Nancy Sabater helped lead grassroots efforts to defeat the lead law
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One view of the open road. Read all about it on page 18. Photo: Ken Cromer
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January 2012
Volume 66, Number 1
Published by the American Motorcyclist Association 13515 Yarmouth Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147 (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) AmericanMotorcyclist.com
8. LETTERS
You write, we read.
10. ROB DINGMAN
Announcing the AMA Motorcyclist of the Year.
12. RIGHTS
Off-road dreams come true in Alabama, and Georgia may penalize street riders.
18. RIDING
Dispatch from the West: America’s iconic landscape doesn’t disappoint.
24. RACING
Getting started in racing, and Charlie Mullins wins GNCC title.
28. HALL OF FAME
1919 Cleveland motorcycle, and Hall of Famer Eddie Lawson.
32.
AMA MOTORCYCLIST OF THE YEAR
In 2011, thousands of motorcyclists mobilized to help defeat a misguided law that banned the sale of kids motorcycles in America. One of them was Nancy Sabater.
40. NEW YORK AIR
Pioneering women motorcyclists Augusta and Adeline Van Buren rode coast to coast, from New York to San Francisco, on Indian Power Plus motorcycles in 1916.
45. GO RIDE
What to do, where to go.
50. ROB MILLS
Father/son relationship pays off.
Cover
Nancy Sabater epitomizes
citizen-activist,
hard work related to the lead law earned her the AMA Motorcyclist of the Year award. Photo: Brandon Malone.
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CONTRIBUTORS AND STAFF
AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Contact any member of the AMA Board of Directors at www.AmericanMotorcyclist. com/about/board
Stan Simpson, Chairman Cibolo, Texas
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Dwight Conant, Kearsarge, N.H.
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Art More, Surprise, Ariz.
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AMA PRESIDENT AND CEO
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ROBINSON, Photographer When asked to photograph guest columnist Rob Mills, Danielle quickly accepted and was happy to bring her style of photography to American Motorcyclist. More of Danielle’s work can be seen at her website www.daniellerobinsonphotography.com.
BILL KRESNAK, Government Affairs Editor Mired in the funk of his own failure as a vintage bike collector, Krez continues to hunt for the perfectly unrestored RD400 of his dreams. “If that doesn’t work, a 1991 GSX-R1100 will do,” he says. “Well, one without a trashed second gear.”
High Adventure. No Hassle. The best routes, roads and twotrack, mapped by local experts. A great challenge with like-minded riders. A full weekend’s activities, with camping, campfires, food and prizes. Full information at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/Riding
RICKY ROBERTSON, Photographer Ricky Robertson is a professional portrait and wedding photographer with a unique creative style. His creativity and ability to choose the perfect moment to snap the shutter creates breathtaking works of art for his clients. Ricky shot Danny Hubbard for this month’s Rights section.
GRANT PARSONS, Director of Communications
Yeah, it’s been out for a while, but Grant was stopped cold the other evening when he saw a Piaggio MP3 parked at the coffee shop. Ever since, dude’s scooter Jones has kicked back in hard.
MARK LAPID, Creative Director Mark has never let a little thing known as reality get in his way. That’s why when he saw Husqvarna’s latest one-off concept, he drove to the local shop and put down a deposit. “Uh, yeah, we’ll call you when it’s ready,” they said.
JAMES HOLTER, Managing Editor James has decided two full-sized four-strokes in his garage are one too many. Anyone want to swap a 250/300 XC/XC-W for a 450 XC-W (only ridden on Sundays)?
JEN MUECKE, Designer With two blown two-strokes to rebuild, the supermoto sold, leathers out for repairs and cleaning, and coolent drained from all water-cooled engines, it’s starting to look a lot like the off-season.
JEFF GUCIARDO, Production Manager/Designer After working many long nights producing this issue as well as stacks of materials for the AMA Legends & Champions Weekend, Jeff has earned some mucho time off. But the real question is, does Mark agree?
Other contributors include: Shan Moore, Jeff Kardas, Rob Mills, Ken Cromer, Skipper Honeycutt, Brandon Malone, Motorcycle Safety Foundation
DANIELLE
FROM THE PRESIDENT
REAL HEROES
Picking the 2011 AMA Motorcyclist of the Year
By Rob Dingman
I’ve never been more proud to be an AMA member than I was on May 26.
That’s when a couple hundred of the AMA’s most active, vocal and engaged members converged on the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., to drive home a simple message: Fix the “lead law” that denies the sale of dirtbikes and ATVs to youth riders.
To realize the impact that these AMA members had, you have to understand what usually happens in the meeting rooms of that building. Typically, the rooms are filled with adults in dark suits and skirts, talking in subdued tones, working through a very mundane interplay that involves either reading or listening to scripted words designed to influence legislators on a particular issue. Such meetings are important, and they help shape our laws, but they’re anything but “exciting.” They’re not engaging. They are, in a word, routine.
AMA members turned that routine upside down on a hot Thursday at the AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb. The arrival of so many regular citizens, including a majority of kids—nearly all wearing colorful motocross gear—created an uplifting attitude, and a sense of energy. More than anything else, they drove home the point that not fixing a bad law that threatened to end kids’ motorcycling would have a very real impact on a vibrant, fun and family friendly activity. This was not business as usual in Washington.
