proof: # ______

Lo-Res PDF Lo-Res JPG

DISPATCH: Hard Drive Group Disk (e.g. A, B, C): _____ Individual Disk

FTP To: ______________________________________

Slingshot To: __________________________________

FILE TYPE: Layered with Fonts Hi-Res PDF OFG JPG

Layered w/ Outline Type

DUE DATE / TIME: _________________________________

NOTES: Build Size: 7.875” x 10.5” • Built @ 100% • 300dpi • Proofed @ 100% Bleed .125” • Safety: .1875” PUB: American Motorcyclist

VIC_MY13_Red Tag FULL PAGE English AD

08/02/13

CMYK Dieline RichBlack

100k 0000

VIC_MY13_RedTag_FPE_7.875x10.5_.125_AM

Dan Overton 3212

Ned Connolly 3556\Fletcher 3044

Vince VanBael 3408

VIC 2013 Red Tag MY Clearance

Kristen Baker 3538

Julie Hemze

Mary Winter 3538

Blake -3087

Kerney Daniel 3521

Jen Bertani 3221

Nate Secor

DIRTSTREETMAIN 32 AmericanMotorcyclist.com

32AM_10_2013_sec02m_Contents_Letters.indd 2 8/16/13 4:10 PM

*OFFER SUBJECT TO CREDIT APPROVAL. OFFER MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH CERTAIN OTHER OFFERS, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, AND MAY BE EXTENDED OR TERMINATED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE. TERMS UP TO 36 MONTHS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASES BASED ON CREDIT-APPROVAL CRITERIA. FIXED APR OF 0.99%, 3.99%, OR 5.99% WILL APPLY. AN EXAMPLE OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS REQUIRED ON A 36-MONTH TERM AT 0.99% IS $28.20 PER $1,000 FINANCED. AN EXAMPLE OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS REQUIRED ON A 36-MONTH TERM AT 5.99% APR IS $30.42 PER $1,000 FINANCED. TERMS UP TO 72 MONTHS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASES BASED ON CREDIT-APPROVAL CRITERIA. FIXED APR OF 2.99%, 5.99%, OR 7.99% WILL APPLY. EXAMPLES OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS REQUIRED OVER A 72-MONTH TERM AT A 2.99% RATE: $15.19 PER $1,000 FINANCED; AND AT A 7.99% RATE: $17.53 PER $1,000 FINANCED. SEE PARTICIPATING RETAILERS FOR COMPLETE DETAILS AND CONDITIONS. OFFER ENDS SEPT. 30, 2013. **THE FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY IS AVAILABLE ON NEW 2011 THROUGH 2013 VICTORY® MODELS. OFFER IS VALID ONLY IN THE U.S. AND CANADA AND DOES NOT APPLY TO PRIOR PURCHASES. FIVE-YEAR WARRANTY CONSISTS OF 12 MONTHS’ FACTORY WARRANTY, PLUS 48 MONTHS’ POLARISTAR® POWER PROTECTION ESC. SUBJECT TO $50 DEDUCTIBLE, NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS. REBATES VARY BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR. MUST PURCHASE A 2011 THROUGH 2014 VICTORY MODEL BETWEEN JULY 30 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2013. OFFER MUST BE REDEEMED BY SEPTEMBER 30, 2013. VICTORY OR POLARIS® DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THIS OFFER. VICTORY AND VICTORY MOTORCYCLES® ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION, AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, AND OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT. NEVER RIDE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. ©2013 POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.

VICTORYMOTORCYCLES.COM

PROOFING: Lasers: # ______ Contone: # ______ Dot Proof: # ______

Lo-Res PDF Lo-Res JPG

DISPATCH: Hard Drive Group Disk (e.g. A, B, C): _____ Individual Disk

FTP To: ______________________________________

Slingshot To: __________________________________

FILE TYPE: Layered with Fonts Hi-Res PDF OFG JPG

Layered w/ Outline Type

DUE DATE / TIME: _________________________________

NOTES: Build Size: 7.875” x 10.5” • Built @ 100% • 300dpi • Proofed @ 100% Bleed .125” • Safety: .1875” PUB: American Motorcyclist

VIC_MY13_Red Tag FULL PAGE English AD

08/02/13

CMYK Dieline RichBlack

100k 0000

VIC_MY13_RedTag_FPE_7.875x10.5_.125_AM

Dan Overton 3212

Ned Connolly 3556\Fletcher 3044

Vince VanBael 3408

VIC 2013 Red Tag MY Clearance

Kristen Baker 3538

Julie Hemze

Mary Winter 3538

Blake -3087

Kerney Daniel 3521

Jen Bertani 3221

Nate Secor

DIRTSTREETMAIN 332AM_10_2013_sec02m_Contents_Letters.indd 3 8/16/13 4:10 PM

JOIN OR RENEW your AMA membership in 2013 and you could win!

YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ As the proud sponsor of the AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré National Adventure Touring Series, Yamaha is awarding one lucky member a new 2013 Super Ténéré! Riders participating in the series will also be automatically entered.20

13

TUCKER ROCKY CUSTOM ROAD GLIDEOr a

Plus

One lucky winner will take home this Tucker Rocky Custom Road Glide with high-end components from S&S, Progressive Suspension, Arlen Ness, PIAA

and many other Tucker Rocky partner companies.

Every month, everyone who joins or renews a membership in the AMA is automatically entered in a drawing for a

No purchase necessary. For complete rules, terms and conditions visit http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Membership/RenewSweeps_Rules.aspx.

The best part? You’re automatically entered when you join or renew between

Jan. 30, 2013 and Dec. 31, 2013.www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Sweepstakes!

in the series will also be automatically entered.2013

TUCKER ROCKY CUSTOM ROAD GLIDEOne lucky winner will take home this Tucker Rocky Custom Road Glide with high-end components from S&S, Progressive Suspension, Arlen Ness, PIAA

Every month, everyone who joins or renews a membership in the AMA is

$100 GIFT CARD from BIKEBANDIT.COM

MembershipSweepsBikeAd_09-2013.indd 1 7/15/13 5:36 PM

Yuasa batteries The industry standard for powersports vehicles.

BATTERIES FOR MOTORCYCLES · ATVs · UTVs · SNOWMOBILES · PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

Yuasa supplies batteries to more OEMs than all our

competitors combined — in the US and globally.

The reason is simple: advanced engineering,

premium quality, unmatched reliability and long life.

Yuasa — manufacturing in the U.S.A. since 1979.

www.yuasabatteries.com


JOIN OR RENEW your AMA membership in 2013 and you could win!

YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ As the proud sponsor of the AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré National Adventure Touring Series, Yamaha is awarding one lucky member a new 2013 Super Ténéré! Riders participating in the series will also be automatically entered.20

13

TUCKER ROCKY CUSTOM ROAD GLIDEOr a

Plus

One lucky winner will take home this Tucker Rocky Custom Road Glide with high-end components from S&S, Progressive Suspension, Arlen Ness, PIAA

and many other Tucker Rocky partner companies.

Every month, everyone who joins or renews a membership in the AMA is automatically entered in a drawing for a

No purchase necessary. For complete rules, terms and conditions visit http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Membership/RenewSweeps_Rules.aspx.

The best part? You’re automatically entered when you join or renew between

Jan. 30, 2013 and Dec. 31, 2013.www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Sweepstakes!

in the series will also be automatically entered.2013

TUCKER ROCKY CUSTOM ROAD GLIDEOne lucky winner will take home this Tucker Rocky Custom Road Glide with high-end components from S&S, Progressive Suspension, Arlen Ness, PIAA

Every month, everyone who joins or renews a membership in the AMA is

$100 GIFT CARD from BIKEBANDIT.COM

MembershipSweepsBikeAd_09-2013.indd 1 7/15/13 5:36 PM

Yuasa batteries The industry standard for powersports vehicles.

BATTERIES FOR MOTORCYCLES · ATVs · UTVs · SNOWMOBILES · PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

Yuasa supplies batteries to more OEMs than all our

competitors combined — in the US and globally.

The reason is simple: advanced engineering,

premium quality, unmatched reliability and long life.

Yuasa — manufacturing in the U.S.A. since 1979.

www.yuasabatteries.com


October 2013Volume 67, Number 10Published by theAmerican Motorcyclist Association13515 Yarmouth Dr.Pickerington, OH 43147(800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646)www.americanmotorcyclist.com

American Motorcyclist magazine (ISSN 0277-9358) is published monthly

by the American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147.

Copyright by the American Motorcyclist Association/American Motorcyclist 2013.

Printed in USA. Subscription rate: Magazine subscription fee of $10 covered in membership

dues; $15 a year for non-members.

Postmaster: Mail form 3579 to 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. Periodical postage paid at Pickerington, Ohio,

and at additional mailing offi ces.

Navigation Photo BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring the riders and champions of Husqvarna, took riders on a trip back through time this July 19-21. Nowhere was that

more obvious than at the Ashland County Fairgrounds where vintage dirt-track racers competed under the lights

and in the shadow of a classic grandstand. Read more about the event starting on page 38.

Photo by Jen Muecke

10. LETTERSYou write, we read.

12. WAYNE ALLARDFighting motorcyclist discrimination.

14. RIGHTSExplaining the ethanol problem, off-highway access and understanding looming exhaust regulations for California.

20. RIDINGDual-sport riders have fun in Colusa County, Calif., AMA award nominations, sanctioning news, and rides and tours.

34. HALL OF FAMECraig Vetter’s “High Mileage Luxury Touring Bike,” Hall of Famer Bob Hansen.

38. REAL LIFE VINTAGEThey just don’t make memories like they used to, unless you’re making them at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

43. GO RIDEWhat to do, where to go.

50. LISA HATCHRemembering the trip of a lifetime.

NAVIGATION

RIDE ANDDISCOVER

Engineered to master all terrain and conquer any distance, the all-new KTM 1190 Adventure offers innovative ride technology, unmatched performance and a truly authentic experience. RIDE ONE AND DISCOVER YOUR NEW ADVENTURE TODAY.

THE KTM 1190 ADVENTURE STANDARD EQUIPMENT:

1,195 CC V-TWIN, RIDE-BY-WIRE THROTTLE CONTROL, 150 HORSEPOWER, 92 LB-FT TORQUEREVOLUTIONARY BOSCH ABS PACKAGE AND THREE-MODE COMBINED ABSFOUR-MODE RIDE CONTROL POWER MANAGEMENTELECTRONIC DAMPING SYSTEM (EDS) SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENTFOUR-MODE TRACTION CONTROL

KTM POWERPARTS AND POWERWEAR LUGGAGE, ACCESSORIES AND RIDING APPAREL AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL KTM DEALER

Do n

ot im

itate

ridi

ng s

cene

s, p

rofe

ssio

nal r

ider

s on

clo

sed

cour

se/ro

adwa

ys, a

lway

s we

ar p

rote

ctiv

e cl

othi

ng a

nd o

bey t

raffi

c re

gula

tions

. Veh

icle

s sh

own

may

var

y fro

m s

erie

s m

odel

and

sho

w op

tiona

l equ

ipm

ent a

t add

ition

al c

ost.

Phot

os: R

. Sch

edl,

H. M

itter

baue

r

www.kiska

.com

KTM Group Partner

KTM_AMA1190AdvS-080613.indd 1 8/6/13 3:03 PM



RIDE ANDDISCOVER

Engineered to master all terrain and conquer any distance, the all-new KTM 1190 Adventure offers innovative ride technology, unmatched performance and a truly authentic experience. RIDE ONE AND DISCOVER YOUR NEW ADVENTURE TODAY.

THE KTM 1190 ADVENTURE STANDARD EQUIPMENT:

1,195 CC V-TWIN, RIDE-BY-WIRE THROTTLE CONTROL, 150 HORSEPOWER, 92 LB-FT TORQUEREVOLUTIONARY BOSCH ABS PACKAGE AND THREE-MODE COMBINED ABSFOUR-MODE RIDE CONTROL POWER MANAGEMENTELECTRONIC DAMPING SYSTEM (EDS) SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENTFOUR-MODE TRACTION CONTROL

KTM POWERPARTS AND POWERWEAR LUGGAGE, ACCESSORIES AND RIDING APPAREL AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL KTM DEALER

Do n

ot im

itate

ridi

ng s

cene

s, p

rofe

ssio

nal r

ider

s on

clo

sed

cour

se/ro

adwa

ys, a

lway

s we

ar p

rote

ctiv

e cl

othi

ng a

nd o

bey t

raffi

c re

gula

tions

. Veh

icle

s sh

own

may

var

y fro

m s

erie

s m

odel

and

sho

w op

tiona

l equ

ipm

ent a

t add

ition

al c

ost.

Phot

os: R

. Sch

edl,

H. M

itter

baue

r

www.kiska

.com

KTM Group Partner

KTM_AMA1190AdvS-080613.indd 1 8/6/13 3:03 PM


EXECUTIVE

Rob Dingman, President/CEORhonda Hixon, Administrative Asst./Litigation ManagerBruce Moff at, Chief Financial Offi cerSen. Wayne Allard, Vice President, Government RelationsBob Chaddock, Vice President, AdministrationJeff Massey, Vice President, OperationsJim Williams, Vice President, Industry Relations & Corporate Member Programs Rob Rasor, Director of International Affairs

ACCOUNTING

Dawn Becker, Accounting ManagerMelanie Hise, HR Assistant/Payroll CoordinatorEd Madden, System Support SpecialistPeg Tuvell, Member Fulfi llment Specialist

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Sean Maher, DirectorRenee Bock, Receptionist

AMHF/MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME

Connie Fleming, Manager of Events and AMHF OperationsBeth Myers, Donor Relations SpecialistPaula Schremser, Program SpecialistKaty Wood, Collections Manager

AMA RACING/ORGANIZER SERVICES

Kip Bigelow, Amateur MX ManagerJoe Bromley, District Relations ManagerJacki Burris, Organizer Services CoordinatorJane Caston, Racing CoordinatorLana Cox, Administrative AssistantKevin Crowther, Director SX & Pro Racing RelationsBill Cumbow, Director of Special ProjectsSandi Dunphy, Road Riding CoordinatorDave Hembroff , Road Riding ManagerAlex Hunter, MX Operational CoordinatorTamra Jones, Racing Coordinator

EDITORIAL OFFICES

American Motorcyclist13515 Yarmouth DrivePickerington, OH 43147(614) [email protected]

James Holter, Managing EditorMark Lapid, Creative DirectorJen Muecke, DesignerJeff Guciardo, Production Manager/DesignerKaitlyn Sesco, Marketing/CommunicationsSpecialist

ADVERTISINGSteve Gotoski, Advertising Director (Western States)(951) 566-5068, [email protected] Stevens, National Sales Manager(626) 298-3854, [email protected]

All trademarks used herein (unless otherwise noted) are owned by the AMA and may only be used with the express, written permission of the AMA.American Motorcyclist is the monthly

publication of the American Motorcyclist Association, which represents motorcyclists nationwide. For information on AMA membership benefi ts, call (800) AMA-JOIN or visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com. Manuscripts, photos, drawings and other editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damage to unsolicited material. Copyright© American Motorcyclist Association, 2013.

AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Contact any member of the AMA Board of Directors at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/about/board

Maggie McNally, ChairAlbany, N.Y.

Russ Brenan, Vice ChairIrvine, Calif.

Ken Ford, Assistant TreasurerBartow, Fla.

Perry King, Executive Committee Member Northern California

John Ulrich, Executive Committee MemberLake Elsinore, Calif.

Sean Hilbert, Hillsdale, Mich.

Scott Miller, Milwaukee

Art More, Sun City West, Ariz.

Stan Simpson, Cibolo, Texas

Jim Viverito, Chicago

(800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646)AmericanMotorcyclist.com

AMA STAFFAMA RACING/ORGANIZER SERVICES (continued)

Ken Saillant, Track Racing ManagerCherie Schlatter, Organizer Services ManagerD’Andra Schwabel, Organizer Services CoordinatorSerena Van Dyke, Organizer Services CoordinatorChuck Weir, Off Road Racing ManagerConrad Young, Timing & Scoring Manager

COMMUNICATIONS

Grant Parsons, Director of Communications

DISTRIBUTION/FACILITIES SERVICES

John Bricker, Mailroom ManagerHeida Drake, Copy Center OperatorBill Frasch, Mailroom Clerk GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Marie Esselstein, Government Affairs AssistantDanielle Fowles, Grassroots CoordinatorNick Haris, Western States RepresentativeSean Hutson, Legislative AssistantSharon Long, Legislative CoordinatorRick Podliska, Deputy DirectorImre Szauter, Government Affairs Manager - On-Highway

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Rob Baughman, Network AdministratorJohn Boker, DeveloperDave Coleman, Network ArchitectAmy Hyman, Senior Programmer/AnalystBill Miller, Enterprise Architect

MEMBER SERVICES/DATA ENTRY

Lori Cavucci, Member Services RepresentativeDeb D’Andrea, Member Services RepresentativeLinda Hembroff , Member Services RepresentativeDarcel Higgins, Member Services ManagerKimberly Jude, Member Services RepresentativeTiff any Pound, Member Services RepresentativeJessica Robinson, Member Services RepresentativeAngela Warren, Member Services Representative

Grip HEATErs

sEAT HEATErs

pOrTABLEHEATEd VEsTs

cOOL dEALs On HOT prOducTs.

providing special discounts

to aMa MeMbers. Heatdemon.com/AMA

ride in comfort in more conditions with all-weather warmth from Heat demon.

choose from a full-line of heated products designed for all types of bikes.

HEATEd Grips i HEATEd sEATs i HEATEd AppArELHEATEd Grips i HEATEd sEATs i HEATEd AppArEL

w Be first to see new 2014 modelsw Demo ride motorcycles, ATVs and UTVsw See the latest gear & accessoriesw Participate in seminars and presentationsw Meet motorcycle celebritiesw Win prizes in daily contests and giveaways

Produced by

MOTORCYCLE GROUP

At last, powersports’ first combined trade, consumer and media event in North America! Modeled after the giant European supershows, AIMExpo is your direct connection to everything you love about motorcycling!

Visit www.aimexpousa.com for event information.

Where You NeeD to BeAMA Members Save With Code:

AMA2013

Visit WWW.AiMexpouSA.CoM and click

the BuY tiCketS! button.



w Be first to see new 2014 modelsw Demo ride motorcycles, ATVs and UTVsw See the latest gear & accessoriesw Participate in seminars and presentationsw Meet motorcycle celebritiesw Win prizes in daily contests and giveaways

Produced by

MOTORCYCLE GROUP

CONSUMER EDUCATION BROUGHT TO YOU BY

At last, powersports’ first combined trade, consumer and media event in North America! Modeled after the giant European supershows, AIMExpo is your direct connection to everything you love about motorcycling!

Visit www.aimexpousa.com for event information.

Where You NeeD to BeAMA Members Save With Code:

AMA2013

Visit WWW.AiMexpouSA.CoM and click

the BuY tiCketS! button.


THANKS FOR THE SUPPORTOn behalf of myself and the other

volunteers at Lost for a Reason Inc., I cannot thank you enough for helping us to get the word out about our cause! Since you published the article (“Adventure With A Purpose,” August issue), our incoming donations have reached over $3,000!

The article came out at a perfect time. We were just about to depart for our work trip in Kayenta, Ariz., to assist a family of seven living in a one-room house, as well as the fantastic staff at the Tohdenassai Shelter Home. We had originally planned to just build a fl oor and get the ball rolling on the work at the family’s home, but then with the increase in donations, we were able to purchase new roofi ng and also do much more in the way of paint and landscaping, and carpentry repairs on the shelter home than we had planned.

The staff at the shelter home was really happy, as was the family who really needed more space. Even more important,

they needed to know that there were people out there who cared, people in the adventure and motorcycle community in general.

I just really appreciate the help. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to do nearly as much for the children and families who need us.

Ron GraceLost for a Reason

A TECHNOLOGY CRUTCHI just fi nished reading your article

on V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) technology (September issue). I share your concerns with privacy and security, but I think you barely touched on the most dangerous part: drivers just assuming they don’t have to look around anymore because a computer system is doing it for them.

