American Motorcyclist 06 2012

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Cover

Ron Lieback of Bear Creek Township, Pa., is one of several AMA members who write about one of their favorite rides this month. Read about some great rides from all around America starting on page 38. Photo: The Susquehanna Photographic.

Navigation Photo Honda rider Johnny Lewis (center) kicked off his 2012 season with a win at the opening round of the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship during Bike Week. But the second race in Daytona didn’t go so well for Lewis, who ended up on the ground on the last lap while Matt Weidman (left) took the win.

Jim Grant.

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 2012. 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.

June 2012

Volume 66, Number 6

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

8.

LETTERS

You write, we read.

12. ROB DINGMAN

The state of your AMA.

14. RIGHTS

4 Questions With... U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell, and a derogatory federal trail guide.

20.

RIDING

Dispatch from Pikes Peak, and AMA Member Tested: Barnett clutch cable.

28.

RACING

Ryan Villopoto wins another AMA Supercross title, Justin Brayton climbs higher, Daytona track action wrap-up.

34.

HALL OF FAME

Don Emde’s 1972 Yamaha TR3 roadracer, and Hall of Famer Bill Baird.

38. MOTORCYCLING AMERICA

AMA members find freedom on the road.

46.

ROCKERS AND MODS!

Classic motorcycling subcultures in the limelight at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

49.

GO RIDE

What to do, where to go.

58.

STEVEN HOLT

Motorcycling passion.

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MEMBER LETTERS

LETTER OF THE MONTH FIX FOR LESS

I agree with the recent used-bike/ bang-for-the-buck article (“Cheap Thrills,” May). In the 30 or so years I’ve been riding, I’ve only had one brandnew bike, and while nice and clean, it did no better than any used bike I had previously owned, and the payments were no fun whatsoever.

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

My current bikes are a 2003 YZ250 that’s used for trail riding, hare scrambles, single-track and the occasional lap or two on a motocross track. Truth be told, that nine-year-old bike has more ability and power than I’ll ever need for any of those activities.

For street use I just picked up a 1998 Honda Super Hawk with less than 3,000 miles. Again, it has more power and performance than I’ll ever need and with such low mileage, it’s just getting broken in.

I’ve had the YZ for about two years and paid $1,500 for it. The Super Hawk has been with me about four months and was, in my opinion, a steal at $3,600. Sans lottery winnings, I’ll most likely never buy new again.

THE SOUND ANSWER

As a street and trail motorcyclist and racing enthusiast for 40 years now, I enjoy and am stimulated by a strong-sounding bike as much as the next guy. But as a suburban dweller, I roll my eyes every time I hear the intruding sound of a loud bike, whether a 600cc mall-sickle being redlined through the gears or a V-twin blasting away from a light. I sympathize with my non-riding neighbors every time.

That said, I support the AMA’s efforts to promote the SAE J2825 approach to sound-level enforcement as summarized in your April article. Your argument that the SAE roadside test is more effective than an EPA label approach is solid, but surprisingly makes no mention of the significant advantage of being applicable to all registered motorcycles regardless of year of manufacture. If put in place and enforced, the noise problem would disappear in a season!

A further suggestion: Although I have not witnessed a sample of J2825 testing to have a first-hand impression, I expect you could get more grassroots support by having demos at the bigger bike shows, races and gatherings. It seems to be more routine to have dyno pulls going on at

these events. Having an opportunity to hear a few SAE J2825-compliant bikes run would generate familiarity and, I expect, even more support.

I want to close with support for adding former Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard to the staff to help lead such efforts, and to note the improvement in the depth of American Motorcyclist. Keep up the good work.

Bob Linden

Westminster, Colo.

GET INVOLVED

I am currently the chairman of the Western Montana Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The RAC provides a good chance to influence Bureau of Land Management actions, no matter if they involve motorized, non-motorized recreation or other land management topics. It’s also a good chance to learn about topics and issues that might otherwise be overlooked. The Western Montana RAC is very well balanced and members show a high level of respect, no matter their individual philosophies.

I would recommend that anyone interested apply for a seat on their area RAC to influence future BLM actions and

to be a part of the process.

Bob Walker Western Montana RAC

Last Chance Riders Motorcycle Club Helena, Mont.

