American Motorcyclist 12 2009

THE JOURNAL OF THE

DECEMBER 2009

AMA MOTORCYCLE

hALL Of fAMERS

MEET THE CLASS OF 2009

hOLiDAY ShOpping MADE EASY: GivE THE GiFT OF AMA MEMbERsHip. sEE pAGE 45.

AM_12_2009_pp001_Cover.indd 1 10/22/09 10:15 AM

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Navigation

16 Protecting The Ride Next-GenCrashStudy

Launches

20 Living It AStreetfighterWorthy

OfTheName

24 Connections TakingTheLongWay

28 Adrenaline AMA TeamUSAPullsItOut

34 Heritage Off-RoadRevolution

50 Go Ride WhatToDo,WhereToGo

36 Let’s Rock EveryYear,TheAMAMotorcycle

HallOfFameHonorstheBest InAllOfMotorcycling.Meet TheClassOf2009.

46 Standing Guard StatesAreRaiding

Motorcyclists’MoneyAnd RidersAreFightingBack

December2009

Volume63,Number12

Publishedbythe

AmericanMotorcyclistAssociation

13515YarmouthDr.

Pickerington,OH43147

(800)AMA-JOIN

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 2009. 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 offices.

Cover Photo The AMA Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2009,

photographed by (l-r) Cory Cagle, Holly Carlyle, Scott Fairbanks,

Davey Morgan, Jesse Leake, Conrad Lim and Tara Staton

Navigation Photo Captured near Grand Teton National Park, the

middle of a 6,000-mile ride from Mexico to Canada, photographed

by AMA member Ian Schoenleber

06 Snapshots YourImages,YourWorld

10 Letters YouWrite,WeRead

12 Rob Dingman RiderAdvocacy

58 Tom MehrenUseYourOff-SeasonWisely

VIEWPOINTS THE LIFE

FEATURES

4 AmericanMotorcyclist.com

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22

The U.S. squad of Ryan Dungey, Ivan Tedesco and Jake Weimer proved once again that America

produces the greatest motocrossers on the planet by winning the Red Bull FIM Motocross of

Nations held in Franciacorta, Italy. The U.S. has won the event 20 times. Photos: Jeff Kardas

Snapshots


AM_12_2009_pp002-013.indd 6 10/22/09 10:44 AM

22

Get A $500 BikeBandit.com Gift CardGot an image that captures what’s cool about motorcycling? Send it to American

Motorcyclist. Send your high-resolution photos, name and mailing address to: [email protected]. We’ll even pick one standout photo next month, and send the photographer a free $500 BikeBandit.com gift card. Editors decisions are fi nal. No purchase necessary.

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Congratulations, Chris. You’re the winner this month!

Winner: Chris Kurtz took this photo of his dad, Glen, contemplating the open road. Below: 1) Dale and Janell Gaier on the Blue Ridge Parkway. 2) Denis Petrie is joined by Drs. Rena Jacobs and Thomas Goodman of Upstate Hemotology Oncology at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, N.Y., before he heads off on a 3,000-mile trip to raise awareness for cancer. 3) Scott Pristas and his daughter, Ruby, 6, share some quality time. 4) Michael Harris and his 1973 Yamaha RD350 in Loudon, N.H. 5) Barry Briggs and friends near Crested Butte, Colo. 6) Colin Barton drags a knee at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. 7) Mark Yeninas. 8) Paul Cavanaugh and Stephanie Roland of Loganville, Ga., visit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.

December 2009 7

AM_12_2009_pp002-013.indd 7 10/21/09 5:31 PM

EDITORIAL OFFICES

American Motorcyclist 13515 Yarmouth Drive Pickerington, OH 43147 (614) 856-1900 [email protected]

Grant Parsons, Managing Editor James Holter, Associate Editor Bill Kresnak, Government Affairs Editor Mitch Boehm, Contributing EditorMark Lapid, Creative Director Nora McDonald, Production Coordinator Jen Muecke, Designer

ADVERTISING

Ray Monroe, Advertising Manager (815) 885-4445, [email protected]

Misty Walker, Advertising Assistant (614) 856-1900, ext. 1267, [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 benefits, 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, 2009.

AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Stan Simpson, Chairman P.O. Box 1028, Cibolo, TX 78108

Jon-Erik Burleson, Assistant Treasurer 38429 Innovation Ct., Murrietta, CA 92563

Jim Williams, Assistant Secretary 9950 Jeronimo Rd., Irvine, CA 92618-2084

Erik Buell 2799 Buell Dr., East Troy, WI 53120

Andy Goldfine 8 S. 18th Ave., West, Duluth, MN 55806

Charles Goman PO Box 81, Winder, GA 30680

Perry King c/o AMA, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147

Michael Lock 10443 Bandley Dr., Cupertino, CA 95014

Maggie McNally P.O. Box 2188, Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12220-0188

Arthur More 16153 Starlight Dr., Surprise, AZ 85374

John Ulrich 581-C Birch St., Lake Elsinore, CA 92530

Bill Werner 18405 Davidson Dr., Brookfield, WI 53045

DAVEY MORGAN, Photographer is an award-winning shooter from Greenville, S.C. He worked with Randy Hawkins this month. To check out more of his work go to DaveyMorgan.com. CORY PARRIS, Photographer Based in the Seattle area, Cory is our go-to guy for amazing portriats in the Pacific Northwest. He got some great stuff of Tom Mehren for this issue. You can see more of his work at CoryParris.com. TOM MEHREN, Contributor Not many people could pull together a rally week that makes happy such diverse groups as riders of sportbikes, sport tourers, dual-sporters and scooter riders, but Tom does just that with his Rally Week in The Gorge every year (www.SoundRider.com/rally). He offers his rally-going tips this month as a guest columnist. JEFF KARDAS, Photographer One of the hardest working shooters in the MX world, Kardy this month brings us his lens work from the Motocross of Nations in Italy. Nice. NORA McDONALD, Production Coordinator With a new house to go with her “new” CB360, Nora is seriously considering putting the bike in the living room for the winter. BILL KRESNAK, Government Affairs Editor This month’s random obsession? Coolio vintage motocross gear. Tune in next month when it’s something completely different!

GRANT PARSONS, Managing Editor Grant’s not sure how it came to this, but he actually hooked up a heated vest to his scooter for a long, cross-city run to the sushi market last weekend. He promises to put more miles on his sportbike soon. Honest. MARK LAPID, Creative Director Mark’s been spending a lot of time contemplating the essential essence of what makes a “commuter” bike. So far, he’s narrowed the search to pretty much every motorcycle ever made. Funny thing? He’s right. JEN MUECKE, Designer In the trade of the century, Jen swapped her ’89 Honda Hawk 650GT trackbike for an ’00 MZ Baghira (complete with bags). Not as good on the track, but awesome in the city, where it looks and works the biz. JAMES HOLTER, Associate Editor Always the master of schemes that make perfect sense, James’ latest plan is to give his YZ250F to his oldest kid—mainly so he can get a new MXer himself. Brilliant! Other contributors include: Sgt. Steve Click, Shon Turner, Neale Bayly, Scott Hoffman, Tom Bear, Jake Whitehead, Cassandra Bergman, Cory Cagle, Holly Carlyle, Scott Fairbanks, Grogan Studios, Jesse Leake, Conrad Lim, Open Image Studio and Tara Staton

(800) AMA-JOINAmericanMotorcyclist.com

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WAY TO GO, MATT AND MARA!A big thumb-ups to Mara Butler and Matt

Olsen, for rolling their ’36 H-D 1,100 miles to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. After studying the cover photo (on the October 2009 issue), I have one question for them: How much oil did it take? Great restoration, Matt!

Mick AlumbaughAMA No. 433373Whitethorn, Calif.

Thanks for the sentiment, Mick. Matt

Olsen notes that his ’36 burned a mere

quarter of a quart during the 2,200 mile trip.

Did we mention that he’s a pretty darn good

mechanic who restores bikes? His next

project is a pre-1916 cross-country ride,

for which he plans to start building the

bike soon.

I SAVED $78I’ve been a member for a number of

years, but never used any of the benefi ts associated with membership. I just saved $78 on hotel reservations at Comfort Inn using my AMA membership and discount ID number (found in the Members Area of AmericanMotorcyclist.com). The savings will pay for two years of membership! I now carry the list of hotels and discount ID numbers in my wallet. Thank you, AMA.

John WyattAMA No. 373856Warren, Mich.

THANKS FOR THE STRAIGHT TALKI received my October issue and was

impressed with the candor and vision expressed in the article “Taking the AMA to the Next Level.” I think this article should be prominently featured on the AMA homepage so I can direct non-AMA riders to see how the AMA is building the organization that many think has been lacking for years.

Rob Dingman and Stan Simpson have presented a very strong message for riders to look anew at the value the AMA provides its members. (And I am not talking about towing service.)

Michael HollowayAMA No. 778661Tucson, Ariz.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORKI have never felt compelled to write

one of those “keep-up-the-good-work” letters, but your October issue has indeed

prompted me to do so. The Rob Dingman/Stan Simpson piece “Taking the AMA to the Next Level” was outstanding. Anyone with an ounce of good business sense or even the slightest inkling about best practices understands exactly why you are doing what you are doing, and where you are taking the AMA. Quite simply, it had to be done and, if it were easy, lesser people would have been tasked with the job. Congratulations on explaining the situation to members in a forthright fashion, and best wishes as you journey down the correct path.

By the way, the October issue was one of the best ever — the Ed Moreland piece, coverage of the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the AMA position on distracted

driving, so many other interesting pages, photographs and stories.

Keep on keeping on. The AMA (we) will be the winner.

Ron FishAMA No. 339069Valley Forge, Pa.

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PAYS OFFI have only been a member of the AMA

for two years since I got into two-wheeling with my Piaggio maxi-scooter, but I am so grateful for the roadside assistance benefi t that I received as an AMA member.

On a recent road trip from my home in Virginia to Vermont, my scooter broke down in Pennsylvania due to a fuel line problem, so I called AMA Roadside Assistance for a tow. The consultant was very helpful in getting a fl atbed truck in the area I was in. Plus, she took the time to search the Internet to fi nd a Piaggio dealer close to where I broke down.

Sure enough, a fl atbed tow truck pulled up and the gentleman loaded up my scooter. He thoroughly strapped my scooter tightly in place. A few minutes later, he deposited my scooter and me at a Piaggio dealer (R&D Powersports) in Palmerton, Pa.

I was hoping to never need the Roadside Assistance benefi t, but being away from home on a long trip, it sure did come in handy.

Marshall AbbateAMA No. 982465Fredericksburg, Va.

MORE ON ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

I just want to thank you for adding the free roadside assistance. That was the fi nal straw to get me to join the AMA. I had been mulling it over, and once I read the story in Rider magazine of how Eric Trow’s kid was stuck on the roadside, it made me think!

Unfortunately, I’ve already had to use it! Since then I’ve recommended all my riding buddies to join. I hope you’ve seen a “spike” in members!

You’ve got another member for life!

Cliff Penfi eldAMA No. 1090010Fort Wayne, Ind.

THANKS TO SPOT (AND THE AMA)A few weeks back, I ordered one of

those new-fangled Spot Messengers after watching the search for a missing rider go from two days to three weeks. I had it with me as I headed off from Maryland to Florida.

The ride down gave me plenty of opportunities to check out most of the functionality, except for the two options I hoped I would never need. My wife got a kick out of watching my progress from her computer screen, and was always ready with a weather report when I called in from the road. I thought it was just a neat toy until my return trip.

At 12:30 a.m., on Thursday morning, I struck a deer on an isolated two-lane road. My right shoulder had taken 90 percent of the impact, and my right arm was useless. I couldn’t get to my cellphone, but I did have access to the Spot. Although I had to bite off the 911 cover, I got it activated. I then focused on my cell phone. It took me whatseemed like forever to get my riding jacket off, and was so painful I almost gave up on it. When I did get the phone, I realized it was ringing. It was a Spot representative who told me that help was on the way. The Sheriff’s Department was onsite in 15 minutes, followed by the volunteer EMS.

That is one piece of gear that will be on my bike every time I throw my leg over it. Don’t leave home without it. In retrospect, it was a small price for what you get.

Tony LewisAMA No. 566885Fort Worth, Texas

Letters [ ]You Write, We ReadSend your letters (and a high-resolution photo) to [email protected];

or mail to 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147.

Cliff Penfi eld

Ron Fish


AM_12_2009_pp002-013.indd 10 10/21/09 5:32 PM

Glad things worked out, Tony. And for everyone else, don’t forget that AMA members can save $20 on a Spot Satellite Messenger and get a free service upgrade by using promotional code AMA23 when ordering from FindMeSpot.com/ama.

NICE WORK, LAUREN!

Great piece

of writing in

the November

issue (“View

from the Back

Seat,” Guest

Column), and

so true. The

writer is to be

complimented

on her ability to fi t so much info in such a

short article. It fi t to a “T”.

Thanks to Lauren and to the AMA for

printing it.

Zach Taylor

AMA No. 1085422

Springfi eld, Ill.

WHAT A GREAT VISIT

Well, I fi nally did it! I took the almost

1,000-mile round-trip trek to the AMA

Motorcycle Hall of Fame on my 1998

Honda Shadow VLX. Many thought I was

crazy to do this on my bike all by myself,

especially knowing that I would be camping

my way to and from! I took some great

roads in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West

Virginia and, of course, Ohio.

My time at the AMA Museum will be one

that I will never forget. What a great display

of bikes there! I really appreciated the

Arlen Ness display, along with the different

celebrity-owned bikes. Also, as I drove

up to the Museum, I was very impressed

with the bike-friendly parking! Being able

to park my bike under the canopy parking

and to put my gear into a locker right next

to it, well, it shows me that your team there

thought of everything!

Thanks

so much

for building

the AMA

Motorcycle

Hall of Fame

Museum, for

it now has

become a

memorable

milestone in the rides and locations that I

have enjoyed going to over the years!

Rev. Andrew Gysi

AMA No. 1037774

Quakertown, Pa.

CONGRATULATIONS, BARB!

I would like to publicly congratulate Barb

Gabor on her 30 years of service to the

AMA and her retirement this October.

As an AMA fi eld rep for many years, I will

personally miss working with her, as I’m

sure all of the AMA

fi eld reps will.

Barb has done a

tremendous service

for me, the fi eld

rep community,

the AMA, and all of

the motorcycling

community. She will

be greatly missed in

her role with the AMA.

Thanks, Barb!

Floyd Hoffman

AMA No. 376601

O’Fallon, Mo.Rev. Andrew

Gysi’s Shadow

Zach Taylor

Barb Gabor

On Facebook? Us, too. Become a fan of the

American Motorcyclist Association and you could be leaving comments like these:

Richard Pederson Great job, Team USA! Can’t wait

until next year. I am making my plans to see the racing

live in Colorado. — On AMA Team USA’s upset victory

at the Red Bull FIM Motocross of Nations.

Joseph Voss Our civil servants need to be aware

that they are there to “serve” the people. They must

put their interests aside. And, NO, before you say

it, Mr. Federal Employee, you do not get to decide

what is in the interests of the people. YOU are NOT

an elected offi cial. We voted in a different group of miscreants

for that purpose. — On the announcement by the U.S. Interior

Department that they found alleged wrongdoing in the

relationships between BLM employees and anti-access groups.

Neil Robert Pille I totally agree, but the problem is that these

(public service announcements) just preach to the choir.

Most of these loud pipe nuts have never heard of the

AMA, and are convinced that loud pipes make them

safe. I wish I knew how to get through to these folks,

because it’s like a religion with them. The more you tell

them its wrong, the more they cling to it. — On new AMA public

service announcements related to motorcycle sound.