For an example, try asking anybody who depends on GPS exclusively for driving directions. They are absolutely clueless on the lay of the land. They have no clue where one city lies in relation to another. They are unable to even read a map. They are incapable of studying the best way to get anywhere.

One can only imagine how dangerously these types of people will drive when they assume the V2V will “drive” their door-slammer for them.

Keith F. LutzSinking Spring, Pa.

RIDING WITH FAMILYWhen I read Rob Dingman’s recent

column about riding with his family (“A Family Aff air,” August issue), I was on the way home from a weekend dirtbiking trip with my family. As usual, I had myself comfortable in the passenger seat with some reading material, while my husband handled the task of towing the off -road vehicles for our family of four on our fl atbed trailer.

Though my husband reads your magazine cover to cover every month, I have to admit, I usually can’t seem to fi nd the time. But sitting in the car with over an hour drive, I settled in and got to reading. Fresh from the trail, the title of Rob’s article “A Family Aff air” caught my eyes.

Our family’s off -road story came along in a bit diff erent way, but it also had many similarities. Starting slowly and gaining momentum with experience was one of them. I have to admit I got a real chuckle reading the last part of Rob’s article about his good-natured wife taking a spin and getting “banged up pretty bad.” It brought back memories of my fi rst few rides... throttling when I shouldn’t and braking when I couldn’t! It was a bumpy road to say the least (especially where we ride in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado), and after the fi rst few rides I had to ask myself what I was thinking to take up this sport now.

But I couldn’t deny the adrenaline rush I got when I was riding, or the feeling of accomplishment when I got off the bike—with or without bruises. I decided to live by the slogan “do something that scares you every day” and then set my sights on simply getting better with every ride.

Our story started with our six-year-old daughter Erin, who since the age of three would say, “I want a ‘dort’ bike.” So when a friend of ours told us he was selling his son’s Yamaha 50, we couldn’t resist. Erin was thrilled and took to it like a fi sh to water. Not long after that, my husband ran into another friend of his who also had a dirtbike. He off ered up his KTM 450 for Keith to ride “anytime,” and of course my husband, who has been riding road bikes since the 1990s, could not resist. He found a used KTM 525 the following spring. Interestingly enough, the heavens must have been in alignment because when the guy arrived to show Keith the KTM, he also had a Yamaha TTR 230 in tow. Yes, it too was for sale. Uh oh. I’m in! That left my oldest daughter Britt, who preferred to have four wheels on the ground, so we later purchased a used Polaris 500 ATV for her. A visit to the cycle shop and we were all suited up and ready to go.

That was several years ago. Now we go every chance we get. While I, my

Send your letters (and a high-resolution photo) to [email protected]; or mail to 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147. MEMBER LETTERS

LETTER OF THE MONTHUSING YOUR HEAD

I noticed your letter and comment about helmet disposal in the September issue.

One day, for no explainable reason, I made a birdhouse from my helmet.

It was quick, easy and makes a great birdhouse with good insulation.

Actually I’ve made two. I kept one and donated the other to a local charity auction. (I have no idea if it sold.)

Chuck FosterYountville, Calif.

Each month, a lucky AMA member wins a Bike Bandit gift card worth $100. Didn’t win? No worries. You can still take advantage of your 10% AMA member discount at BikeBandit.com.

Save on rentals with your

AMA membership.

Make your reservations today. Visit budget.com

or call 1-800-527-0700.

Get more out of your American Motorcyclist Association

membership. Book a rental with Budget and mention

BCD # Z942000 to save up to 20% on every rental. Plus,

use coupon # UUGZ039 and get a FREE single upgrade.

Budget features Ford and Lincoln vehicles. 21510

©2012 Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. A global system of corporate and licensee-owned locations.

Terms and Conditions: Coupon # UUGZ036 is valid for a one-time, one-car-group upgrade on an intermediate (Group C) through full-size, four-door (group E) car. Maximum upgrade to premium (group G). Offer valid on daily, weekend, weekly, and monthly rates only. The upgraded car is subject to vehicle availability at the time of rental and may not be available on some rates at some times. Coupon valid at participating Budget locations in the U.S. and Canada. One coupon per rental. A 24-hour advance reservation with request for upgrade is required. May not be used in conjunction with any other coupon, promotion or offer. For reservations made on budget.com, upgrade will be applied at time of rental. Renter must meet Budget age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old. Fuel charges are extra. Rental must begin by 12/31/12.12/31/13.

0613_Avis Budget.indd 1 4/18/13 4:19 PM

Ron Grace



husband, and our oldest daughter, Britt, have stayed put with our trusty steeds, Erin is now on her fourth dirt bike, moving from her Yamaha 50 to a Honda 70, and then a Honda 80 to her now current ride, a Yamaha TTR 125.

Riding is a passion we share, as it allows us to have fun together as a family, while challenging ourselves as individuals. The Colorado terrain

provides many opportunities for us to drive home important concepts, like “Where there’s a will there’s a way” and “You can if you think you can!” We continue to improve with every outing. It doesn’t hurt that our bikes take us to some of the most magnifi cent scenery in the country, either!

As Dr. Seuss says, “Oh, the places you’ll go!” | “You’re off to Great Places!” | “Today is your day!” | “Your mountain is waiting,” | “So... get on your way!”

This is one family that fully supports the AMA’s eff orts to stay on top of the burning issues and fi ght to preserve our freedom to ride. Hopefully the hard work we do today will ensure riding access for generations to come.

Families that play together, stay together!

Karen M. BoylePine, Colo.

SOUNDS FAMILIARYour August issue column, “A

Family Aff air,” reminded me of my own experiences with the kids. Our youngest daughter was the best rider of our kids when they were small, and she still rides her dirtbike and has had to teach her

husband to ride. Our son, our oldest, was a timid rider when he was small, but then got really good on the trails in his teen years. It got to where he sometimes had to ride my bike through particularly challenging spots on the trail. It was great watching him develop those skills.

Don’t give up on the wife just yet. It took me a while to get my wife riding, and then she got pretty darn good at it. We ride ATVs now, and last summer she put over 1,200 miles on her ATV on a month-long Utah camping and riding trip with friends.

Mom, 90 years old, is still riding her own ATV, and I hope she can for years to come.

Clark CollinsPocatello, Idaho

YOU GOT MY BACKThis is a short note of thanks for off ering

the AMA Roadside Assistance program. A tow brought me home, and I fi xed my fl at. I don’t know who I would have called. I have been commuting for more than 10 years. A fl at is bound to happen. Thanks for being there.

I’ve been a loyal member since 2002.

Bill FongSacramento, Calif.

Save on rentals with your

AMA membership.

Make your reservations today. Visit budget.com

or call 1-800-527-0700.

Get more out of your American Motorcyclist Association

membership. Book a rental with Budget and mention

BCD # Z942000 to save up to 20% on every rental. Plus,

use coupon # UUGZ039 and get a FREE single upgrade.

Budget features Ford and Lincoln vehicles. 21510

©2012 Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. A global system of corporate and licensee-owned locations.

Terms and Conditions: Coupon # UUGZ036 is valid for a one-time, one-car-group upgrade on an intermediate (Group C) through full-size, four-door (group E) car. Maximum upgrade to premium (group G). Offer valid on daily, weekend, weekly, and monthly rates only. The upgraded car is subject to vehicle availability at the time of rental and may not be available on some rates at some times. Coupon valid at participating Budget locations in the U.S. and Canada. One coupon per rental. A 24-hour advance reservation with request for upgrade is required. May not be used in conjunction with any other coupon, promotion or offer. For reservations made on budget.com, upgrade will be applied at time of rental. Renter must meet Budget age, driver and credit requirements. Minimum age may vary by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old. Fuel charges are extra. Rental must begin by 12/31/12.12/31/13.

0613_Avis Budget.indd 1 4/18/13 4:19 PM


Motorcyclists face discrimination. It’s a fact of life, and something we encounter every day.

To be effective in fighting for motorcyclists’ rights, we want to know when you are discriminated against, and we need help from motorcyclists at the local, state or national level, depending on the issue.

Consider bike bans, for example, or health-insurance discrimination.

When motorcyclists are banned from high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, public

beachside parks, gated communities or public land, we want to know about it so we can fight back. Many times motorcyclists win, such as in the case of HOV lanes and public roads, but sometimes we aren’t successful, such as the case of bans on private property. We have decades of experience fighting these forms of discrimination and certainly can provide valuable help to our members.

City officials at one time considered banning motorcycles from Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive. Motorcycles initially were banned from HOV lanes. One of the most famous battles the AMA fought involved D.W. Field Park in Brockton, Mass.

The Park Commission there banned motorcycles from the public streets of the 700-acre scenic park around a natural lake in 1987. The AMA, with the support of its members, went to court to overturn the ban.

The Park Commission banned motorcycles because of perceived excessive sound and speeding. But the AMA argued that those issues should be dealt with through police enforcement covering all park visitors, rather than simply banning motorcycles The AMA also said that the state recognized motorcycles as a legal means of transportation, so they couldn’t be banned from the park’s public roads.

At first a local court disagreed, but AMA members fueled a legal fund that helped the AMA take the case to the state supreme court on behalf of Massachusetts resident Jim Slade. The AMA won, five years after the ban was put in place.

This was a tremendous victory for all motorcyclists. As a result of that decision, other communities could no longer use the Brockton case as a legal precedent for banning motorcycles from public places.

Right now, the AMA is fighting health-insurance discrimination against motorcyclists and needs your help with specific examples of motorcyclists being targeted as a result. We want to show lawmakers that the discrimination is very real, and affects real people. Health-insurance discrimination—excluding coverage for motorcycle-related injuries in health insurance plans— is discrimination that has been going on for decades.

The AMA and other motorcycle rights organizations fought for the inclusion of language that clarified that the legislative intent of

Congress was to eliminate such discrimination when it passed the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in 1996.

However, the federal agencies charged with implementing the law told employers they could refuse to cover injuries related to riding a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, horse, etc. The AMA is lobbying Congress now to try to end this discrimination.

While the AMA is hard at work on Capitol Hill, it’s important that you look at your health insurance policy to be sure that you are covered if you are involved in a motorcycle crash. Check your policy under “Exclusions” to see if it excludes coverage for motorcycle-related injuries.

The wording can be ambiguous, with language that denies coverage for injuries suffered while participating in “extreme” activities, without defining what those activities are.

If you learn that motorcycle-related injuries aren’t covered in your company’s or organization’s health-insurance policy, we want to know. Contact us at [email protected]. Your confidentiality will be protected.

The AMA needs your help to fight insurance discrimination and other threats to motorcycling. You can also act individually to protect riding freedoms. The AMA provides many valuable tools to help you fight for your right to ride.

Sign up to receive AMA News & Notes at http://capwiz.com/amacycle/mlm/signup/ to keep informed on hot topics, news affecting the motorcycling community and opportunities to communicate with your elected officials.

You can also opt in to receive AMA Action Alert emails by signing up at the same link. When you receive AMA Action Alerts, you will be notified how and when you can make a difference on important issues.

Each of us can do our part to protect our riding freedoms by being AMA members and inviting our family and friends to join the AMA. More members mean more political clout, and with more clout we will have a better chance of ending health-insurance discrimination against motorcyclists and other threats to our riding freedoms.

Wayne Allard is AMA vice president for government relations.

Fighting Discrimination against motorcyclistsBike Bans, Health Insurance And More

VIEWPOINT

BLE

ED

SAFE

TY

BLEED

SAFETY

TRIM

TRIM

TRIM

SAFE

TY

BLE

ED

BLEED

SAFETY

TRIM

SAFETY

BLEED

TRIM

TRIM

SAFE

TY

BLE

ED

TRIM

SAFE

TY

BLE

ED

BLEED

SAFETY

TRIM

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST TRIM:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8” X 10-1/2˝

BLEED : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-1/4˝ X 10-7/8˝

SAFETY:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-7/8˝ X 10-1/2˝

Client: Progressive

Job No: 13D00065 05/13

Created by: Dalon Wolford

Applications: InDesign CS5.5, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Adobe Illustrator CS5

Fonts(s): Humanist 777 BT Family, Trade Gothic Medium, DIN Regular

Job Description: Full Page, 4 Color Ad

Document Name: Perfect Ad / American Motorcyclist

Final Trim Size: 7-1/2˝ x 10-1/8˝

Final Bleed: 8-1/8˝ x 10-3/4˝

Safety: 7-7/8˝ x 10-1/2˝

Date Created: 06/06/13

Ease the pain. With Progressive Total Loss Coverage we’ll replace your totaled bike with a brand new one.

1-800-PROGRESSIVE / PROGRESSIVE.COM/MOTORCYCLE

Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affi liates. Total Loss Replacement coverage available in most states at additional charge on eligible late model motorcycles with comprehensive and collision coverage. MSRP paid for new bike & accessories. All coverage is subject to policy terms and conditions. 13D00065 (05/13)

By Wayne Allard

©iS

tock

phot

o.co

m/D

NY5

9

12 DIRTSTREETMAIN 131312 AmericanMotorcyclist.com

AM_10_2013_sec03m_Column.indd 12 8/16/13 4:31 PM

BLE

ED

SAFE

TY

BLEED

SAFETY

TRIM TR

IM

TRIM

SAFE

TY

BLE

ED

BLEED

SAFETY

TRIM

SAFETY

BLEED

TRIM

TRIM

SAFE

TY

BLE

ED

TRIM

SAFE

TY

BLE

ED

BLEED

SAFETY

TRIM

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST TRIM:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8” X 10-1/2˝

BLEED : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-1/4˝ X 10-7/8˝

SAFETY:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-7/8˝ X 10-1/2˝

Client: Progressive

Job No: 13D00065 05/13

Created by: Dalon Wolford

Applications: InDesign CS5.5, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Adobe Illustrator CS5

Fonts(s): Humanist 777 BT Family, Trade Gothic Medium, DIN Regular

Job Description: Full Page, 4 Color Ad

Document Name: Perfect Ad / American Motorcyclist

Final Trim Size: 7-1/2˝ x 10-1/8˝

Final Bleed: 8-1/8˝ x 10-3/4˝

Safety: 7-7/8˝ x 10-1/2˝

Date Created: 06/06/13

Ease the pain. With Progressive Total Loss Coverage we’ll replace your totaled bike with a brand new one.

1-800-PROGRESSIVE / PROGRESSIVE.COM/MOTORCYCLE

Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & affi liates. Total Loss Replacement coverage available in most states at additional charge on eligible late model motorcycles with comprehensive and collision coverage. MSRP paid for new bike & accessories. All coverage is subject to policy terms and conditions. 13D00065 (05/13)

©iS

tock

phot

o.co

m/D

NY5

9

DIRTSTREETMAIN12 1313AM_10_2013_sec03m_Column.indd 13 8/16/13 4:10 PM

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency used only one test to determine whether the new E15 fuel blend is safe for vehicles before allowing it into the marketplace, the AMA told a key federal lawmaker.

That’s one of the reasons the AMA has urged the agency to allow for an independent scientific study by the National Academy of Sciences on the effects of E15 on vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.

Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations, provided written comments in response to a letter sent to AMA Board Chair Maggie McNally from Ranking Member David Vitter (R-La.) of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

“In October 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the use of E15, a blended fuel that includes up to 15 percent ethanol by volume, in model year 2007 and newer light-duty vehicles (cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles). Then, in January 2011, the EPA added model year 2001-2006 light-duty vehicles to the approved list. No motorcycles or ATVs are currently on the list,” Allard wrote.

“The AMA has expressed concerns about E15 being mistakenly used and possibly damaging engines in motorcycles and ATVs, and about the continued

availability of gasoline that has no ethanol, or gasoline with only a 10 percent blend, for use in motorcycles and ATVs,” he wrote.

“Moreover, the EPA used only one test to determine if E15 is safe for vehicles before granting a waiver. The AMA has urged the agency to allow for an independent scientific study by the National Academy of Sciences into the effects

of E15 on vehicles. We also request that motorcycles and ATVs be included in such a study,” Allard added.

Allard went on to say recent studies show that the majority of motorists don’t know the difference between E10 and regular gasoline, and he believes the problem is potentially worse with E15.

“Additionally, a National Marine Manufacturers Association study has shown that mislabeling is already occurring where E15 is sold, which may lead to inadvertent misfueling,” Allard wrote.

Allard went on to detail the AMA’s misfueling concerns.

“On Feb. 7, the EPA posted a new option for retailers on its website...to try to avoid misfueling by consumers. Under the new option, retailers who use a blender pump to sell E15 and E10 fuel through the same hose must also have a separate E10/E0 fuel pump,” Allard wrote.

“Those retailers would be required to have a label on the blender pump that

reads: ‘Passenger Vehicles Only. Use in Other Vehicles, Engines and Equipment May Violate Federal Law.’ Retailers would also be required to have signs indicating the location of the dedicated E10-or-lower fuel pump. There would be no minimum-fuel-purchase requirement at that pump,” Allard explained.

“The AMA can only imagine how many motorists and motorcyclists will be lining up at that single pump to get E10-or-lower fuel,” he added.

“Another label on a blender pump that already has many labels will not suffice to avoid misfueling and could be easily overlooked,” he told Sen. Vitter. “The misfueling mitigation plan calls for no physical barriers in the fueling nozzle/receptacle as was provided for when the nation went from leaded to unleaded fuel. History tells us that, even with these physical barriers in place, misfueling still occurred.

“Retailers who want to sell E15 also have the option of having a dedicated E15 pump or hose, or a pump that dispenses E15 and higher ethanol blends through a single hose,” he wrote.

Allard concluded by saying: “The AMA wants access to safe fuels for motorcycles and ATVs. Given marketplace realities, wherever E15 is sold, there will very likely be inadvertent misfueling issues. Motorcycles are not approved for E15 use, and inadvertently misfueling a motorcycle has the potential to void a manufacturer’s warranty.

“The loser of any inadvertent misfueling is the motorcyclist,” he added. “The AMA stands behind not only its member motorcyclists, but all riders, in calling for more extensive testing for E15, and more thorough misfueling safeguards.”

AMA Responds To CongRessionAl QuesTions RelATed To eThAnol

U.S. Sen. David Vitter Asked AMA For Information

U.S. Sen. David Vitter


1514AM_10_2013_sec04m_Rights.indd 14 8/16/13 4:08 PM

AMA MeMber Killed by driver Who WAs Allegedly TexTing Driver Faces Multiple Charges

Motorcyclists honored the late Dan Gallatin at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in New Castle, Pa., on July 11, celebrating the life of a motorcyclist killed by a driver who was allegedly texting at the time of the crash.

Gallatin, 68, a 20-year AMA member who lived in Scott Township in Pennsylvania, was riding his motorcycle in New Castle on May 7 at about 1:30 p.m. when he was struck from behind and killed by an SUV driven by 43-year-old Laura Gargiulo of Volant.

Gargiulo allegedly told police that she was texting at the time of the crash. A police search of her cellphone allegedly revealed Gargiulo had received, and opened, a text message when her SUV hit Gallatin.

She faces a variety of charges including homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, prohibition of text-based communication, careless driving and reckless driving.

Distracted driving is a major concern for the AMA and its members. While the AMA believes that banning cellphone use and texting while driving is a positive step, that action alone is not enough. The association maintains that all vehicle operators must be held accountable.

“The AMA advocates for enhanced penalties for violations resulting in injury or death to other roadway users,” says Imre Szauter, AMA government affairs manager. “We commend Pennsylvania for having laws with penalties to fit the seriousness of distracted driving-related deaths.”

To read the AMA’s official position on the distracted driving issue, go to www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/PositionStatements/DistractedAndInattentiveVehicleOperation.aspx. ©

iSto

ckph

oto.

com

/Kal

i Nin

e LL

C

DIRTSTREETMAIN 151514AM_10_2013_sec04m_Rights.indd 15 8/16/13 4:08 PM

Federal is the leader in motorcycle transport, with a track record of proven performance. We have been shipping motorcycles since 1990, and we treat every one as if it were our own.

