American Motorcyclist 03 2013

NAVIGATION

Cover

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Dave Perewitz and his daughter Jody Perewitz have made no compromises in their pursuit for a land-speed record. Read their story starting on page 34. Photo: Ken Richardson

Navigation Photo Anaheim I, the opening round of the 2013 AMA Supercross season, was full of surprises. Davi Millsaps (center) won the race with a last lap pass on runner-up Trey Canard (right). Ryan Dungey got third. Photo: Jeff Kardas

8. LETTERS

You write, we read.

10. IMRE SZAUTER

Are you ready?

12. RIGHTS

Military hits snag in effort to expand base into California’s Johnson Valley, and free sound testing kits available.

18. RIDING

American Motorcyclist magazine (ISSN 0277-9358) is published monthly by the American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147. Copyright by the American Motorcyclist Association/American Motorcyclist 2013. Printed in USA. Subscription rate: Magazine subscription fee of $10 covered in membership dues; $15 a year for non-members.

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

March 2013

Volume 67, Number 3

Published by the American Motorcyclist Association 13515 Yarmouth Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147 (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) www.americanmotorcyclist.com

When reality surpasses expectations for a new rider, Americade expands, safety tips for tall riders and AMA Member Tested: VentureHeat gear.

24. RACING

Supercross showdown, Mammoth MX joins AMA racing calendar and dirt-track racing at Daytona Beach.

30. HALL OF FAME

1982 Ducati 900SS, and Hall of Famer Carroll Resweber.

34. SPEED DEMONS

There’s more to Dave and Jody Perewitz than just awesome custom-built bikes.

40. WALLA WALLA TO BOISE

One ride, three states and a whole lot of Pacific Northwest goodness.

45. GO RIDE

What to do, where to go.

54. HOWARD GLASSMAN

The old man and The Dragon.

ATLANTA

November 2-4, 2012

DALLAS

November 9-11, 2012

SAN MATEO

November 16-18, 2012

LONG BEACH

December 7-9, 2012

SEATTLE

December 14-16, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C.

January 4-6, 2013

MINNEAPOLIS

January 11-13, 2013

NEW YORK

January 18-20, 2013

OHIO

January 25-27, 2013

MICHIGAN

February 1-3, 2013

CHICAGO

February 8-10, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS

February 15-17, 2013

CHARLOTTE

February 22-24, 2013

EDITORIAL OFFICES

American Motorcyclist 13515 Yarmouth Drive Pickerington, OH 43147 (614) 856-1900 submissions@ama-cycle.org

James Holter, Managing Editor

Bill Kresnak, Government Affairs Editor

Mark Lapid, Creative Director

Jen Muecke, Designer

Jeff Guciardo, Production Manager/Designer

Kaitlyn Sesco, Marketing/Communications Specialist

ADVERTISING

Steve Gotoski, Advertising Director (Western States) (951) 566-5068, sgotoski@ama-cycle.org

Zach Stevens, National Sales Manager (626) 298-3854, zstevens@ama-cycle.org

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, 2013.

AMA STAFF

EXECUTIVE

Rob Dingman, President/CEO

Rhonda Hixon, Administrative Asst./Litigation Manager

Bruce Moffat, Chief Financial Officer

Sen. Wayne Allard, Vice President, Government Relations

Bob Chaddock, Vice President, Administration

Jeff Massey, Vice President, Operations

Jim Williams, Vice President, Industry Relations & Corporate Member Programs

Grant Parsons, Director of Communications & Marketing

Rob Rasor, Director of International Affairs

ACCOUNTING

Dawn Becker, Accounting Manager

Melanie Hise, HR Assistant/Payroll Coordinator

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Sean Maher, Director

AMHF/MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME

Renee Bock, Management Assistant

Connie Fleming, Manager of Events and AMHF Operations

Beth Myers, Donor Relations Specialist

Paula Schremser, Program Specialist

Katy Wood, Collections Manager

AMA RACING/ORGANIZER SERVICES

Kip Bigelow, Amateur MX Manager

Joe Bromley, District Relations Manager

Jacki Burris, Organizer Services Coordinator

Jane Caston, Racing Coordinator

Lana Cox, Administrative Assistant/Switchboard Operator

Kevin Crowther, Director SX & Pro Racing Relations

Bill Cumbow, Director of Special Projects

Sandi Dunphy, Coordinator/Switchboard Operator

Dave Hembroff, Road Riding Manager

Alex Hunter, MX Operational Coordinator

Tamra Jones, Racing Coordinator

AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

Stan Simpson, Chairman Cibolo, Texas

Maggie McNally, Vice Chairwoman Albany, N.Y.

Ken Ford, Assistant Treasurer Bartow, Fla.

Perry King, Assistant Secretary Northern California

John Ulrich, Executive Committee Member

Lake Elsinore, Calif.

Russ Brenan, Irvine, Calif.

Sean Hilbert, Hillsdale, Mich.

Scott Miller, Milwaukee, Wis.

Art More, Sun City West, Ariz.

Jim Viverito, Chicago, Ill.

(800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646)

AMA RACING/ORGANIZER SERVICES (continued)

Ken Saillant, Track Racing Manager

Cherie Schlatter, Organizer Services Manager

D’Andra Schwabel, Organizer Services Coordinator

Serena Van Dyke, Organizer Services Coordinator

Chuck Weir, Off Road Racing Manager

Conrad Young, Timing & Scoring Manager

DISTRIBUTION/FACILITIES SERVICES

John Bricker, Mailroom Manager

Heida Drake, Copy Center Operator/Switchboard Operator

Bill Frasch, Mailroom Clerk

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Marie Esselstein, Government Affairs Assistant

Danielle Fowles, Grassroots Coordinator

Nick Haris, Western States Representative

Sharon Long, Legislative Coordinator

Rick Podliska, Deputy Director

Imre Szauter, Government Affairs Manager - On-Highway

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Rob Baughman, Network Administrator

John Boker, Developer

Dave Coleman, Network Architect

Amy Hyman, Senior Programmer/Analyst

Ed Madden, Managed Services Manager

Bill Miller, Web Architect

Peg Tuvell, Operations Manager

MEMBER SERVICES/DATA ENTRY

Lori Cavucci, Member Services Representative

Deb D’Andrea, Member Services Representative

Linda Hembroff, Member Services Representative

Darcel Higgins, Member Services Manager

Kimberly Jude, Member Services Representative

Angie Miller, Member Services Representative

Tiffany Pound, Member Services Representative

Jessica Robinson, Member Services Representative

MEMBER LETTERS

LETTER OF THE MONTH

THIS LAND IS OUR LAND

Send your letters (and a high-resolution photo) to submissions@ama-cycle.org; or mail to 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147.

For the past several years I have read the AMA magazine the moment it arrived. I have scoured the pages to find an article that 1) grabbed my attention, 2) kept it, and 3) deserved rereading. And who should write it? A Brit! Thank you, Rick Wheaton, for a delightfully entertaining description of your 10,000-mile trek across our great nation. Now you see why we fought so hard to wrest it from your forefathers.

John Poynter Silver Springs, Nev.

ALONG FOR THE RIDE

Some minor surgery on my foot, along with the cooler winter months, and I find myself enjoying other motorcyclists’ ride reports, trips or journeys taken to pass the time.

The February issue of American Motorcyclist included a great story that was titled “A British Biker’s America Ride” by Rick Wheaton. I read with great interest how someone would ship their bike across the ocean (er, pond) to travel across the United States—not just travel “across” the States, but ride more than 10,000 miles doing so.

His story was well written with as much detail as space would permit. I am sure the photos that were included were only a few of hundreds that were taken on his trip. Overall, it was a wonderfully penned piece.

Rick: I have spent all of 55 years living in these United States you just wrote about. You have seen so much more of it than I have. It is too easy for me to get wrapped up into everyday life here not to see the beauty that is all around. My hat is off to you for partaking upon this adventure, most of it riding solo.

Your story is an inspiration to me to go out and see the greatness that is in our backyard.

Thank you, sir, for visiting our country.

Paul Goess Flower Mound, Texas

BEST EVER!

I just wanted to pass along that I enjoyed the ride report by Rick Wheaton in the February issue of American Motorcyclist, “A British Biker’s America Ride.” I thought his write up and photos were probably the best article I had ever seen in the magazine. Perhaps you can let him know how much it was appreciated.

Stephen Angelidis

Mechanicsville,

Va.

SAFETY ON THE MIND

Bill Kresnak’s article on intelligent transportation systems (“Safey Tech,” January issue) was disturbing at its core. These systems come from the belief that transportation and automotive/motorcycle engineers can design foolproof systems to keep us safe. It is flawed because no one can anticipate the needs of every situation. I admit to being a bit behind current technologies as a 61-year-old engineer. But, human control is a critical element of safety…

Rather than focus on intelligent transportation systems that take control from the driver or rider, we should focus on driver/rider training before allowing people on the road. Every driver should have training in both normal and emergency maneuvers in order to get a license. This is not simply passing a test to prove you can parallel park. It is significant training similar to that provided through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, but reaching further into more advanced skills. Possibly it is a staged system similar to Europe.

As for me, it is difficult to find vehicles that I want to buy anymore. Standard transmissions have become somewhat non-standard. I still don’t like a vehicle deciding when I want to shift. I hate the “brain” in my Mazda that thinks I want air conditioning when I turn down the heat. And, I’m not fond of that “chip” that thinks I want the window all the way down when I just want a bit of air. Automotive and motorcycle designers should provide controls for the driver/rider to operate and leave intelligence to the operator. State agencies should confirm that the operator has intelligence before licensing. Mark me in favor of intelligent drivers rather than intelligent transportation.

Billy Street Dawsonville, Ga.

ATGATT

As a rider for over a half-century, I appreciate an organization that looks out for the best interest of motorcyclists, the American Motorcyclist Association. As a long-distance rider, the roadside assistance is welcome insurance, although I have not needed it. I also enjoy my visits to the museum and reading American Motorcyclist. I have reservations about lobbyists, as many of us do. Still, I accept the need for a presence in Washington to represent our unique needs.

From a personal point of view, I take issue with the laissez-faire approach the AMA takes regarding helmet use. Several years ago I was involved in a crash that left me hospitalized, including intensive care treatment. After about a year of recovery I am able to work, enjoy my family and friends as well as continue to ride.

I am also a member of the Motorcycle Sport Touring Association (MSTA).

The MSTA is a group of, mostly, highly experienced riders. Many have racing on their motorcycle resumes. One of the mantras of this group is “All The Gear—All The Time.” When my motorcycle and I smashed into a guardrail on a curve in West Virginia, I was wearing full protective gear, including a full-face helmet.

Considering the life-threatening severity of my injuries, there is almost no chance that I would have survived if I had not being wearing all my gear. If I had survived, I would have been a lifelong burden on my family and society, requiring the care of a nursing home.

From the perspective of several years of hindsight, when I look at the passive approach on helmet use taken by the AMA, and compare it to the strong, but not mandatory position taken by the MSTA, I know which one served me better. I wonder how many members the AMA has lost over the years due to ridermembers crashing with a bare head? In fact, I believe the AMA does its members a disservice by fighting helmet legislation. Perhaps a periodic review of the AMA

John Rath

position on helmet use may be in order.

Thank you for listening to my viewpoint.

John Rath Concord, Ohio

John, thanks for the note. The AMA strongly encourages All The Gear All The Time without exception. We simply believe that for adult riders, the decision to take that advice should be theirs alone, and not one dictated by the government. All of our public policy positions, this one included, are regularly reviewed and updated, as necessary, by our board of directors.

GEAR UP

I wanted to comment on Cathy Seckman’s article in the January issue, particularly with regard to the attire being worn by the grandpa and grandson she observed out on a short ride.

One evening after work, my son took his bike out on a ride just around the block to check out his new mirror mounts. It was only, after all, a ride around the block but he still put on his full-face helmet (Maryland does have a helmet law), fullyarmored motorcycle jacket and armored motorcycle gloves.

Within 100 yards from being back at his house, a car encroached into his lane and forced him over into a storm drain. The depth and grating of the drain caused him to lose control of his bike and eventually sent him rolling and sliding down the street.

He lost consciousness temporarily and was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma [Center]. To make a long story short, he was the only motorcycle rider to walk out of Shock Trauma that night. Thanks to his protective gear (his helmet was scratched and scraped all the way around, the

left shoulder and arm of his jacket was shredded and his left glove was in tatters), he came away with only a few abrasions and some road rash. His protective gear had done its job!

Protective gear, all of the time—that is now our family motto!

Carolyn Cheezum Finksburg, Md.

PACK SMART

I wanted to add to your tool bag and first aid kit for members. I was a Navy Corpsman and have been riding for more than 40 years. That was a great list in the January issue, but add duct tape and a knife. I can make splints and fix almost anything good enough to ride with the zip ties, safety wire, duct tape and a knife, pen and lighter. Ride like you want to ride tomorrow!

I currently ride a heavily modified CR500 and an XR600, along with my favorite XJ700 Maxim-X for the street. They don’t make some things like they used to.

Richard Harris Dublin, Ohio

American Quality. American Pride.

Bringing jobs back to America is long overdue. So Gerbing’s has opened a new factory in the U.S. First we’ll make our Jacket Liners, Pant Liners and Vests here. Eventually, every Gerbing’s product will be made here... by your fellow Americans. And we’ll source every fabric, zipper, plug and every thread from American suppliers, too. Our goal is 100% Made-in-America, from the initial idea to the last stitch. America First. Americans First. Gerbing’s quality above the rest. You deserve it this good.

Carolyn Cheezum

ARE YOU READY? Start Preparing Now For The Riding Season

By Imre Szauter

For those of us in the frigid Midwest and other cold parts of the country, March thaws signal that it’s time to start getting ready to ride again—especially if we’re headed to Daytona Beach, Fla., for Bike Week.

But how much thought do we really put into getting prepared? Probably not as much as we should. After all, there’s an awful lot to think about.

Here’s a checklist of things to help ensure you’re prepared for a safe, and enjoyable, 2013 riding season:

Operator’s License: Reach into your wallet right now and pull out your driver’s license. Is it still valid or has it expired? Is it about to expire? Do you have a current motorcycle endorsement?

If your license has expired or is about to expire, make arrangements now to get a new one. And if you don’t have a motorcycle endorsement, make 2013 the year you get one—the sooner the better.

Motorcycle Insurance: Most of us can’t even find our motor vehicle insurance policy documents. Now is a good time to hunt them down or to ask your insurance agent for a new copy.

Check to see whether your insurance policy is still in force. If you suspend coverage during the off-season, make sure you restart your coverage before going out for the first time or heading out to Daytona Bike Week. Be sure to find your proof-of-insurance card.