Cymantha Corey AMA IS AMA-ZING!!!!!! — In

response to an update on the 84th running of the

International Six Days Enduro.

Chris Hermon That was a great battle. Upland always puts out

a fantatistic course. Thanks to the crew that laid it out. — On a

report from the fi nal enduro of the year, where Mike Lafferty

won the race, but Russell Bobbitt won the championship (see

page 28).

Bob Maddocks Great issue last month, gang. Fired

up The Olde Red Bike (’93 Ducati 900SS/SP) for a

Colorado mountains ride this morning. Life is always

better on two wheels...

Dave Vlasicak Riding my old steed to work today—

hoping like heck people driving their cars will not be

“texting” so much. Driving a car is just not challenging

enough in today’s world?

Follow the latest news from the AMA—and chat with fellow AMA members—on Facebook. In addition, you’ll always fi nd the latest in-depth info at AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

www.facebook.com/AmericanMotorcyclist

December 2009 11

AM_12_2009_pp002-013.indd 11 10/21/09 5:32 PM

In speeches and in the pages of this

magazine, I have talked a lot about

the AMA’s role as the motorcyclist’s

advocate. Most people interpret this

to mean protecting the rights of riders

through our government relations efforts.

While that is a crucially important part of

our advocacy work, rider advocacy has a

much broader meaning.

One of our responsibilities is to

advocate for AMA members on behalf

of their passion for and dedication to

racing.

When the AMA sold certain

professional racing assets to the Daytona

Motorsports Group (DMG) in 2008, it

was important to our Board of Directors

that we not shirk our responsibility

to professional racers. To protect the

interests of racers in all disciplines, our

legal agreement with DMG sought to

ensure that DMG wouldn’t cherry-pick

the disciplines that it wanted to run

and abandon those in which it had little

interest.

Our agreement also provides that

riders racing in AMA professional events

continue to be AMA members. While

in the past, the AMA membership was

perceived as the tax a rider must pay to

race, AMA membership is now included

when you purchase a professional

license from DMG.

The AMA has a responsibility to

advocate on behalf of all riders, and

this includes ensuring that racers are

treated fairly by race offi cials. In the

interest of giving DMG the opportunity

to be successful in its fi rst year, we have

not added to the criticism that has been

heaped upon them. In fairness, DMG

seems to have gotten pretty darn close

with the road-racing rules package,

treating fans to some of the closest and

most unpredictable racing we have seen

in years.

There was a particular incident

that occurred this year, however, that

represents a completely unacceptable

action by a race offi cial. The incident

was exposed in video that surfaced on

the Internet that showed a high-level

DMG employee berating AMA member

and road-racing competitor Johnny

Rock Page (read the full story on page

31). Whether Page was right or wrong

is irrelevant. No one who wears an

AMA-logoed uniform should be allowed

to treat an AMA member how Page was

treated.

I regularly receive correspondence

from AMA members who say they will

not renew their membership due to one

DMG action or another or until we, the

AMA, fi re a particular DMG offi cial or

another. Because DMG is a completely

separate company from the AMA, and

has been granted a license to use our

name in the context of professional

motorcycle racing, it is not within my

power or authority to make any changes

at DMG—personnel or otherwise.

It is, however, our responsibility

to point out injustices done to

motorcyclists, whether they happen in

Congress, or on the streets, trails or

competition tracks of America. Rest

assured that we have been very vocal

in our conversations directly with DMG

management in advocating for the rights

of AMA racing members. Look for the

AMA to be more public in its advocacy

on behalf of racers in 2010.

Rob Dingman is president and CEO of

the American Motorcyclist Association.

Rider AdvocacyThe AMA Champions All Riders—Including Racers—In Pursuit Of Their Passion By Rob Dingman

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO

POINT OUT INJUSTICES DONE TO

MOTORCYCLISTS, WHETHER THEY

HAPPEN IN CONGRESS, OR ON THE

STREETS,TRAILS OR COMPETITION

TRACKS OF AMERICA.

From the President


AM_12_2009_pp002-013.indd 12 10/22/09 10:58 AM

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AM_12_2009_pp002-013.indd 13 10/21/09 5:33 PM

The Life

The WorLd’s fasTesT MoTorcycLisTs

There’s a new sheriff in town in the world of land-speed record racing: seven-time AMA Grand National

Champion Chris Carr, who with builder Denis Manning (both AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers) set a new world

record in September on Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats of 367.382 mph through the measured mile.

“We had the drama on the out-run,” Carr said. “We about cleaned out the side of the course with the wind

blowing, but the run back was great. It actually started to slow down for me. It was not nearly as hectic as

347 (mph) was a couple years ago.” Said Manning: “This is fast—it’s like half the speed of sound! It’s great

to have the record back. I can’t thank the crew and Chris enough. I’ve been at this 39 years since

I first got the record in 1970, and it’s just great.”

See all three record-breakers—Carr, Manning and their No. 7 Streamliner—at the

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Dec. 5 in Las Vegas. Info: page 36.

Photo: Tom Bear


AM_12_2009_pp014-019_Uber_Protect.indd 14 10/22/09 4:46 PM

Protecting the Ride Page 16

Living It Page 20

Connections Page 24

Adrenaline Page 28

Heritage Page 34

December 2009 15


A woman who police say was painting her fingernails while driving has been indicted for reckless homicide in the death of a motorcyclist.

Lora Hunt, 48, of Morris, Ill., was indicted in September in the death of Anita Zaffke, 56, of Lake Zurich, Ill. Zaffke was stopped at a stoplight on her motorcycle in Lake Zurich on May 2 when she was rear-ended by a car driven by Hunt, who allegedly told police she was painting her nails at the time of the crash.

Police estimated Hunt was driving at about 50 mph at the time of the crash. Bond was set at $100,000. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison.

Lake County Assistant States Attorney Mike Mermel, who sought the indictment, told the Daily Herald that this wasn’t a case of distracted driving. “It’s almost intentional recklessness.”

“Distracted driving is...changing the radio station or yelling at the kids,” he told the newspaper.

Greg Zaffke II, Anita’s son who started the Black Nail Brigade Foundation Against Distracted Driving (BlackNailBrigade.org) after his mother died, was pleased with the indictment and hopes justice will be served.

“Basically, the indictment means they have deemed our case worthy of a trial. By no means are we guaranteed of a conviction, nor appropriate sentencing,” Zaffke said. “We will probably be in for the long haul if there is a trial.”

When researcher Harry Hurt published his now-famous motorcycle crash causation study back in 1981, it was full of information that helped develop new ways to make motorcycling safer. Now, almost 30 years later, a new motorcycle crash causation study is ready to launch at Oklahoma State University (OSU) that should provide new insights.

Formally announced by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on Oct. 5, the study will give motorcyclists and others concerned with highway safety a fuller picture of how motorcycles fit into today’s traffic mix, a better understanding of what causes motorcycle crashes, and insights into the best strategies to prevent crashes.

“The announcement is great news,” said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. “While the study will take years to complete, it promises to offer information that will allow for the creation of effective countermeasures.”

The last major U.S. motorcycle crash study was Hurt’s “Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures,” which provided a wealth of data that has been used to develop training and strategies to help keep riders safer on the road. Hurt’s team studied 900 crashes. In the decades since, the traffic environment has changed enormously, prompting the

AMA to campaign for a new study.The FHWA is overseeing the OSU

project, which will be administered by the Oklahoma Transportation Center in Stillwater and will study 300 crashes.

“OSU is delighted to be the lead research institution for this important study,” said Dr. Alan Tree, associate dean for research in OSU’s College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. “We expect very significant, scientifically valid results to emerge from this work, and look forward to a very positive final outcome.”

In 2005, Congress pledged $2.8 million for the research, and asked the motorcycling community to match it.

“In 2007, the AMA committed $100,000, and AMA members contributed an additional $27,000 in our Fuel the Fund campaign,” Moreland said. “Since then, six states have pledged another $560,000.”

Motorcycle manufacturers, through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) and the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), had pledged $3 million for the study if it would include 900 crashes or more. The MSF and MIC now are not releasing that funding for the study.

MIC officials stated in a news release that the smaller sample size “is unlikely to either validate the findings of prior studies or establish, to any statistical significant level, any new causative factors.”

Next-Gen Crash Study LaunchesInsights Expected To Make Motorcycling Safer

A new crash study could make the

roads safer for motorcyclists.

Greg Zaffke II

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Driver Indicted For Reckless Homicide In Death Of Motorcyclist Woman Said To Be Painting Her

Fingernails At The Wheel


The Life | Protecting the Ride


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Congress Targets Motorized Access on9 Million Acres In UtahUtah’s Delegation Opposes Bill

Offered By New York Lawmaker It’s common sense that government workers who manage public land shouldn’t get too cozy with any group with an interest in that land, whether it’s anti-access groups or recreational organizations.

So when there are indications that federal land-management workers may be working inappropriately with others, federal lawmakers, and even the workers’ bosses, want some answers.

That’s the case involving some employees of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS). Investigators with the U.S. Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) say in a report released in October that they found alleged wrongdoing in the relationships between certain NLCS workers and anti-access groups.

The OIG has submitted its findings to BLM Director Robert Abbey for appropriate administrative action.

The investigation of the employees of the NLCS, which is responsible for conserving nationally significant landscapes, was initiated after BLM officials reviewed documents requested by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and former Rep. Bill Sali (R-Idaho) in July 2008 and September 2008, respectively. When the BLM found documents it believed showed inappropriate relationships with advocacy groups and possible violations of anti-lobbying laws and policies by the

Relationship Between Federal Land Agency Workers And Anti-Access Groups Questioned

Investigators Allege Workers Gave A Little Too Much Help

Off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation is under attack in the state of Utah, with federal lawmakers looking to shut down riding in nearly a sixth of the state—or more than 9 million acres of public land.

The Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, chaired by U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), held a hearing Oct. 1 on H.R. 1925, also called the America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009. The proposal would shut down 9.4 million acres of Utah’s public land to motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and bicycles and would even restrict horseback riding. Popular OHV riding areas included in the legislation are lands around Moab, the San Rafael Swell and Chimney Rock.

Amazingly, this latest bill is a revival of a piece of 20-year-old legislation originally sponsored by then-U.S. Rep. Wayne Owens (D-Utah), who is now deceased. Owens sought a Wilderness designation for 5 million acres. Once land receives a Wilderness designation, no vehicles, including motorcycles, ATVs or even bicycles, are allowed on that land.

The latest legislation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), who has repeatedly introduced similar bills to create Wilderness in Utah since 1994. He has done so over the protest of Utah’s congressional delegation and governor, who have fought the proposals. They say Utah already has enough Wilderness. What’s more, they point out, the land Hinchey has proposed for Wilderness doesn’t meet the definition of federal Wilderness because it includes roads and developments. Additionally, they argue, the creation of more Wilderness would eliminate numerous recreational opportunities and hurt local economies.

Riders who want to take action on Wilderness proposals in Congress can contact their federal lawmakers by going to AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Issues and Legislation. Legislation section of the AMA website at AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Rep. Rob Bishop

NLCS, it referred the matter to the OIG for investigation.

“Our investigation determined that numerous activities and communication took place between NLCS officials and nongovernmental organizations (NGO), including discussions about the NLCS budget and BLM editing brochures and producing fact sheets for a specific NGO,” Mary Kendall, acting inspector general, said in a memorandum to Abbey.

“Our investigative efforts revealed that communication between NLCS and certain NGOs in these circumstances gave the appearance of federal employees being less than objective and created the potential for conflicts of interest or violations of law,” she said. “We also uncovered a general disregard for establishing and maintaining boundaries among the various entities.”


AM_12_2009_pp014-019_Uber_Protect.indd 17 10/22/09 11:06 AM

As Ohio’s recreation services administrator, Dameyon Shipley is responsible for the administration of four grant programs that control more than $10 million in funds for off-highway trails and recreation, for both motorized and non-motorized users. His mission is clear, he says: “We clearly have a dearth of public riding areas, and the department has a commitment to this expansion more than at any time,” he says.

AM: What obstacles does a state administrator face in creating new trails in a state?

Dameyon Shipley: We have challenges, as opposed to obstacles. It all begins with the identification of property for the

expansion of motorized trails. There is only one opportunity to make the right choice, and we have spent, and continue to spend, significant time in evaluating

options. We have had an internal review that is nearly completed to determine if the Ohio Department of Natural Resources

has existing properties that could be utilized. Because a large amount of our property was purchased with state and/or federal funding, the property may have restrictions that make it difficult to utilize

for motorized trails. We also need to work with the local community to ensure that any concerns they have are answered.

AM: How long does it take to open a trail?

Shipley: A year to a year and a half, depending on some factors. Once a property is identified we need to ensure

that the title is clear and that there are no easements or restrictions that would impact the potential trails. At the same time, we look at everything from soil, hydrology, and any abandoned mine land issues to the potential layouts of the property to ensure that the investment will provide the necessary riding experience. We will also need to speak with local citizens and government and be sure to ask for their input and address any issues

Four Questions With... Dameyon Shipley, Ohio’s Recreation Services Administrator

Ohio’s Dameyon Shipley is a

government official who has advice

for riders who want to create

motorized trails.

Motorcycles have long been the target of lawmakers intent on curbing excessive sound. The problem is that many of those laws have resulted in arbitrary, subjective and scattershot approaches that lead to unfair enforcement.

Now the AMA has developed model legislation for use by cities and others that offers a simple, consistent, economical and objective way to deal with sound complaints related to streetbikes within the larger context of excessive sound from all sources.

It’s based on the Society of Automotive Engineers’ (SAE) new J2825 measurement standard, “Measurement of Exhaust Sound Pressure Levels of Stationary On-Highway Motorcycles.” The AMA produced similar model legislation for off-highway motorcycles several years ago.

“Many cities and other jurisdictions already have excessive sound laws on the books, but when they get citizen complaints about loud motorcycles, they sometimes decide to single out the riding public with unfair or overly restrictive laws,” said Imre Szauter, AMA government affairs manager. “We believe

AMA Drafts Model Streetbike Sound Legislation Proposal Ensures Fair And

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they may have. Lastly, we then have construction of the property.

AM: How should riders with ideas for locations for new trails in their state approach their state trails administrator and what should they do?

Shipley: If any of the riders have suggestions for locations or anything else regarding public trails, I encourage them to contact their state. For areas in Ohio, I can be reached by phone at (614) 265-6646 or by e-mail at [email protected]. We will be doing a mail survey soon to get user input on what they would like to see in the expansion of public motorized trails.

AM: Tell us some more about the mail survey.

Shipley: In order to make the best decisions on location, type of trails, and amenities it will be important to see the results of the user survey. l encourage everyone to participate in the upcoming survey so that we can provide the trails you want to see. The department is committed to not just expanding motorized trails, but providing quality expansion.




Statewatch

California

Roy Denner, the Off-Road Business

Association’s co-founder and former

president/CEO, died Sept. 28 from

cancer. Roy and his wife, Nancy,

became active in the San Diego Off-

Road Coalition (SDORC) in the mid-

1990s. In 2001, Roy and Nancy formed

the Off-Road Business Association,

a nonprofit trade association of

businesses in the OHV recreation

industry.

Colorado

The AMA is seeking grassroots

activists in Colorado. As a rider or

motorcycle enthusiast interested in

protecting the future of motorcycling,

joining forces with the AMA is a

great way to get involved. To find

out how you can make a difference

by protecting motorcycling, e-mail

[email protected].

Hawaii

The Kauai Police Department Patrol

Services Bureau designated October

as “Noise Prohibition Awareness

Month.” A department spokesman

said, “We want to call attention to the

fact that excessive noise can be a

hazard to public health and safety, and

there are laws that address this issue.”

In particular, the department sought

to remind the public that state law

prohibits the modification of motorcycle

exhaust systems in a “manner which

will amplify or increase the noise

emitted by the motor…”

MiCHigan

House Bill 5452, sponsored by Rep.