It got attention. It got results. And it helped end three years of inaction by legislators to fix the law. Only 11 weeks after the AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb, Congress created, and the president signed, a law that removed the restriction on the sale of kids’ dirtbikes and ATVs.
That’s the power of grassroots activism.
The fact that “regular” people drove the process makes it the most powerful form of political engagement. The people who filled that room weren’t paid lobbyists. They weren’t suits. They were real riders, real families and real AMA members who were moved to act. They fixed the law. In doing so, they even earned an exemption in the law for specific products—motorcycles and ATVs—that no other group was able to achieve.
The AMA Motorcyclist of the Year designation recognizes the rider who had the most impact on the world of motorcycling in the previous 12 months. When it came time to select that individual,
“
So many AMA members had a hand in the victory that it was tough to single out one as the AMA Motorcyclist of the Year. ”
there was no question that the biggest issue facing motorcyclists in 2011 was the lead law. And its defeat represents the largest legislative victory for motorcyclists in more than a decade.
There were lots of groups, from the motorcycle manufacturing side, to the race promotion side, to other motorcycle activist organizations, who helped bring about the change. Everyone’s work was vital to our shared success. But from my perspective, the ones who really turned the tide were the grassroots AMA members and riders who wrote letters and emails, called and visited their congressmembers, and even turned the Rayburn building’s routine morning into something very special on that day in May.
So many AMA members had a hand in the victory that it was tough to single out one as the AMA Motorcyclist of the Year. In the end, the decision rested on two factors. The amount of work done by the individual chosen, and the fact that she was just a “regular” rider who was moved to join the fight not because her business was threatened or her livelihood was at stake, but because she saw an injustice and wanted to fix it.
Nancy Sabater, a Maryland rider who’s been around motorcycles, racetracks and trails since she was 15, is the 2011 AMA Motorcyclist of the Year. A motorcyclist whose fiancé raced at nearby tracks and rode with her in the woods for years, Sabater doesn’t have children herself, but realizes the importance of motorcycling to kids. She saw how motorcycling brings families together. She knew that motorsports helps kids grow in positive ways. And perhaps most importantly, she knew that if a generation of kids were denied motorcycles, an entire way of life could be lost forever.
Sabater’s involvement went beyond just writing letters, as you’ll see in the story on page 32. She organized petition drives. She mobilized others. She visited with congressmembers to lobby them directly to change the law.
Of course, while Sabater may be the visible face of grassroots activism on the cover of this magazine, it’s important to realize that every AMA member who acted to defeat the lead law also shares this individual award. Like many involved in the fight, Sabater is quick to note that a victory like this doesn’t happen solely from the actions of a single individual. It’s about all motorcyclists, AMA members and others in the motorcycle industry, standing together.
In the end, that’s something we can all be proud of.
Rob Dingman is president and CEO of the AMA.
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THE AMA MOTORCYCLIST OF THE YEAR
In 2011, thousands of motorcyclists mobilized to help defeat a misguided law that banned the sale of kids motorcycles in America. One of them was Nancy Sabater.
Youth motorcycling in America almost died.
Legislation, signed into federal law in 2008, saddled motorcycle manufacturers with strict requirements that effectively outlawed selling dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for kids age 12 and under.
Motorcycle dealers and manufacturers were shocked. How could the government further cripple a business already reeling from an economic downturn?
Families were outraged. How could they share their passion with the next generation if they could no longer buy bikes for their kids?
Track owners were anxious. Who would replace the ranks of mini riders who help fill the gates on race day, and keep mom and dad coming back round after round?
Safety experts were baffled. How could we pass laws that limit access to properly sized dirtbikes and ATVs for kids?
Everyone wondered how the government could pass something so wrong.
Nancy Sabater and some of the kid riders who helped defeat the lead law that banned the sale of youth motorcycles and ATVs.
Photo Brandon Malone
“Children are the future of the sport... Eventually, the ban would have killed motorcycling.”
But motorcyclists mobilized. They acted. And they won. It took three years, but grassroots efforts organized by the AMA and motorcyclists across the country helped turn the tide. And when President Obama signed a law that overturned the ban, the victory was shared among all.
“The contributions to this victory from all corners of the motorcycling industry can’t be overstated,” says AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “But it was the individual motorcyclists, the core enthusiasts, fueled by passion alone, who kept this fight going and made all the difference.”
Nancy Sabater was a key soldier in that fight. A motorcyclist from Charlotte Hall, Md., Sabater says she was driven by her love for the sport, her belief in the benefits of youth riding and a desire that fairness be served.
“Children are the future of the sport, and the thought that we would have to put riding aside and not do these family things greatly concerned me,” she says. “We need kids to grow the sport, and without an exemption to the law, eventually the ban would have killed motorcycling.”
Dingman says that Sabater’s tireless efforts represent the hard work that was put in by all individual riders who fought this battle.
“No question, Nancy was joined by a large number of dedicated motorcyclists and their families,” Dingman says. “However, she is one of the AMA’s most-dedicated, mostdriven and most-well-intentioned members.
“A number of partners had a hand in our victory over this misguided law—the motorcycle industry, race promoters, parts distributors and others,” Dingman continues. “But it’s Nancy and those like her—the individual enthusiasts—who truly put the rubber to the road, gave our cause a face in the crowd and brought this victory home. That is why they were the most influential motorcyclists of 2011, and why AMA member and grassroots activist Nancy Sabater is the AMA Motorcyclist of the Year.”
They Did What?