You may also want to think about whether you need to update your policy to reflect the current value of your bike and the accessories, or make any changes to your liability and/or uninsured/underinsured coverage.

And, just for fun, read the fine print. For example, some motorcyclists believe their vehicle insurance policies provide medical coverage for the operator when, in fact, they don’t or they provide minimal coverage.

Health Insurance: It’s extremely important to check your health insurance policy to ensure that your policy will cover injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash. To save money, some employers have chosen to eliminate health benefits payments for employees injured during “risky activities,” which they may define as riding motorcycles.

So check your medical insurance policy for “Exclusions.” That’s where your insurance company spells out what it won’t cover. If the wording is ambiguous, ask your human resources or personnel department whether injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash are covered.

If you don’t have health insurance coverage through your employer, or your employer doesn’t cover injuries incurred while riding, consider a supplemental policy for coverage. Having health insurance coverage is very important before you get on the road.

Riding Gear: Check all your riding gear and protective equipment. Sometimes riding gear, um, “shrinks” during the winter, so it’s best to inspect and repair/replace as needed. If all of your riding gear is suddenly too small, then you may want to consider a personal training and weight control program to get back into shape for the season ahead.

And this may be a good time to consider buying that new helmet you really want.

Your Motorcycle: Did you winterize your bike before putting it away? Now is a great time to have your bike serviced at your local dealership or repair shop if you use one for maintenance.

If you’re thinking about replacing your current ride, now is the

time to research what’s out there and think about trading in or selling your motorcycle.

Your Riding Skills: When was the last time you took a rider education course, such as the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic RiderCourse or the Basic RiderCourse 2? What about an advanced training program, such as one of the private track-based schools?

Now is the time to plan for a skills tune-up because many statesponsored and private rider-training programs are releasing their 2013 training program schedules, and classes fill up quickly.

Many courses handle scheduling online, so check with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (www.msf-usa.org) for the nearest training program in your state.

Your Motorcycling Knowledge: It’s never too late to read and research a motorcycle-related topic of interest to you. Online resources, libraries and bookstores have dozens of publications that you can lose yourself in. Not to mention the AMA website at www.americanmotorcyclist.com.

Your Motorcycling Passion: How about becoming a RiderCoach in your state- or private- rider-education program? It’s hard to find a more rewarding way of giving back to the community that has made so much available to you than by helping others learn proper mental and physical riding skills.

Your AMA And Other Memberships: Are you a member of one or more riding groups or organizations that support the riding community? If so, is your membership current?

Whether it’s an off-highway group that volunteers to clean up and maintain trails or a state motorcyclists’ rights organization that advocates on behalf of the riding community in your state capital, they all could use a bit of your time and talent to make things better for everyone.

So make sure your AMA membership is current. Remember, AMA Roadside Assistance doesn’t cost you a penny if you enroll in our membership auto-renewal program, and it can come in handy if you have a mechanical breakdown.

Urge your friends and family members to check their AMA membership status as well. And if they are not members, encourage them to join the AMA. More members means more political clout to fight for your right to ride and race.

Have a great 2013 riding season!

Imre Szauter is an AMA government affairs manager specializing in on-highway issues.

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MILITARY HITS SNAG IN EFFORT TO EXPAND BASE INTO CALIFORNIA’S JOHNSON VALLEY

Congress Demands Report Related To Impact On Off-Highway Riders

The military can’t spend a dime on expanding a U.S. Marine Corps base into the popular Johnson Valley off-highway vehicle riding area in California until the Navy files a report on off-highway riding with Congress.

On Jan. 2, President Obama signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (H.R. 4310), triggering a hold on spending and a 90-day deadline for the military to report to Congress on how its proposed expansion of a Marine Corps base at Twentynine Palms, Calif., would affect off-highway riding at Johnson Valley.

The language was inserted into the bill by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) with support from Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.).

“This requirement for a report to Congress is very important because it will force the military to explain to the people’s representatives why it wants to bar riders from one of the most popular riding areas in the country,” says Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations who is a former congressman and U.S. senator from Colorado.

“Congress will have the final say on whether the military can proceed with its

plans to expand the base into Johnson Valley,” Allard says. “But we don’t believe this expansion is necessary. The report will allow for some breathing room for off-highway-vehicle advocates and the military to talk to try to come up with a solution that meets the training needs of the military while maintaining access for motorized recreation.

“Also, the report should show members of Congress who may not be familiar with Johnson Valley how vitally important the area is for motorized recreation,” Allard says.

In July, the Department of the Navy released a final environmental impact statement for the expansion of the Marine Corps base. The preferred alternative would allow public use of only 40,000 acres of the 190,000-acre Johnson Valley OHV area, and for only 10 months a year. It’s all part of an effort by the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms to expand its land holdings to allow for more live-fire training. The Marine Corps is part of the Navy.

Several years ago, the Navy began the formal process to take over some 365,906 acres of public land near San Bernardino to use for live-fire training for the Marines.

At that time, the Navy filed an application with the U.S. Interior Department seeking control of the public land, which is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

The military hopes to begin training on the land in 2014.

“The AMA, in partnership with the California Motorized Recreation Council and The Livingston Group in Washington, D.C., that was hired by the CMRC to move the legislation, worked long and hard to get this important report required before the base expansion can proceed,” Allard says. “This was truly a team effort involving many southern California motorized groups and their elected representatives in Washington, D.C., as well as other representatives in Congress.”

The California Motorized Recreation Council is a non-profit association comprised of the leadership of the largest off-highway vehicle recreation organizations in California. CMRC membership includes the Off-Road Business Association, California Association of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs, California Off-Road Vehicle Association, AMA, American Sand Association, California-Nevada Snowmobile Association, AMA District 36 (Northern California, Northwestern Nevada) and AMA District 37 (Southern California) Off-Road.

Photo Nick Haris

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

MAY NO LONGER REQUIRE MINIMUM GAS PURCHASE AT CERTAIN PUMPS

Instead May Label Those Pumps For Cars And Trucks Only

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is apparently scrapping its requirement that all consumers buy at least four gallons of gasoline from blender fuel pumps that dispense the new E15 ethanolgasoline blend.

The EPA first revealed its minimum-purchase requirement to the AMA in a letter dated Aug. 1, responding to AMA concerns that E15—a gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume— could be put in motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle gas tanks inadvertently when consumers used blender pumps. A blender pump dispenses different fuel blends through the same hose, and the vast majority of motorcycles and ATVs in use today aren’t designed to operate on E15 fuel.

AMA that it would no longer require a minimum purchase of four gallons.

Instead, the EPA will now likely require a label on blender pumps that dispense E10 and E15 through the same hose that states the pump is solely for passenger cars and trucks.

In addition, the EPA indicated it will require stations that sell E15 to also have a pump with a dedicated E10 hose for use by motorcycles and other vehicles not approved for E15.

The AMA has repeatedly expressed concerns to officials and lawmakers about possible damage to motorcycle and ATV engines caused by the inadvertent use of E15, and has asked that motorcycles and ATVs be part of any scientific study into E15’s effects.

NEW JERSEY GETS FIRST STATE-OWNED OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK

Mount Pleasant State Off-Road Park

Opened In January

After several years of searching for a suitable site, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has opened its first state-owned off-highway vehicle park.

In January, state and local officials invited motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle riders to take a test ride in the new Mount Pleasant State Off-Road Vehicle Park, which is a mostly wooded tract in Woodbine, Cape May County.

It’s illegal to ride on any other stateowned land.

“We are very excited to showcase this new park,” says DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. “The Christie administration is committed to developing managed parks in the state that will provide fans of all-terrain vehicles a safe environment in which to enjoy their sport. Just as important, the park will take pressure off environmentally sensitive lands that are damaged by illegal use of ATVs.”

The EPA had said that the minimum purchase requirement was meant to dilute any residual E15 fuel left in the hose—as much as a third of a gallon.

On Dec. 17, in response to ongoing AMA concerns, the EPA indicated to the

In October 2010, the EPA approved the use of E15 in model year 2007 and newer light-duty vehicles (cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles).

Then, in January 2011, the EPA added model year 2001-06 light-duty vehicles to the approved list.

SOUND TESTING KITS AVAILABLE

Application Deadline Is March 1

The AMA is once again donating sound testing kits to help AMA members, districts, clubs and others educate riders about sound.

The sound testing kit consists of a type 2 sound meter, tachometer, training materials, spark arrester probe, personal protective equipment and a storage case.

The kits will be awarded through a competitive grant process. To apply for a sound testing kit, a club or promoter must complete an application and return it to the AMA Government Relations Department by March 1.

For more information on the sound meter grant program, or to request an application, send an email to amagrd@ama-cycle.org.

The DEP will prepare a request for proposals for bidders to operate the park under a 10-year agreement. The park will be available to riders seven days a week during normal operating hours set for the nearby Belleplain State Forest.

“This new park is going to mean a lot to our borough and surrounding areas,” says Woodbine Mayor William Pikolycky. “It’s wonderful that we will have a facility that provides legal recreational riding opportunities for enthusiasts of off-road vehicles. We will look to possibly expand the riding area in the near future.”

The DEP bought the 63-acre site of the former Mount Pleasant Sand and Gravel operation in November 2011 for $393,000. Ten acres, including an existing ¾-mile ATV course, will be used initially for the park, with future expansion planned. The park consists of sand pits, sand roads and sandy areas left over from the former mining and motocross operations there. It’s suitable for beginning to intermediate riders.

Legislation enacted in 2009 calls for the DEP to establish three regional OHV parks.

ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE TAX BREAK EXTENDED Consumers Eligible For Up

Buyers of electric streetbikes are eligible for up to a 10 percent federal tax credit under language in the 2013 American Tax Relief Act, the “fiscal cliff” legislation approved by Congress and signed into law by President Obama in early January.

The tax-credit amendment, offered by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), provides up to a $2,500 tax credit to customers who bought, or buy, an electric streetbike between Dec. 31, 2011 and Jan. 1, 2014.

“The electric motorcycle industry is poised to create tens of thousands of U.S. jobs over the next five years, led by companies like Oregon’s Brammo,” Wyden says. “This amendment helps promote the development of a promising U.S. industry and supports the transition to a low-carbon American economy.”

Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations, says the tax credit “will benefit family-owned dealers, manufacturers and motorcycle riders. Electric motorcycles are certain

to $2,500 Tax Credit

to play an ever-increasing role in motorcycling.”

Electric motorcycle manufacturers are pleased with the credit as well.

“We are excited for what this means for electric vehicles and the electric motorcycle industry, which will make these ‘vehicles of the future’ more accessible to all consumers,” says Craig Bramscher, CEO of Brammo.

Jay Friedland, vice president of strategy and sustainability for electric-motorcycle builder Zero Motorcycles, says tax credits for electric motorcycles “are not only an effective way to create jobs, but they are also an investment in clean energy technology.”

“The electric motorcycle industry is rapidly responding to our country’s need for affordable and environmentally responsible transportation,” he adds. “We’re pretty excited to combine our passion for motorcycles with something that benefits everyone.”

Brammo Empulse R customer at the Scuderia West motorcycle dealership in San Francisco.

STATEWATCH

MISSOURI

Roadside checkpoints or roadblocks based on a particular vehicle type, such as motorcycle-only checkpoints, would be banned, under Senate Bill 73, sponsored by Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia). The bill doesn’t prohibit any other type of checkpoint or roadblock established and operated in accordance with the provisions of the United States Constitution and the Missouri Constitution.

Also, Senate Bill 72, sponsored by Schaefer, would designate May as Motorcycle Awareness Month in the Show Me state.

NEW JERSEY

Law enforcement agencies would be barred from conducting a roadside checkpoint or other systematic inspection of vehicles along public roads, streets, and highways if the checkpoint or inspection is established for the sole purpose of inspecting motorcycles, under Senate Bill 1685, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Dennis). The amended bill passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee on Dec. 17 and was waiting for a second reading in the Senate. A companion bill, Assembly Bill 508 sponsored by Assemblyman Nelson Albano (D-Vineland), remains in the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee.

MASSACHUSETTS RIDERS GET INSURANCE PREMIUM REFUNDS Motorcycle Owners Were Overcharged

The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association reports that the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has reached an agreement with two insurance companies that will result in $2.8 million in refunds for riders.

This brings the total agreements to 17 insurance companies and nearly $43 million in refunds to Massachusetts motorcycle owners over the past couple years for premium overcharges.

Under the terms of the latest settlements, Encompass Insurance, a subsidiary of Allstate, and Amica Mutual Insurance Company will make refunds totaling $2.8 million to Massachusetts policyholders. Joining the prior 15 carriers, the two additional insurance companies

NEW YORK

It would be illegal to do wheelies or stoppies with a motorcycle on a public road, except in a circumstance beyond the operator’s control, under Senate Bill 277, sponsored by Sen. William J. Larkin (RCornwall-on-Hudson).

OHIO

A new law changes the maximum height of motorcycle handlebars or grips from 15 inches above the operator’s seat to no higher than shoulder height of the operator when seated on the bike. The bill also changed the definition of a motorcycle by creating a “cab-enclosed motorcycle” classification for two- or three-wheeled vehicles having an occupant compartment top that is either permanent or removable. The changes are the result of Senate Bill 114, sponsored by Sen. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), and take effect March 19.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Car insurance policies that require electronic monitoring of driving habits to transmit the data to insurance companies would be banned, under Senate Bill 23, sponsored by Sen. Vincent Sheheen (D-Camden).

Another bill, Senate Bill 3119, sponsored by Rep. Joe Daning (R- Goose Creek), would prohibit transporting anyone under 8 years of age on a motorcycle.

were expected to send out more than 10,000 refund checks before the end of January, averaging just under $300 each, with some exceeding $1,000.

“We continue to applaud the efforts of the Attorney General’s Office and their continual communications with the MMA since the start of these investigations.” says Doc D’Errico, MMA vice chairman. “The efforts of the Insurance and Financial Service Division of the AGO have been nothing but stellar. They painstakingly have reviewed every single insurance policy to assure motorcyclists are being treated fairly. We look forward to continuing to work with them to identify motorcyclists who have not received their refunds.”

To be eligible for a refund, the insured must have purchased comprehensive and/or collision insurance coverage for a motorcycle on or after Jan. 1, 2002 and that motorcycle must have been overvalued by the insurance company for the purpose of calculating premiums. Consumers who think they may be entitled to a refund can use the Attorney General’s Motorcycle Insurance Refund Lookup Webpage at www.motorcycle.ago.state. ma.us to find out.