Thank you for your letter, Bob. Your willingness to volunteer your time for service on a RAC is admirable. The AMA has written numerous letters of recommendation for applicants to RAC’s and Desert Advisory Councils and actively encourages our members to attend these meetings. Input from the off-highway vehicle community is vital to ensure federal public land managers plan for motorized recreation when revising their land management plans.

BI-PARTISAN PUSH

The AMA will soon publish a voter guide informing members about political candidates’ positions on issues pertaining to motorcyclists’ rights. Wayne Allard, AMA’s vice president for government relations, was quoted in the May issue of the American Motorcyclist encouraging members to “cast their ballots and work on political campaigns based in part on candidates positions on motorcyclingrelated issues.”

As an AMA member, I find this troubling for two reasons.

First, special interest groups concerned about protecting their “rights” against undue government restriction or regulation (for example, the AMA and National Rifle Association) tend to attract the (politically expedient) support of the Republican Party, and special interest groups dominated by white male membership (for example, the AMA and NRA) tend, as polls show, to gravitate toward the Republican Party...

My concern (admittedly jumping the gun, since the voter guide has yet to be published) is that the guide will simply become advertising for conservative

Padrick Handley

Atlanta

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candidates.

Second, and far more importantly, the very notion that motorcycling issues should in any way influence voting behavior seems ridiculous on its face. We live in a period of great national strife with pressing economic, health care, human rights and foreign policy concerns. Despite our tendency, as motorcyclists, to wax poetic and to think of cycling as a way of life, it is not. It’s just a hobby—a consuming one, I’ll admit, but just a hobby.

Hobbies shouldn’t influence matters of grave significance and voting in a democracy is one of these. By encouraging your membership to vote on the basis of narrow and parochial concerns, you’ve not only encouraged simple-mindedness but, I believe, a push toward the Republican Party. Was this your intent?

Al Scovern Lexington, Ky.

As a non-partisan association, the AMA does not endorse political candidates. However, we encourage our members to cast their ballots based on candidates’ positions on motorcycling-related issues, as well as other issues of importance to them. For more information about the AMA’s “Vote Like A Motorcyclist” campaign, please visit our webpage at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/ votelikeamotorcyclist.

IT’S ABOUT CHOICE

I believe that some people are educated far above their intelligence. Many seem unable to understand basic concepts. You would think that living in the United States would give one a rudimentary knowledge of freedom.

I am a Charter Life Member of the AMA. I have been riding for almost 45 years. There has been a time or two that wearing a helmet has saved me from injury. Yet still, on occasion, I prefer to ride without a helmet. Why? Because I darn well want to. That’s freedom. I know that I would be safer wearing one, but I don’t care. I’d be safer yet if I never rode a motorcycle at all. The main reason I ride is for the joy. Sometimes it is more joyful to ride bare headed. Boy, am I an idiot for making irresponsible choices. I also ski without a helmet, played football without a helmet, and I even jumped out of perfectly good airplanes. Oh, the horror!

If you want to see the end of your enjoyment of dangerous hobbies just keep asking the government to make more laws. The future of motorcycling depends on those who fight for freedom.

I implore all motorcyclists (responsible or not) to support the AMA. The AMA does support “comprehensive” (which means “involving much” not “all inclusive”) safety programs and your freedom.

Randall Beecham Bellville, Ohio

FOREVER YOUNG

First of all, I understand the current direction of the AMA. Rob [Dingman, president and CEO] is taking us where we need to go. I get it. Something else I value in my longtime AMA membership is that we are all in this together. There is something for all of us in our membership as well as in every issue of American Motorcyclist I especially loved the letter from Raymond Milian of Puerto Rico in the May issue, where, at age 68, he took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course, bought a 750 and is enjoying himself at now 70 years of age. Good for him and others like him.

I am 68, and have just finished (with a lot of help) a two-year restoration of a basement-find 1968 Triumph T100c basket case. My previous ride was an ’03 Heritage Softail, and before that a ’96 H-D Super Glide.

Here is an after photo of the project. The bike is soon to appear in a book published as a result of our local Boyertown, Pa., Martin MotorSports Modern Classics show. It’s a first-class affair and, in early March, a cure for cabin fever.

Like Ray, I am having a great time. With still under 100 miles on the rebuild and the rings still seating, etc., it may stall on me occasionally when I fail to keep the revs up at a stop. So I pull in the clutch, click one up to neutral—right side shift, remember 1968?—give it a push, click one more up to second, pop the clutch, it fires, and off I go, usually laughing, just like I did all those years ago at age 16 on my 350cc Velocette thumper.