The nightmare started in 2008 when Congress passed legislation that essentially outlawed the sale of kids’ dirtbikes because of potential lead content in certain components.
Sabater speaks with another concerned enthusiast in the pits at Budds Creek in Maryland.
Making A Difference
AMA Motorcyclist of the Year and grassroots
difference in your local community.
1Make sure you know your information. If you don’t, contact people who know.
2Talk to the people who are directly affected and put in their hands the information and ammunition they need to act. You cannot be an army of one when you’re trying to make a big difference. The more voices, the louder you are.
3Utilize social media. It’s huge to get your message across. You can reach so many people who you don’t even know.
4Contact organizations that have a vested interest, like the AMA. Tell them, “Here’s what I’m doing. What else can I do? Just tell me. Direct me.” It all comes together when you get with the right people.
5It’s each one’s responsibility to contact their representative. You can’t do this for someone. It has to come from a constituent. Also, a face goes a long way. If I can deliver a letter in person, I will.
6Write letters to the editor of your local paper. It will let more people in your community know what’s going on, but also your representatives will see that because their staffs monitor that.
7Go to related events and talk about it. In the case of the lead law, that meant races. You may not be racing, but you know people who are and you know the issue.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) was signed into law by then-President George Bush on Aug. 14, 2008, and went into effect on Feb. 10, 2009.
The law was passed in the wake of reports that inexpensive imported children’s toys were testing high for lead content, which presents serious
exposure risks for children.
However, the CPSIA was not well written, and it banned the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under that contained more than a trace
activist Nancy Sabater offers several tips for making a
amount of lead.
The CPSIA, or “lead law” as it was commonly called, also required that all children’s products undergo expensive periodic testing by independent laboratories approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which was responsible for implementing the law.
The lead law ensnared kids’ dirtbikes and ATVs because trace levels of lead can be found in parts such as brake calipers and battery terminals. It did not matter that those parts were either inaccessible or extremely unlikely to end up in kids’ mouths.
Dirtbikes and ATVs weren’t alone in this mess. Other children’s products were also affected by the lead law, such as books, clothes, bicycles, telescopes and microscopes.
Complicating the situation was bureaucratic wrangling over jurisdictions, the right of the CPSC to rectify the matter and numerous delays and extensions that impacted some parts of the law, such as enforcement, but not others, such as testing.
The most recent delay for enforcing certain parts of the lead law was to run out at the end of 2011. If not extended, this would be another nail in the coffin of youth riding, and possibly the decisive blow against a weary multitude of enthusiasts who had been fighting to defeat the law for three years.
Nancy Sabater was not about to let that happen.
Getting The News
When Sabater learned of the ban, her reaction was common among the motorcycling community.
“It blew my mind. I was, like, ‘wow!’” she remembers. “I couldn’t believe it at first, and thought it would be fixed immediately.”
But that didn’t happen.
“I just enjoy trail riding, just having fun.”
“After some time had passed, I heard that it was still an issue, and that’s when I started to get involved, slowly,” she says. “I wrote my congressman, but it wasn’t until February 2011 when I felt like I had to do a lot more.”
Sabater says it seemed to her like the issue was slipping away from the motorcycling community. At first, she says, it received a large amount of attention, but then numerous enforcement delays appeared to cloud the issue. She says that riders and their families were starting to develop a false sense of security.
“In the beginning, there was all this
Sabater making a point at the AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb on May 26, 2011.
Your AMA At Work
By Wayne Allard
As I am diving into the issues facing motorcyclists as the new AMA vice president for government relations, two facts are obvious.
First, 2011 was a remarkably successful public policy year for the AMA, highlighted by Congress passing and the president signing legislation that included the “Kids Just Want to Ride” provisions, which exempted kids’ dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) from the lead law.
Second, motorcyclist-related laws and regulations will not go away.
The riding community faces attacks from your city, county, state and federal government, with old and new challenges facing the motorcycling community. The AMA provides the forum that can carry the fight forward for motorcyclists’ rights.
Overturning the lead law turned an ill-advised federal provision into an opportunity. It demonstrated that the riding community can come together under the AMA’s leadership. This victory has created a blueprint for future successes, reminding motorcyclists that we can make a difference on issues that affect our daily lives, even in Washington, D.C.
The victory also showed that those not old enough to vote can influence policymakers. In this case, kids’ involvement created a lifetime of memories for them and their families.
A key future challenge consists of preserving available riding opportunities while well-meaning but ill-advised policymakers try to take away our freedoms. This is true
outrage and all these people with high profile names doing things—people like Malcolm Smith and Jeremy McGrath,” she says. “That was great and made a real difference, but the issue didn’t die and it felt like some of the high-profile pressure was fading away. Then, when we finally hit the stretch run, the general person wasn’t as aware anymore.”
Sabater says that sentiment was confirmed when she started doing petition drops at local dealerships.
“Some were very helpful, but every time I went to the dealerships, I expected to see something on the window or a notice on the counter, but it wasn’t always there,” she says. “I got a lot of, ‘I don’t have control over that’ and so much double talk that it was just annoying. That’s what got me fired up.”
Not all dealerships were apathetic, of course. One shop that Sabater says was a particuarly big help was All-American Harley-Davidson in Hughesville, Md.
“They had an open house. And the
whether you race, ride off-highway or stay on the public thoroughfares.