Federal is an agent for Specialized Transportation, Inc. Established 1913.

AS SERIOUS ABOUT MOTORCYCLES AS YOU ARE!

Contact us at 800-747-4100 ext 2217 or visit www.FunTransport.com

for a free custom quote.

0813_Federal_HalfPage.indd 1 6/13/13 12:16 PM

Certain motorcycles may not be sold in the future in California because of new California Air Resources Board rules, the Motorcycle Industry Council warned on July 25.

The dire prediction could affect both on- and off-highway motorcycles, and maybe even all-terrain vehicles.

The Motorcycle Industry Council, based in Irvine, Calif., notes that the California Air Resources Board on July 25 adopted regulations related to controlling evaporative emissions of off-highway recreational vehicles that could mean the end of the sales of certain machines in that state.

Specifically, the MIC says the regulations, to be phased in from 2018-2021, establish emission standards to reduce evaporative emissions produced by off-highway recreational vehicles due to permeation of gasoline through plastic tanks and rubber fuel lines, tank venting, liquid leakage, and spillage.

“To meet the new regulations, vehicles will need to be equipped with activated carbon canisters or a pressure relief valve on the vent of the fuel tank,” the MIC says. “Low permeation materials will need to be used for fuel tanks and fuel lines. Newly designed ATV fuel tanks greater than 3.5 gallons will also be required to meet the filler pipe sealing surface requirements.”

The MIC adds that it expects similar evaporative emissions regulations to

Industry Group Warns manufacturers may stop sellInG certaIn motorcyles In calIfornIa

Blames New California Air Resources Regulations

ama’s nIck HarIs actIve on calIfornIa safety panelCommittee Reviews Motorcycle Safety Programs

AMA Western States Representative Nick Haris took part in his first meeting as a member of the California Motorcyclist Safety Program Advisory Committee late this summer.

The committee, which meets annually, reviews the California Highway Patrol’s motorcycle safety program and awareness campaigns.

Haris was appointed to the panel in April.

be proposed for on-highway motorcycles in the state of California within the next two years.

“The reduction in OHRV sales due to the Great Recession makes complying with the newly adopted regulation by 2022 economically infeasible for certain models,” the MIC says. “The regulation would, in effect, force the removal of these models from the California market. To address this issue, the MIC requested a two-year delay in the regulation’s implementation during the July 25 Board meeting in Sacramento, Calif. The Board denied MIC’s request, but committed to reviewing the state of the market in the coming years.”

The council says that for the past seven years while these regulations were being developed, the MIC worked closely with CARB to ensure the regulations wouldn’t severely limit product availability or performance or significantly increase the cost to buyers.

The group says that its persistence resulted in significantly less stringent

standards and test procedures, a multiyear extension of the implementation and phase-in period, the removal of refueling emission controls for most vehicles, improvements to the emissions inventory model, and other important revisions to CARB’s initial proposal.

The MIC also maintains that it convinced CARB to walk away from an 11th-hour proposal to consider evaporative controls at this time on “Red Sticker” OHRVs—vehicles that aren’t required to comply with exhaust emission standards.

Instead, CARB will hold industry workshops in the coming months to explore whether the Red Sticker program needs to be revisited, the MIC says.

“The MIC OE Technical Committee has worked diligently to find solutions that will further improve California air quality, while at the same time protecting off-highway recreation for the state’s enthusiasts,” says MIC Vice President Pamela Amette. “California’s ever-changing and increasingly stringent regulations require an ongoing, intense effort by committee members to fight to prevent unintended consequences of well-meaning but ill-advised proposals, and those efforts have made a significant impact today.”



statewatchIDAHO

About 5,620 acres are now closed to motorized travel—and another 1,620 acres allow motorized travel only on designated trails—under new restrictions for public land next to Big Willow Creek in Payette County. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced the restrictions to protect the Packard’s milkvetch. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the plant as a candidate for federal Endangered Species Act protection.

ILLINOISPeople authorized by local authority

to direct, control or regulate traffic would be able to do so under House Bill 1539, sponsored by Rep. Kenneth Dunkin (D-Chicago). The bill, which was requested by ABATE of Illinois, cleared the full legislature and was sent to the governor on June 19 to be signed into law.

Also, Rep. Kay Hatcher (R-Yorkville) introduced House Resolution 524, which urges the U.S. Congress to pass H.R. 875 to scientifically determine the effects that E15 fuel will have on internal combustion engines of all types.

NEVADAU.S. Sens. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Harry

Reid (D-Nev.) introduced S. 1167, the Elko Motocross and Tribal Conveyance Act. The act would convey 275 acres of land currently managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management to Elko County, Nev. This land would be eligible only for motocross, bicycle, off-highway vehicle, or stock-car racing use. Ask your federal lawmakers to support this bill by going to http://www.capwiz.com/amacycle/issues/alert/?alertid=6272.

RHODE ISLANDGov. Lincoln Chafee has signed into

law House Bill 5061, sponsored by Rep. Arthur Corvese (D-North Providence), which increases penalties for those convicted of, or pleading guilty to, a right-of-way violation that results in bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death to another roadway user. The Rhode Island Motorcycle Association pushed for the new law.

In addition, a motorcyclist can now use a headset installed in a helmet and worn so as to prevent the speakers from making direct contact with the user’s ears so that the user can hear surrounding sounds. The new law is the result of Senate Bill 275, sponsored

by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-South Kingstown).

SOUTH DAKOTARay Fitzgerald has been named to the

Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame’s Freedom Fighters. He was a charter member of the Nevada Association of Concerned Motorcyclists and worked to get motorcycle-friendly political candidates elected. He moved to Arizona where he helped create ABATE chapters. He was an officer of ABATE of Arizona, and was the Motorcycle Rights Foundation’s first Sustaining Motorcycle Club representative.

TEXASThe El Paso Police Department is

reminding residents about free motorcycle safety courses offered on the first Saturday of each month. The class runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is held at Barnett Harley-Davidson at 8272 Gateway Blvd East. To sign up for the class, call the El Paso Police Department’s Traffic Safety Coordinator, Margaret Petrozza, at (915) 564-7352. Remaining classes will be held this year on Sept. 7, Oct. 5, Nov. 2 and Dec. 7.

Federal is the leader in motorcycle transport, with a track record of proven performance. We have been shipping motorcycles since 1990, and we treat every one as if it were our own.

Federal is an agent for Specialized Transportation, Inc. Established 1913.

AS SERIOUS ABOUT MOTORCYCLES AS YOU ARE!

Contact us at 800-747-4100 ext 2217 or visit www.FunTransport.com

for a free custom quote.

0813_Federal_HalfPage.indd 1 6/13/13 12:16 PM


Welcome to Life Member Plus!We designed the new Life Member Plus program to stay connected with our Life Members

and reward them for their years of dedication to the AMA. Offering up a package that includes American Motorcyclist magazine and AMA Roadside Assistance at a special discounted rate, Life Member Plus is a money-saving value.

The new program is 100 percent optional, so if you choose not to enroll, you still receive all the current benefi ts of life membership—a voice on behalf of motorcycling in the halls of government, the ability to sign up for AMA-sanctioned events, money-saving benefi ts and more.

With Life Member Plus, you get all that, plus AMA Roadside Assistance and American Motorcyclist magazine. And stay tuned for additional Life Member benefi ts to come.

AMA Life Member Plus Includes:• FREE AMA Roadside Assistance• 12 issues of American Motorcyclist magazine• AMA Life Member Plus Membership card, pin (fi rst year), and decal with

your renewal• A voice protecting motorcyclists’ rights at the federal, state and local levels• Continued access to AMA Rights, Riding, Racing and Rewards—including

money-saving discounts

Sign up now! (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646)or visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com

$29

For more than 25 years, Al Holtsberry has supported the AMA. Now we’re off ering

something special for him and all other AMA Life Members.

PER YEAR

AMA_LMP_revised_0813.indd 1 8/14/13 2:30 PM

U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) holds a seat on the powerful House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that has jurisdiction over all U.S. Transportation Department programs. Because of that, and since we know he’s a rider, we asked him a few questions to see what he thinks about motorcycling issues on Capitol Hill.

American Motorcyclist: What do you ride?

U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham: A Harley-Davidson Road King.

AM: What is your favorite place to ride?JD: I like to go up to Jamestown and

Oakdale [in California] to ride through the countryside.

AM: What are the biggest issues facing motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle users today?

JD: A big challenge for me and my kids going out on our quads or our [utility vehicles] is seeing a lot of these places shut down.

AM: What are the biggest issues in Congress for riders?

JD: With sequestration and other

budget cuts, oftentimes our parks are used as a pawn in the negotiating scheme to say that’s the fi rst place we’re going to cut back and close down. I’m very vocal against that in making sure our parks remain open for everyone to use, especially our motorcycle enthusiasts.

AM: How can motorcyclists and ATV riders get more involved with the members of their congressional

delegations to infl uence their decisions on issues?

JD: I see two ways to get involved. First of all, get involved with your congressional delegation on a quarterly or annual basis to make sure that members understand how important [riding] is in every community across the nation. Secondly, those who ride every week are the fi rst ones to know when a trail has been shut down or a park has been closed. They need to immediately call somebody and let us know so that we can fi ght to get it back open again.

AM: Is there anything else you would like to add?

JD: I love to ride, and I love the AMA!

MOTORCYCLE-ONLY CHECKPOINTS TARGETED IN MISSOURI Lawmakers Stop The Discrimination

Missouri is the latest state to take action to stop the discriminatory practice of motorcycle-only checkpoints.

On June 27, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon signed into law Senate Bill 282, introduced by Sen. Jay Wasson (R-Nixa), which prohibits law enforcement agencies from establishing roadside checkpoints based on a particular vehicle type—except for commercial motor vehicles. The new law took eff ect Aug. 28.

Other states taking action are New Hampshire and Illinois, which prohibit using federal funding for law enforcement to set up motorcycle-only checkpoints; and Virginia and North Carolina, which have banned them.

“Offi cials say they set up these motorcycle-only checkpoints to pull over motorcyclists to check for safety violations, but if offi cials are really concerned about motorcyclists’ safety, then they need to stop discriminating against motorcyclists with these checkpoints and start supporting programs that prevent motorcycle crashes, such as rider safety training and driver awareness programs,” says Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations.

The AMA began tracking motorcycle-only checkpoints when they fi rst appeared in New York in 2007.

In 2011, using funds provided by the National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration, the state of Georgia conducted roadside motorcycle-only checkpoints as thousands of motorcyclists rode through the state on their way to

Daytona Beach, Fla., for Bike Week. Another motorcycle-only checkpoint was conducted in northern Virginia during one of the nation’s most visible motorcycle rallies—Rolling Thunder—over the 2011 Memorial Day weekend. Motorcycle-only checkpoints were also conducted in Utah when thousands of riders attended a world-class road-racing event.

AMA HELPS OHIO MOTORCYCLE SAFETY PROGRAM CELEBRATE 25TH ANNIVERSARYAMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Campus Hosts Celebrations

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame campus in Pickerington, Ohio, bustled with activity on Aug. 3 as Motorcycle Ohio celebrated its 25th anniversary with activities on the campus.

Motorcycle Ohio is part of the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Offi ce of Criminal Justice Services. It’s committed to reducing the severity and frequency of motorcycle crashes through rider education, public information campaigns and licensing improvement.

There were riding demonstrations, food vendors, activities and remarks by AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman, Ohio Department of Public Safety Director John Born and Motorcycle Ohio State Coordinator Rollin Kiser to honor Motorcycle Ohio’s 25th anniversary.

6 Questions With… U.S. REP. JEFF DENHAM Transportation And Parks Concerns

©iS

tock

phot

o.co

m/F

reeT

rans

form

L-R: Rollin Kiser, Rob Dingman, John Born, the AMA’s Imre Szauter



Welcome to Life Member Plus!We designed the new Life Member Plus program to stay connected with our Life Members

and reward them for their years of dedication to the AMA. Offering up a package that includes American Motorcyclist magazine and AMA Roadside Assistance at a special discounted rate, Life Member Plus is a money-saving value.

The new program is 100 percent optional, so if you choose not to enroll, you still receive all the current benefi ts of life membership—a voice on behalf of motorcycling in the halls of government, the ability to sign up for AMA-sanctioned events, money-saving benefi ts and more.

With Life Member Plus, you get all that, plus AMA Roadside Assistance and American Motorcyclist magazine. And stay tuned for additional Life Member benefi ts to come.

AMA Life Member Plus Includes:• FREE AMA Roadside Assistance• 12 issues of American Motorcyclist magazine• AMA Life Member Plus Membership card, pin (fi rst year), and decal with

your renewal• A voice protecting motorcyclists’ rights at the federal, state and local levels• Continued access to AMA Rights, Riding, Racing and Rewards—including

money-saving discounts

Sign up now! (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646)or visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com

$29

For more than 25 years, Al Holtsberry has supported the AMA. Now we’re off ering

something special for him and all other AMA Life Members.

PER YEAR

AMA_LMP_revised_0813.indd 1 8/14/13 2:30 PM

©iS

tock

phot

o.co

m/F

reeT

rans

form


The AMA welcomed 36 new amateur national champions following a tremendous week of motocross racing at the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., July 28 through Aug. 4.

“The Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is the country’s premier amateur motocross event, and the riders who raise AMA No. 1 plates over their heads here can count themselves among the best of the best,” says AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow. “We congratulate all the riders for excelling on the national stage, and we once again thank our promotional and organizational partner, MX Sports, for providing an exceptional experience for thousands of AMA members, from track prep to the awards ceremonies.”

Among the most decorated racers over the week of competition was AMA Motocross Horizon Award winner and Amsoil/Factory Connection Honda rider Matt Bisceglia from Weatherford, Texas. Bisceglia swept all three motos in the Open Pro Sport class and scored two fi rsts and a second in the 250 A class for two national titles.

“The week was great,” Bisceglia says. “I rode smart and put in six good motos. I just got good starts and did what I had to

do. I won the AMA Horizon Award, and I was real happy with that. It’s an honor to win that award. It has been a dream of mine since I was nine years old and watched Ryan Villopoto win it my fi rst year at the nationals.”

Bisceglia, whose father Don raced at the pro level, started his pro career the weekend following the amateur nationals at the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championships on Aug. 10 at Unadilla in New Berlin, N.Y.

“It almost feels like it’s not real,” says Bisceglia. “It’s something I’ve been working on my whole life. It’s always been in the back of my mind that it would go this far, but to see it becoming a reality is really exciting.”

Bisceglia says the key to reaching the top of the amateur ranks is, not surprisingly, hard work and desire.

“Anybody can do it,” Bisceglia says. “It’s who wants it most. I got 16th my fi rst year at the nationals. I didn’t have a factory ride growing up on 60s and 85s. I had to work for everything I got. Nobody is going to just give you anything, but anyone can earn it. You just have to want it and work hard.”

The AMA Youth Motocrosser of the Year was Cobra rider Jet Reynolds. Reynolds, from Bakersfi eld, Calif., dominated the 51cc (7-8) class and 65cc (7-9) class,

winning all six motos. The last rider to win a 51cc and 65cc title at the amateur nationals was Davi Millsaps in 1997.

In the Vet ranks, Dade City, Fla.’s Timmy Ferry claimed the AMA Vet Motocrosser of the Year award. Ferry, who fi nished second to the 2012 top Vet rider Robbie Reynard in the Vet (35+) class, swept all three motos in the Junior 25+ class to claim that AMA national championship.

A full list of the 2013 champions from the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship is on page 21. For complete results from the week, see results.americanmotorcyclist.com.

National RecognitionThe Red Bull AMA Amateur National

Motocross Championship presented by Amsoil is one of the most diverse national championships in America. It includes classes for riders from 4 years old to 50-plus on motorcycles ranging from 51cc minibikes to state-of-the-art highly modifi ed 450cc motocross machines.

The success of the national championship has produced a long list of AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross superstars. Riders who have progressed through the program include AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Jeremy McGrath, as well as Ricky Carmichael, Kevin Windham, Travis Pastrana, James Stewart, Ryan Dungey, Ryan Villopoto and many more.

The AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship represents one of the longest-running motorsports championships in the country. The AMA launched the national championship

MATT BISCEGLIA WINS AMA MOTOCROSS HORIZON AWARDCountry’s Best Converge At AMA Motocross Nationals

Phot

os D

avid

Sm

ith/ra

ceda

ypix

.com

Matt Bisceglia

DIRT

20 AmericanMotorcyclist.com

2120AM_10_2013_sec05d_DirtContent.indd 20 8/16/13 4:05 PM

program in 1975. That year, a series of regional races qualifi ed 135 riders in three classes—125cc, 250cc and Open—for the championship round in Baldwin, Kan. The program evolved over the next few years to include additional classes, with championship fi nales run in varying locations across the country.

In 1982, the AMA partnered with MX Sports, and the event moved to its current location at the Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. There, the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship continues to crown the country’s top amateur motocross racers every summer.

Open Pro SportMatt Bisceglia (Weatherford, Texas)

250 AMatt Bisceglia (Weatherford, Texas)

250 B LimitedJordon Smith (Belmont, N.C.)

250 BAaron Plessinger (Hamilton, Ohio)

250 C LimitedAdam Nickerson (Chico, Calif.)

250 CTauan Brenner (Antioch, Calif.)

450 ALuke Renzland (Hewitt, N.J.)

450 B LimitedAaron Plessinger (Hamilton, Ohio)

450 BTyler McSwain (Shelby, N.C.)

450 CDerek Valenzuela (Athol, Idaho)

Two-Stroke B/C (16+)Jerry Robin (Hamel, Minn.)

College B/C (16-24)Josh Cartwright (Bartlett, Tenn.)

Junior 25+Timmy Ferry (Dade City, Fla.)

Vet B/C 30+Michael Mitchell (Union Grove, N.C.)

Vet 35+Robbie Reynard (Oklahoma City, Okla.)

Senior 40+Keith Johnson (Carver, Mass.)

Senior 45+Trampas Parker (Okmelgee, Okla.)

Masters 50+Kevin Foley (Orange, Calif.)

51cc (4-6) Special LimitedDaxton Bennick (Morganton, N.C.)

51cc (4-6) Shaft Drive LimitedLevi Bolton (Smyrna, Ga.)

51cc (4-6) LimitedCasey Cochran (Arlington, Tenn.)

51cc (7-8) LimitedJett Reynolds (Bakersfi eld, Calif.)

65cc (7-9) LimitedJett Reynolds (Bakersfi eld, Calif.)

65cc (10-11) LimitedAiden Tijero (Ripon, Calif.)

65cc (7-11)Ty Masterpool (Paradise, Texas)

85cc (9-11) LimitedJalek Swoll (Silver Springs, Fla.)

85cc (9-11)Garrett Marchbanks (Coalville, Utah)

Mini Sr (12-14) LimitedJoey Crown (Metamora, Mich.)

Mini Sr (12-14)Joey Crown (Metamora, Mich.)

Super Mini 1 (12-15)Mitchell Harrison (Cairo, Ga.)

Super Mini 2 (13-16)Ashton Hayes (Rockford, Mich.)

Schoolboy 1 (12-16) B/CRyan Surratt (Corona, Calif.)

Schoolboy 2 (13-16) B/CRyan Surratt (Corona, Calif.)

Girls (12-16)Hannah Hodges (Deland, Fla.)

Girls (9-11)Jazzmyn Canfi eld (Deltona, Fla.)

Women (14+)Mackenzie Tricker (Australia)

2013 AMA National Motocross Champions

Phot

os D

avid

Sm

ith/ra

ceda

ypix

.com

DIRT

October 2013 21


CLASS OF 2013:

Ricky CarmichaelDanny Hamel

Norm McDonaldRandy RenfrowDiane TraynorMike Traynor

FEATURED LEGENDS:Torsten HallmanMark Blackwell

2013 LEGENDS WEEKEND The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday night, Oct. 18, will see the Motorcycle Hall of Fame class of 2013 take to the stage to be inducted. The next morning will see the all-new Dave Mungenast Memorial Legends Reception, where the Class of 2013 and other Hall of Famers from previous years will be honored.

www.motorcyclemuseum.org | (800) 342-5464

October 18-19, 2013 Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa and Casino • Las Vegas, Nevada

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame

INDuCTION CeReMONy — and —

LeGeNdS ReCeptioN

Be a part of the

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Weekend.