BECOMING A BIKER

Taking The Two-Wheeled Road Less Traveled

By Mary Leo

If you had told me a year ago I would be riding on two wheels, I would not have believed you. Then again, if you had told me 10 years ago I would be riding pillion, my reaction would have been the same. Not only was I irrationally fearful of riding on two wheels, but I had misperceptions about bikers formed around outlaw stereotypes.

Then I met Peter, my (now) husband. The guy was a motorcycle savant. He had decades of riding experience, never owned fewer than two bikes at a time, knew every make and model, and had the uncanny ability to identify bikes by the sound of their engines.

It was important to him that I shared his passion. After years of coaxing, he convinced me to ride passenger. Initially, I was stiff as a board even though he was coasting at a smooth 30 mph. Eventually, I became more comfortable and we took longer trips through the backroads of Northern California.

But that wasn’t enough. Peter was convinced that without my own set of wheels, I was missing out on one of life’s great pleasures. He wanted me to experience the exhilaration and freedom he felt, as well as being part of the biker community. He believed riding would get me out of my humdrum routine and into some beautiful weekend rides though wine country.

I hesitantly enrolled in a motorcycle safety course. My first efforts did not

go well, but I was determined to see it through. I decided to find a good starter bike and practice, practice, practice getting some hands-on experience in a safe setting.

It was April and riding season was fast approaching, so I decided to take the plunge. I liked scooters, as I found them much less intimidating than their larger cousins and also more visually appealing—even chic. Another advantage was that scooters were automatic, allowing me to focus on riding instead of shifting, clutching and using a foot brake.

thing I knew, I was on the ground and the bike was on top of me. (On the bright side, I no longer had to worry about putting that first dent in it.)

The scooter survived surprisingly well with just a couple of minor scratches—but me, not so much. Aside from a few bruises and scrapes, I felt like the world’s biggest idiot.

Nonetheless, I dusted myself off and jumped back on the saddle. After a few laps up and down a cul-de-sac, I was starting to feel a little more comfortable. I was rolling on the throttle. I could hear the engine purring and the wind whistling through my helmet. I could feel the speed. I felt free! Then I looked at the speedometer and noticed I was going 8 mph.

We wanted something that cosmetically had vintage-style appeal. Reliability was important. I was not interested in top speed. Peter’s criterion included qualities such as balance and maneuverability. He also was looking for something peppy enough to get me out of trouble should the situation arise.

We decided on the 2012 Kymco Like 200i. I loved the way it looked with its retro styling and soft buttercream hue. And being a new bike, I didn’t have to worry about inheriting anyone else’s wear-andtear or mechanical problems.

Once I was comfortable with a speed of 20 mph, we decided to take it to the next level—empty parking lots. Each session, I practiced a different maneuver – ‘S’ turns, figure eights, weaving. Eventually, I was confident enough to run short errands where four-wheel travel was impractical due to the price of gas.

I applied for a learner’s permit, which had three restrictions—no freeway riding, no riding after dark and no passengers.

So, with Peter as my mentor, we set out to practice. My first testing grounds were the cul-de-sac in front of our house. I dropped the bike within 48 hours. Engine running, I hopped on and instinctively grabbed the handlebars. I unknowingly rolled the throttle and away it went. Next

Then, I passed my training course and received my permanent license. This wasn’t just an achievement; it was a triumph. Now, I am no longer afraid to ride. I still have much to learn, but what had been so difficult in the past is now second nature. I can ride without thinking about which direction to lean on a curve, or how to hold my head, or when not to brake.

I am now an American motorcyclist, and I am never turning back.

Scooters are becoming increasingly popular, attracting new riders.

Photo KYMCO USA

ONE BIG, HAPPY OFF-ROAD FAMILY

Western New York Off-Road Association

Most people spend their spare time with family. I do the same, but my family consists of more than 1,000 members of the Western New York Off-Road Association (WNYOA) who live in the Northeast region of the United States.

WNYOA is a fast-growing AMA-sanctioned series that includes hare scrambles and enduro racing. The series supports both dirtbikers and ATV riders, with ages ranging from 4 to over 70. Each season, racers have between 12 and 15 courses to race on, with lengths ranging from 1 to 2 miles for PeeWee racers, 4 to 6 miles for minibikes and 7 to 12 miles for adults.

When it comes to weather, there are no obstacles for Northeast racers. We race on every terrain and in inclement conditions. There is no track or weather stopping these dedicated riders!

It’s all possible thanks to the riders, their families and a dedicated group of volunteer officials who devote many hours and time away from their own families to make sure the members of our series are happy.

If you live in the northeastern United States, please come out and join us. If you live elsewhere, then please find a local club in your area. Riding and racing almost every weekend with 1,000 of your best friends is a great way to make memories and have an amazing time!—Tiffany Ervin

by location. An additional daily surcharge may apply for renters under 25 years old. Fuel charges are extra. Rental must begin by 12/31/12.

Photos WNYOA: Tiffany Ervin; MSF: Rob Hardin

Ask

the

MSF

TALL RIDER SOLUTIONS

Q: I’m taller than average (6’7”). What can I do to make my motorcycle more comfortable without compromising its safety or control? I ride a Suzuki SV1000.

A: There are several ways to customize a motorcycle to give extra-tall riders such as yourself more arm and leg room, and dealerships and aftermarket suppliers are ready to help.

The three basic modifications are replacing or raising the handlebars, lowering the footrests, and replacing or customizing the seat.

For the handlebars, there may be handlebar risers available for your model, which raise the mounting point for your handlebars. Replacement handlebars that are higher and/or wider than the stock handlebars may also be available. Depending on the overall height increase, you may need to replace or re-route clutch and brake cables/hoses and the wires that connect the handlebar switches to the wiring harness. If that’s the case, consider having your dealership do the work.

For the footrests, bolt-on lowering kits

may be available. You may need to adjust the shift lever and brake pedal to maintain proper reach to those controls. Note that cornering clearance may be reduced.

For the seat, you may find an aftermarket seat that’s higher than the original, or you can have your stock seat customized by a specialty motorcycle saddle manufacturer or an automotive upholstery shop. They can add to or replace the foam cushion and construct a new leather or vinyl cover to your specifications.

No matter what modifications you make to achieve a comfortable fit, make sure you can still safely control your motorcycle.

AUB LEBARD, AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAMER, PASSES AWAY

Was Top Off-Road Racer In 1940s-50s

Aub LeBard, who was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998, died on Dec. 7 at the age of 91.

LeBard co-owned the LeBard & Underwood motorcycle shop in Los Angeles, and was a top off-road racer in the 1940s and 1950s.

Identified over the years as a BSA rider, LeBard won the Big Bear National Enduro three years (1949, 1950 and 1951) and was a top desert racer of his era.

LeBard also supported the sport as a sponsor of major racers over the years, including AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers Dave Aldana and John McLaughlin. He also was an early mentor to Hall of Famer Chuck “Feets” Minert.

Aub LeBard

At 7-foot-4, former basketball pro and current AMA vintage racer Rick Smits has to make adjustments to his bikes to ride them well.

VentureHeat Apparel

liner waistband, but its still difficult to access while riding.

VentureHeat designs and sells heated apparel as well as heated therapeutic devices. I tested the 12-volt heated jacket liner and 12-volt Power Sports gloves. VentureHeat promotes its Xtreme Comfort Tech heat system, which uses pliable and flexible hair-thin micro-fiber heating elements. The technology is supposed to be less bulky compared to products that use traditional coil heaters.

The jacket liner looks and feels like most nylon windbreakers, complete with hand pockets and water resistant shell. I notice the connector cords when donning the liner, but can’t feel the heating elements. As a liner, it fits easily under all my riding jackets. It is thinner than insulation liners and goes on and off easily with little or no sleeve bunching. There are zippered concealment pockets to tuck away the cords when you wear it just as a jacket and not as part of your riding gear.

The gloves look like typical riding gloves. They have curved fingers, gauntlets, extra stitching and layers in the correct areas. They incorporate a wrist strap, which I like, and feel like a pair of medium-bulk ski gloves. Unlike the jacket liner, the gloves are easily adjusted while riding. One large button on the top of each glove controls the power and the three temperature settings. Each glove has its own control, so they can be adjusted separately.

The gloves can be worn and operated independently of the jacket liner. The power cord for each simply connects to the motorcycle battery terminal, and there is plenty of cord length for routing.

I’m looking forward to northwest spring, early summer, and fall mountain rides. The VentureHeat jacket liner’s weight and versatility will be just the ticket to take the edge off chilly morning temps and really enhance the ride.—Tom Berry

The included controller uses a single button and is easy to operate wearing gloves. There are four levels, indicated by LED lighting, to select. The only inconvenience regarding the controller would be its location options. If you opt to place it in the liner behind the zipper, you have to stop riding and unzip to adjust the temps. You can route the controller so it sticks out the bottom of the

Tom Berry

A big up to Washington, D.C.’s motorcycle cops and their sidecar-fitted motorcycles that allow them to patrol by bike year round.

Down to the state’s attorney serving Sterling, Ill., who has yet to file charges in the case of dead motorcyclist Samuel Munz, who was killed when his motorcycle was rear ended by an SUV last June.

Up to Team Arizona, which will train its 100,000th motorcyclist in 2013.

Up to Count Motorcycles LLC for a new online game designed to increase motorcycle awareness. Learn more at www. countmotorcycles.com.

Down to the Internet, which unwittingly perpetuated a hoax in mid-January that MotoGP uber-legend Valentino Rossi was dead. Bad, Internet!

AMERICADE TRADE SHOW WILL GROW BY THREE DAYS More Show For Your Money

If you’re one of the several thousand motorcyclists heading to Americade, you have a few more days to check out the goods at TourExpo Beach.

The AMA National Convention will open the vendor portion of the show June 1. It will close a week later on June 8. The TourExpo Forum will continue to open on the Tuesday of Americade Week.

Also, event organizers say they will add additional entertainment within the tradeshow this year, including stunt shows and musical acts.

The rest of Americade Week will keep its traditional schedule with demo rides, minitours, boat cruises, bike judging, seminars and all the other dozens of Americade activities starting on Tuesday and ending Saturday afternoon.

FA F STER

WA W RMER FREER

At Daytona Beach, you’re free to play a little harder, be a little bolder. And during Bike Week 2013, you can also make your engine roar a whole lot louder. Take in live music, motorcycle stunt shows, amazing food and much more. It’s all happening March 8-17, 2013 in beautiful Daytona Beach. So, go ahead. Seize the day. Better yet...

MAMMOTH MOTOCROSS JOINS AMA AMATEUR RACING CALENDAR

Features AMA King Of The West Title

Over the past 45 years, Mammoth Motocross has built one of the most successful motocross racing programs in the western United States. For 2013, the popular venue joins the AMA amateur motocross schedule and will feature the AMA King of the West title.

“We’re excited to partner with such a well-established and professional promoter,” says AMA Vice President of Operations Jeff Massey. “AMA-sanctioned events are the gold standard for motorcycle and ATV competition and recreation in the United States, and we’re looking forward to helping enhance their already excellent program and contribute to showcasing and boosting the prestige of the outstanding athletes who call this series home.”

The June 21-30 finale, Monster

Energy Mammoth Motocross, features three distinct schedules tailored to vet riders, mini riders and displacement classes for full-sized bikes. The finale takes place at one of the country’s most scenic motocross tracks, located in Mammoth Lakes, Calif., on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

The six-race Road to Mammoth qualifier series includes races in Hesperia, Calif.; Porterville, Calif.; Turlock, Calif.; Riverside, Calif.; Reno, Nev.; and Perris, Calif. Racers’ four best finishes in the qualifiers will earn points toward an AMA King of the West title. Riders who win the AMA King of the West title in their class will receive first gate pick at the Mammoth Motocross finale.

“We’re very excited to join the ranks of AMA-chartered promoters and to do our part to support the country’s leading advocate for the right to ride and race,” says Mammoth Motocross Race Director Mike Colbert. “In addition, we were at the point where we needed help keeping track

AMA DIRT-TRACK RACING IN DAYTONA BEACH

Vintage, Amateurs, All-Stars On Tap

One of the biggest weekends in motorcycling—Daytona Bike Week—will include several opportunities for AMA amateur dirt-track racers to compete in half-mile and short-track events, including the Daytona Flat Track limestone oval, March 8-12 in Georgia and Florida.

In addition to events in the AMA AllStar Flat Track National Championship Series, the week will feature AMA Amateur Dirt-Track Holeshot races and rounds of the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series. In all, youth, vet/ senior, the next generation’s stars and vintage racers will line up to compete during one of amateur dirt track’s biggest weekends.

“Motorcyclists from all disciplines converge on Daytona Bike Week for good

reason: In early March, this is racing central,” says AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. “Dirt track is no exception, and we’re looking forward to kicking off the season with some great racing at one of the country’s most historic locations for motorcycle competition.”

Promoters Steve Nace of Steve Nace Racing and Dave Joiner of Fast Fridays are working with the AMA to ensure the AMA amateur dirt-track events are run smoothly and provide all the excitement of a nationallevel event, from pre-entry to the podium celebration.

The details of AMA amateur dirttrack competition during 2013 Daytona Bike Week, along with round-by-round contact information, are available at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/racing.

of today’s fastest amateur riders. An AMA sanction allows us to do that as well as take advantage of the AMA Amateur Competition Rulebook and align some of our rules to make them more consistent with today’s classes, while retaining key elements that make motocross racing at Mammoth unique.”

For additional event info, detailed schedules, rules and information about the series, riders should go to www.mammothmotocross.com or www.2xpromotions.com.

NEW SERIES RECOGNIZES YOUTH DESERT RACERS

AMA Youth Hare & Hound National Championship Series

An exciting new off-road racing series will recognize the best youth desert racers in America. The AMA Youth Hare & Hound National Championship Series will follow the AMA FMF/GPR Hare & Hound National Championship Series and feature nine rounds across California, Idaho, Utah and Nevada.

“We’re pleased to work with the

National Hare & Hound Association on the new youth national championship series, giving our youngest desert racers an opportunity to compete next to the country’s top riders,” says AMA Off-Road Manager Chuck Weir. “The NHHA is doing an excellent job of fostering ingenuity in desert racing in America, and this is another example of how this productive relationship is helping to enhance one of the AMA’s most historic national championship series.”

In past years, individual clubs may have held youth competitions in conjunction with rounds of the national series.

However, those rounds would not pay series points or provide AMA national-level recognition. For 2013, youth classes will award an AMA national title, and the AMA and NHHA will recognize riders for their accomplishments in the overall series. In addition, thanks in part to the higherprofile treatment of the youth classes, additional prizes and sponsor-provided awards will be available.