It is an educational process that the AMA is prepared to undertake, but your support and encouragement is needed. If you are reading this and are not a member, the AMA’s public policy push is an important reason to join.
If you are an AMA member, look beyond your regular modest dues, sign up to receive AMA Action Alerts by email on issues affecting you, remember to register to vote, “Vote Like A Motorcyclist,” get to know your elected officials on a personal basis, write letters to the editors, affiliate your business with the AMA, become an AMA Defender and support the American Motorcyclist Political Action Committee with a donation no matter how small. We need to support those who support us.
As a rancher, veterinarian and outdoor advocate, I have been an involved citizen, small businessman, and an official who has served at all levels of government, from a local health officer to a U.S. senator. You, too, have this opportunity, no matter who you are. You can make a difference!
Today, I am again a private citizen using my experience to make this a better place for motorcyclists, and I am proud to be a part of this respected organization.
The AMA website AmericanMotorcyclist.com provides a plethora of information that you can use as a motorcyclist, including how you can make a difference with policymakers. Your freedoms are unique to America, and the AMA is here to help protect them.
The rest is up to you!
sales manager invited me to set up,” she says. “He said he knew all about the lead law from AMA email alerts. He suggested that the open house would be the perfect opportunity to get petitions signed. We had people who were really just street riders stop by, and they were really enthusiastic to sign the petition and learn more about the law. That was really cool.”
‘Just A Rider’
Sabater herself qualifies as a concerned dual-sport rider with little direct personal connection to youth motorcycling.
“I started riding when I was 19 in Florida,” she says. “I just enjoy trail riding, just having fun. I’m just a rider. I mostly ride my dual-sport bike these days. I like to be able to ride on both the street and the trail. I love motorcycling. It’s a sense that you just don’t get having a box around you. I don’t go very fast, but when I’m going I’m having a good time.”
Sabater doesn’t have kids, but a lot of her friends do, and she gets a lot of enjoyment out of watching them ride.
“Motorcycling is huge for me,” she says. “I love to watch it, to be a part of it. I love watching the competition. I love the battles.”
Sabater’s fiancé, Billy Schlag, has seen his fair share of battles on the motocross track. Schlag held a professional motocross license in the 1980s, and he has been instrumental in shaping Sabater’s views of the sport.
“Billy is just so adamant that it is such a family sport, from the people you meet to the places you go to what you learn,” she says. “It’s a part of his life. It’s part of his fabric. If he didn’t have motocross in him, he’d be different. If you are doing this six days a week, it’s part of who you are.
“Nowadays, with freestyle motocross and the whole environment around that, a lot of people have a misunderstanding of what the sport of motocross racing is,” she says. “It has been morphed into many different things, but the real sport of motocross
racing is a real grassroots, family activity.”
Rise Of The Moto-Patriots
Sabater is most proud of two initiatives that contributed to the defeat of the lead law. First, she generated a significant amount of local interest in the AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb. Second, she produced a number of videos of well-known racers and motocross industry personalities, published on her YouTube channel, speaking out against the lead law.
The AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb, held on May 26, 2011, was an AMAorganized event that brought more than 200 activists from more than 20 states to Washington, D.C. The event was designed to raise awareness among lawmakers of the serious consequences not fixing the lead law would have on motorcycling families.
“Working with other local enthusiasts, Nancy inspired local riders and their kids to attend this event and show lawmakers how much this law needed to be fixed,” says AMA Grassroots Coordinator Jessica Irving. “We could not have done what we did without her.”
Sabater, a local, says she felt it was her responsibility to support the event.
“I decided that I’m here in Maryland. I’m here near D.C. I have to generate as much attention as I can,” she says. “There are people who want to go but can’t. Let’s represent them.”
In many ways, the same sentiment and can-do attitude drove Sabater to encourage many pro motocross racers to put a face on the issue.
“I live 15 minutes from Budds Creek [motocross track], and since I was going to the National anyway, I took my video camera,” she says. “I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to go up and ask racers about when they started riding, how riding affected them and what their thoughts were on the lead law.”
Sabater ultimately published 20 video interviews, and several more that generally dealt with this topic.
“The first rider I asked was Jacob Weimer and right away he said, ‘Absolutely. What do you want to do?’” she says. “He did the first video, and it was great. I went around the pro pits and just got interview after interview. The more I did this, the more I realized it was important just to make them aware this was an issue. Some didn’t even realize the lead law was still a problem.”
Sabater says her experience taught her that every contribution counts.
Overturning The Lead Law
From Kid Racers to Adult Street Riders, Everyone Pitched In
After the lead law effectively banned the sale of kids’ dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), an outcry of protest rose up across the nation.
The AMA army rolled up its collective sleeves and went to work: Calling and writing their federal lawmakers, circulating and signing petitions, speaking with everyone they could to drum up opposition to the lead law and even taking part in the AMA Family Capitol Hill Climb, which was an event in Washington, D.C., on May 26 that brought families together to lobby their legislators.
Here are a few who represent the many who made a difference.
The Kid Racer
Jeremy Fowler, who is now 12, was one of those young racers who
“It’s easy to think that there are times that your vote or voice don’t count or can’t do anything, and then some of us just don’t do anything because of that,” Sabater says. “But I am a believer that we can be more powerful than we think we can be.”
Sabater coined a phrase to describe those who stood up against the lead law and, she says, are ready to swing into action at the next threat.