Get your tickets today at

www.motorcyclemuseum.org or call (800) 342-5464.

AMA_Legends_Weekend.indd 1 7/18/13 11:45 AM

1-800-788-3969www.CanopyGuy.com

AWNINGS USED BY THE PROS.CUSTOM MADE FOR YOUR TRAILER!

Wally Mika, an AMA Life Member from Elizabeth, Ill., loves to ride on the street. He also loves to race, and occasionally he puts the two together as he chases hare scrambles points in AMA District 17.

“I’m not really sure why I started pulling the dirtbike with the bagger,” he says. “I guess I just looked at the bike, figured it had

enough frame and put a hitch on it.”Mika, who races in the 50A Super Senior

class as a 60-year-old, didn’t always prefer bikes like his KTM 450 to his ’87 Harley-Davidson FLH. He started riding cruisers as a V-twin mechanic in Chicago, but then a move out of the city sparked a desire to get an off-road bike.

Two Bikes BeTTer Than oneAMA Life Member Rides, Races, Wins

“I started in motocross at Byron Motorsports Park and got a taste of it,” he says. “I got a rock in the knee riding motocross and then started with the hare scrambles.”

Mika has won the 50+ class in District 17 the last three years, riding 20 or more races a year. He says the keys to doing well aren’t complicated.

“I don’t really do anything but work on the bike and work in the landscaping business all week,” he says. “I avoid all the bling-bling stuff. I just make sure I keep up on my maintenance. Don’t bring a junk bike to a race. That’s no fun. Spend time riding the bike. You need to learn to ride smart—remember the course and think ahead as you ride. I guess most of all you have to have a competitive nature.”

Although Mika admits it might look cool rolling into your local harescrambles race pulling your KTM with your Harley-Davidson, he doesn’t recommend it.

“Guys pull trailers with bikes all the time, but there are small campers designed for it—and then what I’ve done,” he says. “I actually don’t recommend it at all. It’s more of a novelty. Just rolling along at speed isn’t bad. Getting initial movement is hard. Going slow down gravel lanes is pretty hard. You might drop your bike in the race, and that happens, but before the race? Nah, a truck is probably a better way to get to the track.”

Mik

e Bu

rley

DIRT 2322 AmericanMotorcyclist.com


CLASS OF 2013:

Ricky CarmichaelDanny Hamel

Norm McDonaldRandy RenfrowDiane TraynorMike Traynor

FEATURED LEGENDS:Torsten HallmanMark Blackwell

2013 LEGENDS WEEKEND The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday night, Oct. 18, will see the Motorcycle Hall of Fame class of 2013 take to the stage to be inducted. The next morning will see the all-new Dave Mungenast Memorial Legends Reception, where the Class of 2013 and other Hall of Famers from previous years will be honored.

www.motorcyclemuseum.org | (800) 342-5464

October 18-19, 2013 Green Valley Ranch Resort, Spa and Casino • Las Vegas, Nevada

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame

INDuCTION CeReMONy — and —

LeGeNdS ReCeptioN

Be a part of the

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Weekend.

Get your tickets today at

www.motorcyclemuseum.org or call (800) 342-5464.

AMA_Legends_Weekend.indd 1 7/18/13 11:45 AM

Mik

e Bu

rley

DIRT 232322AM_10_2013_sec05d_DirtContent.indd 23 8/16/13 4:05 PM

DIRT

OFFROADOFFROADOFFROADOFFROAD

DIRTDIRT

OFFROADOFFROADOFFROAD

Posse Spout Bender

$19.95

Posse Chain Breaker$22.95

Outlaw Aluminum Rear Sprockets$59.95

Posse Tire Changing Stand

$109.95

Can’t find our products at your local dealer?

Go to www.pitposse.com for dealer locator or call

1-866-44POSSE!

DIRTDIRTDIRTMAKING YOUR

LIFE EASIER

SPEND LESS...GET MORE!

DIRTBIKES | SPORTBIKES

TOOLS | TRAILER ACCESSORIES | PIT & SHOP

WE HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED

13PitPosse_DirtAd1-1.3_AMAmag.indd 1 5/13/13 11:33:45 AM

The DirTy Work of AMA off-highWAy ClubsEfforts Lead To Riding Trails

From Oregon to Alabama to Arizona, AMA clubs around the nation put a lot of effort into creating new off-highway riding trails and maintaining existing ones. Here’s a look at some of those clubs and what it takes to open and maintain trails.

The cooperation between the city of Jacksonville, Ore., the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the federal Bureau of Land Management and the Motorcycle Riders Association has never been better, says Steve Croucher, MRA president.

But it hasn’t always been that way.It took years to create these positive

relationships, which this year led to a property exchange between the MRA and Jacksonville that increased the MRA’s off-highway riding area by more than 300 acres.

“Over several years, [and] too many town hall and city council meetings to count, we slowly broke down barriers and misconceptions with the community so that a large outdoor recreation area was conceived, voted on and approved by the Jacksonville City Council that includes OHVs,” Croucher says.

The Motorcycle Riders Association is a non-profit off-highway motorcycle club in southern Oregon. The 49-year-old club owns 714 acres and has easement access to 187 acres, which means the club has 901 acres open to the public at no charge. Plus, the property is adjacent to BLM off-highway vehicle land.

“We have improved parking areas, a campground, day-use facilities, cabin/clubhouse and some of the best riding in Oregon,” Croucher says.

In the 1970s when public riding areas became increasingly under attack, the club’s founding members saw that they needed to acquire land to ensure that they, and others, would have places to ride. They bought 180 acres, but club members knew they needed more.

So, about 10 years ago, the club president asked some adjoining property owners whether they would be willing to sell their land.

“It was perceived, and reported in the local papers, that we were trying to purchase property that would be converted to OHV use, which would devastate the local communities,” Croucher says. “Specifically, the historic town of Jacksonville, Ore.”

Against that backdrop, it wasn’t long before OHV opponents throughout the area were banding about anti-OHV statements, which were picked up by the local news media.

Based on some of the reporting, “one could conclude that OHVs had already destroyed southern Oregon,” Croucher says. “That was followed with petitions being presented to the Jacksonville City Council and our county commissioners condemning our organization, OHVs, and there were attempts to compromise any ongoing communication.”

Continued on page 26 Tyle

r Mad

dox



Tyle

r Mad

dox


Continued from page 24Five years passed and the club decided

to take another stab at buying more land. The first thing the club wanted to do was show the local politicians and the community that there are many off-highway riders in the area, and they are just regular folks.

“We were being hammered by the news media and some politicians, so we had a rally at our local park,” Croucher says. “We contacted the AMA for insurance, we rented the park, and we gave one simple instruction [to attendees]: bring your hauler with your ATVs.

“On a Sunday, in the rain and snow, highs in the low 30s, we had 1,200 users show up with their EZ-ups and their OHVs,” Croucher says. “As far as one could see in any direction it was trucks, OHVs and EZ-ups. What a beautiful sight.”

At the rally, organizers urged attendees to take time the next day to call politicians, and the local news media, to explain the benefits of outdoor motorized recreation.

“Without going into detail, let me describe it like this,” Croucher says. “The county commissioners caved in by 11:30. The media caved in by 1:30. To quote one official responding to the volume of calls they were receiving: ‘Can you please make this stop.’

“We were able to follow up with meetings arranged by the commissioners and the media,” Croucher says. “We had their attention.”

While off-highway vehicle use was now on the radar of politicians and the news media, club members knew they needed to do more to promote a positive image of the recreational pastime. So they decided that the club should go out of its way to be the best neighbor possible.

“We conducted trash cleanup days where we cleaned all the adjacent properties regardless of their friendliness toward OHVs,” Croucher says. “We did

road maintenance on shared access roads. We supported the establishment of law enforcement and we helped adjacent property owners close areas to OHVs if that helped with their property management.

“If there was a project, we tried to be involved,” he says.

It took some time, but local politicians eventually began to recognize off-highway riders as a civil group and began to talk with them, particularly politicians in Jacksonville. The Motorcycle Riders Association, city officials, politicians and others came together on a plan that would benefit not only off-highway riders but other outdoor recreationists as well, such as hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders.

The talks focused on land owned by the Motorcycle Riders Association and the city of Jacksonville.

“The overriding problem was, we and the city had commingling properties,” Croucher says. “Our club owned a 40-acre parcel used as an OHV staging area right in the middle of the city’s proposed hiking area. The city approached us about an exchange of land so that we could separate users. And, back to our good neighbor policy, we were committed to

make something work out.”The plan was to create a large OHV

area that also would accommodate hikers, horse riders and others. The Motorcycle Riders Association would manage the OHV land and the city would oversee the non-motorized use areas.

But not everyone in the area liked the idea.

“Through Oregon’s Parks and Recreation Department, funding is available for property purchases such as this but, needless to say, the anti-OHV crowd was already positioned to oppose our grant request,” Croucher says. “Certainly, a bike club should not receive this level of funding [$684,000].

“Moreover, we were required to get 11 different state agencies to review and approve the land exchange [between the city and the club that was part of the proposed deal] in addition to multiple letters of support for a complete [grant] application,” he says.

The Oregon Parks Commission, which approved the grant in May, said: “Ranked No. 1 on this list [of grants] is the city of Jacksonville/Motorcycle Riders Association land exchange… The proposed land exchange was extensively studied by the city of Jacksonville and is consistent with recommendations in a larger BLM OHV planning area. During a series of town hall meetings hosted by the city of Jacksonville, environmental and social impacts associated with various alternatives were considered. Finding that the land exchange would be in the best interest of a majority of community members, the Jacksonville City Council approved the exchange and established a memorandum of understanding between the city and the MRA.”

The grant money comes from gas taxes paid on fuel used by OHVs.

The plan calls for the Motorcycle Riders Association to use the $684,000 grant to buy 380 acres in a 1,800-acre watershed area known as Forest Park from the city of Jacksonville. That 380 acres in the upper watershed is adjacent to 180 acres the club already owns.

Under the deal, the club also is giving the city 40 acres in the lower watershed that the club owns and had developed into a parking area.

The entire deal was finalized after July 1 when the grant money became available. There are mountain-bike and hiking trails in the area, which the city intends to manage, while OHV use would occur on the MRA land.

It took a lot of effort but it all paid off.Who knows what the future may bring. “We are looking forward to continued

partnerships,” Croucher says.

Steve McIntyre (left) and Steve Croucher

Tyle

r Mad

dox

DIRT



TEL: 650-594-9600 FAX: 650-594-9610

ENGINEEREDFOR YOU LINELINE

THEM UP

ForkTru™

FORK ALIGNMENT TOOL Quick and easy-to-use tool for aligning front forks to ensure they are parallel from top to bottom

• Reduces stiction and improves the performance of your front suspension• Reduces seal & bushing wear• Patented design

MSRP $29.99

DAVI MILLSAPSROCKSTAR ENERGY RACING

MotionPro.com

KEEP THEMKEEP THEMFRESH

Persistence And Volunteers Are KeySomething similar has been occurring

in Alabama, thanks to the Cheaha Trail Riders organization. The Cheaha Trail Riders know what it takes to create a major OHV riding area, since it has created several over the years.

Danny Hubbard, the driving force behind the organization’s newest riding area—which is known as TOPTRAILS in Talladega County, Ala.—says Cheaha Trail Riders members consider TOPTRAILS to be the organization’s premier accomplishment for creating OHV trails.

“TOPTRAILS is currently open to the public and is under construction,” Hubbard says. “This trail system could become one of the leading parks in the United States for OHV activities and all kinds of other sports. Currently, it has more than 2,800 acres with around 75 miles of existing trails and the potential of up to 150-200 miles of OHV trails.”

The Cheaha Trail Riders is a family-oriented organization with members in Alabama, Georgia Illinois, Arizona and other states. The club, formed in 1988, is a non-profit organization that advocates for OHV safety, education and OHV trail building.

The TOPSTRAILS project was in the works for about five years before it got off the ground a couple years ago. Getting to that point wasn’t easy.

Cheaha Trail Riders members made presentations about the proposal to county commissioners, city officials and others beginning in 2007. Talladega County commissioners were cool to the idea of a large OHV park at first but eventually came around because they saw the potential economic benefit.

The land was the Coosa River Ammunition Storage Annex but the Army stopped storing munitions there in 1982. The facility closed in 1988. It eventually came under the control of the U.S. National Park Service. The Park Service gave the property to the city of Lincoln to be used for a park.

Lincoln joined with Talladega for joint control and created an entity called the Public Park Authority to oversee the park’s development.

Dedicated volunteers were vital

to getting the project up and running, says Hubbard and Cheaha Trail Riders President Glenn Myers. In fact, committed volunteers are necessary for creating any riding areas and trails, not only for educating politicians and others but also for cleanup and other projects.

National Trails Day EffortsThat’s certainly true in Arizona, where

the Coconino Trail Riders volunteer to do trail work in the national forest. The group is dedicated to off-highway riding and works with government officials and others to create and maintain trails.

The Coconino Trail Riders was formed in the mid-1980s as an informal group of riding friends. It organized formally in 2003 with several goals:

•To work with the U.S. Forest Service and other land managers to

promote single-track riding opportunities in northern Arizona, and to provide a voice for responsible off-highway motorcyclists.

•To promote AMA-sanctioned off-highway motorcycle events.

•To have fun while participating in a sport they love.

Club members take part in “trail days” every month in which they help create and maintain trails. One of those cleanups was held on National Trails Days, June 1.

“We had an awesome National Trails Day in the

Coconino National Forest,” says Warren Williams, president of the Coconino Trail Riders. “We pulled a record 272 volunteers from all over Arizona. We even had non-moto groups work on this motorized multi-use trail system.

“This was a first for the Coconino National Forest,” Williams says. “Usually, National Trails Day [involves work on] non-motorized trails.”

Besides the Coconino Trail Riders, the Arizona Trail Riders took part in the project

to work on part of the Kelly Motorized Trail System, which now has about 11 miles of trail but will eventually include 94 miles. The Arizona Trail Riders group, like the Coconino Trail Riders, is dedicated to responsible off-highway recreation and the preservation of off-highway riding.

Other groups and agencies that took part in the cleanup, hosted by the USFS, were the Coconino County Parks and Recreation Department, the Arizona Trail Association, Coconino Horsemen’s Alliance, American Conservation Experience, and the Coconino Rural Environmental Corps.

For information on starting your own club, see www.americanmotorcyclist.com > Clubs & Promoters > Start A Club.

Danny Hubbard

For more information: Motorcycle Riders Association

www.motorcycleridersassociation.orgCheaha Trail Riders

www.cheahatrailriders.com Coconino Trail Riders

www.coconinotrailriders.org Arizona Trail Riders

www.arizonatrailriders.org

Rick

y Ro

berts

on

DIRT

October 2013 27


~ A JC Motors Company ~

The Oakland Motorcycle Club’s Sheetiron 300 Dualsport, an AMA-sanctioned dual sport ride, is popular for the scenic routes and challenging trail. But what really keeps participants coming back—and why you’ll want to sign up as soon as possible to guarantee a slot on the 2014 ride—is the camaraderie with an amazing group of fellow riders.

“I am utterly stoked about how many nice guys I met during the weekend,” says Evan Arkush of San Francisco. “You’ve got a great culture there, and I felt extremely fortunate to be a part of it.”

The 21st Sheetiron took place on May 18-19. This year’s ride included 500 registered riders and 50 volunteers, sponsors and guests. It covered more than 300 miles from Stonyford, in beautiful Colusa County, to Fort Bragg and back to Stonyford the following day.

While motorcycle enthusiasts ride throughout the year, the unique popularity of this OMC event is due to many factors, the most important probably being the diverse and challenging route options, designed and previewed by OMC members before every run. Routes range in diffi culty, length and terrain, and they include a combination of on- and off -road choices, single-track trails, and easy and more diffi cult splits through the Mendocino National Forest.

Participant’s comments over the years support the rides’ reputation.

• “Just wanted to send a big thank you for a great motorcycle ride this weekend. My dad and sister have been touting

the Sheetiron for a few years now, and I fi nally rearranged my schedule so I could join them. I had a wonderful time. I was completely impressed by the route to Fort Bragg and back, as well as the more challenging harder splits. Everyone on our ride was full of smiles.”— Valerie Elliot of Creve Coeur, Mo.

• “Thank you, Oakland Motorcycle Club for another great Sheetiron 300. Great route, well organized, and much fun. Yeah, some dust, but the cold drinks, hot dogs and chili at the fi nish made for an excellent weekend.”— Bob Pushwa, a 12-time Sheetiron veteran from San Leandro, Calif.

• “I shook your hands on Sunday and said ‘Thank you,’ but that was not enough. Once again, thank you to ALL the OMC for a fantastic event. Everyone is so nice and helpful. It was amazing! It just seems to keep getting better every year, as you guys fi nd new ways to improve on the process.”—Kevin Friend, El Dorado Hills resident and multi-year Sheetiron enthusiast

The weekend begins Friday afternoon, or as early as 5 a.m. Saturday, with check-in for riders and their overnight bags for their stays in Fort Bragg. Riders submit their bikes for noise, spark arrester and license plate inspection, and then begin their chosen route.

The journey is an adventure. Each rider arrives at the Fort Bragg destination by whatever route or combination of routes he or she chooses to follow. Riders regroup as they stop for food and gas along the way. Some will experience

ON ROAD AND OFF IN COLUSA COUNTYSheetiron 300 Dualsport Is One Of Country’s Most Popular

By John Notch and Judy Holliday

Bung

ee B

rent

Pho

togr

aphy

Meet your friends NEXT year:June 2-7, 2014

www.americade.com 518-798-7888

World’s Largest Touring Rally

DIRTMAIN



Beach’s Motorcycle Adventures, Ltd.2763 West River Parkway

Grand Island, NY 14072-2053 USATele: +1 716-773-4960Fax: +1 716-773-5227

e-mail: [email protected]. bmca.com

Turn your dreams into memories!

The Alps, Tuscany or Sicily

engine or mechanical trouble or other kinds of mishaps that require assistance.

Stonyford, a quaint ranching town of 150 people, comes alive for two events each year, the fi rst of these being the Colusa County annual rodeo, and then the Sheetiron two weeks later. This tiny, congenial town was chosen because of the easy entry it provides to the East Park Reservoir and the Mendocino Forest. Camping is provided for free at the Stonyford Rodeo Grounds. Sleeping arrangements in Fort Bragg are the responsibility of the participants at a hotel or campground of their choice.

OMC members transport participant bags to Fort Bragg, unload them from the trucks, and return them to their respective owners when they arrive. If a bike is disabled or a rider is moderately injured, the club will sometimes transport both the rider and the bike back to Stonyford the following day.

On Day 2 (Sunday), once again personal bags are checked in for transport back to Stonyford and reloaded onto the trucks by OMC members, friends and family members. At the end of the day, riders are greeted by friendly faces, great sponsor-provided raffl e prizes, individual photos that were taken in Fort Bragg at the end of Saturday’s ride, and free hot dogs, chili and cold drinks. Many leave that night while others choose to camp out, swap stories with other riders, relax, and leave the next morning.

The 106-year-old club opens registration for the popular event on April 1 and closes that window about 48 hours later, when the 500-rider limit is typically reached. Want to be a part of this amazing ride? The club’s website is www.oaklandmotorcycleclub.camp9.org. Bookmark it now.

SANCTIONING NOTICEThe Rules Of Racing By Jeff Massey

Since approximately 1924, a primary objective of the AMA has been to provide its members and affi liates with a comprehensive rules package aimed at enhancing the sport of motorcycle racing. The AMA Rules of Racing are evaluated and modifi ed annually by the AMA and AMA Congress to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of motorcyclists as the sport changes over time. Motorcyclists recognize utilization of the AMA Rules of Racing as an assurance that their racing experiences will be well managed and fairly conducted.