I hope I never get old.

Ron Fish Valley Forge, Pa.

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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

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

Aaron Cumbow, Marketing Specialist (614) 856-1900, ext. 1266, acumbow@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, 2012.

AMA STAFF

ACCOUNTING

Dawn Becker, Accounting Manager

Margaret Burgess, Accounts Payable/Cash Receipts Clerk

Tyra Hines, Lead Accounting Clerk

Melanie Hise, HR Assistant/Payroll Coordinator

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Sandi Dunphy, Coordinator/Switchboard Operator

Sean Maher, Director

AMHF/MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME

Renee Bock, Management Assistant

Beth Myers, Donor Relations Specialist

Katy Wood, Operations Manager

AMA RACING/ORGANIZER SERVICES

Kip Bigelow, Amateur MX Manager

Joe Bromley, Director of Racing

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

Dave Hembroff, Road Riding Manager

Tamra Jones, Racing Coordinator

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

DEVELOPMENT/OPERATIONS

Jack Penton, Director

Paula Schremser, Program Specialist

DISTRIBUTION/FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

John Bricker, Mailroom Manager

Heida Drake, Copy Center Operator/Switchboard Operator

Bill Frasch, Mailroom Clerk

Ron Williams, Facilities Manager

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Sheila Andrews, Senior Legislative Assistant

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, Surprise, Ariz.

Jim Viverito, Chicago, Ill.

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

Marie Esselstein, Government Affairs Assistant

Nick Haris, Western States Representative

Jessica Irving, Grassroots Coordinator

Rick Podliska, Deputy Director

Sharon Smolinka, Legislative Coordinator

Imre Szauter, Government Affairs Manager - On-Road

Royce Wood, Government Affairs Manager - Off-Road

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

MARKETING

Connie Fleming, Events Manager

Drew Parrott, Marketing Manager

Tigra Tsujikawa, Marketing 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

Angie Miller, Member Services Representative

Tiffany Pound, Member Services Representative

Jessica Robinson, Member Services Representative

Misty Walker, Member Services Representative

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 and Corporate Member Programs

Grant Parsons, Director of Communications & Marketing

Rob Rasor, Director of International Affairs

FROM THE PRESIDENT

THE STATE OF YOUR AMA

The Future Is Bright

By Rob Dingman

The AMA turned a crucial corner last year. Despite the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s, your association reported improved revenues and lowered expenses. While we still reported an overall loss in the 2011 fiscal year, we have narrowed the gap significantly and the trend is toward profitability. This has been possible because the AMA has steadfastly remained true to its vision of being the premier advocate of the motorcycle lifestyle.

Although the AMA suffered membership losses during the recession, we now serve 225,000 dedicated members. Had our decline mirrored the precipitous drop in U.S. sales experienced by the manufacturers over the same period, we would have suffered much greater attrition. While never good, the decline tells us that we must do everything possible to increase the value of AMA membership.

Thanks to a number of significant decisions made by our board of directors that fundamentally altered the course of the association, our organization now enjoys responsible guardianship, and today we are on a path that adds greater value to AMA membership. As I’ve written here in the past, the decision by the board in 2008 to sell the assets of AMA Pro Racing to the Daytona Motorsports Group removed a significant drain on our resources while placing the future of AMA Pro Racing in the hands of motorsports entertainment professionals with a proven track record.

were pleased to enroll in our new AMA Life Member Plus program beginning in April 2011. Competition members now receive the quarterly amateur racing magazine, AMA Racer, bound into their monthly American Motorcyclist. We introduced programs with KTM and Kawasaki to reward the loyalty of AMA members who ride these brands, and more brand affinity programs are coming.

The AMA board also made wise investments in key areas to upgrade our infrastructure. We launched new accounting software in 2009 and fully implemented a new association management system (AMS) software package in 2011. These improvements were augmented by significant hardware upgrades as well. Today, these systems provide immediate checks and balances and enhanced capabilities, and are another reason why we are able to operate more efficiently and effectively.