Kim Meltzer (R-Romeo), would permit

motorcycle operators and passengers

to make their own decision regarding

motorcycle helmet use. Moped

operators under 19 years old would still

be required to wear helmets.

nortH Carolina

A new law that takes effect Jan. 1,

2011, makes rider education mandatory

for those under 18 years old and a

learner’s permit valid for 12 months with

one six-month renewal.

oregon

A new law requires motor vehicle

insurers to provide a reduction in

premiums for three years for coverage

of a motorcycle if the principal

operator has completed a motorcycle

rider-education course. The bill

was sponsored by Rep. Dave Hunt

(D-Milwaukee).

PennSylvania

Senate Resolution 153, which asks

that the U.S. Congress amend the

Consumer Product Safety Improvement

Act of 2008 to exclude dirtbikes, ATVs

and snowmobiles, has passed out of

the Senate Environmental Resources

Committee. The resolution, introduced

by Sen. John Wozniak (D-Johnstown),

now goes to the full Senate for a vote.

To support SR 153, use the “Rights”

section of AmericanMotorcyclist.com to

contact your state senator.

that motorcycles should only be regulated as part of a comprehensive sound management policy that also addresses cars, trucks, leaf blowers, generators and other sound sources.”

The new J2825 standard establishes instrumentation, test site, test conditions, procedures, measurements and sound level limits.

“Too many times, jurisdictions responding to citizen complaints about excessive motorcycle sound create laws that simply don’t work in the real world,” Szauter said. “They either set an unreasonable decibel limit, leave it up to a police officer to subjectively decide

whether a bike is too noisy, or come up with another plan that is arbitrary or unworkable. Our model legislation is objective, workable and fair.”

Szauter encourages motorcyclists and government and law enforcement officials

to download the model legislation from AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Resources, Programs & Policies > Model On-Highway Motorcycle Exhaust Sound Emissions Ordinance.

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the life | Protecting the Ride


A Streetfighter Worthy Of The NameDucati’s Newest Stripped-Down Assault Vehicle

My road notes on Ducati’s new Streetfigher are clear: “Throttle too sensitive at small openings, or low speed! Difficult to modulate brakes in tight twisties. Too much vibration at low rpm. No fun under 50 mph.”

And that’s exactly why I’m in love with this bike.

Launching the Streetfighter is like taking an uppercut to the jaw. The wind at high speed across unfaired handlebars is unrelenting. And it’ll stop so hard that you might end up getting up close and personal with the front fender. The Streetfighter makes all of the Monster range of motorcycles that have come before it seem comparatively tame and well mannered.

With a fighting weight of 368 pounds and packing a 155-horsepower punch

from the 1098-derived engine, using this bike to cruise around town is like bringing a torqued-off Mike Tyson to fight night at your local bar. This bike should come with a health warning: “Operating this machine might leave you stark raving mad.”

Looking closely at the new Streetfighter spec sheet, it’s obvious Ducati didn’t just peel the bodywork from a bunch of left over 1098s. The frame’s steering head angle has been relaxed nearly a full degree, the swingarm has been lengthened 1.8 inches, and it sports wider bars. There is also a new lower triple clamp holding the inverted 43mm Showa fork (Ohlins if you opt for the higher-priced S) and sleek 10-spoke aluminum Marchesini wheels.

The two Brembo four-piston monoblock calipers and 330mm discs up front are

easily among the strongest in the two-wheeled world. The Showa suspension is multiadjustable at both ends, but offers a choppy ride over rough road surfaces.

The 1099cc engine is a riot. Making mind-blowing amounts of power for the street, it’s quoted at 5 ponies fewer horsepower and 7 pounds less torque than the 1098. A 2-into-1-into-2 steel exhaust exits into two canisters on the right, complete with a pair of sensors for precise fuel metering.

After riding the Streetfighter, it took me a while to process my feelings about the new Ducati. It’s definitely for the experienced rider only, and it’s only going to work well in a limited number of situations. But it’s so visceral, so powerful and just so incredibly raw that none of that matters, and soon I was humming opera and speaking Italian. It’ll set you back $14,995 ($18,995 for the S) but the price of admission guarantees the start of one of the most intense love affairs of your life.—Neale Bayly

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Is the Ducati Streetfighter as aggressive as it looks?

Yes.


The Life | Living It

AM_12_2009_pp020-023_Uber_Living.indd 20 10/21/09 5:45 PM

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The best of next year’s new models, new gear and new motorcycling information is headed your way with the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows that kick off Nov. 13-15 in Texas.

New this year are expanded educational seminars aimed at beginner and advanced riders, product previews, an expanded women’s center with gear and products for women riders and demo ride programs in select locations. As an AMA member, you’ll save $2 off the already-discounted online price. Visit MotorcycleShows.com and enter the code AMA10 to receive your discount (not valid with any other offers).

“The Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows are your one-stop shop for all things powersports, including dirtbikes, streetbikes, ATVs and more from all the industry leading brands and with the leading aftermarket parts and accessory companies,” said the show’s Jeff D’Entremont. “There is something for everyone, whether you’re shopping for your next bike, looking for some new gear or wanting to improve your riding knowledge.”

Shows run from November through February in Texas, California, Washington, Michigan, South Carolina, Washington, D.C., New York, Ohio, Minnesota and Illinois. A full listing is on page 52.

Get Your Fix— And A $2 DiscountCycle World International

Motorcycle Shows Set

4-stage Race ABS Race. Rain. Slick. Sport.

The Start Of A New Tradition AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Famers

To Receive Rings

The 2009 class of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers will be the first to enjoy a new way to show the world they’ve been recognized for their amazing contributions to motorcycling: custom-designed rings marking their induction into the Hall.

Featuring the logo of the Hall of Fame, with its distinctive 1920s racer, along with the logo of the AMA, which oversees the Hall on the grounds of the AMA campus in Pickerington Ohio, the rings will replace the medals presented to Hall of Famers in the past, offering new inductees a way to proudly show their accomplishments.

“These rings give Hall of Famers a discreet but significant way to show their induction into the country’s most prestigious group in all of motorcycling: AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “The new rings will serve as a daily reminder of our Hall of Famers’ impressive accomplishments.”

The rings will be presented at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, set for Dec. 5 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas as part of a weekend dedicated to motorcycling’s finest. The AMA Racing Championship Banquet will salute the country’s best amateur racers at the same venue on Dec. 4.

You can be a part of both events, including an autograph session and cocktail hour with current and existing Hall of Famers. Tickets are $49 per person for either event, or $89 for both. For complete information, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/LetsRock.

Stay tuned for more information about extending the ring program to all AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers.



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Ask A Motor Offi cer Safety Equipment: To Wear Or Not To Wear? By Sgt. Steve Click

After my recent column in this magazine, several readers have inquired why motorcycle offi cers seem to wear minimal safety equipment, while some civilian riders wear considerably more. This is a recurring question.

Most often, we are asked about the lack of leather protection and about the helmets we wear. One reader commented that, “German police offi cers, by contrast, wear full leathers and fl ip-up full-face helmets.” He went on to say he would “love our law enforcement offi cers to be better protected while on duty, while setting a better example for the motorcycling public.” While I truly appreciate his well-meant concern, there are other considerations.

In this country, motor offi cers are police offi cers who happen to use motorcycles

as their means of transportation. We ride motorcycles because they are a valuable tool in performing various functions of law enforcement. As opposed to a civilian rider, who is only riding from one point to another or pleasure riding, motorcycle offi cers may be called upon to handle crashes, direct traffi c, deal with crowds, escort dignitaries, chase suspects on foot, etc.

And we do wear safety equipment. The boots provide protection from road debris and in the event of a crash will help protect the offi cer’s legs. All motorcycle offi cers wear helmets. Some wear half-shells, some three-quarter and some full-face. That decision is based on the mission of the specifi c agency for which the offi cer works. Offi cers in an urban environment may choose half-shells for

increased hearing ability while still keeping themselves accessible to the public. The three-quarter helmet provides good protection, while still allowing face-to-face interaction with the public.

While we do work in regular uniform shirts, most of us wear protective body armor, which can be very hot. Because we may be handling crashes, directing traffi c or assisting with crowd control, we have to balance safety with keeping the offi cer from overheating. We do wear gloves and protective eyewear any time the vehicle is in motion.

Few riders are as keenly aware of the need for safety equipment as a motorcycle offi cer. We work heavily congested roadways and are often called upon to ride faster than civilians should ride. We also know how quickly a “routine” ride can turn extremely dangerous in the blink of an eye.

Ask a Motor Offi cer is an occasional

feature from Ohio State Highway Patrol

Sgt. Steve Click. Got a question? E-mail:

[email protected].

Holy Replica, Batman!Stand Out From The Pack In

Batsuit Bikewear

Now you can be your own superhero, thanks to an entrepreneur who has produced a motorcycle-specifi c, Batman-inspired riding suit, complete with CE-approved armor. You’ll need to supply your own cape and utility belt—and fi nding the right helmet to match could be tough. But when you have an itch that only this outfi t will scratch, we’re guessing those are small hurdles indeed.

More info: UniversalDesigns.ca

MSRP (jacket, pants

and gloves): $998

Sgt. Steve Click




Ask The MotorcycleSafety Foundation

Special Advice For Sportbikes?

YOU ASK: “I’m a sportbike rider—I just love ’em. I’ve noticed that you’ve offered advice specifi cally for scooters and trikes, and I’m wondering if there are any safety tips or practices that sportbike riders like me should be aware of?”

THE MSF RESPONDS: As a category, sportbikes are known for their enhanced maneuverability and higher power-to-weight ratios, plus cutting-edge brakes, suspensions and tires. Within the boundaries of sensible operation, these bikes provide great responsiveness and feedback to the rider, making the overall operation a rewarding experience.

On the upside, riders fi nd an appropriately sized sportbike easier to control. On the downside, the race-inspired riding position may strain and tire the rider more quickly, especially with regard to the wrists and back.

Unlike the discussion of scooter and trike safety, the only signifi cant difference in safety tips for these bikes centers on rider attitude. Some riders seek to exploit their bikes’ performance advantages in the wrong place at the wrong time, and ride recklessly. This cancels out those advantages. A rider looking to test the bike’s speed capabilities, lean angles and personal limits should confi ne this type of riding to a track day.

The MSF’s book Motorcycling

Excellence (MSF-USA.org) explains traction management and other advanced concepts that may be of particular interest to sportbike riders like yourself. We wish you many miles of safe, responsible riding.

AtlantaMotorcycleSchools.com If you’re looking for personalized motorcycle instruction and can get yourself to Atlanta, the Atlanta Motorcycle Schools have you covered with professional, individualized training for street, adventure sport (dual-sport), and scooter riders.

MotorcycleRoads.us This website bills itself as a “one-stop resource for great motorcycle roads in the U.S.” They certainly have the country covered, with maps and GPS coordinates for every state. But the real question is, are the roads any good? For that, you’ll have to check them out yourself. We doubt you’ll mind.

Powersports.Honda.com/V4 Are you a fan of the V-4 motors that powered Honda’s Grand Prix bikes, Superbikes, RC30s and RC45s from the late 1970s through the 90s, along with the Sabre, Magna, VR750/VFR800 and ST1100/1300 streetbikes? Then you’ll fi nd your nirvana in this Honda website that’s a tribute to the motor with one of the most dedicated fan bases out there.

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Some motorcycle trips are tours. Others, like my ride from Virginia to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio, somehow turn into epic quests. Of course, that’s not what I had in mind when I rolled out from Alexandria at 2 p.m. on a February day earlier this year. Here’s the tale:

As I depart, traffic is busy, but not bad, and in less than an hour, I’m riding backroads in West Virginia, with no cars for miles. In Capon Springs, I marvel that the namesake springs were believed to carry such healing power that just half an acre sold for $900 in gold in the late 18th century.

Riding into the hills on Route 55, I discover a couple inches of snow still clinging to the northern facing slopes and forests—and I realize I’ll have to be

extra cautious when it gets dark. If it drops below freezing, the wet snow-melt across the road will freeze into black ice.

I stop for a bowl of homemade chicken cacciatore soup (it’s still good cold) at Seneca Rocks in West Virginia, enjoying the view of the crags rising 900 feet above the river. The history of those rugged yet romantic rocks ranges from being situated along the Great Indian Warpath (“The Seneca Trail”), to being a World War II Army training site, to its current fame as a rock-climbing destination.

A few miles later, I see a sign for Route 72, which seems harmless enough. There’s even a sign that reads, “Not Advised For Big Trucks.” Sounds like fun. I make the turn and fly through the gears on a narrow, curvy road with

Taking The Long WaySometimes, It Doesn’t Take Much To Turn A Tour Into

An Epic Adventure By Shon Turner

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tree cover overhead. After one particular turn, I have to nail the brakes to stop atop a steep hill because the downslope is covered with snow and ice, followed by a sharp turn at the bottom. I think for a minute, then head down, keeping the bike in first gear and my weight back to keep from fishtailing. At the bottom, I’m breathing hard, sweating all over and realize that I’m committed to going forward. I can’t get back up that hill.

Of course, it’s starting to get dark. Figuring it’s going to get worse before it gets better, I push on. Every kind of treacherous condition presents itself, from ice-covered switchbacks to bare patches with wet, gravelly mud and salt that wants to pull the wheels out from under me. I’m thankful I have the knobbies on some of the steeper climbs.

The ride requires every ounce of concentration. I make it to the next junction, and it also has a sign: “This Road Not Plowed In Winter.” It’s even worse then the one I’m on. Nearly 17 miles later, running only in first gear with headlights blazing, I ride into a neighborhood, my steed and I unscathed.

After chatting up a local—a Harley-Davidson rider who is amazed I came over Route 72—I reset the GPS to “fastest time” and roll away toward the AMA Hall of Fame. By the time I reach Waynesboro, Pa., the temperature has dropped to 34 degrees and despite my heated clothing, I spend 15 minutes shivering during dinner at Wendy’s.

Back on the bike, I make it all the way to Cambridge, Ohio, about 90 minutes east of Pickerington, when my next misadventures hits: A clerical error by a Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles employee results in my bike being impounded when a police officer thinks my license has been suspended. It hasn’t been—but there’s no way to correct the issue on the side of the freeway after working hours. Luckily, I can pay the bond and wind up staying in a hotel for the night, and fix the entire matter with a phone call (and a $220 towing fee) the next day. Onward!

Only a little bit later, I roll into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. I had wanted to see Rush drummer Neil Peart’s 30th Anniversary drum kit (valued at $250,000, including custom design and construction), and his 1994 BMW R1100GS used on a 55,000 mile tour around the U.S., Canada and Mexico, documented in his book Ghost Rider:

Travels on the Healing Road. And seeing both in person definitely does not disappoint.

It just happened to take a little more effort to see them than I thought!

Shon Turner

The Life | Connections


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With 34 years experience riding motorcycles on the street and dirt, I thought of myself as an experienced rider. But a recent incident reminded me of the need to remain vigilant at all times.

I was riding up to a stoplight in the leftmost of three lanes, with three cars in front of me, one in the middle lane, and another in the far right lane, a turn-only lane. Thinking the guy on the far right may want to go straight, I made sure not to move into the center lane with fewer cars.

As I predicted, the guy on the right moved into the center lane. Problem was, he kept on coming into my lane. I was right in his blind spot, and we met in the middle of my lane, which sent me across the median into the oncoming lane. Fortunately the light was still red when my motorcycle and I ended up on the pavement in the oncoming inside lane.

I found out later the car wanted to make a left turn instead of a right turn and was going across all three

lanes at the light to do it. I had made the crucial mistake of being in his blind spot, where he didn’t see me.