However, only when a racing event is sanctioned by the AMA can the AMA ensure that its Rules of Racing are appropriately followed and enforced.

The AMA has recently become aware of non-AMA sanctioned events that are advertising use of the AMA Rules of Racing. This practice is confusing and is not supported by the AMA.

The AMA prohibits others from falsely implying to the public that an event is sanctioned by the AMA when it is not. By advertising or otherwise informing the public that AMA rules are in place at an event, the riding public is deceived into thinking that event is an AMA-sanctioned event. This will not be tolerated by the AMA and is unfair to riders who believe

AMA points will be awarded at the

event and, more importantly, who believe that AMA safety guidelines are being followed when they are not.

If you are an organization off ering a racing event and would like to advertise and

partake in utilization of the AMA Rules of Racing, information on obtaining an AMA charter and applying for an AMA sanction is available online at www.americanmotorcyclist.com or by calling the AMA at (800) AMA-JOIN. The AMA looks forward to working with you toward off ering a racing event that meets the expectations of its participants through the proper application of the AMA’s Rules.

If you are considering racing in an event that is not AMA sanctioned, please understand that the AMA cannot ensure that proper rules are being followed, even if the event purports to use the AMA Rules of Racing. If you have been falsely led to believe that an event is AMA sanctioned, and you later discover it was not, please write to the AMA at 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43417 or email [email protected] and let us know the name, date and location of the event. We appreciate your help in this regard.

Jeff Massey is the AMA Vice President of Operations.

AMA points will be awarded at the

event and, more importantly,

DIRTMAIN

October 2013 29


www.husqvarna-motorcyclesna.com

Husqvarna is proud to sponsor the 2013 AMA National

Dual-Sport Series

Supporting Sponsor

AMA_Husqvarna_Natl_Dual_Sport_Series_SeatConcepts_rev.indd 17/16/13 3:02 PM

THREE QuEsTions WiTH… GEICO Honda’s Eli Tomac By Jim Kimball

Narrowly losing the 2013 AMA Supercross 250 West Title to Ken Roczen, GEICO Honda rider Eli Tomac has been a man on a mission to claim the 250 AMA Pro Motocross Championship this summer. Not only does he want to beat archrival Roczen, he also wants to end his 250 career on a high note before moving up full-time to the 450 class next year.

American Motorcyclist: Eli, let’s begin with the announcement that you will remain with the GEICO Honda team, moving up to the 450 class next year.

Eli Tomac: It’s good to be staying at home, and for me it will be an easier transition for jumping into the premier 450 class because that class is the pinnacle of our sport. This is really the best situation for me, as well as being the best deal. I don’t think there is a better way to start my 450 career than with being on the team that I am on.

AM: At the opening rounds of the outdoor championship, it looked like a four-way battle. Now it’s down to you and Ken Roczen. What are your thoughts?

Tomac: There definitely are a lot of top riders in the 250 class this year, but as you said, for the title it’s between Ken and myself. At times it does appear that we have an edge on the rest of the field, but if you don’t get a good start, it’s not very easy to go through the pack. There are multiple guys that can win a moto, so that makes it very tough.

In Supercross, it was between Ken and me, but I ended up losing that one. You could blame it on my crash in Oakland, or some mistakes in Salt Lake City, but that’s what gives me the drive to go out there and try to snag this outdoor title.

AM: How do you feel in terms of matching your potential right now?

Tomac: I feel good about where I am with my riding. I’m often the fastest qualifier, and I think I have five or six of the fastest qualifying times.

I learn the tracks pretty fast, and go for setting the best lap times so I can get a good gate pick. I’m definitely feeling it this year, and my bike setup is great. Everything is clicking.

Jeff

Kard

as

DIRT



HONORING EXCELLENCE Submit Nominations Now For AMA Awards Program

The AMA Awards Program is looking for deserving individuals and organizations to be recognized in 2013. Overseen by the AMA Board of Directors, the program encourages AMA members to suggest those to be considered for the following awards:

• AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award: Acknowledges the highest level of service to the AMA. It was fi rst presented in 1970.

• AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award: Recognizes activities that generate good publicity for motorcycling. It was fi rst presented in 1987.

• AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award. Recognizes someone who has contributed to protecting on-highway motorcycling rights.

• AMA Outstanding Off -Road Rider Award: Recognizes someone who has contributed to protecting off -highway motorcycling rights.

• AMA Bessie Stringfi eld Award: Honors someone who has been instrumental in introducing motorcycling to emerging markets.

• Friend of the AMA Award: Presented to those in the motorcycling community who have strongly supported the AMA mission to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling.

Submissions should include the individual’s or organization’s name, contact information, and accomplishments in 500 words or less. Send to [email protected]. Mail: AMA Awards Program, American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, Ohio 43147. Deadline: Monday, Dec. 2, 2013.

Bill’s Sport Motor RVDiscount RV Parts and Accessories

(518) 487-9569www.BillsSportMotor.com

AMA Members Get Up To 20% Off!

Bill’s Sport Motor RVDiscount RV Parts and Accessories

www.BillsSportMotor.com

AMA Members Get Up To 20% Off!

Don’t be this guy!

U.S. JUNIOR MX TEAM CAPTURES WORLD TITLEWe Get Back The Cup

The U.S. Junior Motocross Team won the 2013 FIM Junior Motocross World Championships in Jinin, Czech Republic, on Aug. 10-11. The Czech Republic team fi nished second, and Spain was third in the team-based competition.

In addition to the team title, U.S. rider Aiden Tijero, from Ripon, Calif., earned the individual world championship in the 65cc class at the event, which broke participation records with 231 entries and 41 countries taking part.

Rock River Racing Yamaha rider Chase Sexton, from La Moille, Ill., was the top U.S. rider in the 85cc class, fi nishing fourth overall, while Cernics Racing’s Jarek Balkovic, also on a Yamaha, from Camp Hill, Pa., led the U.S. team among 125cc riders, fi nishing sixth overall.

“I can’t begin to say how proud I am of the entire team,” said AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow. “After fi nishing on the podium in third last year, the riders and the families knew that winning the team championship was not going to be easy. However, the team spirit was at an all-time high and working together was really important to everybody. I’m exceptionally proud of Aiden on his 65cc FIM World Championship. Aiden and his teammate Max Miller played a big role in this victory as the only two riders in the 65cc class.”

Tijero, who is a member of the KTM Orange Brigade, was joined in the 10-12 year-old 65cc class by fellow KTM rider Miller, from Springfi eld, Ore.

In the 11-14 year-old 85cc class, Sexton was joined by Monster Energy Team Green Kawasaki rider Sean Cantrell from Newbury Park, Calif.; Bonamigo Suzuki’s Michael Mosiman from Seabastopol, Calif.; and KTM rider Mitchel Falk from Carlsbad, Calif.

Also in the 13-17 year-old 125cc class with Balkovic were Rock River Racing riders Cole Barbieri from Ukiah, Calif., and Tristan Charboneau from Tenino, Wash; KTM rider Alexander Frye from Huntington, Md.; and Josh Mosiman from Seabastopol, Calif., on a Bonamigo Suzuki.

Jeff

Kard

as

DIRT

October 2013 31


Several vintage motocross and hare scrambles champions got their AMA No. 1 plates at the season finale of the AMA Vintage Motocross and Hare Scrambles National Championship Series, presented by JT Racing.

The series’ final round was at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 19-21, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

This year’s AMA vintage national champions included off-road icon Terry Cunningham. Cunningham, who won four AMA Grand National Enduro Championships in the 1980s, competed in the hare scrambles Super Senior A class.

“I have not done much vintage racing before this year,” he says. “In 2010, a friend from Wisconsin, Craig Hayes, lent me a WR 430, like the one I race now. I tried it and decided to compete for the title this year. I wanted to win the series. That was my goal. I’m happy to win, but what I really enjoyed was seeing old friends and finding out how much the other racers still remembered me from my championship days.”

Cunningham discovered that fans never forget their heroes. Those who followed him during his professional career frequently approached him at the vintage races.

“It was great to interact with the fans again, and a series like this is great for the

sport, especially when former pros come to the events,” Cunningham says. “When the AMA brought out this series for 2013, I really wanted to be a part of it.”

Cunningham says he’s now hooked on vintage racing and that he plans to return to the series in 2014 to defend his AMA No. 1 plate.

“I’ll be back to race next year,” he says. “I love it.”

On the motocross side, Steve Ellis from Irvine, Calif., won two AMA vintage motocross national titles: the Super Senior A title and the 201-250cc A title.

“I decided to attempt another national championship 40 years after my first one, which was in 1973,” says Ellis, who competed on a 1973 Honda CR250. “This is the 40th anniversary of that event. The 40th anniversary of the Honda Elsinore and Gary Jones won the pro championship on the Elsinore 40 years ago when the bike came out, so I pulled it all together, you could say.”

Another coincidence that Ellis didn’t plan occurred during the awards ceremony. The Michigan native was presented his series AMA No. 1 plate by AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow. In 1973, Kip’s father and AMA District 14 (southern Michigan) representative Dick Bigelow gave Ellis his award.

“Vintage racing gives people an opportunity to get back to something that

they did in their youth, enjoying the golden era of motocross,” Ellis says. “To come back to vintage racing, get those juices flowing, and have a great series like this AMA championship, that’s awesome.”

Racers travelled from as far away as California to contest the five-round series in its inaugural year. Rounds were held in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Illinois before the final round at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

“In previous years, our national vintage champions were determined by the single-event AMA Grand Championship format,” says AMA Vice President of Operations Jeff Massey. “Dirt track evolved to a series a few years ago, and for 2013, motocross and hare scrambles also made the transition. We’re pleased that more vintage riders were able to participate thanks to the additional rounds, and we’re looking forward to gaining even more momentum next year.”

Vintage racing features motorcycles from the past competing on period-correct tracks. Competitive balance is achieved by machine- and era-based categories, as well as by age and skill divisions.

“Vintage motorcycle racing has a very broad appeal,” Massey says. “It’s easy to see why. The relatively low expense of older dirtbikes makes vintage competition an affordable option, while the historical significance of the bikes themselves, and nostalgia for the glory days, brings out riders of all kinds—including some of the sport’s biggest legends.”

Champions Crowned in ama Vintage nationalsTerry Cunningham Among New Off-Road Champs

Yve

Assa

d

Terry Cunningham



SOFT LANDINGSRoadracing World Action Fund Provides Soft Barrier Deployment

AMA members who competed in the road race program during the AMA Vintage Grand Championships July 19-21 were better protected in the event of a crash, thanks to the Roadracing World Action Fund.

“We appreciate the Roadracing World Action Fund stepping up to provide soft-barrier deployment,” says AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman.

The Roadracing World Action Fund, a charitable organization whose mission is to prevent racetrack injuries, provides soft barriers, known as Airfence, at road race and dirt-track events. The infl ated barriers are positioned in front of walls and other trackside obstacles to reduce the force of impact in the event of a rider crash.

WERA was the AMA’s organizational partner for the road race program at the AMA Vintage Grand Championships. WERA CEO Evelyn Clarke says she

welcomed the cooperation of the Roadracing World Action Fund.

“The Roadracing World Action Fund has always been there for the safety of the riders, and WERA and its riders have always supported and done what we can for the Roadracing World Action Fund,” Clarke says.

John Ulrich, founder and president of the Roadracing World Action Fund and an AMA board member, says charitable contributions fuel the eff ort.

“We’re happy to assist the AMA with the additional soft barriers needed above and beyond the 50 Airfence sections deployed by AMA Pro Racing,” Ulrich says. “The purpose of the Roadracing World

Action Fund is to help improve rider safety and deploying 26 additional sections—780 linear feet—of Airfence brand soft barriers will make a signifi cant diff erence. We’d like to thank all the people who have contributed to the Roadracing World Action Fund for making this and other deployments possible.”

Info: actionfund.roadracingworld.com.

THE ADVENTUREis out there

Get itcome

High Adventure. No Hassle.The best routes, roads and two-track, mapped by local experts. A great challenge with like-minded riders. A full weekend’s activities, with camping, campfires, food and prizes.

For more information visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/Riding.

Sponsored by Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.www.yamaha-motor.com

AMA ROLLS OUT IMPROVED ONLINE RESULTS REPORTINGAll AMA-Sanctioned MX Results In One Location

AMA racers now have access to a new online portal for amateur race results.

AMA Race Center, available at http://results.americanmotorcyclist.com, off ers a number of enhancements to previously available online motocross results. Although still in beta, the system features several exciting features, including results and advancement points for all classes, cross-linked results by rider or track; rider performance charts; upcoming events; speedy performance; a comprehensive search function; and an easier-to-navigate user interface.

“Phase one of the all-new AMA Race Center is a major upgrade to our race-reporting capabilities,” says AMA Vice President of Operations Jeff Massey. “AMA Competition Members can see their complete results in one online location for all AMA-sanctioned motocross events. They can also track their advancement in motocross and enduro competition, using both raw numbers as well as charts.”

AMA Race Center includes results for all AMA-sanctioned motocross, Arenacross and ATV motocross races as soon as those results are delivered from the individual event promoters. The platform also includes enduro B-to-A class advancement points.

Massey adds that future versions of the AMA Race Center will include results for all disciplines sanctioned by the AMA.

“In addition to results for additional disciplines, we will enhance the functionality over time,” he says. “We invite all members to check out the new AMA Race Center and let us know what works, what doesn’t and how we can improve it going forward.”

Feedback or bugs to report? Drop us an email at [email protected].


CRAIG VETTER’S “HIGH MILEAGE LUXURY TOURING BIKE” Swoopy, Dramatic And Evocative Of A Streamlined Space-Age Future

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Craig Vetter may be best known for his iconic Windjammer fairings in the 1970s, but those were only part of Vetter’s obsession with streamlining.

In the early 1980s, Vetter was concerned that fuel-effi cient cars were beginning to get better mileage than motorcycles, and he wanted to do something about it. He created the Craig Vetter Fuel Economy Contests in 1980 to challenge designers to think green.

His own entry was classic Vetter—swoopy, dramatic and evocative of a streamlined, space-age inspired future that Vetter still very much believes in.

It started life as a fairly pedestrian single-cylinder Kawasaki KZ250, which Vetter chose because he fi gured that it would have enough power to propel a rider effi ciently. Wanting to minimize the frontal profi le for maximum streamlining, Vetter chose a comfortable position that most closely approximated a reclining chair, moving the foot controls up near the front wheel to accommodate it.

That position has come to be known as “feet-forward,” and is still used in alternative motorcycle designs, but at the time, Vetter was more concerned with comfort. Hence the name for his design: “The High-Mileage Luxury Touring Bike.”

Real-world conditions were important to Vetter. Building a high-mileage bike that couldn’t do something like carry groceries wasn’t his goal. So the entire rear section was hollow, and could be accessed by tilting the

seat forward.On the road, the streamlining helped tremendously—so much

so, that the engine could be geared up. Experiments with smaller carburetor jets just made the engine overheat, so ultimately the jetting remained the same. Still, the aerodynamically slick machine was capable of 125 miles per gallon. Even today, Vetter says, it was a great testbed.

“We learned from that machine that in side by side travel, real streamlining allows your fuel to take you twice as far when you travel at highway speeds like 70 mph,” Vetter says. “This is especially signifi cant in electric bikes because streamlining doubles the distance electric vehicles can go.”

Vetter also learned a few other things that profoundly infl uenced his thinking since then. First, he realized that you

DIRTSTREETMAIN


3534AM_10_2013_sec06m_HallofFame.indd 34 8/16/13 3:55 PM

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, features the people and machines that have defi ned the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling in America. The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 non-profi t corporation that receives support from the AMA and from the motorcycling community. For info and directions, visit www.motorcyclemuseum.org, or call (614) 856-2222.

Photos Jeff Guciardo

don’t need 250cc to achieve real-world performance in streamlined vehicles. About 10 to 20 horsepower is all that’s required. Second, designing around a vehicle powered by 125cc or 200cc makes more sense because they tend to be lighter and, therefore, more fuel-effi cient.

He used that knowledge in the latest version of a high-mileage bike, built around a Honda Helix scooter. And with that bike, he re-launched his high-mileage contests in 2010, often holding them in conjunction with AMA events like AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends Weekend.

Vetter donated his “High-Mileage Luxury Touring Bike” to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, where it is on display. To learn more about Craig Vetter and the other men, women and machines featured in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, go to www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

DIRTSTREETMAIN

October 2013 35


Bob Hansen was a key fi gure in motorcycle racing during the 1960s and ’70s. He’s best known for running the American racing teams for Honda and, later, Kawasaki.

Under Hansen’s direction, Honda won its fi rst Daytona 200 in 1970 with Dick Mann at the controls of a CB750. A few years later, Hansen headed up Kawasaki’s successful racing team during its early U.S. eff orts with riders such as Hall of Famers Yvon DuHamel and Gary Nixon.

Hansen had been a well-known racer in the Midwest in the 1940s and ’50s. He went on to become a much-sought-after tuner before going to Honda in the early 1960s.

Born in Racine, Wis., on Oct. 15, 1919, Hansen fi rst became interested in motorcycles when he was in high school. By the time he was 18, he was competing in just about every form of motorcycle racing, from hillclimbing to TT and fl at-track.

By the late 1950s, Hansen was tuning for -- and sponsoring -- several racers, primarily on BSAs. By 1960, he opened a motorcycle dealership in Racine and was one of the fi rst dealers in the Midwest to sell Honda motorcycles. Hansen became a Honda dealer and later joined the company, moving up the ladder and eventually relocating to Honda’s headquarters in Southern California to run the service department.

While with Honda, Hansen headed up several racing eff orts with the company’s lightweight and middleweight motorcycles. Most notable was a semi-factory Honda eff ort at Daytona in 1967 with a trio of HRC-prepared CB450s.

When Honda introduced its revolutionary CB750, it wanted to prove the speed and reliability of the new machine by racing in the 1970 Daytona 200. Hansen was given the responsibility of heading up the eff ort on the American side. The CB750s—of which there were four factory entries—had plenty of speed, but there was a problem with the cam-chain tensioner on the high-speed Daytona circuit. After the problem was discovered, Hansen made the decision to keep Mann off the bike during the fi nal day of practice so that the machine could be totally rebuilt.

Mann’s bike was the only factory Honda to go the distance and he won the race.

Just a few months after Honda’s victory at Daytona, Hansen accepted an attractive off er to work for Kawasaki coordinating its racing eff orts. Under Hansen’s guidance, Kawasaki won its fi rst AMA National roadrace with Yvon DuHamel and soon became a powerhouse in U.S. racing.

By the mid-1970s, Hansen had moved out of the motorcycle industry.

Bob Hansen was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

To read more about Hansen and other members of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, go to www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

Hall of Famer

BOB HANSEN Racer And Race Team Manager

www.motorcyclemuseum.org/myhalloffame or call 1-800-342-5464 for assistance

$180donation

9”

9”

$20donation

3”

3”

$80donation

6”

6”

Put yourself in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is YOUR hall of fame—we couldn’t exist without the generous support of our donors. Now there’s a new way for you to show that support in a very visible way: My Hall of Fame. The idea is simple: A $20 donation gets you a 3-inch-square space on the wall in the Hall of Fame entrance foyer that hangs during the campaign year. Want a bigger space? A 6-inch square is an $80 donation, and a 9-inch square is a $180 donation. You also get an offi cial certifi cate noting that your picture is on display in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Hang your picture, your kid’s picture, your company logo, almost anything. It’s up to you! Get in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame today!

YOUR NAMEHERE

1212 My Hall of Fame ad half page.indd 1 10/15/12 11:11 AM

Jayd

ie P

utte

rman



YOU CAN HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.AMA members do it all—long-distance rides, off -

road races, cruising main street, vintage dirt track... To better serve our broad membership base, American Motorcyclist magazine is now published in two versions. The dirt version includes more off -highway and racing content. The street version includes more articles for road riders.

Want to switch? Just call (800) 262-5646, ask for membership services and tell them which version you want.