“The NHHA is really excited about the addition of the youth national series,” says NHHA Series Promotions Manager Chris Blais. “This is a great opportunity for the young riders to get a little taste of desert

GET PRESS! Yes, You Are News

AMA CONGRESS MINUTES ONLINE Read The Rules

AMA members are invited to download the minutes for the 2012 AMA Congress at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/ clubsandpromoters/resources.aspx. The minutes include notes on the rulebook changes debated and voted on in Columbus, Ohio, last October.

Everyone loves a cool story, and motorcycle racing is the coolest sport in the world. That makes you, as a motorcycle racer, news.

AMA Congress is just one of the many aspects of AMA-sanctioned racing that makes it unique.

And if you race in an AMA National Championship Series or Grand Championship event, you are competing at the country’s highest level for your discipline. That’s big news!

With a little work, you can get press for yourself, your sponsors and your sport, by making it easy for local media outlets— in most cases, the local community newspaper—to cover your races.

For some tips on getting coverage for your racing accomplishments, including sample press releases that you can edit and send to your local newspaper, see www.americanmotorcyclist.com/racing/ getstarted/pressrelations.aspx.

Rules for AMA competition are not written by an individual promoter or a selfappointed committee. The AMA Amateur Competition Rulebook is written and updated by an elected body of longtime organizers and racers: AMA Congress. Those rules are based on an 80-plus-year history that dates to the beginning of much of the motorcycle competition in this country.

In fact, many of the disciplines known today were established by AMA Congress and first codified in the rulebook, and only AMA-chartered clubs and promoters can rightfully use these rules.

Photos Youth: Mark Kariya; Vintage Dirt Track: Corey Mays

racing at its best. These kids are the future of our sport, and we want to give them the opportunities we had as kids to race, have fun and become champions.”

Blais added that while some elements of the series will be uniform to provide a consistently high-profile experience for youth racers, each round will also have a certain level of variety—particularly in terms of the courses, which clubs will use to showcase local terrain.

Events in California will run a 5-mile course for all youth classes except the

Pee-Wee and Micro classes that will use a 2.5-mile course. Races also may be slightly different in duration, although most should fall within a 45-minute to 1.5-hour time frame. Dead engine mass starts will be used, just like with the big bikes, and pro riders from the national series will participate as race starters during each event.

The schedule is on page 48. Detailed rules and specific class information are available at www.nationalhareandhound. com.

VINTAGE DIRT TRACK NATIONAL SERIES KICKS OFF IN MARCH History In Motion

The AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series kicks off its 2013 season on March 9 in Savannah, Ga. The popular series features period-correct vintage dirt-track motorcycles and exciting handlebar-to-handlebar racing action.

“The AMA has a long and rich history in dirt-track racing, dating to the original factory Class-A competition in the 1920s,” says AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. “When the Class-C production-based format made its debut, the sport’s popularity grew, laying the foundation for modern competition. We’re excited to continue paying tribute to our past with this series, and we’re looking forward to another actionpacked season of racing for our amateur competitors.”

The AMA Vintage Dirt Track National

Championship Series recognizes national champions in period-correct classes that reflect the storied history of AMA dirt-track competition. Class winners are honored at the annual AMA Championship Banquet, which recognizes national champions in all AMA-sanctioned disciplines.

The full series schedule is on page 48. Class rules and equipment regulations are available at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/racing/ rules.

The first three rounds of the 2013 AMA Vintage National Dirt Track Championship Series take place in southern Georgia and Florida during Daytona Bike Week. Following Bike Week, the 12-round series travels through Alabama, Illinois, New York, Ohio and Indiana before the finale in Cuddebackville, N.Y., on Sept. 21.

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.  For more information visit  AmericanMotorcyclist.com/Riding.

RACING WRAP-UP

AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship

Gary Sutherlin, riding a Yamaha, took the early lead at round one of the AMA

West Hare Scrambles Championship at Arizona Cycle Park in Buckeye, Ariz., on Jan. 6. Sutherlin built up an early lead, but defending 2012 champ Cory Graffunder was carving his way through the pack and started to close the gap by the fourth lap. Bike problems sidelined Graffunder, however, and Sutherlin took the win, followed by Justin Sanders and Tallon Taylor.

AMA Arenacross

The AMA Arenacross season is living up to its reputation for close, unpredictable racing, with Mosites Motorsports

REFEREE TRAINING AVAILABLE Safety

And Fairness

Those interested in becoming trained to better serve as a referee at AMA-sanctioned events are encouraged to visit the Resources area of the Clubs & Promoters section of the AMA website at www. americanmotorcyclist.com.

AMA Class C referee training is now available. This training and testing program provides the foundation for the AMA’s efforts to expand the ranks of trained referees.

To start the process of becoming a trained AMA referee, first, download the study guide to review, and then take the online test. If you pass, you’ll receive an AMA Class C Referee certificate. For questions about the AMA’s referee training program, email lcox@ama-cycle.org.

Kawasaki’s Michael McDade getting the first win of his career in round two in Baltimore after a thrilling main event where he was challenged by Babbitt’s Monster Energy/Amsoil Kawasaki rider Zach Ames and Ames’ teammate and defending champ Tyler Bowers. The riders flipped positions for the second main event, meaning the head-to-head bracket racing would break a three-way tie for the overall. McDade beat Bowers in the two-lap finale, giving the challenger the overall win.

AMA Indoor Dirt Track National Championship Series

One of the newest national championships on the AMA calendar continues to deliver thrilling action, particularly in the series’ premier classes. Kolby Carlile from Canandaiqua, N.Y., holds the points lead in the 450cc Modified class in the AMA Indoor Dirt Track National Championship Series, held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Du Quoin, Ill., with two overall wins, the most recent coming in the series’ 12th round on Jan. 13. Second in points is Jeffery Lowery, who has four overall wins. With four rounds to go, Carlile leads Lowery 261 points to 221. Bryant Harsy from Du Quoin is 3 more points back in third.

Photos Hare

Scrambles: Arizona Cycle Park

your AMA membership in 2013 and you could

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

TUCKER ROCKY CUSTOM ROAD GLIDE

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

The best part? You’re automatically entered when you join or renew between Jan. 30, 2013 and Dec. 31, 2013.

1982 DUCATI 900SS The Foundation Of The Modern Line

Ducati may be synonymous with twincylinder sportbikes today, but it wasn’t always that way. In fact, for much of its early life, the Italian company was known for its sporting singles.

All that began to change when Fabio Taglioni—the famed Dr. T—designed a 748cc, 90-degree twin engine first introduced to the Ducati line in 1971.

That first year, the engine was introduced in the GT750, with styling that was more standard than sport. It wasn’t until 1972, when the 750 Sport was built, that a true classic was born. The bike’s

styling with race-replica clip-ons and rearsets, along with an optional cafe fairing, made all the difference.

The bike was an instant cult success, hailed widely for its handling and exclusivity.

The best was still to come, as history proved. After racing successes with 750cc twins redesigned to use desmodromic valve actuation—a system utilizing separate cams to open and close the valves that had been successfully incorporated into the motorcycle world by Dr. T in the late

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

’50s—Ducati introduced a production model desmo in 1974: the 750 Super Sport. In 1975, Ducati added the 900 Super Sport, based on the 750.

Our featured machine is a 1982 Ducati 900 SS—the last year they were made— and is part of the permanent collection of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

The super sport machines were so well received by enthusiasts that they became the foundation of the modern Ducati line.

For more information on classic bikes and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, go to www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

SPEED DEMONS

DAVE AND JODY PEREWITZ

GO FAST THEIR WAY

BY JAMES HOLTER

PHOTOS BY KEN RICHARDSON

When Dave Perewitz stepped out on the Bonneville Salt Flats for the first time in 2011, he didn’t know what to expect—and neither did the land-speed racers who call the flats home every summer during the AMA Land Speed Grand Championships.

“You’re out here for the first time,” Denis Manning, event promoter and Perewitz’s longtime friend, told him. “People are watching you. You have no experience, and you guys are a high-profile team. I don’t want any showing off.”

Even here, among fellow lifelong motorcyclists, Perewitz faced preconceptions formed from his reputation as a custom bike builder. An AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer, Perewitz has been creating custom American V-twins since the 1970s, and he went to Bonneville like he goes everywhere: with no excuses for his poster-boy representation of the biker lifestyle.

“Yep, no problem, Denis,” Perewitz

replied. “You just tell us what you want us to do.”

Perewitz didn’t blame Manning for being careful. It’s the promoter’s job to make sure the event runs smoothly and professionally. Inexperienced competitors making rookie mistakes can ruin everyone’s day, and Perewitz certainly was a land-speed racing rookie.

Not only did he come to Bonneville with a decidedly non-Bonneville pedigree, but his team’s rider was Perewitz’s then-28year-old daughter, Jody, who herself also lacked any background in competition.

And the bike?

It wasn’t a Japanese-built supersport that rolled out of the factory already capable of going nearly 200 mph with minimal tuning. Like Perewitz’s custom choppers and baggers, it was a fully custom

American V-twin, built from the ground up in Perewitz’s New Jersey shop. From the suspension to the geometry to the engine, it was an unproven machine at 150 mph, let alone at higher speeds.

But Dave and Jody Perewitz would get their shot, racing pedigree or no racing pedigree. The first step, Manning told them, was to get licensed for speed. Inexperienced land-speed racers have to earn the right to compete on the 11-mile long course by running at least 175 mph on the 5-mile short course.

“Jody made 175 mph on her fourth pass,” Perewitz remembers. “That was unheard of, especially since the record in the class she was running at the time was 178 mph.”

It was time to go racing.

IN HER BLOOD

Jody Perewitz rode dirtbikes and fourwheelers as a kid and, like any kid living that life, she had a blast.

“Motorcycles were just second nature to

me,” she says. “I had friends, mostly boys, who would come over and we would ride all day in this field by my parents’ house. In the wintertime, we rode snowmobiles. We would ride around the yard until it was pitch dark out. I can’t imagine a childhood any different.”

But Jody admits there was a time—a very long time ago—that the biker lifestyle eluded her.

“When I was real young, like in grade school, I wasn’t sure what to think about [her dad’s custom bike business],” she remembers. “I never thought it was uncool, but I just didn’t talk about it with my friends. He was that stereotypical biker, covered in tattoos, and I felt like the teachers would turn up their noses at him.”

But by the time she was a few years older, that sentiment was long gone.

“By the time I was in high school, I was like, ‘yeah, my dad builds motorcycles. You got a problem with that?’” she recalls.

Now, Jody is in deep. Her life revolves around motorcycles of all kinds, particularly American-made streetbikes, which her brother introduced her to when she was 16. She started with a blue and purple (“because my dad painted it”) 1998 Buell M2, moved to a 2001 Buell and then

a 2006 Buell Firebolt 1200. Now, she also has a decked-out custom bagger and the bike that earns her the most respect among her dad’s biker friends, a ’63 Harley-Davidson panhead.

“The panhead is kick only, and being an old bike, it can be temperamental,” she says. “I love that bike. It may sound crazy, but there’s a distinct sound that panheads make, and when I kickstart it, it’s so satisfying to hear it roar to life.”

It’s also the kind of bike that only certain riders appreciate.

“It’s black and root beer colored and nothing fancy,” she says. “It’s clean and simple and a lot of people don’t look twice at it. The old bikers recognize it, though, and they’ll sometimes scoff when they see a girl riding it, but once they realize I can ride it and start it, I earn their respect.”

After attending the University of Massachusetts on a scholarship—she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science—Jody returned to the family business. Her first challenge was overcoming the prejudices of some of her dad’s oldest customers.

“As recently as eight or nine years ago, there was a different perception of female riders,” Jody says. “We rode small bikes. Now, we’re better accepted and once the

hard-core guys see my passion for riding, they no longer question me.”

And that passion runs deep—so deep that when Jody built up an interest in land-speed racing two years ago, she took matters into her own hands. She gave her dad a trip to Bonneville for Christmas.

“He was into it,” she says. “And he said, ‘Well, if we’re going to go, we might as well race it.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’m in!’”

For Dave, the decision to race, and the commitment to do it right, reflect qualities that have served him well for more than 40 years in the custom bike business.

BIKE BUILDER

Dave Perewitz became interested in building custom machines when he was 16 years old.

“I got involved with the local hot-rod car guys,” he remembers. “Then all my buddies switched from hot-rod cars to hot-rod bikes. I was probably 17 then, and I got my first bike when I was 18 and never looked back.”

The bike was a 1964 Harley-Davidson Sportster. Dave worked as a line mechanic in a body shop and after watching the painters in the shop, he figured out how to build his own spray booth in his dad’s 5-by-8-foot shed.

“After painting my own bike, and it coming out pretty good, my buddies wanted me to paint theirs,” he says. “One thing led to another, and I needed a new shop. We built my first shop in 1970-71, and had to add an addition two or three years later. In 1975, I also opened a small retail storefront selling custom parts. By 1979, I was able to build a new, bigger shop in a 24-by-40-foot building.”

Business was good, and Dave was making a name for himself. His contemporaries were fellow AMA

“We did everything in small steps. We never rushed to go fast.”

Motorcycle Hall of Famers Arlen Ness and Donnie Smith. When cable television came calling in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Dave was poised to ride the wave and enjoyed time on Discovery Channel’s “Biker Build-Off,” sharing screen time with well-known builder Jesse James.

But, as Jody puts it, “the days of $75,000 customs have fallen victim to the economy” and the focus of the shop has shifted slightly to respond to customer demand.

“Baggers are sort of big now,” Dave says. “But it’s kind of tough with these baggers. All these kids want this crazy stuff that defeats the purpose of having a bagger—big wheels and all that.”

Dave says he still enjoys building motorcycles that long-time bikers can appreciate.

“I’m building a shovelhead rigid-framed bobber right now,” he says. “It’s not a bigbuck bike, but it’s going to be a cool little bike, and done right. It’s something that about 2 percent of the people out there will love and 98 percent of the people won’t know what they’re looking at.”

Dave says he never keeps the same bike for long.

“Sure, there are probably a couple that I wish I would have held onto,” he says, “but I don’t become attached to motorcycles. I sell them and move on. I haven’t got that through to Jody yet. We just built her a new Road Glide that she’ll probably want to keep forever. It has a 26-inch on the front, bright red wheels, flat white paint, simple artwork and 10 speakers and a touch radio. It’s crazy, but that’s what a lot of our customer base wants.”

When it comes to building a custom bike, Dave says his personal preference is for simplicity, quality and rideability.

