Northeast Regional Update

Andy Palmatier’s beautiful 1989 CR125 and Next Generation 1999 KTM 300XC. This man has a very busy weekend at Northeast XC and MX events! Devin Trexler is returning to Vintage racing after a 15-year hiatus with this 1973 Honda CR250. Keep an eye on this former Expert rated rider! One of my favorite bikes to stare at our Northeast MX events, Ron Krzaczyk’s fast and furious 1974 Yamaha YZ250A.

Karl Faruzel says that he is NOT going to race this 82 IT175 he built this winter, wants to stick with motocross and trials. Come on, Karl! Ryan Collins was a very fast Novice in 2020 on his 1985 XR200, and now he has added an ’85 IT200. Hmmm… which bike are you going to race in 2021, Ryan? Rick Ketcham did a “frame off” restoration of this 1983 XR200 over the winter and it is a beauty. Just behind it is LAST winter’s project, his 1974 XLsinore build. He clearly has a thing for four-strokes. To each their own, right? Josh Fisher takes advantage of the Great April Thaw to get his “girls” out into the yard for some fresh air. That’s a 1980 YZ250G (L) and a 1982 XL500R (R). YES, an XL500R. Big Boys, Big Toys in AHRMA Northeast.

By: Bob Close

On Your Marks, Get Set…

Can you feel it? Temperatures are slowing warming up (like REALLY slowly), your 2021 season bike builds are going smoothly (or NOT), oil and tire changes have been purchased (again, or NOT), and you have downloaded, printed, and duct taped your AHRMA Northeast 2021 event schedule to the workbench. It is time to go racing! And to recognize some of your efforts, we have included a photo gallery of AHRMA Northeast bike builds and restorations with this issue. If your bike is included, please be prepared to sign autographs (and magazines) at one of our upcoming events!

By the time you read this update (here’s where the magazine editor inserts apology for not running this article in the April AHRMA MAG) the 2021 season’s opening event weekend—an XC at Locust Gap, Gap, PA and a Motocross at Irish Valley MX Park (IVMX), Paxinos, PA, will have occurred. This April 24th and 25th get-together is a joint event with the AHRMA Mid-Atlantic Region (i.e., points awarded towards each region’s championships). Our thanks to Mid-Atlantic for “inviting” us to their XC round, and I’m sure they feel the same about our sponsoring the MX race at Irish Valley.

The XC and MX events were also Round One of our new NE & Mid-Atlantic XC/MX Challenge Series championship! The criteria to qualify for and to determine the individual class & team champions are:

• All three events count to qualify for the individual and team mini series championship awards in XC and MX.

• The points total from each of the three events will determine the individual class and team champions. Points are awarded as listed in the 2021 AHRMA Handbook.

• For each region, XC or MX Teams will consist of one Novice, one Intermediate and one Expert level rider. Teams of three Novices, three Intermediates and three Experts may also be formed. A one-time Team entry fee of $5 per rider will be collected at the first event of the series.

• The other two Challenge series races will be at the Unadilla, NY, and Ashcraft PA, regional rounds.

You’ll need to get your bikes washed off, slathered in WD-40, and air filters cleaned in pretty short order because next up on the AHRMA Northeast schedule is Geer’s Farm in Fulton, NY, on May 1st and 2nd, with XC racing on Saturday and MX on Sunday. Many racers in our XC crowd thought that Geer’s Farm may have been one of the best XC layouts on the 2020 Northeast schedule. And there is no doubt that Pete Komarek and company will challenge us this year with their XC and MX layouts. Warning: the “moisture content” across the Geer Brother’s 600 acres could be a lot more significant in May 2021 than it was in October 2020, the last time we visited. Just saying.

The beautiful Finger Lakes hills surrounding Lake Lamoka, NY, are the next stop for our series on May 15th and 16th as we visit Renn and Robyn Shepherd’s Lamoka MX facilities. This will again be a Saturday XC/Sunday MX format. The XC layout is always challenging (can you say “off camber switchbacks?”) and if you like elevation changes, their motocross track—similar to Irish Valley—Is all about that.

For event details, flyers, and entry forms, please visit the website (ahrmane. org) or the official Facebook page, AHRMA Northeast. Ivan Beattie created and manages the Northeast’s Facebook Page. We also have our Northeast Vintage Riders Club 2021 Membership Forms there. Ivan does a great job in keeping the Facebook Page up-todate and everyone well informed. We appreciate his talent and dedicated work.

Do not hesitate to reach out to Merritt Brown (mbrown326@optimum.net) or Ed Roman (vmxracer@outlook.com) for items discussed in this article. And if you have ideas on Northeast content or want to give me some feedback, you can reach me, Bob Close, at: toocloseracing1@yahoo.com

Tom Curry is so excited about the season; he’s already got ‘em on the trailer. A 1978 YZ250E (Near) and 1986 YZ250S (Far). Braaap!! Dale Sonnenschein’s beautiful 1983 Husky (White Lightning!) WR250 is just about ready to go. Dale is fast. The bike is fast. This story usually ends with a win.

Everything is Awesome! And that Crowded House: Bob Close’s 74.5 Penton includes Jim Bell’s 1982 Honda Loren’s 1973 450WR.

Merritt Brown is a Maico Guy. Maico Guys like to find and race bikes like this Jackpiner and 75 YZ125B are ready to go for CR480R along with his must-have Takes a licking, keeps on ticking. 1973 Maico GS400 in our XC races. So cool, right? 2021, the other bikes, not so much. Harbor Freight lift. Bring it on, Jim. Go Loren! Massachusetts is In Da House when it comes to AHRMA Northeast and the Curry Brothers. Check out Jody Curry’s awesome 1979 KTM 420 that he has completed this winter. On the right is his 2nd project, a 1980 Honda CR250. Bring It on, Jody.

50 WWW.AHRMA.ORG

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