“As I got more involved, I saw the benefits of our efforts, no matter how small the contribution of time or energy—it was noticeable,” she says. “One day while talking to the AMA’s Jessica Irving about what all we were doing in Maryland and beyond, I came up with a phrase to refer to those of us across the country working hard to
make a difference: moto-patriots.”
Sabater has used the phrase consistently since, both on her YouTube channel (www.YouTube. com/user/TheMotoPatriot) and on a Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/ TheMotoPatriot).
The Fix
Thanks to the efforts of Sabater, other AMA members, race promoters and the industry, Congress got the message that the law must be fixed.
“The AMA and its members participated in news events to focus media attention on the issue, lobbied on Capitol Hill, and organized campaigns to encourage riders and parents to contact their federal
Jeremy Fowler
got involved—signing a petition to stop the ban and mounting a petition drive of his own.
“I had to get involved in the fight for my sport,” Jeremy says. “If I didn’t help then I couldn’t complain if the sport of motocross ended for all kids.
“I started on a little 50cc oil bike and have gone to every other class with most of the same kids from the beginning 50 classes,” he says. “We kind of grew up together at the track and for other kids to not be able to do that would be sad.”
The Mom
Jeremy’s mom, Kerry, also was heavily involved in the grassroots effort, particularly circulating petitions.
“I look at it like this—my son eats, sleeps, breathes and is beyond dedicated to motocross and what it brings him,” she says. “If this was to be taken from him and millions of other kids, it would be devastating, to say the least. They learn sportsmanship, they learn how to be winners, they also learn how to lose, they spend more time with friends and family than most other sports.”
The Letter Writer
Joey Albrewczynski of Erie, Pa., like so many kids across America, wrote a letter to his congressman asking that the bike ban be overturned.
The letter read: “My name is Joseph Albrewczynski. I am a 7-year-old boy that lives in Erie. My favorite thing to do is motocross. My dad has been taking me to the tracks ever since I was 4. We have a lot of fun together. My dad told me about the new law that bans the sale of motorcycles for kids to ride. I couldn’t believe that it was true. I asked him what I could do about it and he told me to write a letter to the congress members asking them to change this law. It is called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Please look into this. It would really be sad if I could not ride my dirtbike anymore.”
The Dad
Joey’s dad, Dennis, is proud of his son for getting involved,
lawmakers to exempt kids’ OHVs from the CPSIA,” says AMA Vice President for Government Relations Wayne Allard. “When it counted, riders and parents responded.”
As a result, every member of Congress, as well as members of the CPSC, got the message loud and clear that this issue must be addressed.
“Hundreds of thousands of parents, kids and club members joined us in this push to turn the tide in our favor,” Irving says. “Without people like Nancy, not all federal legislators may have listened and joined our early supporters who helped make this happen—legislators like U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and all the other lawmakers who backed an
and “even more excited that this time the system worked. “Everyone banded together and made a difference,” Dennis says. “It was a great lesson for my young son on democracy—proof that America is still that land of the free.”
The Dialer
Many concerned enthusiasts, including Andrea Rose of Corinth, Miss., picked up the phone and called their congressman to ask for an exemption from the lead law.
“I had to call my representative about the lead law to protect my family’s rights,” Rose says. “Motorcycling is an integral part of our life, and for uninformed bureaucrats to take away our children’s riding ability was not OK with me.”
exemption from the beginning.”
After nearly three years, the victory came quickly. In 12 days in August, the solution that motorcyclists had long advocated passed the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate and earned the president’s signature. On Aug. 12, President Obama signed into law H.R. 2715 that exempts kids’ OHVs from the leadcontent limits of the CPSIA, ending months of lobbying and once again making it legal to sell those machines.
Introduced by Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) and G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), H.R. 2715 cleared the House by a 421-2 vote on Aug. 1. The bill earned Senate approval by unanimous consent the same day.
“Everyone involved deserves a lot of thanks not only for ensuring that
kids can continue to ride today, but for ensuring that the sport and passion of motorcycling will continue to grow in the future as young riders become adult riders,” Dingman says.
Sabater says she’s inspired by the defeat of the lead law, and encouraged by the ability of the motorcycling community to work together.
“This victory is something that demonstrates the fruits of our labors,” she says. “Something really happened here. We effected change. We showed these kids that if you want something hard enough and you work hard enough that you can get results.
“Who knows what battles we’ll fight next, in D.C., for the AMA, for the rights of motorcyclists,” she adds. “This was a victory on many levels.”
Andrea Rose
Joey Albrewczynski
NEW YORK
AIR
A few of the hundreds of AMA-sanctioned events this month, detailed on the following pages.
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1Will Ryan Villopoto be able to hang on to his Monster Energy AMA Supercross crown this season? Catch the early action with the season opener Jan. 7 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., followed by events on Jan. 14 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz., and on Jan. 21 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. For the full schedule, see page 46.
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A little snow, or a lot of it, doesn’t stop a group of hardy New Jersey riders— some 550 of them—from taking to the roads on their scoots in what they call Polar Bear rides. And they want to invite you along. They have planned a series of rides during the winter months, beginning on Jan. 8 in Vineland, N.J. Info: PolarBearGrandTour. com.
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The AMA Arenacross Series is under way, and this season promises to showcase some of the closest racing action ever. The series will crisscross the country, with events Jan. 6-8 in Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan. 13-15 in Topeka, Kan., Jan. 21-22 in Dayton, Ohio and Jan. 27-29 in Cedar Park, Texas. For the full schedule, see page 46.