He says the most common mistake with respect to customization is “someone picking up a catalog or going on the Internet and spending $10,000 on bolton parts that either don’t fit, don’t flow together or make the bike unsafe—a lot of the time, it’s all three.”

A better approach, Dave says, is to find a reputable builder, tell them your budget and work with them to create something that looks good and rides well.

“You don’t have to spend a lot of money,” Dave says, “but the money you do spend has to go to the right places.”

When it came to building a 200-mphplus American V-twin powered land-speed racer, though, Dave says he was much like those first-time custom bike builders: absolutely clueless.

OUT OF HIS ELEMENT

Like most smart businessmen, when Dave Perewitz is facing a new challenge he finds experienced help.

“Before we went land-speed racing, I did a lot of homework and talked to a lot of friends,” Dave says. “We did everything incrementally, and we never did something without a plan. We are fortunate I have the connections and the friends that I do.”

Jody Perewitz says building the bike was a major team effort.

“The rider has to work with the bike, the mechanics have to work with the bike, the rider has to work with the crew chief, and the tuner has to make the motorcycle go fast. It all has to align for success to happen,” she says.

Although she says many more people contributed to the effort, Jody singles out Crew Chief Ronnie Levesque and tuner Dan Thayer as key players.

“Dan just did an amazing job tuning that V-twin,” she says.

Dave echoes that praise.

“A blown-injected V-twin—there’s not much more that’s harder to tune than that,” Dave says. “Dan has the formula, and he gave us a shopping list—and I mean a shopping list—and we followed it exactly. Several times during that build

my guys would come to me and ask if we could change something. I’d say, ‘call Dan.’ They’d call Dan and Dan would say to follow the list. We did, and it worked. If you told me before we started this that we would get 233 horsepower and 196 footpounds of torque out of a little 100-cubicinch motor, I’d have said no way.”

Jody says her dad wasn’t the only one with doubts.

“When we told people we were going land-speed racing on a V-twin and that we wanted to go over 200 mph, you could just see [the doubt] in their facial expressions,” she says. “We had mechanics that had never built a bike like this, with a rider with no racing experience and a team that hadn’t ever set foot on the salt.”

Dave’s answer was to move forward slowly, ask for advice from the best people and then take that advice.

“We did everything in very small steps,” Dave says. “We never rushed to go fast. Jody followed instructions perfectly. If we told her to shift at four grand, she shifted at four grand. It built up her confidence immensely, and it also built up mine in her. Now, when she goes to make a pass, there’s no nervousness because she does such a good job.”

IN THE BOOKS

Jody Perewitz set her first land-speed record as a rookie in 2011. To do so, she not only went blisteringly fast across the salt, but she did so consistently.

Hitting an absolute top speed for a split second is one thing. Running that speed by Bonneville standards is something quite different. Competitors must not only maintain their record pace

over a measured mile, they must repeat the feat in the opposite direction on the same course within a certain time limit. In fact, Jody’s provisional record in 2011 was even faster. She had a single pass of 203.111 mph, making her the first woman in the world to go over 200 mph on an American V-twin, but she was unable to certify it with a comparable back-up run.

Not only did the Perewitzes set the class high mark in 2011 at 188.911 mph, when they returned in 2012, Jody ran 189.655 mph. She competes in the 1650-APS-PBG class for “partially streamlined motorcycles powered by push-rod, supercharged gasoline engines.” By extending her record, Jody cemented her status as the world’s fastest rider on a 100-cubic-inch V-twin-powered motorcycle, setting not just an AMA record but an FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) one, as well.

“We have great pride that we set the record our way, a custom bike shop racing the kind of bikes that my dad built his business on: American-made V-twin motorcycles,” Jody says. “Not to take anything away from riders on sportbikes, but a factory Suzuki will go 189 mph out of the box. There’s no American V-twin that will go 150 mph out of the box, let alone 200. There is nothing production about my bike, and I’m extremely proud of my team for building it up from nothing.”

Jody says she’s also proud to represent women well in a sport that doesn’t make any class distinctions for sex.

“I think it’s good [not to have men’s and women’s classes],” she says. “Females shouldn’t have any kind of handicap. I’ll go against a guy any day. I don’t want to be segregated. When I go to bike shows, our customers will bring their daughters to meet me, and I can tell them that they can accomplish anything they want, in any arena, if they are just determined enough to do it.”

Jody’s life has been all about breaking barriers—from riding dirtbikes with her brother in New Jersey to getting a full scholarship to college to earning the respect of old-school bikers to setting land-speed records in Bonneville.

Her dad couldn’t be happier.

“Jody is 30 years old, and I’m 60 years old, and we have a lot of the same friends,” Dave says. “We go to bike events and we hang out together. We have the same mindset about things. Sure, to have one of your kids following in your footsteps is really cool, but to have your daughter do it in the motorcycle world— well, that’s about as cool as it gets.”

WALLA WALLA TO BOISE

One Ride, Three States And A Whole Lot Of Pacific Northwest Goodness

By Phil Buonpastore

During the summer months, the states of the Pacific Northwest offer the opportunity to tour some of the best and most stunningly beautiful roads in the country. While the western side of the states of Washington and Oregon feature the lush green beauty of the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Coast, the eastern portion of these two states, as well as western Idaho, feature a more forestto-desert transitional landscape, with arid regions that are also very beautiful in their own right.

The ride from Walla Walla to Boise is four hours by Interstate highway, but when traveling by motorcycle, there is almost always a more interesting way to go. If you’ve got eight hours of time to invest, there are numerous backroads, state roads and highways that transform this ride from a routine commute to a spectacular two-wheeled excursion.

Even in the summer, in the Pacific Northwest you have to be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions, with

temps that can range from the 50s to the 80s, and from desert dry to all-day rain. The previous day, the last of a three-day organized group ride in eastern Washington state, I had spent a miserable day riding in rain and unseasonably cold temperatures. By the time I arrived in Walla Walla in the late afternoon, the sun had broken through and temperatures had warmed, but I was glad to have a hotel reservation at the Best Western hotel downtown, and a warm and dry room waiting for me.

The Best Western hotel on Oak Street is a motorcycle-friendly establishment, with hotel staff happy to provide towels to wipe down your bike after a long day’s ride. It’s also within walking distance of several downtown restaurants, and close to the first in the series of roads that mark the route to Boise. I took advantage of the hospitality and spent some time cleaning up my bike, then walked to the El Sombrero restaurant across the street for a nice Tex-Mex dinner, and called it a day.

The weather forecast for the remainder of the week called for warm temperatures

and clear skies, and the morning’s riding conditions did not disappoint. The sun was already warming the air, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I began the day’s ride heading due south out of Walla Walla on Highway 125. Within a scant six miles, I arrived at Washington’s southeastern border with Oregon, where the road became OR-11 at the state line.

From that point, it was only another 12 miles to OR-204. A turn on 204 going (south)west was the start of a 46-mile section of well-paved rural highway that rolled, curved and elevated through the Umatilla National Forest. I kicked-back and enjoyed the nice two-lane road, and with the exception of the infrequent Oregon Department of Transportation repair crew stopping traffic for road maintenance, a few logging trucks carrying timber, and riding through a sleepy town named Weston, I was free of traffic until I reached the next turn in the route. OR-204 ends at the small town of Elgin, where I took SR-82 east and southeast toward Joseph.

Although much of the route to Boise

the Brownlee-Oxbow Highway. I turned south on the highway and began what would be the jewel of the day’s ride—a nicely paved two-lane highway that winds its way around foothill mountain ridges, overlooking both the Snake River and the reservoirs created by the Brownlee and Oxbow dams as it elevates into the rolling mountains. Within a few miles, the road crosses the Snake River and the border into Idaho, and as the road gains altitude, it offers opportunities for some moderate curve carving, while wowing with unobstructed views of the reservoir complemented by the vivid yellow, tan, orange and gold of the desert landscape.

Hydroelectric powerplants and bridges that traverse the Snake River offer interesting visual contrasts to the wide-open desert and river landscape views. There are also some great photo opportunities of this spectacular area at the roadside pullouts and riverside camping areas along the route. I settled back for a beautiful 40-mile ride until the road ended at Hwy. 95 at Cambridge.

While it is a more mundane two-lane highway that runs through small urban areas, Highway 95 does allow for quick stops for food and fuel. The highway runs south for another 50 miles and led back to

I-84, where I locked it down for the last 30 miles into Boise.

City center in Boise is easily accessible from both the Interstate (via I-184) and the rural highways and state roads that surround the city. When on motorcycle tours, I usually avoid city centers, but Boise is an exception. It is simply a beautiful city, with well-laid-out streets and a downtown area made for walking traffic. It features modern building designs contrasted by the capital building’s carved marble dome and classic architecture, along with plenty of restaurants, small clubs and tourist-oriented shops that are excellent places to spend a few hours or an evening out. Several years ago, I did a tour of the northwestern United States on a Honda Gold Wing that included a stop in Boise. At a self-serve car wash, I got into a conversation with a local resident and told him what a beautiful city I thought Boise was, and he said “Yeah, we know. Don’t tell anybody.”

There are several local rides in Boise that are not to be missed. The first of these is the ride up to the town of Stanley on SR-21, one of the best scenic highways in the Boise area. SR-21, also known as the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Route, begins about eight miles south

of Boise off of I-84, and runs past the beautiful More’s Creek Arrowhead Dam area, before winding its way through the pristine Boise National Forest and the Sawtooth Mountains on the way up to Stanley. This is a 130-mile ride one-way, so plan on an all-day excursion.

At Stanley, taking Highway 75 north leads to Highway 93, which runs along the Salmon River all the way into Montana, and is another beautiful highway made for motorcycling. Going south on Highway 75 leads to the Galena Summit, which rises to 8,701 feet above the valley floor, and then rolls on to beautiful Sun Valley further south, if you want to hob-nob with the movie stars. On the way back to Boise on SR-21, taking the Banks-Lowman Highway offers an option for an aweinspiring ride through Wildlife Canyon and along the Payette River, before returning you to Boise via SR-55.

Many rides in the Pacific Northwest become truly exceptional experiences when you choose the lesser-known scenic roads and highways away from the Interstate. Taking the road less traveled is not only a philosophy, but when traveling from Walla Walla to Boise on a motorcycle, it is proof-positive that the philosophy is the right one.

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

Davi Millsaps, Chad Reed, Ryan Dungey and James Stewart are just some of the AMA Supercross stars hoping to keep Ryan Villopoto from earning his third AMA Supercross Championship in a row. The 2013 series is in full swing, so be sure to catch the action March 2 in St. Louis, Mo., March 9 at Daytona Beach, Fla., March 16 in Indianapolis, Ind., or March 23 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Info: www.amasupercross.com.

7

The AMA Kenda Hare and Hound National Championship Series heads to Murphy, Idaho, for youth competition on March 23 and amateur competition the following day. Info: www.dirtincracing.com.

The 63rd annual Alligator Enduro hosted by the Daytona Dirt Riders is set for March 14 at a new location, beginning at the Strickland Ranch property on U.S. 1 north of Interstate 95 in Favoretta, Fla. Info: www.daytonadirtriders.com. 1

2

Mr. Daytona himself, AMA Hall of Famer Scott Russell, will be the featured speaker at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Daytona Breakfast March 15 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Be sure to attend this prestigious event. Info: www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

3

The Hocking Valley Motorcycle Club is hosting a gem of a hare scrambles March 24 in Logan, Ohio. Gates open at 8 a.m. and sign up starts at 9. Info: www.hockingvalleymc.com.

5

The AMA Pro Road Racing Championship kicks off March 14-16 on the famed high banks of Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Following that opener, the gladiators of the asphalt tracks move on to Wisconsin, Ohio, California, Utah, Indiana, New Jersey and back to California. See the full schedule on page 47.

6

4

To watch riders defy gravity and do the seemingly impossible on two wheels, head out to Ocala, Fla., March 9-10 for some amateur and youth observed trials competition, hosted by the Florida Trials Association Motorcycle Club. Info: www.floridatrials.net.

COMING UP

The world will be focused on the United States as the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix visits America for three rounds: at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, on April 21; Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., on July 21; and at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Ind., on Aug. 18. Info: www.fim-live.com.

CALIFORNIA

COMPETITION

DESERT SCRAMBLES

MAR 23-24: (Includes ATVs)

RIDGECREST: 2-DAY EVENT, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DIRT DIGGERS, (661) 496-9594, DIRTDIGGERSMC.COM

ENDURO

MAR 9: HOLLISTER: TIMEKEEPERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (408) 739-5762

GRAND PRIX

MAR 2-3: (Includes ATVs) SAN BERNARDINO: 2-DAY EVENT, PRAIRIE DOGS MC, (714) 2316718, PRAIRIEDOGSMC.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

MAR 16-17: HOLLISTER: 2-DAY EVENT, GHOSTRIDERS MC, (408) 265-2122, GHOSTRIDERSMC.NET MOTOCROSS

MAR 9: HESPERIA: COMPETITIVE EDGE MX PARK, (760) 947-9054, RIDECEMX.COM

MAR 10: HESPERIA: COMPETITIVE EDGE MX PARK, (760) 947-9054, RIDECMX.COM

SCRAMBLES

MAR 9: (Includes ATVs) LUCERNE VALLEY: HUNTINGTON BEACH MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (661) 5103245, HUNTINGTONBEACHMC. COM

MAR 10: (Includes ATVs) LUCERNE VALLEY: HUNTINGTON BEACH MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (661) 510-3245, HUNTINGTONBEACHMC.COM

COLORADO

COMPETITION

ARENACROSS

MAR 15: DENVER: FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS.COM

MAR 16-17: DENVER: 2-DAY EVENT, FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS. COM

FLORIDA

RECREATIONAL

DUAL-SPORT RIDE

MAR 16-17: DAYTONA BEACH: 2-DAY EVENT, DIXIE DUAL SPORT, INC., (727) 919-8299, DIXIEDUALSPORT.COM

ROAD RUN

MAR 13: DAYTONA BEACH: DAYTONA 200 MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (386) 747-7157, DAYTONA200MC.COM

MARCH EVENTS

COMPETITION

ENDURO

MAR 14: ORMOND BEACH : DAYTONA DIRT RIDERS, (386) 615-0072, DAYTONADIRTRIDERS. COM

MOTOCROSS

MAR 2: CITRA: MOTOCROSS OF MARION COUNTY, INC., (352) 591-2377, MXMARIONCOUNTY. COM

MAR 3: CITRA: MOTOCROSS OF MARION COUNTY, INC., (352) 591-2377, MXMARIONCOUNTY. COM

OBSERVED TRIALS

MAR 9-10: OCALA: 2-DAY EVENT, FLORIDA TRAILS ASSOCIATION MOTORCYCLE CLUB, INC., (352) 732-9574, FLORIDATRIALS.NET

GEORGIA

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

MAR 23-24: (ATV only)