I totaled a classic ’84 Honda V65 motorcycle, broke my right arm and tore a knee ligament. Lesson learned. Six weeks later I was riding again on one of my other motorcycles, more aware of blind spots and where cars might go.

Adam Mayer IIIAMA No. 755641

Got a Crash Course? Send it to

[email protected].

Crash Course Avoid The Blind Spot

THROWBACK A Look At

Past Issues Of American Motorcyclist

On Google Books.

With more than 600 issues of American Motorcyclist available online for free at

Books.Google.com, there’s plenty of

good reading to be found. Each month,

we highlight a past story or issue.

Think the issue of motorcycle sound is new? Think again. Back in 1971, in part to head off complaints of excessive sound from competition motorcycles, the AMA announced it would ban all unmuffl ed motorcycles from AMA competition. The move came after the previous year’s banning of unmuffl ed bikes in forms of competition “under wide public exposure.”

“There remain obstinate bodies within the motorcycle sport who maintain that charges of noise pollution are unfounded, and merely a symbolic political football,’’ the story in 1971 said. “This may be so, but whether or not the charges are honest, they do remain a real threat and powerful enough to destroy the sport. Those who do not recognize this fact now probably will continue to argue their good intentions when motorcycling has been legislated into history.

“This challenge must be responded to by an industry willing to produce machinery that will be legal to AMA standards in 1972. We trust the industry will respond.”

As it turned out, the industry did, and unmuffl ed bikes in competition became a thing of the past.

Want to search past issues of American Motorcyclist on Google Books? Visit

Books.Google.com and search for

“American Motorcyclist.”

American Motorcyclist June 1971

BLIND SPOT

BLIND SPOT

193 hp

1000 cc

404 lbs


AM_12_2009_pp024-027_Uber_Connect.indd 25 10/22/09 11:20 AM

Mike BaldwinRoad Racer Extraordinaire

AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAMER

Mike Baldwin was a record-setting five-time AMA Road Racing Champion and the all-time wins leader in AMA Formula 1/Formula 750 history. His records in the class will never be broken since AMA Formula 1 was discontinued after the 1986 season.

In all, Baldwin won 27 AMA national races—17 in AMA F1/750 and 10 in AMA Superbike. He is considered one of the top road racers America has ever produced.

Baldwin had great international road racing success as well. He was the first rider to win the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance race three times. Baldwin also contested the 500cc Grand Prix World Championships (now MotoGP) and scored a career-high ranking of fourth in the world championship in 1986.

Baldwin was born in Pasadena, Calif., in 1955. When he was 7, his family moved to Tacoma, Wash., before settling in Darien, Conn., when Mike was 9.

His first motorcycle was a lawn-mower-engine-powered minibike he got at 14. A year later, he stepped up to a Honda 50. He and friends carved trails through the woods and he spent hours after school and in the summer riding.

In 1975, Baldwin became an AMA novice racer with a talented class of newcomers from the club ranks that included riders such as Rich Schlachter, Dave Roper, Dave Emde and Harry Klinzmann. By 1976, Baldwin became one of the leading AMA Lightweight class (250 Grand Prix) competitors, but his big breakthrough that year came when he

unexpectedly took a runaway victory in the AMA Superbike race at Loudon, N.H., on a Reno Leoni-built Moto Guzzi LeMans.

In the late 1970s, Baldwin raced in all three classes of AMA road racing, Formula 750, 250 Grand Prix and Superbike. He also impressed everyone by finishing a close third to World GP riders and Hall of Famers Kenny Roberts and Steve Baker at Laguna Seca on a Yamaha TZ750.

The Canadian round of the Formula 750 was at Mosport that September. The World Championship was on the line and Roberts still had a shot to win it. But it was Baldwin who stole the show, beating Roberts by 40 seconds. When Roberts was asked by the press, his few words on Baldwin’s amazing performance spoke volumes: “Forty seconds, what can I say? Forty seconds.”

Baldwin won the 1982, ’83, ’84 and ’85 AMA Formula 1 Championships. He won the 1982 championship on the revolutionary Honda FWS1000 V-Four, giving Honda the distinction of becoming the first manufacturer to win the AMA Formula 1 title with a four-stroke-powered machine.

Baldwin won his final AMA Championship in 1985 on a Honda.

The ’88 season marked the last full year of competition for Baldwin. After that season, Baldwin made a few fill-in appearances at AMA nationals, most notably finishing second in the AMA 600cc Supersport race in College Station, Texas, in 1991.

His final race came with the Two Brothers Honda Superbike team at Miami in November of 1991. He finished seventh.

Baldwin was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2001.

LLand

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Museum of Springfi eld HistorySpringfi eldMuseums.org

What It Is Located in Springfi eld, Mass., home of “the Wigwam” where the original Indian motorcycles were built, the new Museum of Springfi eld History has 16,000 square feet of space for exhibits that interpret Springfi eld history in the larger context of American history in the 19th and 20th centuries.

What’s Inside Of interest to motorcyclists is the Indian motorcycle exhibit that displays more than two dozen vintage Indians, manuals, tools, memorabilia, historic photographs and more. The rarest artifact is a 1904 blue Indian designed and owned by Indian co-founder Oscar Hedstrom. When Hedstrom left

the company, he took this motorcycle with him. It was later passed on to his granddaughter. Probably the most unique motorcycle is a 1912 Indian boardtracker with its original board track racing tires.

Find It The new Museum of Springfi eld History is located at 21 Edwards St. in downtown Springfi eld. The museum held its grand opening Oct. 10. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12.50 or adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6.50 for children 3-11, and free for children under 3 and museum members. Springfi eld residents get free admission with proof of address.

WORTH READINGMoto Retro Illustrated

What It Is A high-gloss quarterly covering motorcycling’s Glory Days.

The Moto Retro Staff Says According to Editor and Publisher Mitch Boehm: “We’re all about the motorcycles and moto-culture baby boomers grew up with—the streetbikes, dirtbikes and minibikes of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. We not only feature the bikes of the era but each bike’s back story—its development, impact on the market, its legacy today, etc.—through interviews with the designers, engineers, marketing folks and test riders who made it all happen. We also focus on the people of the era—racers, riders, collectors and restorers—along with the enthusiasts who

keep the retro fl ame burning brightly today.”

Find It Moto

Retro is available by subscription at MotoRetro Illustrated.com and at select bike shops.

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Seasons don’t get much closer than this.

A single point was all that separated Shock Doctor KTM’s Russell Bobbitt and his teammate Mike Lafferty for the AMA/Rekluse National Championship Series title, after a season when each won fi ve rounds of the 10-round series.

Although the title went to the wire, the difference-maker was the opening round of the series in South Carolina. There, Bobbitt took the win while Lafferty fi nished fi fth. Due to his consistent fi nishes, Bobbitt came into the fi nal round of the series in Indiana with a 3-point advantage over Lafferty, and despite the fact that Lafferty won the race in convincing fashion, a runner-up fi nish was all Bobbitt needed to claim his third national title.

“It was a pretty tight series, but we just tried to stay consistent and be in the hunt every race, so it was awesome to fi nally wrap up the title,” said Bobbitt. “It’s been a long, rollercoaster year. We had a few minor mechanical issues, but we were able to overcome them. I just kept my head down and got a podium at every round, and everyone is riding so well that you have to be on the box every time. That’s what it boiled down to this year.”

Lafferty, who was going for an unprecedented ninth national title, gave Bobbitt a good run, but came up short.

“When you look at a long series, you’ve got to be up front every race,” Lafferty said. “We came here with the goal to win this race and let things happen, but it didn’t go our way. But it is what it is, that’s racing, and Russ rode a hell of a race. Over the course of the series he put in the best 10 races and that’s what it takes to win a championship. So my hat’s off to him. He had a heck of a year and he deserves to win the championship.”—

Shan Moore

Bobbitt Makes It ThreeLafferty Wins The Race, Bobbitt

Wins The War

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Call them winners. World champions. Underdogs, even.

Just don’t call them the “B” team.Although some doubted the 2009

AMA Team USA for the Red Bull FIM Motocross of Nations—Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey, Red Bull Honda’s Ivan Tedesco and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jake Weimer—would reclaim the Chamberlain Trophy at the world’s biggest motocross race, the U.S. riders proved the critics wrong.

With a come-from-behind performance in the event’s last moto, the U.S. team won the event for a record 20th time.

Hopes for another AMA Team USA win at the Motocross of Nations, held this year in Franciacorta, Italy, were slim heading into that moto, however. The Americans were third in points before the fi nal race, but an inspired ride by moto winner Dungey—and some luck—put them in the lead when the dust settled.

“It has been a dream to come over here, and a real experience to be a part of this, never mind actually winning it,” Dungey said. “A lot of people told me what it would be like, but when you arrive here you can’t help but be amazed. We had a good time, and full credit to Jake and Ivan. I had a break between the motos, but they went back-to-back and that takes a lot of heart and dedication.”

In the fi rst moto, which combined the MX1 and MX2 class, a consistent showing by Dungey and Weimer, who placed third and eighth, gave AMA Team USA a slim lead ahead of Italy and Great Britain. After the second moto, the edge went to France, whose Open and MX2 class riders, Gautier Paulin and Marvin Musquin, fi nished fi rst and fi fth. AMA Team USA fell to third behind Belgium.

A massive tangle on the start of the fi nal moto, which combined the MX1 and Open class, took out a number of riders, including Italy’s Antonio Cairoli, who won moto one. Spain’s Jonathan Barragan emerged with the lead, but Dungey soon put his Suzuki out front and paced the fi eld, winning in 17 laps.

“Led by AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Roger DeCoster, these riders were down but not out, gave it their all in the fi nal moto and won,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “We congratulate the riders and support crew for another job well done.”

The Motocross of Nations features three-rider teams on a range of machinery. In the 2009 event, Dungey raced the MX1 class, which features 450cc four-stroke machinery. Weimer competed in the MX2 class, which features 250cc four-stroke motorcycles. Tedesco raced the Open class.

AMA Team USA Pulls It Out!Dungey, Tedesco, Weimer Win Impressive 20th MX of Nations In Italy

AMA Team USA celebrates

its 20th Motocross of Nations

championship.

Russell Bobbitt won the

’09 title by one point.

The Life | Adrenaline


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2010 YZ450F Flips For F.I., And MoreYamaha’s New Top-Line MXer Redefines The Breed—Again

It’s been 12 years since Yamaha turned the motocross industry upside down with the introduction of the first YZ400F. While that bike was not the first modern four-stroke motocross bike on the market, it launched a revolution that ultimately changed the entire MX world into what we see today.

Now Yamaha is out to do the same with the radically new 2010 YZ450F. And “radical” is an understatement after examining the ins and outs of this new ride at the world press intro at Budds Creek MX Park.

When the first photos of the new bike hit the street, the masses were blown away. The engine features a reversed, rear-tilting cylinder head, an offset cylinder-to-crank position, fuel injection and a curly-cue Tornado exhaust tucked up under the seat. The list of changes is so immense that it’s easier to say what didn’t change—basically, the wheels, brakes, handlebar and a few ancillary parts.

We could ramble with pages of data and specs from the bilateral beam frame to 12-hole, 44mm throttle body fuel injection all day long. But the real question is: What’s the bike like to ride on the track? The answer: Amazing.

The first time I opened up the 2010 YZ450F on a big Buds Creek hill, the bike came to life and just pulled, with incredibly broad power across a beefy mid-range. The pull up top was even more impressive, and I couldn’t run it all the way out on this track.

Still, the biggest difference I noticed was how snappy the power delivery was down low. There was a lot of it, and it came on fast. It took awhile to get used to the snap, but pro riders will no doubt dig the responsiveness. For riders who want to adjust the delivery, the power curve is tunable with a hand-held GYTR Power Tuner in the pits.

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James Stewart shows off the

new reversed engine layout of

the 2010 YZ450F.

Another added bonus was how fast I was able to get comfy on the bike—I was ripping jumps in less than a lap, and the neutral chassis never felt like it was going to spit or buck me around.

The more I rode, the better I liked the machine, and the last session of the day was my best, even though the track was at its roughest. I had a few issues with the front end tracking in rutted corners until I discovered the cure. I adjusted my riding style by moving slightly up on the seat. This minor change made such a big difference on how the bike tracked through the corners and the front wheel stuck to the ground.

For me, it is difficult to point out any real flaws on the new YZ450F. Yamaha did a stellar job building a really fun motorcycle. There was a slight learning curve to fully appreciate the new machine and I know that it would have only gotten better on the third and fourth—and 10th—day of riding.—Scott Hoffman

Scott Hoffman is editor, publisher and

janitor of JA Media Group, which publishes

SMR Magazine (www.smrmagazine.com).




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Heat Goes Hi-Tech.

Roadracer Johnny Rock Page, a colorful and well-known privateer competing in the Daytona Motorsports Group’s (DMG) AMA Pro Racing American Superbike class, was suspended from the series indefinitely in September.

Ostensibly, Page was penalized for a violation of DMG’s rule A2.3 i.: “Engaging in any unfair practice, misbehavior or action detrimental to the sport of motorcycling in general, whether or not related to a specific competition.” Page says the action came after officials told him that he didn’t yield to overtaking riders at the New Jersey round of the series.

The suspension is the second public brush-up between DMG and Page, the first coming in July, when Page was given a two-race ban that DMG said was for failing to get out of the way of a pair of overtaking riders who were racing for the lead at Mid-Ohio. That suspension grabbed public attention after a YouTube video appeared of DMG Technical Director Al Ludington using profanity while dressing down Page. Ludington was consequently put on suspension by DMG.

Page regularly made the grid at race weekends and is known for his personable nature and the camera crew that often followed him at the track as part of an on-going project to film a reality show. A businessman who made his money in the automated teller machine industry, Page was using his off-track success to support his desire to resume racing as an adult.

For his part, Page questions the motivation for the suspension. He thinks it may stem from an open letter he wrote early in the season criticizing DMG and urging the organization to pay money to finishers lower than 20th place. He also wonders if the fan following he’s garnered

Did Johnny Rock Page Get A Raw Deal?A Look At Daytona Motorsports

Group’s Suspension Of A Racer

through his off-track efforts threaten DMG’s authority over the series.

“I absolutely want to keep racing,” Page says. “But what can I do? I love racing, but I don’t feel that love reciprocated. I don’t know if they don’t understand me, or fear me, or can’t control me, or what it is.

But obviously, I rubbed some people the wrong way.”

Page said he’s unsure of what path he can take to get back to racing with DMG—something he says that he’d very much like to do.

In an attempt to clarify the situation, we contacted Ludington, who referred calls to DMG’s Ollie Dean, vice president of marketing and communications. After our inquiry, Dean said that there was a path for Page to return.

“Mr. Page’s suspension was indefinite, which means that his return to the track is possible,” Dean said. “If Mr. Page chooses to apply for a license in 2010, his application will be reviewed as all applications are. Based on the multiple disciplinary actions that were requred in 2009, it would be expected that conversations would need to take place between our competition department and Mr. Page so that the actions that happened in 2009 were not repeated in the future should he be reinstated.”

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Totally updated test results!

Competing in the top class at the 2009 Trial des Nations (TdN) in Darfo Boario Terme, Italy, the men’s AMA Team USA squad of Patrick Smage, Cody Webb, Will Ibsen and Keith Wineland nailed fi fth place overall, America’s best fi nish ever in the world championship event.

The Spanish team of Toni Bou, Adam Raga, Jeroni Fajardo and Albert Cabestany won the TdN this year. Defeating the Great Britain team by an amazing 65 points, Spain won its sixth TdN title in a row.

“The world stage for trials competition is enormously competitive, and this event often features the most diffi cult terrain our riders face all year,” said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. “The AMA is proud of the effort Team USA put into this year’s Trial des Nations campaign.”