Want to read both versions? Call the above number to get both delivered to your home for just $10 more a year. Members can read both online at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/magazine for free.

YOU CAN HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

www.motorcyclemuseum.org/myhalloffame or call 1-800-342-5464 for assistance

$180donation

9”

9”

$20donation

3”

3”

$80donation

6”

6”

Put yourself in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is YOUR hall of fame—we couldn’t exist without the generous support of our donors. Now there’s a new way for you to show that support in a very visible way: My Hall of Fame. The idea is simple: A $20 donation gets you a 3-inch-square space on the wall in the Hall of Fame entrance foyer that hangs during the campaign year. Want a bigger space? A 6-inch square is an $80 donation, and a 9-inch square is a $180 donation. You also get an offi cial certifi cate noting that your picture is on display in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Hang your picture, your kid’s picture, your company logo, almost anything. It’s up to you! Get in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame today!

YOUR NAMEHERE

1212 My Hall of Fame ad half page.indd 1 10/15/12 11:11 AM

DIRTSTREETMAIN 373736AM_10_2013_sec06m_HallofFame.indd 37 8/16/13 3:56 PM

Real Life VintageNostalgia is a powerful emotion. Not just because memories get better with age, but because it’s

the better things that we remember. Our fi rst bike. Our fi rst ride. Our fi rst two-wheeled thrill. More than just memories, though, these experiences came to life again at America’s grandest

celebration of motorcycling’s heritage: BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, presenting the riders and champions of Husqvarna.

Here’s a slice of the fun that happened this July 19-21 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington. For thousands of more photos from this unforgetable event, see the online gallery at

gallery.americanmotorcyclist.com.

‘America’s Original ExtremeMotorcycle Thrill Show’

With a name like “The American Motordrome Wall of Death” you have to be cool, and cool these guys were, wowing packed crowds all weekend with their vertical stunt show on vintage motorcycles.

The team of Charlie Ransom (below), Wahl E. Walker (above), Jeremiah Lightning and Dallas Dan captured the authentic spirit and appreciation for the past that permated BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

“This is America’s original extreme motorcycle thrill show,” Ransom says. “This is what entertainment is all about. It’s a live performance. It’s not for TV. It doesn’t translate into video or pictures. This is a throwback to the carnival days, this is real life, and you have to live it to really experience it.”

Yve

Assa

d

DIRTSTREETMAIN


3938AM_10_2013_sec07m_Feature_VMD.indd 38 8/16/13 3:52 PM

Above: Rolling MasterpiecesBikes of all makes and eras were on display

at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, including this immaculately retored 1968 Triumph Bonneville owned by Dave Williams (right). Williams’ Triumph won Dick Burleson’s Grand Marshal’s Choice Award at the AMA All-Years Bike Show.

Top: Louisville Vintage MotorworksOld motorcycles are great, but people who

love old motorcycles are even better. That’s what Brad White, Matt Westbrook, Dan Green and Chad Francis learned after starting Kentucky’s Louisville Vintage Motorworks.

The group got off the ground in 2008 with bike nights and other get-togethers, and they immediately realized that they tapped “something real in the local community,” White says. “We had people coming from all over, and soon there were 150 bikes packed in a tiny parking lot, and it just kept growing.”

White, Westbrook and Francis also run vintage motorcycle garage Retro Wrench.“We’ll have old guys come in on vintage Indians, kids just learning to ride on CBs,”

White says. “We just love bikes. Run what you brung. There’s no judgement. There’s no brand loyalty. We all have a huge respect for everything with two wheels.”

Start Them YoungGrandfather John Walsh and his

grandson Jason Ramey cleaned up in the bike shows, winning awards for a 1966 Gilera-Sears M106, a 1962 Ducati Falcon 50 and this 1979 Italjet.

L-R: Brad White, Matt Westbrook, Dan Green and Chad Francis of

Louisville Vintage Motorworks

Yve

Assa

d

Phot

os Y

ve A

ssad

DIRTSTREETMAIN

October 2013 39

3938AM_10_2013_sec07m_Feature_VMD.indd 39 8/16/13 3:53 PM

Below: Another Man’s Surplus...Clockwise from top left: Brandon Bishop from Mansfi eld, Ohio, with a tank for a 1980s Yamaha RX50; Taren Coleman from Wayne, Ohio, and his café racer seat for a CB500T; Jordan Vierling from Fairview Erie, Pa., and his new Alpinestars boots; Tom Davis from Columbus, Ohio, scored this Suzuki T500 brake drum; Drew Enggasser from Cleveland, Ohio, bought this front fender for a Yamaha CS3; and Johnny Freidli from Nashville, Tenn., with a new-to-him 1982 Can-Am 175 frame.

Right: Del Hickle and Michelle Ravenscroft found a classic Triumph sign, while Gatlin

Donohew from Ripley, W.Va., bought this coil for a Honda Z-50.

Below: Italian Treasure Dean Cruciani from Jermyn, Pa., took home this original 1965

Ducati Bronco.

Right:Jack Roach from Columbus, Ohio, will no doubt put a lot of miles on this 1970 Honda SLRS.

American-madeJack McHale from Scranton, Pa., knew he wanted it the moment he saw it: this

1974 Harley-Davidson Sprint.

Phot

os J

eff G

ucia

rdo

Jeff

Guc

iard

oJe

ff G

ucia

rdo

Yve

Assa

d

DIRTSTREETMAIN 4140 41AM_10_2013_sec07m_Feature_VMD.indd 40 8/16/13 3:53 PM

Above: Artists, including Alicia Vanderelli were creating on location in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame tent throughout the event.

Below: Owning The Track The world-class Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has been circulated by some of motorsports’ most

technologically advanced machines. But it also hosts rolling history such as this vintage Triumph.

Above: Husqvarna’s Riders and ChampionsIn addition to Hall of Famer and Grand Marshal Dick Burleson, other legends of the sport were on hand, including Hall of Famer Malcolm Smith (left) and Mike Melton.Below: Living HistoryThe vintage racing at BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days attracted hundreds of riders, including Trevor Kline from Hebron, Ohio. Kline also races modern bikes and is a member of this year’s International Six Days Enduro team.

Enthusiasts gather around the classic bikes on display during the AMA

Motorcycle Hall of Fame bike show.Yv

e As

sad

Jeff

Guc

iard

oJe

ff G

ucia

rdo

Jeff

Guc

iard

o

Yve

Assa

d

DIRTSTREETMAIN 4140 41AM_10_2013_sec07m_Feature_VMD.indd 41 8/16/13 3:53 PM

Right: AMA Vintage Off-Road Grand Champion Chris Wentzel (left) and AMA Vintage Senior Grand Champion Jeff Fredette

Below: Team New Zealand Kevin Jury (center) from Auckland, New Zealand, was joined by (l-r) Richie Weston,

Greg Pulley, Glenn Davies and Richard Vanderuyt.

Try it Before you Buy itKTM, along with Kawasaki and Kymco, brought demo bikes to to event. In KTM’s case, riders got to rip around the infi eld of the road race course.

Youth MovementVintage racing isn’t just for the older

generation. Josh Roper from Glendale, Ariz., demonstrates that kids like old bikes too.

AMA Dud Perkins AwardAMA leadership honored former AMA Board Member Andy Goldfi ne with the 2013 AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award. Shown are (l-r)

AMA Board Chair Maggie McNally, Art More, Goldfi ne, Perry King, Ken Ford, Jim Viverito and AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman.

L-R: Dale Sonnenschein, Richard Heins and Rick Heins

hang out between vintage motocross motos.

Phot

os J

eff G

ucia

rdo

DIRTSTREETMAIN 4242AM_10_2013_sec07m_Feature_VMD.indd 42 8/16/13 3:54 PM

2 The Big Bike Weekend, Oct. 11-13, in the Northern California town of Redding is a great destination for street riders looking

for a fun time with numerous traditional rally activities. This year’s event benefi ts the American Red Cross, the Missing in America Project and a pre-Thanksgiving Food Drive (Stuff The Truck) Info: www.bigbikeweekend.com.

4 One of the top events on the riding schedule in the AMA Premier Touring Series is the Golden Aspen Motorcycle

Rally, which is an AMA National Convention set for Sept. 18-22 in Ruidoso, N.M. Ideal fall temperatures, great roads and good company combine to make this rally worth attending. Info: www.motorcyclerally.org.

2013 AMA Championship Banquet, Jan. 18, 2014, at the Aladdin Shrine Center in Columbus, Ohio

1

2,3

5 4

6

3 The warriors of the dirt oval close out their season

this month in AMA Pro Flat Track action on Oct. 12 at the Pomona Half-Mile in Pomona, Calif. For more info, see page XX.

1 The fi nale of the AMA Pro Hillclimb National

Championship Series is set for Oct. 13 in Oregonia, Ohio, hosted by the Dayton Motorcycle Club. If you haven’t seen the pros in action lately, the Devils Staircase Pro Hillclimb is an event you won’t want to miss. Info: www.daytonmc.com.

6 If you’ll be in the Hicksville, N.Y., area on Oct. 20, then plan to take part in the

17th Annual Tombstone Tour, a recreational road ride poker run hosted by the American Spirit Motorcycle Club. Info: www.americanspiritmcinc.com.

COMING UPMake your reservation now for one of the greatest motorcycling events of the year: the AMA Legends Weekend Oct. 18-19 in Las Vegas, Nev. The gala features the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Legends Reception. Get more info: www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

5 If you’re looking for a good time on your adventure-tourer or dual-

sport machine, then head over to the Howlin’ at the Moon event hosted by the Arizona Trail Riders. Oct. 26-27 in Payson, Ariz. This event is part of the AMA Husqvarna National Dual-Sport Series and the AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré National Adventure Riding Series. Info: arizonatrailriders.org.

2013 AMA Championship

2014, at the Aladdin Shrine Center in Columbus, Ohio

A few of the hundreds of AMA-sanctioned events this month, detailed on the following pages. GO RIDE

DIRTSTREETMAIN

October 2013 43

43AM_10_2013_sec08m_Calendar_Market.indd 43 8/16/13 3:50 PM

OCTOBER EVENTS

ARIZONARECREATIONAL

ADVENTURE RIDE

OCT 26: PRESCOTT: 2 DAY EVENT, ARIZONA TRAIL RIDERS, (602) 692-9382, ARIZONATRAILRIDERS.ORG

DUAL SPORT RIDE

OCT 26: PRESCOTT VALLEY: 2 DAY EVENT, ARIZONA TRAIL RIDERS, (623) 826-1092, ARIZONATRAILRIDERS.ORG

POKER RUN

OCT 20: GILBERT: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

ROAD RALLY

OCT 19: BENSON: SOUTHERN ARIZONA HARLEY RIDERS MC, (520) 249-3939, SAHR.US.COM

CALIFORNIARECREATIONAL

DUAL SPORT-OFF ROAD

OCT 11: BISHOP: VENTURA COUNTY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (805) 857-2522, HTTP://VCMC.INFO/

OCT 27: LANCASTER: LOST COYOTES, (661) 951-7078

POKER RUN

OCT 5: POINT RICHMOND: RICHMOND RAMBLERS MC, (510) 620-0762, RICHMONDRAMBLERSMC.ORG

ROAD RUN

OCT 6: FAIRFIELD: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

OCT 20: CARDIFF: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

COMPETITION

DESERT SCRAMBLES

OCT 6: (Includes ATVs) EL CENTRO: OVER THE BELT RACING, INC, OTBRACING-D38.NET

OCT 20: (Includes ATVs) EL CENTRO: INTERSTATE 8 DEZERT RACERS, (619) 241-3292, I8DEZERTRACERS.COM

ENDURO

OCT 6: SHASTA LAKE: NORTH VALLEY MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION, INC., (530) 953-7272, REDDINGDIRTRIDERS.COM

OCT 20: OAKLAND: OAKLAND MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (510) 828-1494, OAKLANDMC.ORG

OCT 27: (Includes ATVs) GORMAN: VENTURA COUNTY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (805) 485-5271, VENTURACOUNTYMC.COM

OCT 27: GRIZZLY FLAT: POLKA DOTS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (916) 221-0834, POLKADOTSMC.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

OCT 12: SAN JOSE: 2 DAY EVENT, TIMEKEEPERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (408) 739-5762

OCT 19: PATTERSON: 2 DAY EVENT, NOR-CAL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (916) 295-9294, NORCALMC.NET

SPEEDWAY

OCT 11: AUBURN: FAST FRIDAYS SPEEDWAY, (530) 878-RACE, FASTFRIDAYS.COM

SHORT TRACK

OCT 5: LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 368-7182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM

TTS

OCT 6: LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 368-7182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM

COLORADOCOMPETITION

ENDUROCROSS

OCT 12: DENVER: SOURCE INTERLINK MEDIA, (303) 297-1166, NATIONALWESTERNCOMPLEX.COM

CONNECTICUTCOMPETITION

OBSERVED TRIALS

OCT 27: MERIDAN: MERIDEN MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (203) 235-9669

FLORIDARECREATIONAL

POKER RUN

OCT 27: FT. WALTON BEACH: SAND DOLLAR MC, INC., (850) 244-0376, SANDDOLLARMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM

ROAD RUN

OCT 13: UMATILLA: CENTRAL FLORIDA CRUISERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, INC., (352) 396-3239, CENTRALFLORIDACRUISERS.ORG

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

OCT 6: OKEECHOBEE: UNLIMITED SPORTS MX INC, UNLIMTEDSPORTSMX.COM

OCT 6: REDDICK: UNLIMITED SPORTS MX INC, UNLIMITEDSPORTSMX.COM

OCT 20: DADE CITY: UNLIMITED SPORTS MX INC, UNLIMITEDSPORTSMX.COM

OCT 27: GAINESVILLE: UNLIMITED SPORTS MX INC, UNLIMITEDSPORTSMX.COM

GEORGIARECREATIONAL

ROAD RUN

OCT 5: ALPHARETTA: FUN AND RELIABLE TIDDLERS, (770) 923-1685, DREAMHOUSE500.COM

ILLINOISDUAL SPORT-OFF ROAD

OCT 27: LEAF RIVER: FOREST CITY RIDERS M/C, (815) 624-6535, FORESTCITYRIDERS.COM

TRAIL RIDE - RECREATIONAL

OCT 6: (Includes ATVs) OTTAWA: VARIETY RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (815) 434-3669, VARIETYRIDERS.COM

COMPETITION

ENDURO

OCT 20: WHITE CITY: CAHOKIA CREEK DIRT RIDERS, (618) 946-4316, CCDIRT.COM

GRAND PRIX

OCT 6: BYRON: MOTOSPORTS ENTERPRISES LTD, (815) 234-2271, MOTOBYRON.COM

OCT 13: OREGON: KI TRACKS MX, (815) 732-3073, KITRACKSMX.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) PLAINVIEW: 2 DAY EVENT, WFO PROMOTIONS, (309) 314-3343, WFOPROMOTIONS

MOTOCROSS

OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) WALNUT: 4P PROMOTIONS INC, (815) 379-9534, SUNSETRIDGEMX.COM

OCT 5: BYRON: MOTOSPORTS ENTERPRISES LTD, (815) 234-2271, MOTOBYRON.COM

OCT 6: (Includes ATVs) WALNUT: 4P PROMOTIONS INC, (815) 379-9534,

SUNSETRIDGEMX.COM

OCT 11: DUQUOIN: RPM SPORTS, (205) 699-8857, RPMSPORTSONLINE.COM

OCT 13: (Includes ATVs) MASON: CROSSROADS MX AND OFF-ROAD PARK, LLC, (618) 686-2769, CROSSROADSMX.COM

OCT 20: (Includes ATVs) WALNUT: 4P PROMOTIONS INC, (815) 379-9534, SUNSETRIDGEMX.COM

OCT 26: (ATV only) FOSTERBURG: SPLINTER CREEK DIRT RIDERS INC, (618) 372-4255, SPLINTERCREEK.COM

OCT 27: FOSTERBURG: SPLINTER CREEK DIRT RIDERS INC, (618) 372-4255, SPLINTERCREEK.COM

OCT 27: (Includes ATVs) BYRON: MOTOSPORTS ENTERPRISES LTD, (815) 234-2271, MOTOBYRON.COM

INDIANACOMPETITION

ENDURO

OCT 13: MATTHEWS: MUDDOBBERS MC INC, (765) 998-2236, MUDDOBBERSMC.ORG

HILLCLIMB

OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) CAYUGA: PLEASURE RIDERS MC, (217) 247-2216, PLEASURERIDERS.NET

HARE SCRAMBLES

OCT 6: COLUMBUS: STONEY LONESOME M/C, (812) 342-4411, STONEYLONESOMEMC.COM

MOTOCROSS

OCT 6: WABASH: WABASH CANNONBALL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (765) 669-3005



IOWAENDURO

OCT 6: BARTLETT: C C RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (712) 313-0256, IERA22.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

OCT 13: ATALISSA: IOWA CITY COMPETITION RIDERS, (319) 530-1554, IERA22.COM

MOTOCROSS

OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) CEDAR RAPIDS: CEDAR VALLEY TRAIL RIDERS INC, (319) 775-0893, CVTR.ORG

KANSASRECREATIONAL

ROAD RUN

OCT 5: BENTON: MARCH OF DIMES-KS, (316) 267-9255, BIKERSFORBABIES.ORG/WICHITA

MARYLANDRECREATIONAL

ROAD RUN

OCT 6: MECHANICSVILLE: MARCH OF DIMES-MARYLAND NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA CHAPTER, (571) 257-2310, BIKERSFORBABIES.ORG/SOUTHERNMARYLAND

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

OCT 26: LEONARDTOWN: BUDDS CREEK MOTOCROSS PARK, (301) 475-2000, BUDDSCREEK.COM

OCT 27: LEONARDTOWN: BUDDS CREEK MOTOCROSS PARK, (301) 475-2000, BUDDSCREEK.COM

MASSACHUSETTSCOMPETITION

HILLCLIMB

OCT 6: (Includes ATVs) MONSON: QUABOAG RIDERS INC, (413) 267-4414, QUOBOAGRIDERSMC.COM

MICHIGANRECREATIONAL

POKER RUN

OCT 6: GRAND RAPIDS: PARA-DICE MC, (616) 363-1060

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

OCT 5: MILLINGTON: BAJA MX INC, (989) 871-3356, BAJAACRES.COM


OCT 13: MILLINGTON: BULLDOG RIDERS M/C, (248) 284-5570, BULLDOGSMX.COM



OBSERVED TRIALS

OCT 12: VERMONTVILLE: MICHIGAN ONTARIO TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (616) 821-6920, MOTATRIALS.COM

OCT 13: VERMONTVILLE: MICHIGAN ONTARIO TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (616) 821-6920, MOTATRIALS.COM

MINNESOTARECREATIONAL


OCT 19: AKELEY: 2 DAY EVENT, PAUL BUNYAN FOREST RIDER MC, (218) 739-5525, PAULBUNYANFORESTRIDERS.COM

COMPETITION

HARE SCRAMBLES

OCT 6: BROWERVILLE: MOTO CITY RACEWAY & RECREATION INC, (218) 894-2826, MOTOCITYRACEWAY.COM

OCT 13: MAZEPPA: GOLDEN EAGLES CYCLE CLUB, (507) 843-5754, GOLDENEAGLES.ORG

MOTOCROSS

OCT 6: BROOK PARK: BERM BENDERS RACEWAY, (320) 679-2582, BERMBENDERS.COM

OCT 6: KELLOGG: MOTOKAZIE INC, (952) 244-9996, MOTOKAZIE.COM

OCT 13: MILLVILLE: HI-WINDERS, (507) 753-2779, SPRINGCREEKMX.COM

OBSERVED TRIALS

OCT 12: NORTH MANKATA: UPPER MIDWEST TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (507) 935-1887, UMTA.ORG

OCT 13: NORTH MANKATO: UPPER MIDWEST TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (507) 351-8879, UMTA.ORG

OCT 26: RED WING: UPPER MIDWEST TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (507) 351-8879, UMTA.ORG