WASHINGTON: 2-DAY EVENT, VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 3235497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM

MAR 24: (Includes ATVs) DALTON: LAZY RIVER MOTOCROSS, (706) 278-1620, LAZYRIVERMOTOCROSS.COM

HAWAII

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

MAR 16: HALEIWA: HAWAII MOTORSPORTS ASSOCIATION, (808) 668-6276, RIDEHA.COM

MAR 17: HALEIWA: HAWAII MOTORSPORTS ASSOCIATION, (808) 668-6276, RIDEHMA.COM

IDAHO

COMPETITION

HARE & HOUND

MAR 24: MURPHY: DIRT INC, (208) 459-6871, DIRTINCRACING. COM

ILLINOIS

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

MAR 9: DU QUOIN: PARADISE MOTO-PARK, (618) 542-6203, PARADISEMOTOCROSS.COM

MAR 10: DU QUOIN: PARADISE MOTO-PARK, (618) 542-6203, PARADISEMOTOCROSS.COM INDIANA

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

MAR 23: ROSSVILLE: WILDCAT CREEK MX, (765) 379-2482, WILDCATCREEKMX.COM

MAR 24: ROSSVILLE: WILDCAT CREEK MX, (765) 379-2482, WILDCATCREEKMX.COM

MARYLAND

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

MAR 16-17: MECHANICSVILLE: 2-DAY EVENT, MIDDLE ATLANTIC MOTOCROSS ASSOCIATION, (410) 375-1059, MAMAMX.COM

MISSOURI

COMPETITION

ARENACROSS

MAR 2-3: KANSAS CITY: 2-DAY EVENT, FELD MOTOR SPORTS, (800) 216-7482, ARENACROSS. COM

NEW JERSEY

COMPETITION

ENDURO

MAR 17: GREENBANK : METEOR MC, (856) 889-7300, METEORMC. COM

MAR 24: SHAMONG: SOUTH JERSEY ENDURO RIDERS, (609) 268-9272, SJER.ORG OHIO

COMPETITION

HARE SCRAMBLES

MAR 3: (Includes ATVs) ATHENS: ATHENS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (740) 593-7459

MAR 24: (Includes ATVs) LOGAN: HOCKING VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (740) 385-7695, HOCKINGVALLEYMC.COM

MOTOCROSS

MAR 24: (Includes ATVs) MARYSVILLE: AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, (937) 3582427, AMERICANMX.COM

PENNSYLVANIA

COMPETITION

HARE SCRAMBLES

MAR 23-24: (Includes ATVs) BERWICK: 2-DAY EVENT, EVANSVILLE MOTOCROSS PARK LLC, (570) 759-2841, EVANSVILLEMXPARK.COM

MOTOCROSS

MAR 3: SHIPPENSBURG: DOUBLIN GAP MX PARK INC, (717) 249-6036, DOUBLINGAP. COM

MAR 24: BIRDSBORO: PAGODA MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (610) 5823717, PAGODAMC.ORG

SHORT TRACK

MAR 24: (Includes ATVs) HANOVER: TRAIL-WAY SPEEDWAY, (717) 359-4310, TRAIL-WAYSPEEDWAY.COM

MAR 30: DELTA: BALTIMORE COUNTY TRAIL RIDERS ASSOC., BCTRA.NET

SOUTH CAROLINA

COMPETITION

ENDURO

MAR 2-3: SALLEY: 2-DAY EVENT, COLUMBIA ENDURO RIDERS ASSOC, (803) 788-4220

MOTOCROSS

MAR 16: (Includes ATVs) HAMER: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 3235497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM

MAR 17: (Includes ATVs) HAMER: VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 3235497, VICTORY-SPORTS.COM

TEXAS

COMPETITION

ENDURO

MAR 24: BLACKWELL: ROSS CREEK TRAIL RIDERS, (325) 6698866, ROSSCREEKTRAILRIDERS. COM

MOTOCROSS

MAR 9: KEMP: UNDERGROUND MX PARK, (903) 498-4659, UGMXPARK.COM

MAR 10: KEMP: UNDERGROUND MX PARK, (903) 498-4659, UGMXPARK.COM

MAR 19: WORTHAM: FREESTONE COUNTY RACEWAY LLC, (713) 962-3386, FREESTONEMX.COM

VIRGINIA

COMPETITION

GRAND PRIX

MAR 24: DILLWYN: VIRGINIA COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLE SERVICES, (434) 245-8599, VCHSS.ORG

WASHINGTON

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

MAR 16: WEST RICHLAND : HRMC, INC., (509) 496-2958, HORNRAPIDSMX.COM

MAR 17: WEST RICHLAND: HRMC, INC., (509) 496-2958, HORNRAPIDSMX.COM

WEST VIRGINIA

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

MAR 9: HEDGESVILLE: TOMAHAWK MX LLC, (304) 2296682, TOMAHAWKMX.COM

MAR 10: HEDGESVILLE: TOMAHAWK MX LLC, (304) 2296682, TOMAHAWKMX.COM

MAR 30-31: HEDGESVILLE: 2-DAY EVENT, MIDDLE ATLANTIC MOTOCROSS ASSOCIATION, (410) 375-1059, MAMAMX.COM

HALL OF FAME EXHIBITS AND EVENTS

AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME MOTORCYCLEMUSEUM. ORG

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

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

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

30-Year Ride: Honda’s Ohiomade 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 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame’s generous contributors.

March 15, Daytona Beach, Fla.: Breakfast at Daytona with Scott Russell. Info: www. motorcyclemuseum.org.

AMA PRO RACING

AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

AMASUPERCROSS.COM

Feb. 16: Arlington, Texas: Cowboys Stadium

Feb. 23: Atlanta: Georgia Dome

March 2: St. Louis: Edward Jones Dome

March 9: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona International Speedway

March 16: Indianapolis: Lucas Oil Stadium

March 23: Toronto, Canada: Rogers Centre

April 6: Houston: Reliant Stadium

April 13: Minneapolis: Metrodome

April 20: Seattle: CenturyLink Field

April 27: Salt Lake City: RiceEccles Stadium

May 4: Las Vegas, Nev.: Sam Boyd Stadium

AMA MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

MXSPORTSPRORACING.COM

May 18: Sacramento, Calif.: Hangtown Motocross Classic

May 25: Lakewood, Colo.: Thunder Valley

June 1: Blountville, Tenn.: Bristol

June 8: Mount Morris, Pa.: High Point

June 22: Mechanicsville, Md.: Budds Creek

June 29: Southwick, Mass.: Moto X 338

July 6: Buchanan, Mich.: RedBud

July 20: Washougal, Wash.: Washougal

July 27: Millville, Minn.: Spring Creek

Aug. 10: New Berlin, N.Y.: Unadilla

Aug. 17: Tooele, Utah: Miller Motorsports Park

Aug. 24: Lake Elsinore, Calif.: Lake Elsinore

AMA PRO ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

AMAPRORACING.COM

March 14-16: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Daytona International Speedway

April/May: TBD

May 31-June 2: Elkhart Lake, Wis.: Road America

July 12-14: Lexington, Ohio: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

July 19-21: Monterey, Calif.: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Aug. 2-4: Tooele, Utah: Miller Motorsports Park

Aug. 16-18: Indianapolis: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Harley-Davidson XR1200)

Aug./Sept.: TBD

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

Sept. 26-28: Monterey, Calif.: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

AMA PRO FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP

AMAPRORACING.COM

March 14: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Short-track, Daytona Flat Track

March 15: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Short-track, Daytona Flat Track

May 4: Ariz.: TBD

May 11: Stockton, Calif.: Half-mile, San Joaquin County Fairgrounds

May 26: Springfield, Ill.: Mile, Illinois State Fairgrounds

June 8: Ohio: TBD

June 29: Lima, Ohio: Half-mile, Lima County Fairgrounds

July 6: Hagerstown, Md.: Halfmile, Hagerstown Speedway

July 20: Elma, Wash.: Half-mile, Grays Harbor Raceway

July 27: Sacramento, Calif.: Mile, Cal Expo

Aug. 3: Castle Rock, Wash.: TT, Castle Rock Race Park

Aug. 11: Peoria, Ill.: TT, PMC Race Park

Aug. 17: Indianapolis: Mile, Indiana State Fairground

Sept. 1: Springfield, Ill.: Mile, Illinois State Fairgrounds

Sept. 29: Santa Rosa, Calif.: Mile, Sonoma County Fairgrounds

Oct. 5: Ariz.: TBD

Oct. 12: Pomona, Calif. Halfmile, LA County Fairplex ISHIP

AMA PRO ATV MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP ATVMOTOCROSS.COM

March 23-24: Washington, Ga.: Aonia Pass MX

April 13-14: Blountville, Tenn.: Muddy Creek Raceway

April 27-28: Oakland, Ky.: Ballance MX

May 11-12: Rossville, Ind.: Wildcat Creek MX

May 25-26: Walnut, Ill.: Sunset Ridge

June 8-9: Danville, Va.: Birch Creek Motorsports

July 6-7: Delmont, Pa.: Steel City

July 13-14: New Berlin, N.Y.: Unadilla

July 27-28: Buchanan, Mich.: RedBud

Aug. 10-11: Hurricane Mills, Tenn.: Loretta Lynn’s Ranch

AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

AMA ARENACROSS ARENACROSS.COM

Feb. 8-10: Wilkes-Barre, Pa.: Mohegan Sun Arena Feb. 16-17: Little Rock, Ark.: Verizon Arena

Feb. 23-24: Wichita, Kan.: INTRUST Bank Arena

March 2-3: Kansas City, Kan.: Sprint Center

March 15-17: Denver: Denver Coliseum HAMPIONSHIP

AMA ENDUROCROSS ENDUROCROSS.COM

May 3: Las Vegas, Nev.: Orleans Arena

June 8: Sacramento, Calif.: Sleep Train Arena

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

Oct. 12: Denver: National Western Complex

Oct. 26: Everett, Wash.: Comcast Arena

Nov. 9: Boise, Idaho: Idaho Center

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

AMA NATIONAL ENDURO NATIONALENDURO.COM

Feb. 17: Greensboro, Ga.: Tom Cufr, Cherokee Cycle Club; (770) 540-2891, SETRA.org

March 3: Salley, S.C.: Rhonda Dennis, Columbia Enduro Riders; (803) 788-4220

March 24: Blackwell, Texas: Joseph Roberts, Ross Creek Trail Riders; (325) 669-8866, RossCreekTrailRiders.com

April 14: Forest Hill, La.: Tracy Barstow, Acadiana Dirt Riders; (337) 519-2520, AcadianaDirtRiders.com

April 28: West Point, Tenn.: Paul Traufler, NATRA; (256) 683-4129, NATRA.DirtRider.net

June 9: Marquette, Mich.: Nick Zambon, UP Sandstormers; (906) 228-7010, UPSandstormers.com

June 23: Blain, Pa.: Jim Landvater, Susquehanna Off Road Riders, (717) 926-6035, sorrmc.org

July 28: Cross Fork, Pa.: Peter Burnett, Brandywine Enduro Riders; (610) 368-7332, ber.us

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

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

AMA INDOOR DIRT TRACK STEVENACERACING.COM

Feb. 23: Du Quion, Ill.: ST and TT, Southern Illinois Center, Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532

AMA ALL-STAR FLAT TRACK AMARACING.COM

March 8: Savannah, Ga.: Halfmile, Oglethorpe Speedway; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; stevenaceracing. com

March 9: Savannah, Ga.: Halfmile, Oglethorpe Speedway; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; stevenaceracing. com

March 10: Barberville, Fla.: Halfmile, Volusia County Speedway; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; stevenaceracing. com

March 10: Daytona Beach, Fla.: ST, Daytona Flat Track; Dave Joiner, Fast Fridays; (530) 8787223; fastfridays.com

March 11: Barberville, Fla.: Halfmile, Volusia County Speedway; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; stevenaceracing. com

March 12: Barberville, Fla.: ST, Volusia County Speedway; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; stevenaceracing.com

AMA VINTAGE DIRT TRACK AMARACING.COM

March 9, Savannah, Ga.: Halfmile, Oglethorpe Speedway, Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; stevenaceracing.com

March 11: Barberville, Fla.: Half-mile, Volusia County Speedway; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; stevenaceracing.com

March 12: Barberville, Fla.: ST, Volusia County Speedway; Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; stevenaceracing.com

May 18: Tallassee, Ala.: ST, Monster Mountain MX Park; Tom Brinkman, Monster Action Sports; (334) 318-8475; monstermx.com

May 19: Tallassee, Ala.: ST, Monster Mountain MX Park; Tom Brinkman, Monster Action Sports; (334) 318-8475; monstermx.com

May 28: Springfield, Ill.: Mile, Steve Nace, Steve Nace Racing; (270) 442-7532; stevenaceracing.com

June 21: Harpursville, N.Y.: ST, Square Deal Riders; squaredealriders.com

July 20: Ashland, Ohio: Half-mile, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, Ashland County Fairgrounds; Ken Saillant, AMA; (800) 262-5646; americanmotorcyclist.com/racing

Aug. 16: Indianapolis: ST, Mid-America Speedway; Jim Terchila; (317) 871-4392; info@ midamspeedway.com

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

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

AMA EAST HARE SCRAMBLES AMARACING.COM

Feb. 24, Amateur and Youth: Elko, Ga.: Bruce Douglas, High Point Hare Scramble; (478) 8084131; rbdouglas47@yahoo.com

March 23, Amateur and Youth: Berwick, Pa.: Duane Fisher, Evansville MX Park; (570) 7592841; EvansvilleMXPark.com

April 14, Amateur and Youth: Arrington, Va.: Chuck Honeycutt, April Fools Promotions; (757) 3755665; aprilfools62@verizon.net

April 27-28, Amateur and Youth: Plainview, Ill.: Ron Whipple, WFO Promotions; (309) 314-3343; WFOPromotions.com

May 18-19, Amateur and Youth: Valley View, Pa.: Tiffany Tobias, Rausch Creek Powersports; (570) 682-4600; RauschCreekRacing.com

June 8-9, Amateur and Youth: Virgil, N.Y.: Ken Rose, Greek Peak Trail Riders; (585) 297-2742; GreekPeak.com

AMA WEST HARE SCRAMBLES AMARACING.COM

Feb. 16, Youth; Feb. 17, Amateur: Salinas, Calif.: Richie Mendez, Salinas Ramblers; (831) 444-7870; SalinasRamblersMC.org