According to U.S. team manager Kip Webb, Team USA “pretty much gave a

AMA Team USA Scores Best Trial des Nations Finish EverSmage, Webb, Ibsen, Wineland

Face Off Against World’s Best

The men’s team fi nished fi fth

at the 2009 Trials des Nations,

its best fi nish ever, while the

women’s team fi nished eighth. Ph

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The deadline to buy tickets to the year’s biggest celebration in motorcycling is Nov. 29. Act now to ensure your seat at the AMA Racing Championship Banquet and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Dec. 4-5 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

A seat at either ceremony is just $49, while a ticket to both is $89 per person. To get your ticket now, just go to AmericanMotorcyclist.com/LetsRock.

On Friday night, the AMA Racing Championship Banquet will celebrate AMA Racing’s amateur champions from both national championship series and AMA Racing grand championship events.

Saturday evening will feature the 2009 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (see page 36). The 2009 class includes industry innovator Robert Bates, off-road racer Randy Hawkins, suspension pioneer Gilles Vaillancourt, off-highway rights activist Mona Ehnes, industry entrepreneurs Geoff and Bob Fox, longtime motorcycle safety proponent David Hough, noted race team manager Gary Mathers, and successful dirt-track racer and tuner Chuck Palmgren.

Info: AmericanMotorcyclist/LetsRock.

Get Your Banquet Tickets NowAmericanMotorcyclist.com/

LetsRock

go at each section with some very good rides. We still have a ways to go to catch the top teams, but our guys didn’t back down from the challenge. We fi nished in fi fth position, which is an all-time high for an American TdN effort.”

The American women’s squad of Sarah Duke and Caroline Allen fi nished eighth in the Women’s division while riding with only two team members instead of the usual three. U.S. member Louise Forsley was unable to attend the event due to last-minute travel complications.

“Without the third rider, you just cannot make any mistakes as every point counts,” Webb said.

Great Britain won the Women’s division. The team of Rebekah Cook, Joanne Coles and Emma Bristow edged the Spanish team of Laia Sanz, Mireia Conde and Sandra Gomez by a single point to claim the 2009 title.

The hill at the White Rose Motorcycle Club’s All-Star Challenge threatened to be a mudfest after an overnight rain and morning drizzle, but that didn’t slow down Alex Benner (Unlimited) and his Honda, Robby DeBusk (ProSport) aboard a Yamaha and Phil Libhart (Xtreme) on a Triumph, who navigated the unique layout for class wins at Round 6 of the AMA Pro Racing Hillclimb Championship in Jefferson, Pa., the penultimate round of the series.

Making the hill even more challenging was its unique layout, with steep approaches to the two jumps and an off-camber turn above the second jump. Timing, tracking and throttle control were crucial.

Getting things started in the Xtreme class, Colby McCutcheon on a KTM blasted over the top in 8.766 seconds, setting fast time for fi rst round. In the second round, Libhart shaved nearly a second off his fi rst time of 9.311. At the end of the round, Libhart held fi rst by less than a quarter-second.

At the end of the fi rst round in Unlimited, it was McCutcheon with an 8.419, Anthony DeHart on a Yamaha with an 8.425, then Benner’s 8.588.

Yamaha-mounted Nate Redmann and Shane Green on a Honda each rode faster in the second round with 8.328- and 8.236-second rides to claim the provisional lead. McCutcheon silenced everybody with an amazing 8.065-second run, but not Benner—who dropped a sub-8-second time to steal the day.

Benner’s win gave him the class points lead over Libhart who fi nished a disappointing 14th in Unlimited.

In ProSport, Debusk was the only class rider to break 10 seconds. He easily clinched fi rst place, giving him back-to-back wins.—Jeff Whitehead

Pro Hillclimb In Stretch RunFast Times At All-Star Challenge

Robby DeBusk

on the gas.

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AM_12_2009_pp028-033_Uber_Adrenaline.indd 33 10/22/09 11:26 AM

The large-scale switch from

heavyweight four-stroke off-

road bikes to lighter-weight

two-strokes happened in the

late 1960s. But in the woods of

Michigan, one man had a similar

idea nearly a decade and a half

earlier—and won out over the

competition.

The rider was Leroy Winters,

whose approach to off-road

racing was way ahead of its time.

In the 1940s and ’50s, and

Michigan’s grueling, two-day,

500-mile Jack Pine Enduro was the biggest off-road event of

the year. From 1923 through 1955, riders on Harley-Davidsons

won 22 of 28 Jack Pines.

All of those wins, though, came on heavyweight bikes

designed for road use and were slightly modified for rough

terrain. Conventional wisdom held that you needed lots of

power, wide tires and lots of weight on the rear wheel to win in

the deep sugar sand of Michigan.

But Winters thought differently. The Arkansas rider believed

a lightweight bike was the answer, and after a few years of

trial and error in the Jack Pine, he built a winning bike with a

diminutive two-stroke engine that carried the Harley name,

even though it was designed by the German firm DKW. In the

peace talks following World War II, the rights to the highly

regarded DKW 125 were awarded to both Harley and BSA as

part of Germany’s war reparations. The BSA version of the

machine became the Bantam, while the Harley version began

life as the 125, and later was enlarged to become the 165.

Winters took a light, agile 165, adapted it for the dirt by

making it lighter, enlarging the gas tank and modifying the

rear swingarm—and rode it to victory in the 1956 Jack Pine.

In so doing, he beat machines with four or even six times its

displacement, and mastered a course that eliminated three-

quarters of the entrants.

It would be more than a decade before the two-stroke really

caught on in off-road racing, and by that time, the movement

was led by the European manufacturers. But here in the U.S.,

enduro fans got a glimpse of the future during the 1956 Jack

Pine in the form of a motorcycle—now on display at the AMA

Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio—that bore the

Harley-Davidson name.

Off-Road RevolutionLeroy Winters Raced Lightweight Two-Strokes

15 Years Before The Euros

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Heritage features the machines and people of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio.

The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation that receives support from the AMA and from motorcycling

enthusiasts. For info and directions, visit MotorcycleMuseum.org, or call (614) 856-2222.

December 2009 35

AM_12_2009_pp034-035_Heritage.indd 35 10/22/09 11:27 AM

Every Year, The AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Honors the Best Riders, Racers And Luminaries In All Of Motorcycling. Meet The Class Of 2009.

Fast & FaMOUs

A seven-time off-road champion. Brothers who pioneered one of the best-known brands in MX. A motorcycling safety author. A lifelong rights activist. A parts and accessories pioneer. A legendary dirt-tracker. A suspension innovator. A builder of racing championships.

These are the brightest lights in motorcycling as recognized this year by the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and you can read about their accomplishments in the pages that follow. Even better, you can meet them in person this Dec. 5 at the Hall of Fame’s gala induction ceremony at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

The once-in-a-lifetime chance to rub shoulders with the fast and the famous will be hosted by actor and motorcyclist Perry King, who will preside over the induction of the Hall of Fame Class of 2009 and the presentation of new commemorative rings for inductees.

The event also features an autograph session and cocktail hour with new and existing Hall of Famers, along with other enthusiasts.

The induction ceremony is just part of a special weekend dedicated to AMA motorcycling. The day before, on Dec. 4, we’ll salute the racing community at

the AMA Racing Championship Banquet, which honors the best amateur and off-road racers on the planet. The weekend also includes the 2009 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d’Elegance, where you can feast your eyes on some of the most beautiful bikes ever created.

It all happens amid the glitz of Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Tickets are $49 per person for one event, or $89 for all weekend festivities. Special room rates are available at the Hard Rock.

Tickets and event info: American Motorcyclist.com/LetsRock.

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The FlaT-Tracker Chuck Palmgren Made Yamahas Work in AMA Dirt Track Racing

A dirt-track racing ace who won five

Nationals in the late 1960s and early

1970s, Palmgren placed in the top 10 in

national points in 1968-70, 1972 and 1974,

and was an innovator of the Yamaha 750cc

motor and frame design.

On how he got his start

My brother, Larry, was involved with

racing. As a kid, I was just impressed with

that stuff, and it just kind of grew from that.

My first ride was on my brother’s scooter,

a doodlebug. He had left it at my dad’s

business, and one of the guys asked me if I

could ride it home. Of course I said, “Sure!”

The racing I blame on my brother, too.

He and a cousin worked for a dealership in

Colorado Springs. They’d go racing, and I

would follow along.

On learning to race

My first race was an hour-long enduro

race when I was 13. I think the two older

fellows in front of me slowed down and

let me win it. They probably had more fun

following me and watching me mess up

than they would have winning it themselves.

On what it was like to be a pro

It was full-time. If you were going to

do it at a high level in those days, it was

a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week job.

Everybody worked on their own equipment,

and the rider knew the mechanic really well

because they were the same person.

On his racing career being put on hold

I was ready to turn pro after my amateur

year in 1965, and at the end of the season I

had three letters: one from Harley-Davidson,

one from Triumph, and one from Uncle Sam.

I got drafted, and that kind of put a damper

on my career for a while. I was in the

Army in Alaska, and in 1967, I hadn’t even

touched a motorcycle since I was drafted,

and I wrote to Gary Nixon, who said he’d

have a bike for me if I came to Sacramento.

I went on leave, and if they’d have caught

me, I’m sure I would have gone to jail. But I

raced it, finished seventh or eighth.

On winning the Indy Mile on a Yamaha

The Harleys were all there. They won

everything leading up to the main event. The

race was very clean. It was never scary. I

was second a few laps from the end, and

between three and four, I found a way to

gain some ground, but I turned the throttle

back so I didn’t show it. A few laps later the

leader slowed a bit and I got past. It was

great. It was kind of a shock to the Harley

guys that they got beat by a Yamaha.

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December 2009 37


The Champion-

BuilderGary Mathers Is One Of The Most Successful Team Figures In American Motorcycle Racing

While with Kawasaki, his keen eye for talent discovered fellow Hall of Famers

Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey, who both went on to become 500cc Grand Prix road racing world champions. Then, at American Honda, Mathers produced a total of 48 championships in dirt track, motocross, Supercross and road racing, winning two championships every year except for one.

On how he was introduced to

motorcycling

I rode dirtbikes as a kid. I had a Harley-Davidson two-stroker dirtbike. I was doing some cross country. About two years after I graduated high school, I converted a BSA into a dirt-tracker. I was sponsored by Tribers Cycle out of Spokane, Wash., and when the owner opened a new store, I ended up managing it for him.

I was never any good at racing. I was a B main guy. I could go to a National like Castle Rock and make the B main, but I could never make the A main.

On how he moved into the industry side

I raced snowmobiles in the winter, and I won some races. I went to the championship twice and raced against the Polaris team. I impressed them somehow, and they hired me as a service rep.

I traveled a lot, and when I wasn’t on the road, I was back hanging at the race shop. One day the guy running the race team, Bob Eastman, wanted to get back to racing, so they offered me the team management.

Then Kawasaki in California called me, and I went to work in motorcycles. Road racing was the big deal. On my second day with Kawasaki, I was asked to go hire Freddie Spencer. But Honda had just picked him up, and I had to call my new boss and tell him that I missed Spencer by a day.

We went back and compiled a year’s worth of race results, and the name that kept coming to the top was Eddie Lawson. We paid Eddie $25,000 for the year for superbike, and we beat Freddie Spencer the first year for the championship.

On where he found his best racers

Dirt track. You take kids like Ricky Graham, Bubba Shobert, Rainey. By the time they’re 21, they probably have 200, even 400, races under their belt. A pure road racer might have 35 or 40. The dirt trackers are used to going 110 mph sideways on a mile, so getting on a road-race bike was nothing to them.

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The SafeTy

experTDavid Hough Turned 25 Years Of Experience Into Books And Stories On Motorcycle Safety

Author and rider Dave Hough stands out

for his series, “Proficient Motorcycling,”

in Motorcycle Consumer News. His books

include Street Strategies: A Survival Guide

for Motorcyclists, and two Proficient

Motorcycling titles.

On his early lessons on safety

For me, early on, the discussions were

not only about controlling the bike—that’s a

big part of it—but what we would call today

situational awareness. There’s a lot going

on out there on the public roads, and to

survive, you need to know what’s around

you.

Then the Hurt Report came out in 1981.

It was interesting that some of the things

I came up with were backed up by that.

Traffic was a big hazard. Back then, about

three-quarters of crashes were collisions

with cars and one-quarter were single

vehicle accidents. What that means was the

emphasis should be on traffic.

On the acceptance of safety training

It’s always been a shock to me that the

average motorcyclist riding up and down

the road would not be interested in safety

information. But some are resistant to it.

There’s this sentiment with some

motorcyclists that they are these devil-

may-care risk takers. Well, if you’re going

to ride, and you’re not going to wear your

crash pads, then you’ll have to accept the

possibility of enduring people picking parts

of the road out of your flesh with a wire

brush.

On where the safety message needs to

be directed today

The demographic that we need to

reach is the sportbike rider. The military is

addressing that with the sportbike course

because of returning soldiers crashing and

killing themselves on sportbikes. They’ve

been able to reduce the fatalities, but we’re

not doing enough to address that in the

civilian world.

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December 2009 39


time in the early and mid-’70s, wheel travel went from 4 inches up to a couple feet. That was overworking the shock absorbers, and a lot were breaking. So, as an engineer, I thought that was something I could work on. We started working on shocks, and one thing led to another, and we wound up winning the 500cc national championship with Kent Howerton just two years later. It was amazing.

With the Fox Airshock, what launched our sales was simple. We had (AMA Hall of Famers) Kent Howerton win on it in 1976 and Marty Smith win on it in ’77. We learned that if you get some big name guy winning on your stuff, it takes off. We went

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from 400 shocks a year to 20,000 shocks a year after those guys won. There was zero sponsorship. If they were using our shocks, they did it because they felt it was the best.

On the creation of the now-famous Fox

logo

Geoff: The Fox logo came relatively early. We were working with a local ad agency, and they had a freelance graphic artist who designed the logo. The funny thing is, I remember wondering back then if it was really worth all the money they were charging—and I think it was about $300!

On diversifying

Bob: Through the ’70s, that was my first business experience ever. I was like, “Wow, this is easy.” But then reality set in,

ThE MX BusinEss

PiOnEErsGeoff And Bob Fox Created An Empire with Fox Racing

Brothers Geoff and Bob Fox are responsible for two of the most

recognizable brands in off-road motorcycle racing: Geoff Fox gave the world the Fox Head logo and launched one of the most well-known MX brands today, while Bob Fox, with Fox Factory Inc., made his mark producing suspension components for off-road motorcycles.

On the start of Moto-X Fox

Geoff: When I started in 1971 after being a physics professor, MX was just an infant industry. In those days, when you fell off your bike, everything broke—the tank, the fenders, the handlebars. People really needed parts.

Bob: When we started the company, I was an engineer who had become a professional poker player. Being away from a regular job, I was in a position where having fun riding motocross and not having a day job, I was able to start with the company.

On how the Fox Airshock took off

Bob: Geoff brought me into it. At that

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The Accessory

businessmAnRobert Bates Sowed The Seeds That Became Bates Leathers

Robert Bates got his start with scooter

accessories in the 1930s, and went

on to create the company that ultimately

became the well-known Bates Leathers.

Motorcycling attracts individuals, and that

individualism often manifests itself in how

we customize our motorcycles. This social

phenomenon was not lost on Robert Bates,

who developed a broad range of products

that connected with motorcyclists, from

aftermarket pillion seats to leather jackets.

As one of the first businessmen to leverage

this affinity for personalization, Bates helped

fuel an aftermarket industry that still thrives.

Bates started Bates Manufacturing Inc. in

Los Angeles in 1939 to service and overhaul

motor scooters and sell accessories.