4The grueling AMA Racing Kenda Hare & Hound National Championship Series featuring the fastest desert riders in the country gets under way Jan. 22 in Lucerne Valley, Calif. For the full schedule, see page 46.
5Don’t stay cooped up at home when you can check out hundreds of new street bikes, dirtbikes, cruisers, scooters, all-terrain vehicles, riding gear, accessories and more at the 31st
Progressive International Motorcycle Shows. The show heads to Novi, Mich., Jan. 6-8; Washington, D.C., Jan. 13-15; New York Jan. 20-22; and Cleveland Jan. 27-29. Info: MotorcycleShows.com.
6Grab your cold-weather gear and head out to the lake. The hottest action on ice happens at the AMA Racing Ice Race Grand Championships on Jan. 21-22 at the Birch Run Expo Center in Birch Run, Mich.
COMING UP
The 2012 International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) is set for Sept. 24-29 in Saxony, Germany. AMA Racing qualifiers will be held June 2-3 in Idaho City, Idaho, and June 9-10 in Wellston, Ohio. For more info, see page 47. 5 6 3 5 2 1
ARIZONA
COMPETITION
HARE SCRAMBLES
JAN 7-8: BUCKEYE: ARIZONA CYCLE PARK, 623-853-0750, EXT 4, ARIZONACYCLEPARK.COM.
CALIFORNIA
COMPETITION
GRAND PRIX
JAN 14-15: RANCHO CORDOVA: POLKA DOTS MC, 916-985-7378.
OBSERVED TRIALS
JAN 15: ROMOLAND: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIALS ASSOCIATION, 909-224-3375, SOCALTRIALS.COM.
HARE SCRAMBLES
JAN 22: OCOTILLO: OVER THE BELT RACING, 619-654-0818, OTBRACING-D38.NET. INDIANA RECREATIONAL
ROAD RUN
JAN 1: INDIANAPOLIS: MIDWEST M/C, 317-557-2130. KANSAS COMPETITION
ARENACROSS
HALL OF FAME EXHIBITS
MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME MOTORCYCLEMUSEUM.ORG
The Hall of Fame is on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio, and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Main Hall: Motorcycle Hall of Fame: Recognizing those who have made significant contributions to all aspects of motorcycling.
Dirt-Track! All-American Motorcycle Racing: Celebrating the storied history of the men and machines who battle on the dirt oval.
30-Year Ride: Honda’s Ohio-made Motorcycles: Gold Wings aren’t the only bikes that Honda produced at its plant in Marysville, Ohio. This exhibit showcases the 30 years of production, from the CR250 to the Rune.
Founder’s Hall: Honoring the Hall of Fame’s generous contributors.
AMA PRO RACING
2012 MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS SERIES AMASUPERCROSS.COM
Jan. 7: Anaheim, Calif.: Angel Stadium
Jan. 14: Phoenix, Ariz.: Chase Field
Jan. 21: Los Angeles: Dodger Stadium
JAN 13-14: TOPEKA: FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS.COM
MARYLAND COMPETITION
MOTOCROSS
JAN 8: BUDDS CREEK: BUDDS CREEK MOTOCROSS PARK, 301-475-2000, BUDDSCREEK.COM.
MICHIGAN
COMPETITION
ARENACROSS
JAN 6-7: GRAND RAPIDS: FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS.COM
ICE RACE
JAN 21-22: BIRCH RUN: NORTH AMERICA ACTION SPORTS, LLC, 989871-3356, NAACTIONSPORTS.COM.
ROAD RUN
JAN 1: BLOOMINGTON: TRAVELERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (651) 303-1160 OHIO
COMPETITION
ARENACROSS
Jan. 28: Oakland, Calif.: Overstock.com Stadium
Feb. 4: Anaheim, Calif.: Angel Stadium
Feb. 11: San Diego: Qualcomm Stadium
Feb. 18: Arlington, Texas: Cowboys Stadium
Feb. 25: Atlanta: Georgia Dome
March 3: St. Louis: Edward Jones Dome
March 10: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona Int’l Speedway
March 17: Indianapolis: Lucas Oil Stadium
March 24: Toronto, Canada: Rogers Centre
March 31: Houston: Reliant Stadium
April 14: New Orleans: Louisiana Superdome
April 21: Seattle: Qwest Field
April 28: Salt Lake City: Rice-Eccles Stadium
May 5: Las Vegas, Nev.: Sam Boyd Stadium
AMA ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ARENACROSS.COM
Dec. 9-11: Wilkes Barre, Pa.: Mohegan Sun Arena
Jan. 6-8: Grand Rapids, Mich.: VanAndel Arena
Jan. 13-15: Topeka, Kan.: KS Expo Centre
JAN 21-22: DAYTON: FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS.COM
SOUTH CAROLINA
RECREATIONAL
DUAL SPORT RIDE
JAN 14-15: EHRHARDT: FAMILY RIDERS M/C, 843-795-8403, FAMILYRIDERSMC. COM.
COMPETITION
HARE SCRAMBLES
JAN 22: WEDGEFIELD: SERMA, 803-481-5169 (NIGHTS 7-10PM EST), SERMACLUB.COM.
ENDURO
JAN 29: WEDGEFIELD: SERMA, 803481-5169, SERMACLUB.COM.