Another important action taken by our board was the decision to move our investment portfolio to a new management firm in 2009. That decision helped soften the blow caused by the recession, and has paid dividends during the economic recovery. At the same time, we decided to stop budgeting earnings from our investments to offset annual operational losses. This kind of sound stewardship, undertaken in concert with our strategic planning process, is another reason why the AMA is in better financial condition today.

Our board has been particularly effective because we have enjoyed the strong and capable leadership of Chairman Stan Simpson. Stan has worked closely with the board’s committees as well as its individual members, who collectively represent the right balance of member-elected, corporate and at-large directors. I am equally proud to report that, at the end of 2011, the board selected Northeast Region Director Maggie McNally as vice chairwoman, the highest position held by a woman on the AMA Board of Directors.

Our mission to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling has been strengthened by our renewed commitment to member retention and acquisition. Beginning in 2010, we improved our responsiveness and outreach to existing members by strengthening our Member Service Center and adding out-bound calling. Last year, we undertook several new affinity programs designed to appeal to key segments of our membership.

While our AMA Life Member program continues unchanged,

Women riders continue to be a vital and growing segment of our membership. In addition to giving special focus to women riders in AMA publications, the sixth AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference will be held July 26-29, 2012, in Carson City, Nev.

Finally, our guardianship of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame—and the raised profile it is enjoying thanks to our efforts to significantly enhance the annual induction ceremony—is attracting new members who value the legacy of motorcycling’s heroes and legends.

Recent victories on the advocacy front demonstrate the power and appeal of the AMA brand. Overturning key provisions of the federal lead law in 2011 that had banned the sale of kids’ dirtbikes saved the future of motorcycling. The elimination of motorcycleonly checkpoints is occurring in many states, and federal funding for such checkpoints may soon end. Our battle to retain dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program is ongoing, but recent congressional action is promising. Last but not least, the AMA is at the forefront of the E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent gasoline) debate to ensure that motorcycle engines are not damaged from inadvertent use of this fuel.

The AMA is on the right track to fulfill our vision to be the premier advocate of the motorcycle lifestyle. We’ve arrived at this point because we have strong support from the motorcycling community, excellent guidance from our board, a strong management team, and the willingness to engage our members in discussion about the value of AMA membership. While we continue to face a challenging economic environment, I am very optimistic about the future of motorcycling and the expanding role that the AMA will take in shaping that world.

Rob Dingman is AMA president and CEO.

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RIGHTS

4 QUESTIONS WITH…

U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell

U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell (R-Va.) is a freshman lawmaker who also happens to be a Harley-Davidson rider. Rigell serves on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, which deals with ethanol and other issues. We caught up with the congressman to find out a little about his riding and issues facing riders.

American Motorcyclist: Tell us about your riding experience.

Rep. Scott Rigell: My first bike was a Honda SL70 [I got] when I was 11 years old. Eventually I progressed up to a Honda XL200 in my teen years.

After marrying Teri and having our children, I wanted to assure they could enjoy motorcycling as I did. Our daughter, Lindsey, rode a little screamer Yamaha PW50 and my son, Justus, went through several bikes. So off-roading runs through the Rigell family!

Justus showed up at the house with a Harley-Davidson Street Bob about seven months ago. As a father, I had mixed feelings. At first, I was not sure that street riding at his age was a very rational idea. He was 22. However, I soon realized just

how cool it was and I became very proud of him.

Within just a few weeks, I ended up purchasing my current bike, which is a 2011 Harley-Davidson Road King. Of course, I have added a few touches to make it mine, as most riders do.

AM: What is your favorite place to ride?

SR: I reach my riding nirvana as soon as I hit the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (Route 13 N) heading towards the eastern shore. To the east, you have the Atlantic Ocean and to the west the Chesapeake Bay. Just the ships and history that have traversed this body of water brings me to a place where I feel in touch with the fabric of the 2nd District of Virginia.

There is also the engineering wonder of this structure that includes two mile-long tunnels… Once I reach the end of the bridge-tunnel and arrive at Fishermen’s Island, the rural environment takes over and allows me to disconnect.

When riding a motorcycle, the rider feels connected to the environment due to the sensory stimulation. This closeness makes me more aware of the history, farms and

people in the district that I am privileged to be serving. I recommend this route to any rider due to the terrain being easy to navigate. The only challenging part of this ride would be taking in the sights because there is not an issue with grades or curves, but the beauty just takes you over.