Almost immediately, he began designing

and building scooter windshields. When the

metal for his windshield rims was no longer

available during World War II, he developed

a plastic rim that he later patented. In the

late 1940s, the company began publishing

a popular catalog that featured motorcycle

accessories and leather apparel.

According to Bob Rudolph, who

purchased Bates Manufacturing from Bates

in the late 1950s and renamed the company

Bates Industries, Bates’ early innovation

and business relationships established the

foundation that helped the firm thrive when

it began manufacturing the popular Bates

colored-racing leathers that most people

remember it for today.

“Robert Bates founded the company in

a 600-square-foot garage, and from there it

grew into a business that had a reputation

for quality jackets, pants, aftermarket seats,

a popular headlight, windshields, fairings

and saddlebags,” Rudolph remembered.

“He also had a strong rapport with the

dealers, and he stayed with the firm to

help manage our dealer network after I

purchased the company. Bates was a

true pioneer in the motorcycle accessory

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bob FoXin the early ’80s, when sales went down,

and I realized it wasn’t easy after all. We

were struggling to stay afloat, so we got

into off-road vehicles, Indy 500 stuff—we

actually had our stuff on Tom Sneva’s car

when he won. We did snowmobiles through

the 1980s, and now bicycles are the biggest

piece of our business.

Geoff: By 1977, we started getting into

clothing. That started because to compete

with the other teams with our shocks, we

had to have a race team. And they had to

have uniforms. So we made clothing. As

soon as they showed up on the track, we

started getting requests from people who

wanted to buy the clothing. So we made

a very conscious decision to go into that

market. It’s pretty amazing to see that grow

all over the world.

Main photo: Robert Bates (right) and

his daughter, now Diana Jean Bates

Rogers. Insets: AMA Hall of Famer

David Aldana caused quite a stir when

he showed up to race in his custom

Bates skeleton leathers, and a few of

the products in the company’s early line.

December 2009 41


The SuSpenSIon

InnovaTorGilles Vaillancourt Built Works

Performance Into A Winner

A pioneer in modern motorcycle

suspension development, Vaillancourt

created Works Performance, which

makes custom shocks for dirtbikes, ATVs,

streetbikes and cruisers.

On his start in motorcycles

When I was about 13 years old, I got

a job working in a motorcycle dealership

cleaning up after hours. In Quebec, Canada,

business dies off in the winter, so from

November until March, we’d fix up the bikes

we got in on trade so we could sell them. By

age 16 I was a pretty good mechanic.

On coming to the U.S. and ultimately

starting Works Performance

In 1960, my family decided to immigrate

to the U.S. I rode my motorcycle down,

following my parents in the car. I worked as

a motorcycle mechanic until 1967, when

I got a job with the Los Angeles Herald

Examiner. By 1973, I was riding motocross

at the time, and in those days I couldn’t

buy shocks I was happy with, so I started

modifying shock absorbers with my own

valves. The system I used then, I still use

today, the basic parts of the system.

On Works Performance’s early success

We got in on the ground floor of the

suspension revolution and did very well.

I started with cross-country shocks, then

roadrace shocks. In ’80 and ’81, we won

the American Superbike Championship

with AMA Hall of Famer Eddie Lawson. We

went on to dirt track. We had AMA Hall of

Famers Scotty Parker, Chris Carr, and the

entire Honda team, with Ricky Graham,

Bubba Shobert and Ted Boody, all using my

shocks, and we won so many Nationals.

We designed both a flat-tracker for

Honda and a TT bike, with a single-shock

rear suspension that was underneath the

carb with no linkage and adjustable ride-

height. Bubba won nine Nationals on it.

Ricky Graham won 10.

On the off-road side, we supplied the

Suzuki team for years at the International Six

Days Enduro races. We got so many gold

medals.

On his success these days

I do my best work on napkins. I go to

lunch with someone and design the whole

thing on napkins. These days we do all

kinds of things. We even make landing gear

for aircraft, for military spyplanes. We’ve

made bicycle shocks—40,000 of them for

Cannondale.

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The Freedom

FighTerMona Ehnes Has Protected Riders

Rights For 40 Years

Mona Ehnes charged into the fight for

motorcyclists’ rights in 1967, when

controversial legislation was introduced that

would have restricted off-highway vehicle

(OHV) riding opportunities in her home state

of Montana. Ehnes has been at the front

line of the OHV rights battle ever since, as

a founding member of both the Great Falls

Trail Bike Riders Association and the Mon-

tana Trail Vehicle Association, and as execu-

tive assistant to the National Off-Highway

Vehicle Conservation Council.

On how she discovered motorcycling

My husband, Vic, had a Triumph Cub that

he rode in the mountains. After we got mar-

ried, we got an old Honda 50 step-thru that

I rode. I had a couple kids, and when the

kids got bigger, they would ride with us.

On what riding taught her kids

They learned a good respect for the land

and the resources, the scenery and for just

Montana in general. We camped, fished,

rode, and it all involved motorcycles. My

kids were never in the sports scene. They

rode motorcycles and snowmobiles in the

winter and they turned out pretty good.

On what pulled her into fighting for off-

road access rights

They added a section onto the Bob

Marshall Wilderness area called the Lincoln

Scapegoat Wilderness that closed off ac-

cess. That was when I became active. But

there were so many places to ride at the

time that people weren’t really concerned

about it.

Then there was a space of time, through

our local club, the Great Falls Trial Bike

Riders Association, that we had a lot of trail

projects. We had an adopt-a-trail project in

the Highwood Mountains.

Those areas didn’t have any value to

anti-riding activists then, but now that’s

changed. These days, they’ve taken this ap-

proach that they want to be able to go into

the forest and not hear anything. We now

have more areas where the Forest Service

has recommended Wilderness designation,

so we’ve lost more trails in those areas. It’s

really been a battle.

On how to effect change

You need to be active on a personal level

with the local land managers. You need to

be active with your legislators. It’s important

to non-riders that we demonstrate what a

family sport this is.

The non-riding public has such a mis-

conception of what our sport is. They think

it’s what they see in freestyle competitions

on television. They don’t know it’s mom

and dad and kids on quiet trailbikes in the

woods.

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December 2009 43


The Off-ROad

POweRhOuseRandy Hawkins: 7-Time Champ

A seven-time AMA National Enduro

Champion, Hawkins won 13

International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) gold

medals and 73 AMA Nationals. He works

today as team manager of AmPro Yamaha.

On how he got started in racing

I grew up on a farm, and we had the

opportunity to ride a lot. My dad had me

on an XR70 as soon as I could touch the

footpegs. Before motorcycle racing, I got

into go-kart racing. I went to a national race

in North Carolina, and the kid behind me

crashed right in front of my dad, and my

dad said I was going to do something else.

I probably would be a car racer now if that

kid would have crashed anywhere else on

that track.

Then it was motorcycle racing. When I

got older, I asked my parents to just let me

focus on that for a year, and then I talked

them into another year, and I was then able

to support myself. I won my first National, in

Texas, in ’86, signed my first deal in ’87 and

won my first championship in ’88. By ’89-

’90, I felt like I had finally made it as a racer.

I was being paid a salary, had my pictures in

all the magazines and was focused on my

goal, to win races.

On what he got out of racing

I just loved to ride my motorcycle. I loved

winning. I also really enjoyed the friendships,

being able to be part of something, the

racing community and a family-oriented

group. Those types of friendships are

something you can’t put a price on.

On his greatest accomplishment

I don’t think I have just one. From being

a gold medalist at the ISDE to winning a

national race to winning a championship to

being a part of the Hall of Fame, it would

feel unfair to put one thing ahead of the

others. Not to be corny, but I’d have to

say it’s what all of that makes me, or has

given me an opportunity to be. The most

proud I feel is when a fan or parent of a fan

comes up and thanks me for being a good

ambassador for the sport.

Advice for the next generation of racers

As a racer coming up, winning the races,

you may think you’re the one, you’re the

one riding the motorcycle, you’re the guy

making it happen. But if you didn’t have the

support of friends and family, where would

you be? You have to be over-appreciative

of the people who have helped you achieve

your goals.

Take the time to thank somebody. Even

when people make mistakes, remember all

the good they did for you.

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The gift of an AMA Membership helps protect the future of motorcycling and promotes

the motorcycle lifestyle. Plus, there are incredible everyday benefi ts, such as AMA

Roadside Assistance, a subscription to American Motorcyclist magazine, and great

discounts on riding gear, accessories, lodging, and many other valuable services – all

worth far more than the $39 annual membership fee.

So this holiday season, choose an AMA Membership for everyone on your shopping list.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING: long lineHOLIDAY SHOPPING ONLINE: no line

AMA Membership Gift Certificates

GO TO:AmericanMotorcyclist.com/AMAgiftcertifi cate

to buy and download your AMA Membership

Gift Certifi cate

* AMA Roadside Assistance is free when you sign up for online auto-renewal, or when you purchase a 3-year membership. Standard one-year membership is also available.


STANDING GUARD

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and other vital needs in the state’s new spending plan.

In February 2009 he presented state lawmakers with a proposed $119.8 billion biennium budget for the fi scal years beginning July 1, 2009. To make up the budget shortfall his administration, among other things, raided so-called rotary funds, which are special funds set up for specifi c purposes. They are funded through a

By Bill Kresnak

We’ve seen these raids on motorcycle rider education and safety funds more and more frequently in recent years as cash-strapped states look for ways to balance their budgets.

This year, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland was poised to take $800,000 from the state’s Motorcycle Safety and Education program, but was forced to back away from the plan. That’s on top of the $750,000 that Ohio offi cials tried to take from the fund in 2006.

Also this year, Gov. Jon Corzine took $1.2 million from the New Jersey motorcycle safety training program to help make up a state budget shortfall.

That’s not all. In 2008, the Tennessee program got raided to the tune of $821,000, and the New York program lost $552,000. In 2006, Illinois lost $297,900.

Those are just some examples.“When governors and state lawmakers

need to balance their budgets, one thing they do is look at all the special funds they have set up in the state where money is earmarked for specifi c purposes, including motorcycle rider education and safety,” said Imre Szauter, AMA government affairs manager who monitors streetbike-related legislation nationwide. “They see those funds as pots of money they can use as they see fi t.

“We motorcyclists, as state citizens,

are willing to share the pain to balance a state budget, but lawmakers have to recognize that we are paying extra for our motorcycle rider training programs,” Szauter said. “We pay the taxes and fees that all other citizens pay, and more. So lawmakers should seriously consider alternatives before decimating programs like ours, including plans to repay what they take.”

Szauter noted that state lawmakers are gearing up around the nation for their 2010 legislative sessions and, once again, will be looking for creative ways to balance their budgets. So riders nationwide must be on guard to protect motorcycle rider education and safety funds.

“Riders need to let lawmakers know early and often that motorcycle rider safety training funds should be off-limits in discussions about balancing budgets,” Szauter said.

Ohio Motorcycle Rider Safety Training

Funds Restored

Like many governors around the nation in 2009, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland faced budget woes: a $1.9 billion shortfall in the state’s two-year operating budget. He ordered his administration to fi nd ways to close the gap while, at the same time, protecting, and even enhancing, education, health care, job creation

RAIDS ON MOTORCYCLE

RIDER EDUCATION AND

SAFETY FUNDS

Louisiana, 2009 ................ $6,544Arizona, 2009 ................ $100,000Illinois, 2006 .................. $297,900New York, 2008 .............. $552,000Ohio, 2006 ..................... $750,000Iowa, 2002 .................... $775,000Ohio, 2009 ..................... $800,000Tennessee, 2008 .............. $821,000New Jersey, 2009 ......... $1,200,000

STATES ARE RAIDING MOTORCYCLISTS’ FUNDS TO BALANCE BUDGETS—AND RIDERS ARE FIGHTING BACK.

As motorcyclists we thought we did everything right.

We wanted motorcycle safety training programs

to get as many street riders trained as possible, so we

approached state lawmakers to create programs.

We agreed to pay for the programs through fees that

only motorcyclists pay.

We were thrilled when the programs were created

and gladly paid, and continue to pay, the fees that

others don’t pay so that riders can receive proper

rider training.

And then suddenly, with the stroke of a pen, the

money is gone. The programs are gutted, with

lawmakers or government bureaucrats inexplicably

taking the money to pay for other state programs.

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December 2009 47

AM_12_2009_pp046-049_Feature2.indd 47 10/22/09 11:53 AM

governor’s Office of Budget and Management restored the $1.4 million that was to be taken from the Save Our Sight account, and $1.4 million that was to be taken from the Second Chance account.

The office also restored the $800,000 that was to be taken from the Motorcycle Safety and Education Fund, and $500,000 that was to be taken from the Tobacco Use Prevention Fund.

“Fortunately, our funding was saved after the fact because of political pressure caused by the raiding of some high-profile funds,” Szauter said. “We can’t rely on this in the future. Riders in every state need to get politically involved early in legislative sessions to try to ensure that the money isn’t robbed in the first place.

“They need to get to know their lawmakers, and they need to let their lawmakers know that this funding is critical for motorcycling safety,” he said.

This type of political action has worked in the past.

The Ohio Motorcycle Safety and Education Fund was also targeted for a raid of $750,000 in 2006. But that plan was derailed when the motorcycling community cried foul and the Ohio Controlling Board, which has approval authority over various state fiscal activities, refused to allow the money to be taken from the fund.

New Jersey, New York Motorcycle

Safety Training Programs Lose Funds

Earlier this year, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine had to find funds to make up a projected $1.2 billion shortfall in the $29 billion state budget. Part of his strategy, like that of governors in other states, was to raid special funds that earmark money

for specific purposes.As a result, Gov. Corzine’s

administration took $1.2 million from the state’s Motorcycle Safety Education Program to use for other purposes.

And last year, New York motorcyclists saw $552,000 disappear from their Motorcycle Safety Fund.

“It was taken to balance the state budget, and we found out pretty much after the fact,” said Robert “Prospector” Boellner, a longtime volunteer lobbyist and legislative coordinator for the Columbia County chapter of ABATE of New York.

“We did protest it,” he said. ABATE of New York pointed out at

the time that in 1998 New York state increased the motorcycle registration fee from $11.50 to $14, with the additional $2.50 going to a dedicated fund for the administration and implementation of a motorcycle safety program.

Over the more than 10 years since, the fund has been repeatedly raided.

“It is ABATE of New York’s position that New York state inadequately provides services for the numbers of individuals seeking motorcycle training, has insufficient sites statewide to provide motorcycle training, and overcharges for motorcycle training,” ABATE of New York President Timothy Werder said at the time. “ABATE of New York feels that motorcyclists suffer due to the underutilization of their funds, and that a more cost-effective approach could be implemented, subsidized by these raided funds.”

ABATE supported legislation to ban the transfer of money from funds receiving money from a dedicated fee.

variety of sources, including licensing fees and private contributions.

Ohio has 70 rotary funds ranging from the Advanced Energy Fund that provides loans and grants to residential, commercial and industrial energy-efficiency projects and is funded through a 9-cent charge tacked on to utility bills, to the Ohio Physician Loan Repayment Program that repays student loans for doctors who serve in poor, mostly rural areas of the state. That program is funded primarily through a $20 surcharge on medical-license renewals.

And then there is, of course, the Motorcycle Safety and Education Fund, which provides motorcycle rider safety training and is funded through a $6 charge attached to motorcycle registration fees and from other sources.

More than 115,000 motorcyclists have received safety training since the program began in 1987. Riders 16 and 17 years old must complete a motorcycle rider safety course to be eligible for a motorcycle endorsement or license. The cost to take the class is $25 for riders 18 and older.

Riders of any age who pass the safety class aren’t required to take the state motorcycle skill test to get their endorsement or license.