TEXAS
COMPETITION
ARENACROSS
JAN 27-28: CEDAR PARK: FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS.COM
MOTOCROSS
JAN 8: NEEDVILLE: SCOREKEEPERS INK, 713-534-3618, SOUTHWESTMXPARK.COM.
Arena
Jan. 21-22: Dayton, Ohio: Nutter Center
Jan. 27-29: Cedar Park, Texas: Cedar Park Center
Feb. 3-5: Syracuse, N.Y.: SRC Arena
Feb. 11-12: Fresno, Calif.: Save Mart Center
Feb. 17-19: Reno, Nev.: Livestock Events Center
Feb. 25-26: Minneapolis, Minn.: Target Center
AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
AMA RACING NATIONAL HARE & HOUND NATIONALHAREANDHOUND.COM
Jan. 22: Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Rick Nuss, Desert MC; (626) 205-0121, DesertMC.com
Feb. 12: Ridgecrest, Calif.: Richie Wohlers, Four Aces MC; (805) 358-2668, FourAcesMC. org
Feb. 26: Reno, Nev.: Jeff Henning; Western States Racing Assn.; (775) 544-6463, WesternStatesRacing.com
March 25: Murphy, Idaho: Bill Walsh, Dirt Inc.; (208) 459-6871, DirtIncRacing.com
April 22: Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Steve Williams, Vikings MC; (310) 490-4575, VikingsMC.com
May 5: Jericho, Utah: Talisa Flitton, Sage Riders; (801) 833-5946, SageRidersMC.com
May 19: Jericho, Utah: KC Bogue, Sugarloafers MC; (435) 864-8305, SugarloafersMC.com
Sept. 8: Panaca, Nev.: Zach Livreri, Silver State Trailblazers; (702) 994-6823, https:// sites.google.com/site/silverstatetrailblazers/
Oct 14: Johnson Valley, Calif.: Justin Shultz, SoCal MC; (949) 981-6776, SoCalMC.com
Oct. 28: Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Ryan Sanders, 100’s MC; (949) 584-9395, 100sMC.org
AMA NATIONAL ENDURO NATIONALENDURO.COM
Jan. 29: Wedgefield, S.C.: Johnny McCoy, SERMA; (803) 481-5169, SermaClub.com
Feb. 19: Greensboro, Ga.: Tom Cufr, Cherokee Cycle Club; (770) 540-2891, Setra.org
March 4: Salley, S.C.: Rhonda Dennis, Columbia Enduro Riders; (803) 788-4220, mastercraft@bellsouth.net
April 22: West Point, Tenn.: Paul Traufler, NATRA; (256) 837-0084, NATRA.DirtRider.net
May 6: Forest Hill, La.: Tracy Barstow, Acadiana Dirt Riders; (337) 519-2520, AcadianaDirtRiders.org
June 17: Upton, Wyo.: Paul Douglas, Inyan Kara Riders; (307) 468-2840, NationalEnduro.com
July 29: Cross Fork, Pa.: Peter Burnett, Brandywine Enduro Riders; (610) 368-7332, BER.us
Sept. 9: Park Hills, Mo.: Michael Silger, Missouri Mudders; michael.silger@avnet.com, MoMudders.com
Oct. 14: Matthews, Ind.: Doug Spence, Muddobbers MC; (765) 998-2236, MuddobbersMC.org
Nov. 4: Stanton, Ala.: Glenn Hollingshead, Perry Mountain MC ; (334) 872-4286, PerryMountain.com
ENDUROCROSS
ENDUROCROSS.COM
May 4: Las Vegas, Nev.: Orleans Arena
June 9: Sacramento, Calif.: Power Balance Pavilion
TBD: Los Angeles: TBD
Sept. 15: Ontario, Calif.: Citizens Bank Arena
Oct. 6: Denver: National Western Complex
Oct. 20: Everett, Wash.: Comcast Arena
Oct. 27: Boise, Idaho: Idaho Center
Nov 17: Las Vegas, Nev.: Orleans Arena
AMA RACING WEST HARE SCRAMBLES AMARACING.COM
Jan. 7 (Youth) Jan. 8 (Amateur): Buckeye, Ariz.: Beverly Howard-White, Arizna Cycle Park; (623) 853-0750 ext. 4, ArizonacyclePark.com
Feb. 18 (Youth) Feb. 19 (Amateur): Ridgecrest, Calif.: Derrick Morris, Salinas Ramblers; (831) 663-0261, SalinasRamblersMC. org
March 3 (Youth) March 4 (Amateur): Sparks, Nev.: Jeff Irwin, Cross Country Promotions; (916) 837-7713, ccp_racing@yahoo.com
April 14 (Youth) April 15 (Amateur): Shasta Lake, Calif.: Karl Hankins, Redding Dirt Riders;
(530) 953-7272, ReddingDirtRiders.com
June 16 (Youth & C Amateur) June 17 (Pro, A & B Amateur): Elkton, Ore.: Toni Bamford, ETRA; (541) 968-1664, ETRA.net
Aug. 25 (Youth) Aug. 26 (Amateur): Big Sky, Mont.: Jamey Kabisch, Lone Peak Racing; (406) 223-0478, BigSkyXC.com
AMA RACING EAST HARE SCRAMBLES AMARACING.COM
Jan. 22 (Youth & Amateur): Wedgefield, S.C.: Johnny McCoy, SERMA; (803) 481-5169 (7-10 p.m. EST), SERMAClub.com