Feb. 23, Youth; Feb. 24, Amateur: Globe, Ariz.: Ben Hutchinson, Rock Stars Motorcycle Club; (480) 216-2588; AMRARacing.com

April 13, Youth; April 14, Amateur: Shasta Lake, Calif.: Karl Hankins, Redding Dirt Riders; (530) 953-7272; ReddingDirtRiders.com

July 6, Youth and C Amateur; July 7, Pro, A and B Amateur: Elkton, Ore.: Toni Bamford, ETRA Inc.; (541) 505-4511; ETRA.net

AMA BIG SKY AMATEUR OFFROAD BIGSKYXC.COM

Aug. 24-25: Big Sky, Mont.: Jamey Kabisch, Lone Peak Racing; (406) 223-0478; BigSkyXC.com

AMA HARE & HOUND YOUTH AND AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS AMARACING.COM

Feb. 9, Youth; Feb. 10, Amateur: Spangler Hills-Ridgecrest, Calif.: Richie Wohlers, Four Aces Motorcycle Club; (805) 358-2668; FourAcesMC.org

March 23, Youth; March 24, Amateur: Murphy, Idaho: No ATVs. Bill Walsh, Dirt Inc.; (208) 459-6871; DirtIncRacing.com

April 13, Youth; April 14, Amateur: Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Justin Shultz, SoCal Motorcycle Club; (949) 9816776; SoCalMC.com

April 27, Youth; April 28, Amateur: Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Steve Williams, Vikings Motorcycle Club; (310) 490-4575; VikingsMC.com

May 4, Amateur and Youth: Jericho, Utah: Talisa Flitton, Sage Riders; (435) 660-0430; SageRidersMC.com

May 18, Amateur and Youth: Jericho, Utah: KC Bogue, Sugarloafers Motorcycle Club; (435) 864-8305; SugarLoafersMC.com

July 13, Amateur: McCarran, Nev.: No Youth. No ATVs. Erek Kudla, Get-Xtr-Eme; (805) 2365866; Get-Xtr-Eme.com

Aug. 24, Amateur and Youth: Panaca, Nev.: No ATVs. Zach Livreri, Silver State Trailriders; (702) 645-2506; desertracer24p@ gmail.com

Oct. 12, Youth; Oct. 13, Amateur: Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Ryan Sanders, 100’s Motorcycle Club; (949) 584-9395; 100sMC.org

AMA NATIONAL MID AMERICA CROSS COUNTRY SERIES WWW.THEMAXC.COM

TBA

AMA ATV MOTOCROSS ATVMOTOCROSS.COM

March 23-24: Washington, Ga.: Aonia Pass MX

April 13-14: Blountville, Tenn.: Muddy Creek Raceway

April 27-28: Bowling Green, Ky.: Ballance MX

May 11-12: Rossville, Ind.: Wildcat Creek MX

May 25-26: Walnut, Ill.: Sunset Ridge

June 8-9: Danville, Va.: Birch Creek Motorsports

July 6-7: Delmont, Pa.: Steel City

July 13-14: New Berlin, N.Y.: Unadilla

July 27-28: Buchanan, Mich.: RedBud

Aug. 10-11: Hurricane Mills, Tenn.: Loretta Lynn’s Ranch AMA ATV EXTREME DIRT TRACK EDTRACING.COM

May 4: Kinston, N.C.: Ironclad Motorsports, Lenoir County Fairgrounds; (252) 624-9808; ironcladmotorsports@gmail.com

May 25: Oktaha, Okla.: Outlaw Motor Speedway; (918) 687-9200; outlawmotorspeedway.com

June 14: Sioux Falls, S.D.: Sioux Valley Cycle Club; (605) 977-3866; siouxvalleycycleclub.com

June 15: Sioux Falls, S.D.: Sioux Valley Cycle Club; (605) 977-3866; siouxvalleycycleclub.com

July 13: Goldsboro, N.C.: Busco Beach; (919) 222-9614; buscobeach.com

July 28: Ashtabula, Ohio: Bud Fischer, Pine Lake OffRoad Facility; (440) 997-4166; williamfischer07@yahoo.com

Aug. 23: Batavia, N.Y.: Keith Dawydko, Batavia Motor Speedway; bataviamotorspeedway.com

Aug. 24: Batavia, N.Y.: Keith Dawydko, Batavia Motor Speedway; bataviamotorspeedway.com

AMA ATV HARE SCRAMBLES AMARACING.COM

March 24: Berwick, Pa.: Duane Fisher, Evansville MX Park; (570) 759-2841; EvansvilleMXPark.com

April 28: Plainview, Ill.: Ron Whipple, WFO Promotions; (309) 314-3343; WFOPromotions.com

May 19: Valley View, Pa.: Amateur and Youth, Tiffany Tobias, Rausch Creek Powersports; (570) 682-4600; RauschCreekRacing.com

June 9: Virgil, N.Y.: Amateur and Youth, Ken Rose, Greek Peak Trail Riders; (585) 297-2742; GreekPeak.com

AMA SPEEDWAY

AMARACING.COM

TBA

AMA SWM NATC MOTOTRIALS AMARACING.COM

June 15-16, Rounds 1 and 2: Cayuta, N.Y.: David Reed, District 4 Trials Committee; (607) 7969558; district4trials.org

June 22-23, Rounds 3 and 4: Swanton, Vt.: Denver Wilson, Green Mountain Plonkers Trials Club; (802) 236-7338; greenmountainplonkers.org

July 27-28, Rounds 5 and 6: Kingman, Ariz.: Mike Carlton, Central Arizona Trials Inc.; (928) 681-5700; mcparks.com

Aug. 3-4, Rounds 7 and 8: Sipapu, N.M.: Lance Butler, New Mexico Trials Association; (505) 332-3172; nmtrials.org

Aug. 24-25, Rounds 9 and 10: Duluth, Minn.: Steve Ahleri, Northland MC Riders Association; (218) 349-9578; dam@cpinternet. com

AMA NATC EAST YOUTH TRIALS

AMARACING.COM

July 5-7: Sequatchie, Tenn.: Ashley Jackson, South Eastern Trials Riders Association; (423) 942-8688; trailstrainingcenter. com

AMA NATC WEST YOUTH TRIALS

AMARACING.COM

TBA

AMA FEATURED SERIES

AMA MID-SOUTH CROSS

COUNTRY WINTER

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

MSXC.COM

Feb. 17: Bucksnort, Tenn.: Foxhollow

March 3: Gardendale, Ala.: Cornerstone Ranch

March 23-24: McEwen, Tenn.: Tumbling Creek

AMA WESTERN CHECKPOINT ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP RIDECHEC.COM

March 16-17: Anza, Calif.

April 6-7: Lake Port, Calif.

April 13-14: Camp Wood, Ariz.

April 20-21: Red Mountain, Calif.

May 18-19: Gorman, Calif.: Twoday qualifier

June 1-2: Boise, Idaho: Two-day qualifier

Sept. 13-14: Johnson Valley, Calif.: Two-day qualifier

Sept. 28-29: Toulon, Nev.

Oct. 26-27: Elkins Flat, Calif.

Nov. 9-10: Stoneyford, Calif.

VIRGINA CHAMPIONSHIP HARE SCRAMBLES SERIES

VCHSS.ORG

March 24: Dillwyn, Va.

April 14: Arrington, Va.: AMA National

April 28: Bristol, Va.

May 5: Martinsville, Va.

May 26: Surry, Va.

June 9: Ivor, Va.

June 23: Rural Retreat, Va.

July 28: Bristol, Va.

Aug. 11: Martinsville, Va.

Aug. 25: Penhook, Va.

Sept. 8: Sutherlin, Va.

Sept. 22: Spring Grove, Va.

Sept. 29: Chatham, Va.

Oct. 13: Rural Retreat, Va.

Oct. 27: Dillwyn, Va.

Nov. 10: Spring Grove, Va.

AMA HEARTLAND CHALLENGE HEARTLANDCHALLENGE.COM

Aug. 15-17: Carlisle, Iowa

BIG 6 AMA WEST COAST GRAND PRIX SERIES BIG6RACING.COM

April 6-7: Twentynine Palms, Calif.: Rodeo and Motoplex, Hilltoppers MC

May 4-5: Primm, Nev.: Buffalo Bills Casino, Shamrocks MC

June 1-2: Anza, Calif.: The Ranch, So Cal MC

Oct. 5-6: Ridgecrest, Calif.: Ridgecrest Fairgrounds, Viewfinders MC

Nov. 2-3: Gorman, Calif.: Quail Valley, Prospectors MC

Dec. 7-8: Pala, Calif.: Pala Raceway, Vikings MC EAST COAST ENDURO RIDERS ENDURO SERIES ECEA.ORG

March 17: Greenbank, N.J.: Meteor MC, (856) 889-7300; meteormc.com

March 24: Shamong, N.J.: South Jersey Enduro Riders, (609) 2689272; sjer.org

April 14: Chatsworth, N.J.: Pine Barons Enduro Riders, (609) 6546300; meteormc.com

April 21: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Tri-County Sportsmen MC, (888) 274-4469; teamhammer.org

May 5: Delaware City, Del.: Delaware Enduro Riders, (302) 8344411; delawareenduroriders.com

May 26: St. Clair, Pa.: Reading Off-Road Riders, (610) 921-3592; rorr.org

June 9: Deposit, N.Y.: Ridge Riders MC, (973) 919-4780; ridgeriders.org

June 16: Grier City, Pa.: High Mountain Dirt Riders, (570) 9547799; hmdr.org

June 23: Blain, Pa.: Susquehanna Off-Road Riders, (717) 533-2242; sorrmc.org

July 14: Gillett, Pa.: Southern Tier Enduro Riders, (607) 3828534; ster-mc.org

July 28: Cross Fork, Pa.: Brandywine Enduro Riders, (610) 368-7332; www.ber.us

Aug. 11: Three Springs, Pa.: Green Marble Enduro Riders, (410) 638-9367; greenmarbleenduroriders.org

Aug. 18: Berkshire, N.Y.: Ithaca Dirt Riders, (607) 657-8248; ithacadirtriders.com

Aug. 25: Mauricetown, N.J.: Competition Dirt Riders, (609) 319-7496; competitiondirtriders. org

Sept. 8: Shippensburg, Pa.: South Penn Enduro Riders, (717) 265-6055; southpennenduroriders.com

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

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

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

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

EAST COAST ENDURO RIDERS

HARE SCRAMBLES SERIES

ECEA.ORG

March 2-3: 2-Day, Tri-County Sportsmen MC, (888) 274-4469

April 27-28: 2-Day, Meteor MC, (856) 889-7300

May 11-12: 2-Day, Valley Forge Trail riders, (610) 476-3747

May 18-19: 2-Day, Motorcycle Competition Inc., (609) 575-7820

June 1-2: 2-Day, South Penn Enduro Riders, (717) 938-0690

June 29-30: 2-Day, Reading OffRoad Riders, (610) 921-3592

July 20-21: 2-Day, Ridge Riders MC, (973) 919-4780

Aug. 3-4: 2-Day, High Mountain Dirt Riders, (570) 954-7799

Sept. 21-22: 2-Day, High Mountain Dirt Riders, (570) 9547799

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

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

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

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

AMA IATVHSS IATVHSS.COM

TBA

AMA ENDURO TRIALS TRIALSTRAININGCENTER.COM

TBA

AMA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

AMA AMATEUR NATIONAL MOTOCROSS MXSPORTS.COM

NORTHEAST AREA QUALIFIERS

Feb. 23-24: Elizabeth City, N.C.: Elizabeth City; (757) 449-3673

March 9-10: Hedgesville, W.Va.: Tomahawk; (304) 229-6682

March 23-24: Englishtown, N.J.: Englishtown; (732) 446-7800

April 20-21: Binghamton, N.Y.: Broome-Tioga Sports Center; (607) 849-4438

April 27-28: Armagh, Pa.: Pleasure Valley Raceway; (814) 695-2453

May 11-12: Mt. Morris, Pa.: High Point; (304) 284-0084

May 18-19: Winchester, N.H.: Winchester Speed Park; (603) 239-6406

2013 EVENTS

May 25-26: Danville, Va.: Birch Creek Motorsports; (434) 8367629

NORTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

June 1-2: New Berlin, N.Y.: Youth, Unadilla Valley Sports Center; (607) 965-8450

June 29-30: Danville, Va.: Amateur, Budds Creek; (304) 284-0084

SOUTHEAST AREA QUALIFIERS

Feb. 16-17: Reddick, Fla.: MX of Marion County; (352) 591-2377

March 16-17: Hamer, S.C.: South of the Border; (423) 323-5497

April 6-7: Pell City, Ala.: Mill Creek MX; (205) 699-8857

April 20-21: Henderson, N.C.: North Carolina Motorsports Park; (252) 438-8192

May 4-5: Gaston, S.C.: Palometto Motorsports Complex; (423) 323-5497

May 11-12: Okeechobee, Fla.: Thundercross MX Park; (321) 689-3461

May 18-19: Chatsworth, Ga.: Lazy River MX; (706) 278-1620

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

June 8-9: Blountville, Tenn.: Amateur, Muddy Creek Raceway; (423) 323-5497

June 22-23: Gainesville, Fla.: Youth, Gatorback; (321) 689-3461

MID-EAST AREA QUALIFIERS

March 23-24: Rossville, Ind.: Wild Cat Creek MX; (765) 3792482

April 13-14: Coldwater, Mich.: Log Road MX; (419) 636-5430

April 20-21: Bowling Green, Ky.: Ballance MX; (423) 323-5497

April 27-28: Crothersville, Ind.: Highfly MX; (812) 374-8228

May 4-5: Buchanan, Mich.: Red Bud MX; (269) 695-6405

May 11-12: Livingston, Tenn.: Thunder Valley MX; (423) 3235497

May 11-12: Midland, Mich.: Polka Dots Motorcycle Club; (989) 832-8284

May 18-19: Nelsonville, Ohio: Fast Traxx Motoplex; (740) 7673740

MID-EAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

May 25-26: Millfield, Ohio: Youth, Sunday Creek MX; (304) 284-0084

June 22-23: Millington, Mich.: Amateur, Baja Acres; (989) 8713356

NORTH CENTRAL AREA QUALIFIERS

March 9-10: Du Quoin, Ill.: Paradise MX; (618) 542-6203

April 6-7: Casey, Ill.: Lincoln Trail Motorsports; (217) 932-2041

April 20-21: Richwood, Mo.: Romp MX; (573) 701-8674

April 27-28: Walnut, Ill.: Sunset Ridge MX; (815) 379-9534

May 4-5: Tigerton, Wis.: Motozone; (920) 419-2863

May 4-5: Montezuma, Iowa: Fun Valley Moto X; (641) 623-3456

May 11-12: Little Falls, Minn.: Little Falls Raceway; (612) 9193457

May 18-19: Mt. Carroll, Ill.: MC Motopark; (815) 238-1614

NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

June 15-16: Millville, Minn.: Amateur, Spring Creek MX; (507) 753-2779

June 29-30: Byron, Ill.: Youth, Byron Motosports Park; (815) 234-2271

SOUTH CENTRAL AREA QUALIFIERS

Feb. 23-24: Wellston, Okla.: Reynard Racing MX; (405) 7931049

March 2-3: Conroe, Texas: Three Palms; (936) 321-8725

March 9-10: Kemp, Texas: UnderGround MX Park; (903) 4984659

April 20-21: Edgewood, Texas: Buffalo Creek MX; (214) 939-4321

April 27-28: Carencro, La.: Vay Way Moto Playground; (870) 3425373

May 4-5: Ponca City, Okla.: Ponca City MX; (580) 762-3635

May 4-5: Lakewood, Colo.: Thunder Valley; (303) 697-1003

May 18-19: Little Rock, Ark.: Tony Wynn MX; (870) 342-5373

SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

June 1-2: Wortham, Texas: Amateur, Freestone; (713) 9623386

June 15-16: Prentiss, Miss.: Youth, Golden Pine; (601) 5068669

NORTHWEST AREA QUALIFIERS (MORE MAY BE ADDED)