To help balance the state budget, Strickland’s administration proposed, and state lawmakers approved, raiding the state’s 70 rotary funds to the tune of $120 million despite the efforts of lobbyists and concerned citizens at the state Capitol.

As a result, the Motorcycle Safety and Education Fund lost $800,000.

“We argued that this program was created by motorcyclists for motorcyclists and we pay for it,” Szauter said. “Then, with the stroke of a pen when Gov. Strickland signed the biennium budget bill into law, the motorcycle safety money was gone.

“Or so we thought,” he said.What Strickland didn’t count on when

he raided the rotary funds was the embarrassing fallout that would follow once Ohio citizens learned the full extent of the raids, and that money earmarked for specific purposes wasn’t being used for those purposes.

The Strickland administration had to backpeddle quickly from this embarrassing position once the news media publicized that the governor raided the Save Our Sight program—which works to prevent blindness and is funded by a $1 voluntary contribution by Ohio residents applying for, or renewing, their motor vehicle license plates—and the Second Chance account that promotes organ donation and is also funded through voluntary donations.

Following the public outcry, the

We argued, and

continue to argue,

that this program

was created by

motorcyclists for

motorcyclists and

we pay for it.

– Imre Szauter (left) Ph

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AM_12_2009_pp046-049_Feature2.indd 48 10/22/09 11:53 AM

Programs for off-highway riders are targets for raids as well. Sometimes those proposals just leave riders dumbfounded because of the lack of logic. For example, New Mexico lawmakers eyed some $500,000 in an off-highway vehicle (OHV) fund for a transfer to a different department to promote eco-tourism. Fortunately, the proposal failed.

Other times the raids leave riders in shock because they thought their money was untouchable. That’s the case in California, where the state this year took $90 million from the OHV program. Riders thought there were safeguards to protect their money, but lawmakers were able to grab the funds by calling it a “loan.”

In Iowa, lawmakers in 2002 took $775,000 from the state’s OHV program to balance the state budget. This came as a surprise to riders, who for years had paid registration fees on their off-highway motorcycles and ATVs knowing the money was earmarked for a special fund to build and maintain OHV riding areas. Thanks to the tenacity of outraged Iowa riders, lawmakers paid the money back. But that didn’t happen until 2008.

In Florida, it appears that government bureaucrats took $2.37 million from the OHV fund this year, on top of the $2 million taken the year before. That money came from a $29 title fee on off-highway vehicles.

dirty business

Lawmakers and Bureaucrats raid Off-HigHway funds

What Can be done to Protect

Motorcycle safety Funds

Activists agree that motorcycle rider education and safety funds are an easy source of money when governors and lawmakers are trying to find ways to balance state budgets. They also agree that protecting those funds from raids can be very difficult.

“I’m not sure you can keep it from happening,” Boellner said. “We tried to make sure this was a dedicated fund.”

But activists also say that motorcyclists must get involved early in legislative sessions to try to protect those funds—get to know their lawmakers and let them know that raiding those funds is simply unacceptable to riders across the state.

Szauter suggested that, besides being members of the AMA, riders should join their state motorcyclists’ rights organizations so they will know when their governor or lawmakers are considering raiding the fund.

Riders also should sign up for alerts through the AMA’s Action E-list, he said, by going to the AMA website at American Motorcyclist.com > Rights > Get Involved.

“In fact, AmericanMotorcyclist.com has a lot of great information about getting involved politically,” Szauter said. “It provides guidance for everything from how to get your message across to lawmakers to how to deal with the news media.”

After all, the key to protecting motorcycle rider education and safety funds is political action, he added.

Boellner agrees.“Keep a close watch on it and let

lawmakers know that you won’t tolerate a raid,” Boellner said. “You can’t stand by and let it happen without making some noise.”

street riders aren’t the only ones who suffer when state

lawmakers and government bureaucrats go looking for

money to fund programs in their cash-strapped states.

Jack Terrell, land use chairman for the Florida Trail Riders organization, said riders are still trying to determine whether government officials, or state lawmakers, took the money.

“We in Florida have been in a tough budget situation for a couple of years,” Terrell said. “The legislature has been jumping all over the place to find ways to plug the holes. One way was to raid trust funds.”

The OHV fund, which once held $7 million but now has nothing, was created by riders through the T. Mark Schmidt Off-Highway Vehicle Safety and Recreation Act of 2002.

“Not only have they taken the money, but they haven’t awarded grants already approved,” Terrell said. “Those were to go to the U.S. Forest Service for trail maintenance, construction and improvements like rest rooms. So those dollars get leveraged, and you lose grants from outside sources.”

Terrell admits that “a sneaky politician or bureaucrat” can raid an OHV fund no matter what safeguards are built in. But to keep raids from happening, he said, riders need to get involved politically.

“The problem is we’re a bunch of apathetic folks, and I don’t just mean motorcycle and ATV people, but the general public,” he said. “We just don’t get involved, we’re never calling our legislators, learning who they are, we sometimes don’t even vote. If you can’t apply political pressure, then you’ve lost.

“If you don’t have a relationship with your local politician, and hopefully that politician has some clout in the legislature, you won’t have a chance,” he continued. “At the grassroots level, you really need to get involved. Let them know how important this program is for you and that you won’t stand for any fooling around with it.”

Jack terrell

Ph

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Raids ON OHV FuNds

Florida, 2008 ............. $2,000,000Florida, 2009 ............. $2,370,000 Washington, 2009 ....... $9,500,000California, 2009 ........$90,000,000

December 2009 49


1The hardy riders who take part in the AMA KTM National Dual-Sport Trail Riding Series and the AMA BMW National Adventure Riding Series have one last chance to leave their mark—and fi rst-timers have one last chance this year to take part in these national-caliber riding events. The last ride of each series is set for Nov. 27-28 in Los Angeles, hosted by AMA District 37 Dual Sport. Info: Paul Flanders (626) 792-7384.

2 For a rockin’ great time, you won’t want to miss the Dec. 4 AMA Racing Championship Banquet honoring the best amateur racers on the planet, and the Dec. 5 AMA Motorcycle

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies to honor this year’s crop of Hall of Famers. Both events will be at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. Info: AmericanMotorcyclist.com/LetsRock.

3 Members of the Square Deal Riders MC don’t care if it’s cold out—they just want to ride! You can, too, at one of their mud- and snow-scramble events set for Dec. 6 and Dec. 20 in Harpursville, N.Y. Info: (607) 693-2634.

4 Have some fun and help out those who are less fortunate this month by taking part in a Toy Run. There are a lot to choose from, including rides in Hot Springs, Ark., Nov. 29; Ontario, Calif., Dec. 6; Glendale, Calif., Dec. 13; Hicksville, N.Y., Dec. 13; and Loma Linda, Calif., Dec. 20. For more details, check out the specifi c listing under the state heading on the following page.

5 The Virginia X-Country Racing Series will close out its 2009 season with a cross-country race involving amateurs, youth and ATVs on Nov. 15 in Dillwyn, Va. Sign up starts at 6:30 a.m. Info: Timothy Norris (804) 966-7595.

6 It doesn’t get much more exciting than indoor short-track ice racing with bikes that go zero-to-60 mph in under 3 seconds in Extreme International Ice Racing competition. Events are coming up Nov. 29 in Youngstown, Ohio; Dec. 19 in Everett, Wash., Jan. 2-3 in Independence, Mo., and more next year. For full details, visit XIIR.com.

COMING UP

Watch the best ice racers in the country tear it up at the premier event for those who live for studded tires, the AMA Racing Ice Race Grand Championships. This can’t-miss event will be held Jan. 23-24 at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, Mich. Info: BajaMX.com.

Go Ride [ ]A few of the hundreds of AMA-sanctioned events

this month, detailed on the following pages.

5

14

2

4

4

6

6

3


AM_12_2009_pp050-053_Calendar.indd 50 10/22/09 12:43 PM

The following pages list AMA-sanctioned events for this month, up to date at press time. Current listings are in the Riding and Racing sections of www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

The biggest events—pro races,

national-championship amateur competition, and major rides and rallies—are highlighted in color boxes. For these series, we list all of the remaining events for the entire year.

Then there are the local events,

the backbone of the AMA’s riding and racing calendar. These events are listed by state and are broken down by type, so you can quickly find the ones near you.

Here’s a guide to what you’ll find in these local listings:

Event Class (Competition events only)S - Standard (Amateur classes)Y - Youth ClassesT - ATV classesG - ProgressiveM - Pro-Am classes

Type of Event

Date

Sign-in Time

Event PromoterLocation/City

Contact Phone NumberDirections

MOTOCROSS

DEC 6 (S,T,Y): REYNOLDS (D-9): SILVER DOLLAR MX, C/O STEVE JONES; 6 AM;

HWY 96 W/JST W OF TWN; (478) 555-4673

THE GuiDE TO EvENTS

MuSEuM ExHibiTS

AMA Motorcycle

Hall Of Fame MuseumMotorcycleMuseum.org

The Hall of Fame is located on the AMA campus

in Pickerington, Ohio, and is open 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m. seven days a week year-round

exceptfor Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and

New Year’s Day.

Dec 5: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Las vegas: AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony; (614) 856-2222.

MotoStars: Celebrities + Motorcycles: Priceless machines, exclusive memorabilia and tales from celebrities’ favorite adventures. On display through April 2010.

Awesome-Ness: The life and art of Arlen Ness: King of Choppers.

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame: Bikes and memorabilia recognizing those who have made significant contributions to all aspects of motorcycling.

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

CALiFORNiA

TRAiL RiDE

DEC 12: RIDGECREST: AMA-DIST 37 SPORTS COMM, BILL HOWELL; 6 AM; SPANGLER OPEN AREA /OFF HWY 395 & SEARLES STA. RD INTERSECTION; (760) 220-6575; DISTRICT37AMA.ORG

DuAL SPORT RiDE

DEC 13: RIDGECREST: LOST COYOTES, JAMES A WILSON; 7 AM; SPANGLER OPEN AREA /OFF HWY 395 & SEARLES STA. RD INTERSECTION; (661) 951-7078; LOSTCOYOTES.ORG

TOY RuN

DEC 6: ONTARIO: CHARITY;: ABATE-CA LOCAL 19, STEFAN KAWECKI; 10 AM; ONTARIO ELKS LODGE /1150 W 4TH ST; (909) 910-1369

DEC 13: GLENDALE: ABATE-CA LOCAL 1, PETER B DANIELS; 8 AM; H-D OF GLENDALE /3717 SAN FERNANDO RD/BETW 5 & 134 FWYS; (818) 361-8800

DEC 20: LOMA LINDA: MOTORCYCLE RIDERS ASSOCIA, CHESTER PHILLIPS; 10:30 AM; 2516 REDLANDS; (562) 864-7143

GRAND PRix

DEC 5 (S,T,Y): ANZA: 2 DAY EVENT: VIKINGS MC, ALEX RODRIQUEZ; 6 AM; RYNOLAND; (760) 834-5006; VIKINGSMC.COM

MARYLAND

1/2 MiLE DiRT TRACK

DEC 19 (S,Y): TIMONIUM: BALTIMORE COUNTY TRAIL RI, RUSS IRVIN; 3 PM; TIMONIUM FAIRGROUNDS; (410) 661-6686; BCTRA.COM

SHORT TRACK

DEC 11 (S,Y): DEC 12 (S,Y): TIMONIUM: BALTIMORE COUNTY TRAIL RI, RUSS IRVIN; 3 PM; TIMONIUM FAIRGROUNDS; (410) 661-6686; BCTRA.COM

MiCHiGAN

iCE RACE

DEC 5 (M,Y): FLINT :CHARITY; INDOOR; FLINT MOTORCYCLE CLUB, LINDA LOWELL; 6 PM; PERANI ARENA 3501 LAPEER RD; (810) 687-7379; FLINTMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM

NEW YORK

TOY RuN

DEC 13: HICKSVILLE: ST CHRIS TOY RUN / WHO

CARES COMMITTEE INC, ELIZABETH WHELEHAN; WHOCARESCOMMITTEE.COM

MuD & SNOW SCRAMbLES

DEC 6 (S,T,Y): HARPURSVILLE: SQUARE DEAL RIDERS M/C, ANDY BALMEN; 9 AM; ALLEN RD; (607) 759-8800; SQUAREDEALRIDERS.COM

DEC 20 (S,T,Y): HARPURSVILLE: / SQUARE DEAL RIDERS M/C, ANDY BALMER; 9 AM; ALLEN RD; (607) 759-8800; SQUAREDEALRIDERS.COM

NORTH CAROLiNA

MOTOCROSS

DEC 5 (S,T,Y): ELIZABETH CITY: / 2 DAY EVENT: ELIZABETH CITY MOTORCYCLE, WENDY J TABLER; 6 AM; 1531 NORTHSIDE RD; (252) 771-5442; ECMX.COM

OHiO

MOTOCROSS

DEC 4 (S,T,Y): COLUMBUS :INDOOR; AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, MATT EASTMAN; 2 PM; OHIO STATE FRGRNDS COLISEUM /VOINOVICH BLDG/I-71 EX 17TH AVE; (937) 358-2427; AMERICANMX.COM

DEC 5 (S,T,Y): COLUMBUS: INDOOR; AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, MATT EASTMAN; 8 AM; OHIO STATE FRGRNDS COLISEUM /VOINOVICH BLDG/I-71 EX 17TH AVE; (937) 358-2427; AMERICANMX.COM

DEC 11 (S,T,Y): JACKSON: AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, MATT EASTMAN; 2 PM; HENDERSON’S ARENA COMPLEX /SR 32 10 MI W OF TOWN; (937) 358-2427; AMERICANMX.COM

DEC 12 (S,T,Y): JACKSON: INDOOR; AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, MATT EASTMAN; 8 AM; HENDERSON’S ARENA COMPLEX /SR 32 10 MI W OF TOWN; (937) 358-2427; AMERICANMX.COM

TExAS

TOY RuN

DEC 6 (R): HOUSTON: SAN JACINTO HIGH ROLLERS, BRYAN C LACKEY; 8 AM; 12655 WEST ROAD /US 290 @ WEST ROAD; (832) 603-0960; NWSJHR.COM

MOTOCROSS

DEC 5 (S,Y): WORTHAM: 2 DAY EVENT: FREESTONE COUNTY RACEWAY, TONY MILLER; 470 CR 995 /6 MILES NE OF TOWN ON CR 995; (713) 880-5533; FREESTONEMX.COM

OFFERED EXCLUSIVELY

by the

AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME

MUSEUMOrder yours today

at MotorcycleCards.Net


AMA KTM National Dual-SportTrail Riding SeriesAMADirectLink.com/RoadRide/DS/

Nov. 27-28: Los Angeles, Calif.: AMA District

37 Dual Sport, Paul Flanders, (626) 792-7384;

district37ama.org.

DUAL-SPORT

AMA BMW NationalAdventure Riding SeriesAMADirectLink.com/RoadRide/ADV/

Nov. 27-28: Los Angeles, Calif.; AMA District

37 Dual Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 792-7384;

district37ama.org.

ADVENTURE SERIES

Apr 1- Nov 30: USA 4 Corners Tour: So. CA

Motorcycling Assoc; David L. Johnson; (909)

796-2277; usa4corners.org

Apr 1- Nov 30: Color the World with KOA

Grand Tour: Midnight Riders; Charles Kirkman;

(765) 566-3807; midnight-riders-mc.com

Apr 1- Nov 30: Grand Tour of Ireland: Irish

Riders Motorcycle Club; Maggie McNally; (518)

209-2464; irishridersmc.com

Apr 1- Nov 30: Ride with the AMA 85th Ann.