OCT 27: RED WING: UPPER MIDWEST TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (507) 351-8879, UMTA.ORG

MISSOURIRECREATIONAL

ROAD RUN

OCT 13: MARYLAND HEIGHTS: MARCH OF DIMES-MO, (314) 513-9968, BIKERSFORBABIESMO.ORG

ROAD RALLY

OCT 4: CAPE GIRARDEAU: MOTORCYCLE SPORT TOURING ASSOCIATION, (573) 334-4491

DIRTSTREETMAIN



OCTOBER EVENTS

COMPETITIONHARE SCRAMBLESOCT 27: PARK HILLS: MISSOURI MUDDERS, (636) 639-6373, MOMUDDERS.COM

NEW JERSEYRECREATIONALDUAL SPORT RIDEOCT 26: TUCKERTON: 2 DAY EVENT, METEOR MC, (609) 296-9163, CAMPACN.COMCOMPETITIONENDUROOCT 20: NEW LISBON: OCEAN COUNTY COMPETITION RIDERS M.C., (609) 758-2747, HTTP://OCCR.NET/HARE SCRAMBLESOCT 5: EAGLESWOOD TWP: 2 DAY EVENT, PINE BARONS ENDURO RIDERS, (609) 502-6737, PBER.WEBS.COMOCT 26: MILLVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, COMPETITION DIRT RIDERS, (609) 319-7496MOTOCROSSOCT 5: ENGLISHTOWN: 2 DAY EVENT, RACEWAY PARK, (732) 446-7800, RACEWAYPARK.COM

NEW MEXICOCOMPETITIONOBSERVED TRIALSOCT 5: ROSWELL: 2 DAY EVENT, NEW MEXICO TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (505) 780-2551, NEWMEXICOTRIALS.COM

NEW YORKRECREATIONALMYSTERY RUNOCT 20: HICKSVILLE: AMERICAN SPIRIT MC, INC., (516) 485-8270ROAD RUNOCT 13: SLOATSBURG: RAMAPO MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (845) 304-9345OCT 20: BROOKLYN: ROLLING THUNDER, NEW YORK, CHAPTER 1, (212) 330-8094, ROLLINGTHUNDER1.COMOCT 27: BRONX: CELTIC MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (914) 924-2170, CELTICM.C.C.COMTURKEY RUNOCT 27: OAKDALE: IDONTKNOW MC, (641) 715-3900, IDONTKNOWMC.COMCOMPETITIONMOTOCROSSOCT 26: (Includes ATVs) WALLKILL: WALDEN MX, (845) 895-2537, WALDENMX.COMOBSERVED TRIALSOCT 6: BEAVER DAMS: DISTRICT 4 TRIALS COMMITTEE, (607) 535-9321, DISTRICT4TRIALS.ORG

OHIORECREATIONALDUAL SPORT RIDEOCT 12: MCARTHUR: 2 DAY EVENT, ENDURO RIDERS ASSOCIATION, (614) 582-7821, ENDURORIDERS.COMROAD RUNOCT 12: LEBANON: TRAIN MRO INC., (513) 531-6547, TRAINMRO.ORGOCT 20: PORTSMOUTH: PORTSMOUTH MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (740) 352-7200, PORTSMOUTHMC.NETCOMPETITIONENDUROOCT 6: RAY: CHILLICOTHE ENDURO RIDERS ASSOCIATION, (740) 649-9026, CHILLICOTHEENDURO.COM

GRAND PRIX

OCT 20: (Includes ATVs) ATHENS: ACTION SPORTS PROMOTIONS INC., (570) 591-7223, ACTIONSSPORTSRACING.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

OCT 13: (Includes ATVs) SUGAR GROVE: CENTRAL OHIO COMPETITION RIDERS INC., (740) 983-3937

OBSERVED TRIALS

OCT 5: LITTLE HOCKING : 2 DAY EVENT, TRIALS INC, TRIALSINC.ORG

OCT 26: WELLSVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, TRIALS INC, TRIALSINC.ORG

OKLAHOMACOMPETITION

ENDURO

OCT 20: OKLAHOMA CITY: OKLAHOMA DIRT RIDERS, (405) 249-6702, OKIEDIRTRIDERS.COM

MOTOCROSS

OCT 26: PONCA CITY: 2 DAY EVENT, RPM SPORTS, (205) 699-8857, RPMSPORTSONLINE.COM

PENNSYLVANIARECREATIONAL

DUAL SPORT RIDE

OCT 13: PINE GROVE: READING OFF ROAD RIDERS, (610) 921-3592, RORR.ORG

POKER RUN

OCT 6: SCHUYLKILL: SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (570) 385-1460, SCHUYLKILLMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM

OCT 6: KRESGEVILLE: ZINC CITY MC, (570) 992-4214, ZINCCITYMC.ORG

OCT 6: YORK: TWIN ROSE LADY RIDERS, (717) 471-7026

OCT 13: COLUMBIA: THUNDERBIRD MOTORCYCLE CLUB, INC., (717) 898-0871

OCT 13: LEBANON: LEBANON VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (717) 270-9797, LEBANONVALLEYMC.COM

OCT 13: RED HILL: FREEDOM RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (215) 679-4766, FREEDOMRIDERSPA.COM

OCT 19: LEESPORT: CLASSIC HARLEY-DAVIDSON, (610) 916-7777, CLASSICHARLEY.COM

OCT 26: SKIPPACK: BLUE COMET MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (267) 261-3580, BLUECOMETMC.COM

OCT 27: LEBANON: LEBANON VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (717) 270-9797, LEBANONVALLEYMC.COM

ROAD RUN

OCT 12: LEESPORT: ARMED FORCES BROTHERHOOD, INC., (484) 331-1066, ARMEDFORCESBROTHERHOOD.ORG

COMPETITION

1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK

OCT 5: (Includes ATVs) NEWBERRYTOWN: SHIPPENSBURG MC, (717) 796-0294, BAERMOTORSPORTS.COM

OCT 19: (Includes ATVs) SHIPPENSBURG: SHIPPENSBURG MC, (717) 796-0294, BAERMOTORSPORTS.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

OCT 19: SKIPPACK: BLUE COMET MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (610) 489-1240, BLUECOMETMC.COM

MOTOCROSS

OCT 6: (ATV only) THREE SPRINGS: ROCKET RACEWAY, (717) 574-6590, ROCKETRACEWAY.COM

OCT 6: MT. MORRIS: RACER PRODUCTIONS INC, (304) 284-0084, RACERPRODUCTIONS.COM

OCT 13: NEW ALEXANDRIA: 8 SEVEN MX, LLC, (412) 736-1225, PRPMX.COM

OCT 27: BIRDSBORO: PAGODA MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (610) 582-3717, PAGODAMC.ORG

OBSERVED TRIALS

OCT 6: LOCK HAVEN: DURTY DABBERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (570) 748-6534

OCT 27: VALLEY VIEW: RAUSCH CREEK POWERSPORTS, (570) 682-4600, RAUSCHCREEKRACING.COM

SHORT TRACK

OCT 12: WEST LAMPETER: MASON DIXON MOTORSPORTS PARK, (443) 528-7648

TTS

OCT 6: PARKESBURG: E PA PISTON POPPERS MC INC, (484) 336-9160

RHODE ISLANDCOMPETITION

OBSERVED TRIALS

OCT 6: EXETER: RHODE ISLAND TRAILS CLUB, (508) 285-6074, RITRIALSCLUB.COM

SOUTH CAROLINARECREATIONAL

ROAD RUN

OCT 13: LEXINGTON: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

TENNESSEERECREATIONAL


OCT 14: TOWNSEND: XPLOR-INT LLC, (610) 470-8897, XPLOR-INT.COM

TEXASRECREATIONAL

ROAD RUN

OCT 12: HOUSTON: RIDERS FOR THE CURE, (713) 563-9230, RIDERSFORTHECURE.ORG

OCT 13: FORT WORTH: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

OCT 27: SELMA: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE UNITED STATES, (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

ROAD RALLY

OCT 17: WILS POINT: BIKERS ADULT RALLY, LLC., (972) 551-0024

OCT 18: DESOTO: 2 DAY EVENT, WHEELIO, LLC, (972) 672-9740, BIGTEXRALLY.COM

OCT 18: LUCKENBACH: 2 DAY EVENT, CENTRAL TEXAS MOTORCYCLE CHARITIES, (512) 922-5494, HARVESTCLASSIC.ORG

OCT 25: KERRVILLE: MOTORCYCLE SPORT TOURING ASSOCIATION,

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

OCT 5: (ATV only) KEMP: UNDERGROUND MX PARK, (903) 498-4659, UGMXPARK.COM

OCT 6: (ATV only) KEMP: UNDERGROUND MX PARK, (903) 498-4659, UGMXPARK.COM

UTAHCOMPETITION

ROAD RACE

OCT 5: TOOELE: 2 DAY EVENT, UTAH SPORT BIKE ASSOCIATION, (435) 277-RACE, MILLERMOTORSPORTSPARK.COM

VIRGINIARECREATIONAL


OCT 5: MT SOLON: 2 DAY EVENT, WASHINGTON AREA TRAIL RIDERS, INC., WATR.US

SCAVENGER HUNT

OCT 12: FREDERICKSBURG: 2 DAY EVENT, MASON DIXON 20-20 RIDERS CLUB, RALLYTHEVOID.ORG

SWAP MEETS

OCT 6: MANASSAS: VIRGINIA BRITISH MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (703) 368-0173, PWCFAIR.COM

COMPETITION

GRAND PRIX

OCT 13: RURAL RETREAT: VIRGINIA COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLE SERVICES, (276) 620-0400, VCHSS.ORG

MOTOCROSS

OCT 12: PETERSBURG: 2 DAY EVENT, MIDDLE ATLANTIC MOTOCROSS ASSOCIATION, (410) 375-1059, MAMAMX.COM

WASHINGTONCOMPETITION

ENDUROCROSS

OCT 26: EVERETT: SOURCE INTERLINK MEDIA, (425) 322-2600, COMCASTARENAEVERETT.COM

MOTOCROSS

OCT 26: (Includes ATVs) WEST RICHLAND: HRMC, INC., (509) 953-5242, HORNRAPIDSMX.COM

OCT 27: (Includes ATVs) WEST RICHLAND: HRMC, INC., (509) 953-5242, HORNRAPIDSMX.COM

WEST VIRGINIARECREATIONAL

ROAD RALLY

OCT 4: LEWISBURG: MOTORCYCLE SPORT TOURING ASSOCIATION, (304) 645-7722

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

OCT 19: HEDGESVILLE: 2 DAY EVENT, MIDDLE ATLANTIC MOTOCROSS ASSOCIATION, (410) 375-9105, MAMAMX.COM

WISCONSINRECREATIONAL

DUAL SPORT RIDE

OCT 26: CROSS PLAINS: MADISON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (262) 424-9361, MADISONMOTORCYCLECLUB.ORG

DUAL SPORT-OFF ROAD

OCT 20: WEST BEND: KETTLE MORAINE SPORT RIDERS, (262) 334-1743, KETTLEMORAINESPORTRIDERS.COM

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

OCT 5: WITTENBERG: FANTASY MOTO LLC, (920) 419-2863, FANTASYMOTO.COM

OCT 6: WITTENBURG: FANTASY MOTO LLC, (920) 419-2863, FANTASYMOTO.COM

OCT 6: TIGERTON: FANTASY MOTO LLC, (920) 419-2863, FANTASYMOTO.COM

OCT 13: LAKE MILLS: AZTALAN CYCLE CLUB INC, (414) 265-1582, AZTALANMX.COM

OBSERVED TRIALS

OCT 5: MAUSTON: WISCONSIN OBSERVED TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (319) 624-2003, WISCONSINTRIALS.ORG

OCT 6: MAUSTON: WISCONSIN OBSERVED TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (319) 624-2003, WISCONSINTRIALS.ORG

DIRTSTREETMAIN

October 2013 45


HALL OF FAME EXHIBITS AND EVENTS

AMA MOTOrcycLE HALL OF FAMEMotorcycleMuseuM.org

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio, and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Main Hall: AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame: Recognizing those who have made significant contributions to all aspects of motorcycling.

Dirt-Track! All-American Motorcycle racing: Celebrating the storied history of the men and machines who battle on the dirt oval.

2 Wheels + Motor, A Fine Art Exhibition: More than two dozen artists celebrate the spirit, excitement and adventure of motorcycling through fine art.

Founder’s Hall: Honoring the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame’s generous contributors.

Oct. 18-19, Las Vegas, Nev.: AMA Legends Weekend. Information: www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

AMA PrO rAcINg2014 MONSTEr ENErgy AMA SuPErcrOSSAMAsuPercross.coM

Jan. 4: Anaheim, Calif.: Angel Stadium

Jan. 11: Phoenix: Chase Field

Jan. 18: Anaheim, Calif.: Angel Satium

Jan. 25: Oakland, Calif.: O.Co Coliseum

Feb. 1: Anaheim, Calif.: Angel Stadium

Feb. 8: San Diego: Qualcomm Stadium

Feb. 15: Arlington, Texas: Cowboys Stadium

Feb. 22: Atlanta: Georgia Dome

Mar. 1: Indianapolis: Lucas Oil Stadium

Mar. 8: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona International Speedway

Mar. 15: Detroit: Ford Field

Mar. 22: Toronto: Rogers Centre

Mar. 29: St. Louis: Edward Jones Dome

Apr. 5: Houston: Reliant Stadium

Apr. 12: Seattle: Century Link Field

Apr. 26: East Rtherford, N.J.: MetLife Staium

May 3: Las Vegas: Sam Boyd Stadium

2014 AMSOIL ArENAcrOSS, FEATurINg rIcky cArMIcHAEL’S rOAD TO SuPErcrOSSAreNAcross.coM

Jan. 3-5: Worcester, Mass.: DCU Center

Jan. 10-12: Baltimore: 1st Mariner Arena

Jan. 18-19: Louisville, Ky.: Freedom Hall

Jan. 25-26: Greensboro, N.C.: Greensboro Coliseum

Jan. 31-Feb. 2: Milwaukee, Wis.: U.S. Cellular Arena

Feb. 7-9: Sacramento, Calif.: Sleep Train Arena

Feb. 14-16: Nampa, Idaho: Idaho Center

Feb. 21-23: Reno, Nev.: Livestock Events Center

Mar. 1-2: Tulsa, Okla.: BOK Center

Mar. 7-9: Albuquerque, N.M.: Tingley Coliseum

Mar. 14-16: Hidalgo, Texas: State Farm Arena

Mar. 29-30: Salt Lake City: EnergySolutions Arena

AMA PrO rOAD rAcINg cHAMPIONSHIPAMAProrAcINg.coM

Sept. 13-15: Millville, N.J.: New Jersey Motorsports Park

Sept. 27-29: Monterey, calif.: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

AMA PrO FLAT TrAck cHAMPIONSHIPAMAProrAcINg.coM

Sept. 29: Santa rosa, calif.: Mile, Sonoma County Fairgrounds

Oct. 12: Pomona, calif. Half-mile, LA County Fairplex

AMA PrO HILLcLIMB cHAMPIONSHIPAMAProrAcINg.coM

Sept. 29: Jefferson, Pa.

Oct. 13: Oregonia, Ohio

AMA NATIONALcHAMPIONSHIP SErIES

AMA ENDurOcrOSSeNDurocross.coM

Sept. 21: Ontario, calif.: Citizens Business Bank Arena

Oct. 12: Denver: National Western Complex

Oct. 26: Everett, Wash.: Comcast Arena

Nov. 9: Boise, Idaho: Idaho Center

Nov. 23: Las Vegas, Nev.: Orleans Arena

AMA NATIONAL ENDurONAtIoNAleNDuro.coM

Sept. 15: Lynnville, Ind.: Gil Jochem, IN, IL, KY Enduro Riders; (812) 624-0344, www.blackcoal.org

Oct. 20: Oklahoma city: Chuck Howard, Oklahoma Dirt Riders; (405) 249-6702, www.okiedirtriders.com

AMA VINTAgE DIrT TrAckAMArAcINg.coM

Sept. 21: cuddebackville, N.y.: ST, Ron Edlin, Tri-State MC; (845) 566-4956; www.tristateclub.com

Sept. 22: cuddebackville, N.y.: ST, Ron Edlin, Tri-State MC; (845) 566-4956; www.tristateclub.com

AMA HArE AND HOuNDAMArAcINg.coM

Oct. 12, youth; Oct. 13, Amateur: Lucerne Valley, calif.: Ryan Sanders,

100’s Motorcycle Club; (949) 584-9395; www.100sMC.org

AMA NATIONAL MID-AMErIcA crOSS cOuNTry SErIESwww.theMAxc.coM

Sept. 28: Plymouth, Ind: The Blackhawk

Oct. 19: gosport, Ind: Rally in the Valley

Nov. 2: Freedom, Ind: Coyote Run

AMA FEATurED SErIESAMA WESTErN cHEckPOINT ENDurO cHAMPIONSHIPrIDechec.coM

Sept. 28-29: Toulon, Nev.

Oct. 27: gorman, calif. 100-mile Qualifier

Oct. 26-27: Elkins Flat, calif.

Nov. 9-10: Stoneyford, calif.

VIrgINIA cHAMPIONSHIP HArE ScrAMBLES SErIESvchss.org

Sept. 22: Spring grove, Va.

Sept. 29: chatham, Va.

Oct. 13: rural retreat, Va.

Oct. 27: Dillwyn, Va.

Nov. 10: Spring grove, Va.