AM: What are the biggest issues facing motorcyclists or offhighway vehicle (OHV) users today?

SR: We need riders to bring awareness to road conditions. For obvious reasons, a motorcycle has specific dangers that a four-wheeled vehicle would navigate without issue. In our district, as an example, the highways have expansion cracks that in some portions measure close to 4 inches in width. The scary bit is that they run parallel in the middle of the lanes. I dread ever getting stuck in one of these as I ride.

Off-highway riders face the issue of lack of access to federal lands, but there is an even more acute issue. Just finding somewhere to ride has become problematic. Many riders, including those here in Virginia, face the issue of having to travel great distances in order to ride their machines. Encroachment laws, sound laws and the like all play a role in this issue and need to be addressed or soon there will no longer be areas to ride our OHVs.

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

SR: Since I started street riding, I have noticed a unique aspect of motorcyclists. Veterans are represented at a very high rate among this community and held in very high regard. The patriotism, generosity, and love of country are overwhelming to me. Groups such as the Patriot Guard Riders embody the spirit that Americans should show towards its veterans. I am looking forward to joining organized rides, especially in Washington, D.C., to show the nation how motorcycling and personal freedom go hand-in-hand.

Photo

Courtesy

U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell

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AMENDMENT REVIVES RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM

Motorcycle Safety Program Also Funded

The U.S. Senate has approved a bill to extend the embattled Recreational Trails Program (RTP) that provides funding for trails, and the federal motorcyclist safety grant program, for nearly two more years.

“Motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle riders by the thousands spoke about the benefits of the Recreational Trails Program and the fact that it’s funded by off-highway vehicle users, and federal lawmakers listened,” says Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations.

“We want to thank all the AMA members and others who contacted their lawmakers asking them to preserve the RTP,” Allard says. “It was a hard-fought battle in the Senate, and we are going to keep a close watch on the legislation to try to ensure that the language remains in the bill when it goes to the House.”

On March 14, the full Senate approved S. 1813, “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century,” known as MAP-21. This bill authorizes transportation funding through fiscal 2013, which ends Sept. 30, 2013, maintains the RTP and provides $6 million a year for funding state programs that focus on motorcyclist safety. The AMA has long promoted motorcycle rider education and motorist awareness programs to help prevent motorcycle crashes.

As originally written, S. 1813 would have effectively ended the RTP by severing the program from its dedicated funding. But Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and several bipartisan cosponsors offered an amendment to S. 1813 to continue the RTP, which was approved by the full Senate.

On the House side, H.R. 7, the transportation bill titled the “American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act of 2012,” included $85 million a year through fiscal 2016 for the RTP and funding for state motorcycle safety programs. After passing the House committees that shared jurisdiction of the subject matter in the bill, the House leadership is debating its options on what version of the transportation bill to consider.

Funds for the RTP come from the federal Highway Trust Fund and represent a portion of the federal motor fuel excise tax collected from non-highway recreational fuel use. In other words, taxes generated by the sale of fuel used for off-highway vehicle recreation—by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, offhighway motorcycles and off-highway light trucks—fund the RTP.

The RTP is an assistance program of the U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Highway Administration.

TEXTING DRIVER GETS PRISON TIME IN DEATH OF MOTORCYCLIST

But In Another State, Community Service Is Ordered

A California woman who was text messaging while driving has been sentenced to five years in prison in the death of a motorcyclist.

Sequoia Monay Jones, 23, of Sacramento, was sentenced March 12 after pleading no contest to charges of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run.

On Oct. 24, Jones was driving a Volkswagen Beetle in Sacramento and text messaging when she sideswiped Robert Wilson’s motorcycle, knocking him off.

The 64-year-old Wilson was killed when another car ran over him.

The Jones case contrasts sharply with that of Andrew James Watkins, 25, of Mecklenburg County, N.C., who pleaded guilty last summer to killing a motorcyclist while driving and texting.

Watkins pleaded guilty to misdemeanor death by vehicle in an August 2010 crash that killed motorcyclist Joel Severson, 39. He was given a 60-day suspended jail term, ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and was fined $1,000 plus court costs.

“These are very tragic cases in which texting while driving caused needless deaths. Our condolences go out to the Wilson and Severson families,” says Imre Szauter, AMA government affairs manager.

“Distracted driving poses a deadly danger to motorcyclists, and it’s something that we are working on to try to reduce.”