Classic Grand Tour: Dayton Motorcycle Club;

Kevin Looney; (937) 263-9321; daytonmc.com

Apr 1- Nov 30: Roadside Attractions Grand

Tour: Road Winders M/C; Joe Sloan; (215) 322-

4436; [email protected]

Jan 1- Dec 31: SCMA Parks Adventure Grand

Tour: SCMA; Blake Anderson; (310)345-9799;

[email protected]

ROAD RIDING

Cycle World InternationalMotorcycle Showswww.motorcycleshows.com

Nov. 13-15 : Dallas, Texas: Dallas Convention Center; DallasConventionCenter.com

Nov. 20-22: San Mateo, Calif.: San Mateo County Expo Center; SanMateoExpo.org

Dec. 4-6: Long Beach, Calif.: Long Beach Convention Center; LongBeachCC.com

Dec. 11-13: Seattle, Wash.: Qwest Field Event Center; QwestField.com

Jan. 1-3: Novi, Mich.: Rock Financial Showplace; RockFinancialShowplace.com

Jan. 8-10: Greenville, S.C.: Carolina First Center; CarolinaFirstCenter.com

Jan. 15-17: Washington, D.C.: Washington Convention Center; DCConvention.com

Jan. 22-24: New York, N.Y.: Javits Convention Center; JavitsCenter.com

Jan. 29-31: Cleveland, Ohio: I-X Center; IXCenter.com

Feb. 5-7: Minneapolis, Minn.: Minneapolis Convention Center; MplsConvCtr.org

Feb. 19-21: Chicago, Ill.: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center; Rosemont.com

MOTORCYCLE SHOWS

April 25-26 Renfro Valley, KY

May 16-17 Zeleski, OH

May 30-31 Wabeno, WI

May 30-31 Mill Hall, PA

June 6-7 Midwest Trail Riders Association

June 6-7 Custer, MI

June 6-7 Hood River, OR

June 6-7 Loudon, NH

July 19-25 Gaylord, MI

August 8-9 Hancock, NY

September 12-13 Cadiz, KY

September 5-6 New Straitsville, OH

September 19-20 Medford, OR

September 19-20 Sterling, IL

September 26-27 Columbus, IN

September 26-27 Groveland, CA

September 26-27 Wabeno, WI

September 26-27 Logan, OH

September 26-27 Boyne Falls, MI

October 3-4 Mt. Solon, VA

October 17-18 McArthur, OH

October 24-25 Delta, AL

October 24-25 Payson, AZ

October 24-25 Study Butte, TX

Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 Port Elizabeth, NJ

November 7-8 Jenkins, NJ

November 27-28 Los Angeles, CA

FOR MORE DETAILS,

VISIT THE

RIDING SECTION

OF AMERICAN

MOTORCYCLIST.COM

AMA Premier Touring Series

AMADirectlink.com/RoadRide/Touring

AMA Grand Tours With KOA Along The Way


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AMA EnduroCross ChampionshipEndurocross.com

Nov. 21: The Orleans Arena, Las

Vegas, Nev., Source Interlink Media

Motorsports; [email protected]

AMA Racing National Hare & HoundAMARacing.com

Jan. 24: Lucerne, Calif.: Dale Shuttleworth,

Desert MC; (909) 578-1599; DesertMC.com

Feb. 14: Ridgecrest, Calif.: Richie Wohlers,

Four Aces MC; (805) 358-2668; FourAcesMC.

com

March 14: El Centro, Calif.: Kirk Hester,

Roadrunner Off-Road Racing; (760) 275-9852;

Roadrunneroffroad.com

March 21: Murphy, Idaho: Bill Walsh, Dirt Inc.;

(208) 459-6871; DirtIncRacing.com

April 10: Jericho, Utah (No ATVs): Kari

Christman, Sageriders MC; (435) 851-1138;

Sageriders.com

May 15: Jericho, Utah: Rob Davies,

Sugarloafers; (435) 743-4180; Sugarloafers.com

June 5: Wendover, Nev. (No ATVs): Steve

Rij, Utah Desert Foxes; (801) 964-8773;

UtahDesertFoxes.com

Oct. 10: TBA: Justin Shultz, SoCal MC; (949)

981-6776; SoCalMC.com

Oct. 24: Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Ryan Sanders,

100’s MC; (949) 584-9395

AMA Racing East Hare ScramblesAMARacing.com

May 2: Dorchester, N.J.: Dennis McKelvey,

Tri-County Sportsmen; (609) 390-3772;

TeamHammer.org

May 30: Rhinelander, Wis.: Scott Schwalbe,

Sugar Camp Racing; (715) 272-1101;

SugarCampEnt.com

June 13: Elkland, Pa.: Jeremy Richardson,

MilesMountain; (570) 723-8516;

MilesMountainMX.com

July 18: Valley View, Pa.; Tiffany Tobias,

Rausch Creek Powersports; (570) 682-4600;

RauschCreekRacing.com

Aug. 1: Catawissa, Pa.: Mike Soudas, High

Mountain Dirt Riders; (570) 954-7799; HMDR.

org

Aug. 7: Hill City, Minn.: Paul Otto, Range

Riders MC; (763) 229-1177; RangeRidersMC.org

Aug. 29: Cortland, N.Y.: Cindy Davis, Knobby

Acres; (607) 756-5277; WYNOA.org

Sept. 19: Lynnville, Ind.: Kenny Moore, IN, IL,

KY Enduro Riders; (812) 549-8385; Blackcoal.

org

AMA Racing East Youth Hare ScramblesAMARacing.com

April 18 (pending): Berwick, Pa.: Duane

Fisher, Evansville MX Park; (570) 759-2841

May 1: Dorchester, N.J.: Dennis McKelvey,

Tri-County Sportsmen; (609) 390-3772;

TeamHammer.org

May 29: Rhinelander, Wis.: Scott Schwalbe,

Sugar Camp Racing; (715) 272-1101;

SugarCampent.com

June 12: Elkland, Pa.: Jeremy Richardson,

Miles Mountain; (570) 723-8516;

MilesMountainMX.com

July 18: Valley View, Pa.; Tiffany Tobias,

Rausch Creek Powersports; (570) 682-4600;

RauschCreekRacing.com

July 31: Catawissa, Pa.: Mike Soudas, High

Mountain Dirt Riders; (570) 954-7799; HMDR.

org

Aug. 8: Hill City, Minn.: Paul Otto, Range

Riders MC; (763) 229-1177; RangeRidersMC.org

Aug. 28: Cortland, N.Y.: Cindy Davis, Knobby

Acres; (607) 756-5277; WYNOA.org

Sept. 18: Lynnville, Ind.: Kenny Moore, IN, IL,

KY Enduro Riders; (812) 549-8385; Blackcoal.

org

AMA Racing Rekluse National Enduro Championship Series AMARacing.com

Jan. 31: Wedgefield, S.C.: Johnny McCoy,

SERMA; (803) 481-5169; SERMAClub.com

Feb. 21: Greensboro, Ga.: Garrett McKey,

Cherokee Cycle Club; (678) 231-5858; SETRA.

org

March 4: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Steve

Pettenger, Daytona Dirt Riders; (386) 615- 0722

March 28: Kalgary, Texas: Kelly Simmons,

Lubbock Trail Riders; (806) 548-1260;

LubbockTrailRiders.org

April 18: West Point, Tenn.: Paul Traufler,

NATRA; (256) 837-0084; NATRA.DirtRider.net

May 16: Park Hills, Mo.: Michael Silger,

Missouri Mudders; (636) 639-6373;

MOMudders.com

June 20: Upton, Wyo.: Paul Douglas, Inyan

Kara Riders; (307) 468-2840; NationalEnduro.

com

July 25: Moorestown, Mich.: Jeff Hunt,

Lansing Motorcycle Club; (231) 267-9534

Aug. 15: North Berwich, Maine: Peter

Anania, Seacoast Trail Riders; (603) 436-4331;

SeacoastTrailRiders.org

Oct. 2: Matthews, Ind.: Brent Floyd,

Muddobbers MC; [email protected];

Muddobbers.org

AMA Dragbike AMADragbike.com

Nov. 13-15: South Georgia Motorsports Park,

Valdosta, Ga., AMA Dragbike; (513) 943-9700

AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES


AMA Supercross Ticket Discount

What’s better than a seat at an AMA Supercross? The same seat for $5 off because you’re a member of the AMA, that’s what. You get that savings on advance purchase tickets from SupercrossOnline.com, using the password AMASX09, or in person at the box offi ce by showing your AMA card up to the day prior to the event (discount not valid on raceday). Get full details at AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Members Area > Benefi ts.

AMA Roadside Assistance

Maximize your riding time and minimize the inconvenience of a breakdown with AMA Roadside Assistance, offering peace of mind and coverage for all your vehicles and your family’s vehicles, from motorcycles to cars to RVs and trailers. Better yet, AMA Roadside Assistance is available FREE to AMA members who sign up online and choose the convenience of yearly automatic renewal, or who sign up for three years.

Discounts On Mad Maps

Local knowledge of the best roads are as close as MAD Maps, some of the highest quality maps and routes for motorcycle-friendly road trips available. AMA members get 15 percent off using this discount code: AMA8675309 at MADMaps.com.

Discounts On Garmin Navigators & Products

The best way to never get lost? A quality GPS system like those from AMA partner Garmin, which offers as much as 20 percent off on navigation systems and software at Garmin.com/AMA.

Benefi ts Featured AMA Member Benefi ts

and discounts from AMA partners.

Discounts On Parts & More At BikeBandit.com

If it’s an OEM part for your motorcycle or pretty much any accessory or piece of gear you can think of, you’ll fi nd it online at BikeBandit.com. And AMA members get a 10 percent discount at checkout by entering their AMA numbers.

Discount On Biker Rain Chaps

For days with wet roads, a full rainsuit can be too much. Biker Rain Chaps keep you clean and dry and are easier to get on and off than a full rain suit. Biker Rain Chaps also add an extra layer of insulation for chilly mornings or evenings after the sun has gone down. AMA members get 25 percent off at BikerRainChaps.com/AMA

Bank Of America Visa 3 Percent Rebate Program

As an AMA member, every time you use your AMA Visa card at a qualifi ed motorcycle retailer, you get a 3 percent rebate on your credit card bill. Get full details and apply online through the Members Area of AmericanMotorcyclist.com, or call (800) 523-7666 and mention code FAAOLW.

AM_12_2009_pp054_MemberBenefits.indd 54 10/22/09 1:53 PM

December 2009 55

AM_12_2009_pp055-057_Market.indd 55 10/21/09 6:02 PM

Learn the Snell Story atwww.SMF.org/thestory

Then Decide Yourself



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statement oF oWnersHiP,

manaGement anD circUlation

1. Title of publication: American Motorcyclist

2. Publication No. 020820

3. Date of filing: October 1, 2009

4. Frequency of issue: monthly

5. No. of issues published annually: 12

6. Annual subscription price: $15.00

7. Location of known office of publication: 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, Fairfield County, OH 43147-8273

8. Location of headquarters or general business office of the publishers: 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, Fairfield County, OH 43147-8273

9. Name and complete address of Publishers-American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, Fairfield County, OH 43147-8273; Managing Editor: Grant Parsons, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, Fairfield County, OH 43147-8273

10. Owner: American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, Fairfield County, OH 43147-8273

11. Known bond holder, mortgages and other securities: none

12. Tax Status (For completion by non-profit organizations authorized to mail nonprofit rates). Has not changed during preceding 12 months

13. Publication name: American Motorcyclist

14. Issue date for circulation data: November 2009

15. Extent and nature of circulation:

Average no. copies of

single issue publicatished

nearest to filling date

A. Total no. copies (Net press run) 246,948 214,211B. Paid and/or requested circulation 1. Paid/Requested Outside County Mail, subscriptions stated on Form 3541 246,177 213,986 2. Paid in-county subscriptions 0 0 3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales & others 0 0 4. Oher classes mailed through USPS 0 0C. Total paid distribution 246,177 213,986 D. Free or nominal rate distribution by mail 770 225E. Total free or nominal rate distribution 770 225F. Total distribution: 246,948 214,211G. Copies not distributed 4,066 3,439

Total: 251,014 217,650Percent paid and /or requested circulation 99.6% 99.8%

I certify that the statement made by me is correct and complete. Grant Parsons, Managing Editor

Average no. copies each issue during

preceding 12 months

December 2009 57


Guest Column

Motorcycle rallies can be a lot of fun,

and you can ride away with an enriching

experience you won’t soon forget. On the

other hand, you can go to a rally and leave

wondering why you ever went in the fi rst

place.

As I fi nish up my own riding season—

and my own rally-organizing season

for The Rally in the Gorge in the Pacifi c

Northwest—I’ve been thinking about a few

things all riders should consider as they

wind down the year and start planning

how to spend their two-wheeled quality

time in 2010.

Pick your rallies wisely: Too often,

someone who enjoys a certain style of

bike or a certain style of riding shows up

at a rally that has little to do with his or her

interests. This need not be the case. If you

ride a dual-sport bike, for example, you

may not fi nd much of interest at a cruiser

rally. The AMA sanctions hundreds of

rallies each year, and with all the options

available, it’s pretty easy to fi nd something

that sounds appealing. Not that new

experiences can’t be fun, but it’s better if

you know what you’re signing up for.

Do your research: The best way

to fi nd out if a rally is for you is to ask

around—something made much easier by

the Internet, forums, chat rooms and rider

groups. Ask yourself what experience

you want from a rally. Do you simply want

to hit a social gathering, or do you want

to expand your horizons by taking in a

few guest speaker seminars, riding some

awesome routes and enjoying a variety

of evening entertainment? The Internet

wisdom knows.

Consider the price and the

experience: Rallies come in all kinds

of packages, with all kinds of prices. A

weekend gathering stitched together by

a few members of a motorcycling forum

will usually involve you paying for your

accommodations/camping and all your

meals. Club-level rallies are often done

by volunteers. In more rare cases, there

are promoters who put on full-scale rallies

complete with vendors, demo rides,

top-name guest speakers and a variety

of riding opportunities. These tend to

be some of the larger and more robust

events, and can be worth the higher price

of admission.

Plan ahead: Before you go, spend a

lot of time on the rally website getting

to know the event schedule, then

gather a little historical, geological and

meteorological information about the

area. If you won’t be camping onsite,

book your accommodations well in

advance (you can usually cancel later,

check the cancellation policy), and by all

means book your vacation time sooner,

rather than later. If the rally website is

short info, e-mail the promoter.

Determine your route: Part of the rally

experience is getting there and back. You

could slab it each way on an interstate,

but to enhance your fun, take a little time

beforehand and route yourself along the

secondary and tertiary roads, or loop in a

town you’ve always wanted to see.

These approaches may take a little

extra effort, but planning next year’s fun is

usually a good time in itself—especially if

it’s snowing outside!

Tom Mehren is the publisher of

soundrider.com and the founder of Rally in

the Gorge (since 2003; SoundRider.com/

rally), which will once again be the AMA

Northwest Regional Rally in 2010.

Use Your Off-Season WiselyPlan Well To Get The Most From The Next Rally Season By Tom Mehren

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AM_12_2009_pp058-060_Guest.indd 58 10/21/09 6:03 PM

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hy Foremost Insurance congratulates Larry Pegram and the 2009 Foremost Insurance Ducati Pegram Team on a terrific season in AMA

Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. Foremost is a leading insurer of motorcycles. We offer coverages bikers want and

competitive rates. For a no-obligation quote, go to Foremost.com or call 1-800-237-2060 and mention customer priority number M065.

Find out more about Larry Pegram and the rest of the

Foremost Racing team at ForemostRacing.com.

And on the street. . .

Foremost Insurance Company Grand Rapids, Michigan, Foremost Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Foremost Signature Insurance Company and American Federation Insurance Company 5600 Beech Tree Lane, Caledonia, MI 49316. Credit photo to smrmagazine.com Form 9001920 09/09

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American Motorcyclist 12 2009