Feb. 26 (Youth & Amateur): Elko, Ga.: Bruce Douglas, High Point Hare Scrambles; (478) 8084131, rbduglas47@yahoo.com
April 7 (Youth & Amateur): Battle Creek, Mich.: Kurt McKenzie, Battle Creek MC; (269) 964-0778, BattleCreekMotorcycleClub.com
May 13 (Youth & Amateur): TBA.: Rita Coombs, Racer Productions; (304) 284-0084, GNCCRacing.com
June 9 (Youth) June 10 (Amateur): New Berlin, N.Y.: Jim Simmons, Thunder Ridge Sports; (607) 847-6522, ThunderRidge.biz
July 8 (Youth & Amateur): Millfield, Ohio: Rita Coombs, Racer Productions; (304) 284-0084, GNCCRacing.com
July 21 (Youth & Amateur): Valley View, Pa.: Tiffany Tobias, Rausch Creek Powersports; (570) 682-4600, RauschCreekRacing.com
Aug. 4 (Youth) Aug. 5 (Amateur): Hill City, Minn.: Paul Otto, Range Riders MC; (763) 229-1177, RangeRidersMC.org
Sept. 1 (Youth) Sept. 2 (Amateur) Arrington, Va.: Chuck Honeycutt, April Fools Promotions; (757) 375-5665; AprilFools62@verizon.net
AMA/NATC MOTOTRIALS AMARACING.COM
May 19-20: Cahuilla Creek, Calif.: Pete Croft, So. California Trials Assn.; (714) 580-7369, SoCalTrials.com
May 26-27: Cotapaxi, Colo.: Frank Peterson, Rocky Mountain Trials Assn.; (303) 477-6793, RockyMountainTrials.org
June 16-17: Toronto, Ohio.: Jim Watson, Trials Inc.; (317) 861-6275, TrialsInc.org
June 23-24: Exeter, R.I.: David Alen, Rhode Island Trials Club, (508) 285-6074, RITrialsClub. com
AMA/NATC YOUTH MOTOTRIALS AMARACING.COM
June 6-8: Sequatchie, Tenn.: Ashley Jackson, Southeastern Trials Riders Assn., (423) 9428688; TrialsTrainingCenter.com
July 20-22: Howard, Colo.: Bill Markham, International Trials School; (719) 942-3372, ITSoffroad.com
AMA RACING ATV HARE SCRAMBLES AMARACING.COM
March 3: TBD: Mike Gibbs, Mid America XC; (317) 418-6084, TheMAXC.com
April 7: Battle Creek, Mich: Kurt McKenzie, Battle Creek MC; (269) 964-0778, BattleCreekMotorcycleClub.com
June 9: New Berlin, N.Y.: Jim Simmons, Thunder Ridge sports; (607) 847-6522, ThunderRidge.biz
July 22: Valley View, Pa.: Tiffany Tobias, Rausch Creek Powersports; (570) 682-4600, RauschCreekRacing.com
Aug. 4: Hill City, Minn.: Paul Otto, Range Riders MC; (763) 229-1177, RangeRidersMC.org
Oct. 13: TBD: Mike Gibbs, Mid America XC; (317) 418-6084, TheMAXC.com
Oct. 27: Gosport, Ind.: Mike Gibbs, Mid America XC; (317) 418-6084, TheMAXC.com
AMA ATV MOTOCROSS ATVMOTOCROSS.COM
March 24-25: Millcreek, Pell City, Ala.
April 21-22: Muddy Creek, Blountville, Tenn.
May 5-6: Budds Creek, Mechanicsville, Md.
May 19-20: Sunset Ridge, Walnut, Ill.
June 2-3: Ballance MX, Oakland, Ky.
June 16-17: High Point, Mount Morris, Pa.
June 30-July 1: Sunday Creek, Millfield, Ohio
July 14-15: Unadilla, New Berlin, N.Y.
July 28-29: RedBud, Buchanan, Mich.
Aug. 11-12: Loretta Lynn Ranch, Hurricane Mills, Tenn.
AMA INDOOR DIRT TRACK AMARACING.COM
Dec. 10: Du Quoin, Ill.: Southern Illinois Ctr
Jan. 1: Du Quoin, Ill.: Southern Illinois Ctr
Jan. 21: Du Quoin, Ill.: Southern Illinois Ctr
Feb. 11: Du Quoin, Ill.: Southern Illinois Ctr
Feb 25: Du Quoin, Ill.: Southern Illinois Ctr
March 31: Du Quoin, Ill.: Southern Illinois Ctr
AMA AMATEUR GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS
AMA RACING VINTAGE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS AMAVINTAGEMOTORCYCLEDAYS.COM
July 20-22: Lexington, Ohio: AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
AMA RACING HILLCLIMB GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS AMARACING.COM
Aug. 17-19: Bay City, Wis.: AMA Racing Hillclimb Grand Championships
AMA RACING ISDE QUALIFERS AMARACING.COM
June 2-3: (Round 1) Idaho City, Idaho: Peter Reynolds, Boise Ridge Riders; (208) 384-5141, BoiseRidgeRiders.org
June 9-10: (Round 2) Wellston, Ohio: William Defue Jr., Appalachian Dirt Riders; (740) 3846379, ADROhio.org
Sept. 24-29: 2012 ISDE: Sachsenring Circuit, Saxony, Germany