Szauter has attended national summits on distracted driving, including a National Transportation Safety Board forum in Washington, D.C., that was held on March 27.

JUDGE REJECTS ANTI-ACCESS LAWSUIT Clears The Way For New Trails

A federal judge has rejected efforts by three groups that wanted to block the creation of motorized trails in the Superior National Forest in Minnesota.

On April 12, the judge ruled against the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness and the Sierra Club.

The three groups had filed a lawsuit to stop the U.S. Forest Service from proceeding with a plan to create new motorized trails. Officials plan to create the motorized trails while, at the same time, closing some other motorized trails.

The three groups, which claimed forest officials failed to follow environmental and land-management laws, have 60 days to appeal the judge’s ruling.

Photos RTP:

Royce Wood

FEDERAL OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE TRAIL GUIDE UNDER FIRE

Document Contains Derogatory Statements

A new U.S. Forest Service (USFS) guide to help land managers maintain off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails contains derogatory language, and OHV groups want to know why.

In a letter dated March 9, seven organizations are demanded answers from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, whose department oversees the USFS. The groups are the AMA, the All-Terrain Vehicle Association, the BlueRibbon Coalition, the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, the Colorado Snowmobile Association, Trails Preservation Alliance, and the Utah Shared Access Alliance.

“The intent of the guidebook is laudable: to help OHV trail managers develop sustainable trails and protect the environment surrounding the trails,” says Wayne Allard, a former U.S. senator and U.S. representative from Colorado who is now the AMA vice president for government relations.

“But the document includes statements and innuendo that reflect an anti-OHV bias, and cites as a source for information an anti-OHV group,” Allard says. “This type of government guide should be factbased and neutral. It shouldn’t include inflammatory, biased language and the recommendations of a group known to oppose OHVs.”

The 318-page guide, “A Comprehensive Framework for Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Maintenance,” was released in January in book form and was posted on the USFS website. But the document was quickly

pulled off the website, apparently following protests from the OHV community about offensive language.

Among other things, the document states: “This framework was developed to help trail managers corral the OHV management dragon. The author hopes it has provided some insight into the nature of OHV trails, and some tools to help keep the beast at bay. Happy herding and happy trails!”

The guide also indicated that OHVs cause weather problems by claiming that OHV use causes an “increase in frequency and intensity of weather events.” The guide also acknowledges gathering information from the Wildlands CPR, which is an anti-OHV group.

On its website, Wildlands CPR claims that “off-road vehicles can go nearly anywhere, killing and harassing wildlife and destroying vegetation,” and that “as a result of our on-going efforts, so far (with 47 decisions still to come), the Forest Service has removed 7,890 miles of roads and motorized trails from the designated travel system, and refused to designate 28,679 miles of user-created routes.”

In addition, the government document admits to citing a Wildlands CPR proposal that no routes or trails should be allowed in “citizen or agency proposed wilderness... and other lands with wilderness character.”

“This management practice usurps congressional authority in the process to designate Wilderness,” Allard says. “Only Congress can designate Wilderness.”

A Wilderness designation is one of the strictest forms of public land management. Once Congress designates an area as Wilderness, nearly all forms of non-pedestrian recreation are prohibited, including OHV use.

In the letter to Vilsack, the seven organizations representing OHV interests ask questions concerning the planning and review process of the guide, the content of the initial guide, and whether there are plans to reissue the guide without the offending language.

STATEWATCH

ALABAMA

House Bill 487, sponsored by Rep. Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn), would authorize the director of public safety to suspend the license of a driver without a preliminary hearing if the licensee committed a right-ofway violation that resulted in serious bodily injury or death to another road user at an intersection with a stop or yield sign.

CALIFORNIA

The U.S. Forest Service may close 42 off-highway-vehicle routes in the Eldorado National Forest while the agency completes an environmental analysis. The potential travel prohibitions are the result of a February 2012 court order by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Karlton. The order said the Forest Service failed to comply with the National Forest Management Act in 2008 when it designated “open for public motor vehicle use” portions of 42 routes that cross meadows. Karlton ordered the Forest Service to reconsider the decision and “set aside” the decision that designated these segments as “open.”

ILLINOIS

House Bill 930, sponsored by Rep. Dan Beiser (D-Alton), would prohibit any law

enforcement agency of the state or a political subdivision of the state from accepting federal funding for the establishment of motorcycle-only checkpoints.