March 2-3: Rancho Cordova, Calif.: Prairie City; (916) 209-3855

March 16-17: Richland, Wash.: Horn Rapids MX; (509) 496-2958

April 13-14: Milford, Calif.: Honey Lake; (530) 827-2639

May 4-5: Turlock, Calif.: Oatfield Raceway; (740) 297-6686

May 11: Washougal, Wash.: One-day event: Washougal; (360) 601-5347

NORTHWEST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

June 8-9: Washougal, Wash.: Youth and Amateur, Washougal; (360) 601-5347

SOUTHWEST AREA QUALIFIERS (MORE MAY BE ADDED)

Feb. 16-17: Litchfield Park, Ariz.:

Arizona Cycle Park; (623) 8530750

March 9-10: Hesperia, Calif.: Competitive Edge; (760) 947-9054

March 16-17: Haleiwa, Hawaii: Kahuku MX; (808) 668-6276

May 4-5: Turlock, Calif.: Oatfield Raceway

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

May 25-26: Anza, Calif.: Youth and Amateur, The Ranch; (949) 276-5153 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

July 29-Aug. 3: Hurricane Mills, Tenn.: National Championship, Loretta Lynn’s Ranch AMA EXTREME ENDURO GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS TENNESSEEKNOCKOUT ENDURO. COM

Aug. 17-18: Sequatchie, Tenn.: KENDA Tennessee Knockout, Trials Training Center

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: U.S. ROUNDS FIM ROAD RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GRAND PRIX FIM-LIVE.COM

April 19-21: Austin, Texas: Circuit of The Americas

July 19-21: Monterey, Calif.: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Aug. 16-18: Indianapolis, Ind.:

Indianapolis Motor Speedway FIM WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP WORLDSBK.COM

Sept. 27-29: Monterey, Calif.: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca FIM WORLD TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALSTRAININGCENTER.COM

May 25-26: Sequatchie, Tenn.: Trials Training Center FIM TRIAL DES NATIONS FIM-LIVE.COM

Sept. 8-9: La Chatre, France

FIM MOTOCROSS OF NATIONS FIM-LIVE.COM

Sept. 29: Teutschenthal, Germany

FIM INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS OF ENDURO FIM-LIVE.COM

May 25-26: Wellston, Ohio, East Qualifier: William Depue Jr.; Appalachian Dirt Riders; (740) 384-6379; ADROhio.org

June 1-2: Idaho City, Idaho, West Qualifier: Peter Reynolds; Boise Ridge Riders; (208) 3845141; ADROhio.org

Sept. 30-Oct.5: 2013 ISDE: Sardegna, Italy

BUB MOTORCYCLE SPEED TRIALS BUBENT.COM

Aug. 25-29: Utah: Bonneville Salt Flats

COOK MOTORSPORTS PRIVATE LAND SPEED SHOOTOUT

SEPT. 12-16: Utah: Bonneville Salt Flats

AMA DUAL-SPORT/ ADVENTURE SERIES

May 18-19: Zaleski, Ohio: Hanging Rock 200, Buckeye Dual Sporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050; www. kaeppnerswoods.com

June 1-2: Mill Hall, Pa.: Durty Dabbers Adventure Ride, Durty Dabbers, Nils Mantzoros; (570) 726-3343; www.durtydabbers. com

June 1-2: Bixby, Mo.: Show Me 200, Midwest Trail Riders Assn., Robert Kaufman; (314) 434-5095; www.ridemtra.com

June 1-2: Custer, Mich.: Whiskey Creek Classic, Great Lakes Dual Sporters, Jeramey Valley; (989) 751-6863; www.gldsmc.org

July 27-28: Ray, Ohio: Chillicothe National Dual Sport, Chillicothe Enduro Riders, Kevin Claytor; (740) 637-2714; www. chillicotheenduro.com

July 27-28: Matthews, Ind.: Covered Bridge National Dual Sport, Muddobbers MC, Doug Spense; (765) 998-2236; www. muddobbersmc.org

Aug. 10-11: Columbus, Ind.: Buffaloe 500 D/S Adventure Ride, Stoney Lonesome MC, Nathan Gaskill; (812) 343-9772; www. stoneylonesomemc.com

Aug. 17-18: Wolverine, Mich.: Ted’s Chandler Hill Challenge, Great Lakes Dual Sporters, Jeremay Valley; (989) 751-6863; www.gldsmc.org

Sept. 7-8: Golden Pond, Ky.: Land Between The Lakes 200, KT Riders, Jesse Thomas; (270) 5223703; www.lbl200.com

Sept. 13-15: Reno, Nev.: Ride Reno 200, Dust Devils MC, Gary Lambert; (775) 224-0361; www. dustdevilsmc.com

Sept. 21-22: Logan, Ohio: Nutcracker 200, Buckeye Dual Sporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050; www. kaeppnerswoods.com

Oct. 26-27: Prescott Valley, Ariz.: Howlin’ at the Moon, Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood; (623) 826-1092; www. arizonatrailriders.org

Nov. 2-3: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Hammer Run, Tri-County Sportsmen, Eldin Polhaumas; (888) 274-4469 or (856) 785-2754; www.teamhammer.org

Nov. 29-30: Palmdale, Calif.: LA-Barstow to Vegas, AMA Dist37 Dual-Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 446-7386; www.dist37ama. org

AMA YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ NATIONAL ADVENTURE RIDING SERIES

AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST. COM

March 16-17: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Cross-Florida Adventure Ride, Dixie Dual Sport Inc., Robert Frey; (727) 919-8299; www.dixiedualsport.com

April 28: Spring Mills, Pa.: West Pennsylvania Adventure Beginner Ride, XPLOR Int’l, Alain Kaldewaay; (610) 470-8897; www. xplor.int.com

May 4-5: Buck Meadows, Calif.: Yosemite Adventure Tour, Family Off Road Adventures, Lawrence Borgens; (209) 649-3633; www. familyoffroadadventures.com

May 5: Spring Mills, Pa.: West Pennsylvania Adventure Beginner Ride, XPLOR Int’l, Alain Kaldewaay; (610) 470-8897; www. xplor.int.com

May 18-19: Zaleski, Ohio: Hanging Rock 200, Buckeye Dual Sporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050; www. kaeppnerswoods.com

Aug. 10-11: Columbus, Ind.: Buffaloe 500 D/S Adventure Ride, Stoney Lonesome MC, Nathan Gaskill; (812) 343-9772; www. stoneylonesomemc.com

Sept. 21-22: Logan, Ohio: Nutcracker 200, Buckeye Dual Sporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050; www. kaeppnerswoods.com

Oct. 26-27: Prescott Valley, Ariz.: Howlin’ at the Moon, Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood; (623) 826-1092; www. arizonatrailriders.org

Nov. 2-3: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Hammer Run, Tri-County Sportsmen, Eldin Polhaumas; (888) 274-4469 or (856) 785-2754; www.teamhammer.org

Nov. 29-30: Palmdale, Calif.: LA-Barstow to Vegas, AMA Dist37 Dual-Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 446-7386; www.dist37ama. org

AMA PREMIER TOURING SERIES

AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

AMA NATIONAL GRAND TOURS

AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

Through April 14: The Polar Bear Grand Tour: AMA District 2 of New Jersey, www. polarbeargrandtour.com

Jan. 1-May 25: The Big Money Rally: www.bigmoneyrally.com

March 25-Oct. 1: Eddie’s Road and Team Strange Airheads Smoke Chasing Grand Tour: Eddie’s Road and Team Strange Airheads; www.smokechasing. com

April 1-Oct. 31: Tour of Honor Grand Tour: Tour of Honor; www. tourofhonor.com

AMA NATIONAL EXTREME GRAND TOURS

AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

AMA HUSQVARNA NATIONAL DUAL-SPORT SERIES, PRESENTED BY FMF AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST. COM

March 16-17: Daytona Beach, Fla.: Cross-Florida Adventure Ride, Dixie Dual Sport Inc., Robert Frey; (727) 919-8299; www.dixiedualsport.com

Sept. 28-29: Buck Meadows, Calif.: Yosemite Dual Sport, Family Off Road Adventures, Lawrence Borgens; (209) 649-3633; www. familyoffroadadventures.com

Oct. 12-13: McArthur, Ohio: Baby Burr National Dual Sport, Enduro Riders Assn., Steve Barber; (614) 582-7821; www. enduroriders.com

May 18-19: Tolland, Mass.: Berkshire Big Adventure, Berkshire Trail Riders, Ross Mauri; (845) 729-1715; www. kaeppnerswoods.com

June 1-2: Mill Hall, Pa.: Durty Dabbers Adventure Ride, Durty Dabbers, Nils Mantzoros; (570) 726-3343; www.durtydabbers. com

Jan. 1-Dec. 31: SCMA Four Corners Grand Tour: Southern California Motorcycling Association; www.usa4corners. org.

Aug. 30-Sept. 2: SCMA Three Flags Classic Grand Tour: Southern California Motorcycling Association; www.sc-ma.com.

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GUEST COLUMN

THE OLD MAN AND THE DRAGON

Riding To New Horizons

By Howard Glassman

My first round of riding occurred when I was in college in Florida in the ’60s, at which time I discovered that the only way to sleep late and still get a parking place on campus was to use the motorcycle-only lots. I bought a beat-up Yamaha YD1 oil burner. It turned out to be a great machine.

Shortly after I bought it I met a guy who had a similar bike and we spent countless hours riding in the dirt, on the beach, even hill climbing. Florida doesn’t have any hills, but this was back when you could ride on the edge of the county landfill. The smell of burning rubber and oil mixed with decaying garbage was a sensory overload.

Just as I was graduating, I married the girl who lived two apartments away. When we moved to Seattle to pursue our careers, I found that riding bikes in crowded city traffic didn’t turn me on so I sold the Yamaha. To compensate for the lack of adrenaline I took up skydiving, flying and skiing. They were fun, but not the same.

Well, time passed and my wife and I retired and moved back to—where else?—Florida. There are pools, clubhouses, fitness centers and lots of golf. I had visions of cruising around the course in my new golf cart with my buddies while preparing to give Tiger a real challenge. I was thrilled until I found out that I absolutely sucked at golf.

So now what was I going to do for fun?

Roger, a friend of mine who rides a 1999 Valkyrie, thought I should take up riding again. He told me about all the great rides in north-central Florida away from crowds and traffic. I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse, after which I bought a 2006 Suzuki C50 cruiser. I quickly outgrew the C50, which I then traded for a 2007 C90.

I had found riding again. I put 25,000 miles on the C90 in four years—not bad for a 71-year-old guy. There are some great rides in this part of Florida, through beautiful forests and along the coast. But I kept thinking about what it would be like to be riding some of the mountain roads that I had driven so many times in Washington state.

Then Roger suggested we haul our bikes to Tennessee for some mountain riding. He had been there several times before.

Remember, all the riding I had ever done up to this time was in Florida. I fired up YouTube and watched countless videos people had taken while riding in the Smoky Mountains. I thought it looked somewhat beyond my flatlander skills, but I found a stretch of road about 30 miles from my house that ran along a lake shore and consisted of four miles of turn after turn, some of them quite tricky.

I practiced over there several times a week as our trip to Tennessee approached. I rode up and down the same stretch of road over and over. I guess some of the people who lived there got suspicious because on the third day I was pulled over by a sheriff’s deputy who wanted to know what I was up to.

Then it was time. We loaded our bikes on a trailer that Roger had managed to borrow from a friend and we were off.

Our first ride was over the Foothills Parkway. That was a lot of fun and not too difficult. At the end of the Parkway we intersected Highway 129. A right turn would take us out of the mountains; a left to the stretch known as The Tail of the Dragon, one of the best-known twisty roads in the country. I talked Roger into turning left.

We started riding along the water and the road starting winding. I thought to myself “this isn’t so bad.” After a few miles, we spotted a bunch of riders in a parking area under some power lines so we pulled in to do a little gabbing. I mentioned to Roger that this wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. He replied, “This is where it starts.” Then a guy came walking over and asked, “Have you been up there yet?”

Well, off we went. My practice on the lakeside road started to pay off. I also learned to really appreciate all of the MSF instructors who repeatedly told me to “look where you want to go.” I was as focused as Forrest Gump in a ping-pong match. Roger was leading, and I guess we were keeping a reasonable pace because the only two guys who pulled up behind us were on sportbikes. They quickly passed and were gone.

We kept turning and turning and before I knew it we were at Deals Gap. I have to admit that I was glad to be stopping. The Dragon was a blast, but it had worn me out.

We did a lot more riding, taking in the Cherohala Highway, and going to Clingman’s Dome. Some of the other roads we cruised were twisty and curvy as well, but not as intense as the Dragon. I did, however, learn a fundamental truth: No matter how long you go without seeing another vehicle, whenever you enter a blind right-hand curve there will always be somebody in the turn coming the other way. You can count on it.

I’m back home now and I have to admit I’m enjoying cruising Florida’s backroads again. It’s a lot more relaxing.

But I rode the Dragon, and I’ve got the t-shirt to prove it.

Howard Glassman is an AMA member from Summerfield, Fla.

Photo Russell Martin Photography