AMA AcTION SPOrTS grAND PrIX SErIESActIoNsPortsrAcINg.coM

Sept. 21: Athens, Ohio: Action Sports Moto Park, Action Sports Promotions, (740) 591-7223

Oct. 20: Athens, Ohio: Action Sports Moto Park, Action Sports Promotions, (740) 591-7223

Nov. 16: Athens, Ohio: Action Sports Moto Park, Action Sports Promotions, (740) 591-7223

AMA DISTrIcT 37 BIg 6 grAND PrIX SErIESBIg6rAcINg.coM

Oct. 5-6: ridgecrest, calif.: Ridgecrest Fairgrounds, Viewfinders MC

Nov. 2-3: gorman, calif.: Quail Valley, Prospectors MC

Dec. 7-8: Pala, calif.: Pala Raceway, Vikings MC

EAST cOAST ENDurO ASSOcIATION ENDurO SErIESeceA.org

Sept. 15: Brandonville, Pa.: Valley Forge Trail Riders, (484) 948-5361; www.vftr.org

Oct. 20: New Lisbon, N.J.: Ocean County Competition Riders, (609) 758-2747; www.occr.net

Nov. 10: Warren grove, N.J.: Motorcycle Competition Inc., (609) 575-7820; www.ride-mci.com

Nov. 24: New Lisbon, N.J.: Central Jersey Competition Riders, (732) 558-6475; www.cjcrmc.org

EAST cOAST ENDurO ASSOcIATION HArE ScrAMBLES SErIESeceA.org

Sept. 21-22: Plymouth Township, Pa.: 2-Day, High Mountain Dirt Riders, (570) 954-7799

Sept. 28-29: Three Springs, Pa.: 2-Day, Green Marble Enduro Riders, (410) 638-9367

Oct. 5-6: Eagleswood, N.J.: 2-Day, Pine Barons Enduro Riders, (609) 654-6300

Oct. 26-27: Millville, N.J.: 2-Day, Competition Dirt Riders, (609) 319-7496

Nov. 16-17: New castle, Del.: 2-Day, Delaware Enduro Riders, (302) 834-4411

ALL-STAr NATIONAL FLAT TrAcksteveNAcerAcINg.coM

Sept. 28: york, Pa: Half-mile, York Expo Center

AMA IOWA ATV HArE ScrAMBLESIAtvhss.coM

Sept. 14: chariton, Iowa

Oct. 5-6: carlisle, Iowa: Blue Ridge Run

AMA AMErIcAN SPOrTBIkE rAcINg ASSOcIATION cHAMPIONSHIP SErIESAMArAcINg.coM

Sept. 21-22: South Beloit, Ill.: Blackhawk Farms

Oct. 17-20: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona International Speedway

AMA AMErIcAN SPOrTBIkE rAcINg ASSOcIATION TEAM cHALLENgE SErIESAMArAcINg.coM

Oct. 19: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona International Speedway, 30th Annual Race of Champions

AMA u.S. grAND PrIX rIDErS uNION SErIESusgPru.Net

Sept. 21-22: Alton, Va.: Final, Virginia International Speedway

AMA PrO-AM MOTOcrOSSAMArAcINg.coM

Sept. 14: Lizella, ga.: Motocross League of America Vurb Classic, Echeconnee MX, (205) 699-8857, www.rpmsportsonline.com

Sept. 15: richford, N.y.: New York State Championship, Broome Tioga, (607) 849-4438, [email protected]

Sept. 15: Lizella, ga.: Motocross League of America Vurb Classic, Echeconnee MX, (205) 699-8857, www.rpmsportsonline.com

Sept. 15: Tigerton, Wis.: Midwest Mega Series, Fantasy Moto, (920) 419-2863, www.fantasymoto.com

Sept. 15: Wytheville, Va.: Thor United States Mega Series, Pro Sport MX, (423) 323-5497, www.victory-sports.com

Sept. 15: casey, Ill.: Fly Racing Showdown Series, Lincoln Trails Motorsports, (217) 932-2041, [email protected]

Sept. 21-22: New castle, Del.: Delaware State Championship, Blue Diamond MX, (302) 834-5867, www.bdmxpark.com

Sept. 22: Mason, Ill.: (618) 686-2769, Crossroads MX, [email protected]

2013/2014 eveNts

DIRTSTREETMAIN



Sept. 22: Hamer, S.C.: Ultra Series, South of the Boarder, (423) 323-5497, www.victory-sports.com

Sept. 28: Mendota, Ill.: (815) 539-9021, Moto Pro Inc., www.megacross.com

Sept. 29: Dalton, Ga.: Thor United States Mega Series, Lazy River MX, (423) 323-5497, www.victory-sports.com

Sept. 29: Edgewood, Texas: (214) 939-4321, Buff alo Creek, www.buff alocreekmx.com

Sept. 29: Walnut, Ill.: (815) 379-9534, Sunset Ridge, www.sunsetridgemx.com

Oct. 6: Englishtown, N.J.: Kawasaki Race of Champions, Raceway Park, (732) 446-7800, www.racewaypark.com

Oct. 11-13: Dequoin, Ill.: Motocross League of America: Duquoin Fall Classic, Indian Hills MX, (205) 699-8857, www.rpmsportsonline.com

Oct. 13: Birdsboro, Pa.: (610) 582-3717, Pagoda Motorcycle Club, www.pagodamc.org

Oct. 19: Blountville, Tenn.: Thor United States Mega Series, Muddy Creek, (423) 323-5497, www.victory-sports.com

Oct. 20: Blountville, Tenn.: Thor United States Mega Series, Muddy Creek, (423) 323-5497, www.victory-sports.com

Oct. 26: Ponca City, Okla.: Motocross League of America Ponca Fall Classic, Ponca City MX, (205) 699-8857, www.rpmsportsonline.com

Nov. 1: Reynolds, Ga.: Motocross League of America, Silver Dollar MX, (205) 699-8857, www.rpmsportsonline.com

Nov. 2: Reynolds, Ga.: Motocross League of America, Silver Dollar MX, (205) 699-8857, www.rpmsportsonline.com

Nov. 2-3: Buckeye, Ariz.: Western Pro-Am, Arizona Cycle Park, (623) 853-0750, www.arizonacyclepark.com

Nov. 9-10: Lizella, Ga.: Georgia State Championship, Echeconnee MX Park, (205) 699-8857, www.rpmsportsonline.com

Nov. 16: Pell City, Ala.: MLA, Kawasaki Good Time Mill Creek MX, Mill Creek, (205) 699-8857, www.rpmsportsonline.com

Nov. 17: Pell City, Ala.: MLA, Kawasaki Good Time Mill Creek MX, Mill Creek, (205) 699-8857, www.rpmsportsonline.com

Nov. 25-27: Gainsville, Fla.: Winter Olympics, Gatorback Cycle Park, (312) 689-3461, www.unlimitedsportsmx.com

Nov. 28-30: Gainsville, Fla.: Winter Olympics, Gatorback Cycle Park, (312) 689-3461, www.unlimitedsportsmx.com

Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Floresville, Texas: USA Motocross, Cycle Ranch, 855-571-MOTO, www.cycleranch.com

AMA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPSAMA ROADRACE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPSAMARACING.COM

Sept. 21-22: Alton, Va.: Virginia International Raceway

Check Out the All-New AMA CLASSIFIEDS!YOUR ONLINE MARKETPLACE FOR MOTORCYCLES, POWERSPORTS & MORE.

• FREE basic ad posting• AMA Member badge on ads• $50 ad upgrade credit• 1000’s of listings

powered by

BUY. SELL. TRADE. BROWSE.

2013/2014 EVENTS

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION:U.S. ROUNDS/WORLD

CHAMPIONSHIPSFIM WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIPWORLDSBK.COM

Sept. 27-29: Monterey, Calif.: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

FIM MOTOCROSS OF NATIONSFIM-LIVE.COM

Sept. 29: Teutschenthal, Germany

FIM INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS OF ENDUROFIM-LIVE.COM

Sept. 30-Oct.5: 2013 ISDE: Sardegna, Italy

BUB MOTORCYCLE SPEED TRIALSBUBENT.COM

Aug. 25-29: Utah: Bonneville Salt Flats

COOK MOTORSPORTS PRIVATE LAND SPEED SHOOTOUT

Sept. 12-16: Utah: Bonneville Salt Flats

TRIALS DES NATIONS

Sept 8-9 La Châtre France ISDE: La Châtre, France

AMA DUAL-SPORT/ADVENTURE SERIES

AMA HUSQVARNA NATIONAL DUAL-SPORT SERIESAMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

Sept. 13-15: Reno, Nev.: Ride Reno 200, Dust Devils MC, Gary Lambert; (775) 224-0361; www.lbl200.com

Sept. 21-22: Logan, Ohio: Nutcracker 200, Buckeye Dual Sporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050; www.kaeppnerswoods.com

Sept. 28-29: Buck Meadows, Calif.: Yosemite Dual Sport, Family Off Road Adventures, Lawrence Borgens; (209)

649-3633; www.familyoff roadadventures.com

Sept. 28-29: Wabeno, Wis.: Big Woods 200, Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, John Newton; (920) 350-2030; www.widualsportriders.org

Oct. 5-6: Mt. Solon, Va.: Shenandoah 500 Dual Sport, Washington Area Trail Riders, Andy Giordano, (540) 379-5631; www.watr.us

Oct. 12-13: McArthur, Ohio: Baby Burr National Dual Sport, Enduro Riders Assn., Steve Barber; (614) 582-7821; www.enduroriders.com

Oct. 26-27: Prescott Valley, Ariz.: Howlin’ at the Moon, Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood; (623) 826-1092; www.arizonatrailriders.org

Nov. 2-3: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Hammer Run, Tri-County Sportsmen, Eldin Polhaumas; (888) 274-4469 or (856) 785-2754; www.teamhammer.org

Nov. 29-30: Palmdale, Calif.: LA-Barstow to Vegas, AMA Dist-37 Dual-Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 446-7386; www.dist37ama.org

AMA YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ NATIONAL ADVENTURE RIDING SERIESAMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

Sept. 13-15: Reno, Nev.: Ride Reno 200, Dust Devils MC, Gary Lambert; (775) 224-0361; www.lbl200.com

Oct. 26-27: Prescott Valley, Ariz.: Howlin’ at the Moon, Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood; (623) 826-1092;www.arizonatrailriders.org

Nov. 2-3: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Hammer Run, Tri-County Sportsmen, Eldin Polhaumas; (888) 274-4469 or (856) 785-2754; www.teamhammer.org

Nov. 16-17: Hammonton, N.J.: Pine Barrens 300, Cross Country Cycles, Jack O’Connor; (732) 714-8874;www.pinebarrens500.org

Nov. 29-30: Palmdale, Calif.: LA-Barstow to Vegas, AMA Dist-37 Dual-

Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 446-7386; www.dist37ama.org

AMA PREMIERTOURING SERIES

AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

AMA NATIONAL CONVENTIONSAMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

Sept. 18-22: Ruidoso, N.M.: Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally: www.motorcyclerally.com

AMA NATIONAL GYPSY TOURSAMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

Oct. 11-13: Redding, Calif.: Big Bike Weekend: www.bigbikeweekend.com

AMA SIGNATURE EVENTSAMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

March of Dimes Bikers For Babies Rides: Nationwide: www.bikersforbabies.org

Rides For Kids Events: Nationwide: www.rideforkids.org

AMA NATIONAL GRAND TOURS, PRESENTED BY SHINKO TIRES AND FLY STREET GEARAMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

Jan. 1-Dec. 31: Polar Bear Grand Tour: AMA District 2 of New Jersey; (609) 894-2941; www.polarbeargrandtour.com

March 25-Oct. 1: Eddie’s Road and Team Strange Airheads Smoke Chasing Grand Tour: Eddie’s Road and Team Strange Airheads;www.smokechasing.com

April 1-Oct. 31: Tour of Honor Grand Tour: Tour of Honor;www.tourofhonor.com

AMA NATIONAL EXTREME GRAND TOURSAMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

Jan. 1-Dec. 31: SCMA Four Corners Grand Tour: Southern California Motorcycling Association;www.usa4corners.org.

Aug. 30-Sept. 2: SCMA Three Flags Classic Grand Tour: Southern California Motorcycling Association;www.sc-ma.com.

DIRTSTREETMAIN

October 2013 47


No matter what or how you ride, the AMA has a special card for you. Want one? Just let us know by renewing early, or telling us when you renew via our online signup form at AmericanMotorcyclist.com, or calling (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646).

Member #Year Member

Expiration

2013MembershipCard_Scooter.indd 1

4/17/13 11:24 AM

Member #Year Member

Expiration

2013MembershipCard_ATVA.indd 1

4/17/13 11:07 AM

Member #Year Member

Expiration

U.S. ARMED FORCES

AMA_Member_Card_Military.indd 1

4/17/13 11:16 AM

Expiration

ExpirationExpiration

Member #

Expiration

Year MemberExpiration

Member #


Year Member

AMA Affinity Cards HP 1013.indd 1 8/15/13 2:07 PM

DIRTSTREETMAIN 4948AM_10_2013_sec08m_Calendar_Market.indd 48 8/16/13 4:28 PM

AMA TrademarksThe following represent active, registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks of the AMA. Usage of any AMA trademark or registered trademark without our permission is prohibited. Please contact [email protected] for more information or assistance.(800) AMA-JOIN® • AMA Dragbike™ • AMA Endurocross® • AMA Pro Grand National Championship™ • AMA Pro Racing® • AMA Race Center™ • AMA Racer® • AMA Racing® • AMA Supermoto® • AMA Supercross® • AMA SX Lites™ • AMA U.S. Drag Racing Championship® • AMA U.S. Flat Track Championship® • AMA U.S. Hillclimb Championship® • AMA U.S. Motocross Championship® • AMA U.S. Supercross Championship® • AMA U.S. Supersport Championship® • ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series™ • ATV Motocross National Championship Series™ • Amateur National Motocross Championships™ • American Motorcyclist Association® • Arenacross® • Dirt Track Grand Championships™ • Grand National Enduro Championship™ • Gypsy Tour® • Hare & Hound National Championship Series™ • Hare Scrambles Championship Series™ • Hare Scrambles National Championship Series™ • Kids Just Want To Ride® • Motorcycle Hall of Fame® • Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum® • Motorcyclist of the Year™ • National Adventure Riding Series™ • National Dual-Sport Series™ • National Enduro Championship Series™ • Protect Your Right to Ride® • Protecting Your Right to Ride® • Ride Straight® • Rights. Riding. Racing.® • Road Race Grand Championships™ • Vintage Grand Championships™ • Vintage Motorcycle Days® • Vote Like A Motorcyclist®

Quality for Over 70 YearsThe Only Name You Need to Know

562.426.8668 • www.batesleathers.com • Made in the USA

KINEKT GEAR RINGwatch the video

moving gears you can wear

www.kinektdesign.com 888-600-8494

(800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646)

OFFICIAL MOTORCYCLE AND POWERSPORTS VALUE GUIDE

Trading Bikes?Get the most Timely, Independent & Accurate™ market values for ATVs, Motorcycles, Snowmobiles, and Personal Watercraft.

800•554•1026www.BlackBookUSA.com

officially licensed product

Trading Bikes?

No matter what or how you ride, the AMA has a special card for you. Want one? Just let us know by renewing early, or telling us when you renew via our online signup form at AmericanMotorcyclist.com, or calling (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646).

Member #Year Member

Expiration

2013MembershipCard_Scooter.indd 1

4/17/13 11:24 AM

Member #Year Member

Expiration

2013MembershipCard_ATVA.indd 1

4/17/13 11:07 AM

Member #Year Member

Expiration

U.S. ARMED FORCES

AMA_Member_Card_Military.indd 1

4/17/13 11:16 AM

Expiration


Member #

Expiration

Year MemberExpiration

Member #


Year Member

AMA Affinity Cards HP 1013.indd 1 8/15/13 2:07 PM

DIRTSTREETMAIN 4948AM_10_2013_sec08m_Calendar_Market.indd 49 8/16/13 4:28 PM

GUEST COLUMN

REAL LIFE PERSPECTIVERemembering An Unforgettable Two-Up TrekBy Lisa Hatch

When it came time to write my college essay, I tried to come up with unique and interesting topics, before realizing I already had the perfect one: the cross-country motorcycle trip my mom and I took years ago and how it still infl uences and inspires me today.

American Motorcyclist readers may remember our story from the October 2008 issue, “A Mother-Daughter Adventure.” I was 12 years old at the time of our 35-day, 9,000-mile ride, and it was life changing. Now, fi ve years after that trip, I may have a more mature perspective of the experience, but the memories are no less powerful.

Here is my essay.

Staring up the sides of the Rocky Mountains in awe, I realized this is what we had come for. This was the reason for our journey. The mountains seemed to consume us as we rode on, becoming closer and closer until we were right alongside them, riding the curves of the Rockies themselves. Moby’s “Feeling So Real” was playing in my ears, and I couldn’t have chosen a better song to describe the moment.

I opened my helmet and shouted over the wind to my mom “You were right; you have to see it to believe it!”

In 2007 my mom and I traveled across the country on her motorcycle. Everywhere we went we received a multitude of diff erent reactions to what we were doing, everything from stares, interest, amazement, to pure confusion. The idea of a woman on a motorcycle was crazy to some people, but as a motorcycle-riding single mother, my mom didn’t let stereotypes hinder our journey.

I, however, was not as used to the stares as she might have been. I was self-conscious about my bulky, unfl attering riding gear: riding pants that were too big for me and a helmet that made me look like an alien. But after awhile, I became proud rather than embarrassed, and I realized I was doing something few people ever got the chance to do: see the country with my mom. As long as it was important to us, we didn’t need approval from everyone else.

My mom likes to say, “You’ll learn more from traveling than you ever will from a geography text book.” I knew that Redwood trees were big before, but I never knew how immense they really were until I stood next to one. I knew Montana was known as “Big Sky Country,” but I never could have understood the vastness until I was beneath it.

Going on this trip opened my eyes to how diff erent everything can be from your initial perspective. One day while we were stopped at a gas station in Oregon, the cashier inside inquired about our adventure. When we told her we were from New Hampshire, she mentioned she had always wanted to go to the

East Coast. I had never realized how lucky I was to have seen so much of the country, that some people had never been so far away, and there I was at 12 years old, 3,000 miles from home.

The trip is something I will never forget. Five years later, I am still realizing how it aff ected my life, and me as a person. I’ve learned that perspective is not something that can be taught in school. You gain it through experience. I learned that doing something that may seem impossible is, in fact, achievable. I learned how to be proud of myself, even if I was doing something diff erent.

I had the opportunity to see how diverse and unique this country truly is, and I have been inspired to someday discover the same things around the world. I’ve come to realize that you can see something on TV, read about it, see pictures of it, even listen to stories about it, but you will never completely understand something until you go experience it for yourself.

I fi nished the essay with a smile on my face. I wanted to share it with everybody. I felt proud of what I had written, and that feeling assured me that it was the right topic, one that would show colleges who I was and what I was passionate about.

I am proud to say that this essay helped me gain acceptance to all seven universities that I applied to, including the University of Tampa, where I’ve begun a new journey this fall.

Lisa Hatch is an AMA member from Nashua, N.H.

Stud

io M

ark

Emile

Lisa Hatch and her mom, Gail (left)

Visit us online or call 1.877.887.BIKE to get parts done right.

We’re with you all the way.

Shop the Best OEM Prices, Guaranteed!*

*Some exclusions apply.

Whether it’s supporting pro-motorcyle legislation, advocating for safer roads, or participating in racing and other events, we’ve been a supporter of the AMA for more than a decade.

And it’s easier than ever to keep your bike in mint condition with our Best Price Guarantee on all in-stock OEM parts.* We also have an unbeatable selection of after-market solutions for your bike, whether it’s new or a restored classic.

Plus, we’ve got live support from people who know motorcycles, and the fastest delivery in the industry. 1.5 million riders choose BikeBandit.com for parts and accessories. Shouldn’t you?

BB2013_FPSummerComp_AMA.indd 1 8/12/13 11:23 PM


5150AM_10_2013_sec09m_Guest.indd 50 8/16/13 3:47 PM

Visit us online or call 1.877.887.BIKE to get parts done right.

We’re with you all the way.

Shop the Best OEM Prices, Guaranteed!*

*Some exclusions apply.

Whether it’s supporting pro-motorcyle legislation, advocating for safer roads, or participating in racing and other events, we’ve been a supporter of the AMA for more than a decade.

And it’s easier than ever to keep your bike in mint condition with our Best Price Guarantee on all in-stock OEM parts.* We also have an unbeatable selection of after-market solutions for your bike, whether it’s new or a restored classic.

Plus, we’ve got live support from people who know motorcycles, and the fastest delivery in the industry. 1.5 million riders choose BikeBandit.com for parts and accessories. Shouldn’t you?

BB2013_FPSummerComp_AMA.indd 1 8/12/13 11:23 PM

DIRTSTREETMAIN 515150AM_10_2013_sec09m_Guest.indd 51 8/16/13 3:47 PM

Features are optional. Actual costs will vary and may depend on coverages selected. Subject to terms, availability and qualifi cations. Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL and Allstate New Jersey Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Bridgewater, NJ. © 2012 Allstate Insurance Company

M O T O R C Y C L E

ACCCCIIDDEENT FORGIVENESS | TRIP INTERRUPTION | AFTER-MARKET PROTECTION

QUOTE TODAY A LOCAL AGENT 877-361-BIKE ALLSTATE.COM| | |

RIDER PROTECTION PACKAGEEXCLUSIVELY FROM ALLSTATE.PROTECTION FOR YOUR BIKE’S MOST IMPORTANT PART: YOU.

SM

1003

15_d

03Le

o B

urne

tt1/

20/1

2 G

M

CD: Pittman/Nolan AD: Waicman CW: D. Streadbeck DD: Brian Loehr P: D. Varichack

Client: AllstateCampaign: Specialty Lines Agency Job #: 610-ALMOTMG2002 AD #/AD ID: AHSL0895Date Modifi ed: 1-20-12CR: AD Round:

Bleed: 9.25” x 11.875”Trim: 7.625” x 10.5”Live: 6.75” x 9.25”

Keyline Scale: Actual Size, 100%Output at: 100%Page: Std

Region: USLanguage: EnglishNotes: None

NOT TO BE USED FOR COLOR APPROVAL

DIRTSTREETMAIN 5252AM_10_2013_sec09m_Guest.indd 52 8/16/13 3:46 PM

Documents

American Motorcyclist 10 2013 Dirt Version