Meanwhile, Alton Police Chief David Hayes says his officers will be more aggressive in writing tickets for motorcycles generating excessive sound this riding season. He says he has received a lot of sound complaints, particularly along East Broadway and Washington Avenue to the city limits. His department issued 27 citations for loud motorcycle pipes last year.

LOUISIANA

House Bill 902, also known as the “2012 Pickholtz Act,” which is sponsored by Rep. Frank Hoffmann (R-West Monroe), and Senate Bill 168, offered by Sen. Gary Smith (D-Norco),would establish increased penalties for those convicted of, or pleading guilty to, certain right-of-way violations that result in injury or death to other roadway users.

MICHIGAN

Motorcyclists can now ride without helmets under a bill signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder on April 12. The rider must be at least 21, have passed a motorcycle

rider safety course or had a motorcycle endorsement for at least two years, and must carry an additional $20,000 or more in medical insurance.

MISSOURI

Senate Bill 897, sponsored by Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia), would prohibit any law enforcement agency from establishing a roadside checkpoint or roadblock pattern based upon a particular vehicle type, including the establishment of motorcycleonly checkpoints.

TENNESSEE

House Bill 2483, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Haynes (R-Knoxville), and Senate Bill 2458, sponsored by Sen. Becky Duncan Massey (R-Knoxville), would authorize a Rolling Thunder new specialty license plate for motor vehicles. The plate would be designed in consultation with the leadership of the Tennessee chapters of Rolling Thunder and display an appropriate logo or design representative of the organization. Funds produced from the sale of the plates would be allocated to Rolling Thunder’s Tennessee chapters for the exclusive use of publicizing Prisoner of War-Missing In Action (POW-MIA) issues.

RIDING

DISPATCH FROM PIKES PEAK

From The Snow To The Salt By Hans Schulz

I am an AMA member and a sidecar racer. It has been my pleasure to experience competition in America—from one of this country’s steepest peaks to one of its flattest surfaces.

My American race journey began last year at the historic Pikes Peak. My arrival on Monday of race week was scary. When I asked which mountain Pikes Peak was, people pointed straight up in the air and said “see that mountaintop in the clouds with snow on it? That is Pikes Peak.”

It looked impossible to drive up, let alone race up on my motorcycle. I could not sleep all night thinking what possessed me to do this. After all, I’m afraid of heights. What would I tell my friends if I couldn’t go through with this after accepting an invitation? To gather my nerve, the next morning, my “monkey” (sidecar passenger) and I drove up the mountain to make sure we could do it.

I decided we could, and we did. It was an unforgettable experience.

With my home-built sidecar—which my passenger and I weren’t sure would make the first turn—we were able to raise

the wheel and drift through the corners. It was just amazing! By Thursday’s practice day, coming back down the mountain, I realized the significance of this race and I appreciated what we were able to accomplish.

Putting my homebuilt ZX7/GSX-R600 sidecar against two 1,000cc machines, I knew I had no chance to win, but we gave them hell and the fans loved us. Next year? We’ll be on a Hayabusa-powered sidecar. It’s all experimental, but I know one thing for sure: It will have more power than we’ll need.

The next stop was the Bonneville Salt Flats for the 2011 BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials. When I arrived, I found out that my friends from Norway had broken the record I was chasing with their Formula 1 Racing Sidecar. It was somewhat by happenstance, because they actually came to the salt thinking they had a 750cc engine, but tech revealed they actually had a 600cc motorcycle. So, with this new record set, I had my work cut out for me.

Going through tech, I ended up with a long list of stuff to do before they would

let me go out. Some of the things seemed to be impossible, but with the help of my fellow competitors with parts and advice, I made it.

My first run was pretty good and by the next day at noon, I had broken the Norwegian’s record by 1 second on my out-run. I was so pumped up and excited! However, I would need to complete another run in the other direction to set a new record. When I got to the other end, the wind started to come up, blowing from the left and almost head-on.

The Norwegians did their return run with a backwind. Not wanting to be at a disadvantage, I chose to wait it out. I waited, but unfortunately, the wind got so strong that they had to shut down the track for the day, and there went my chance to break the record.

The next day, the record was not to be mine, either. We struggled with getting our weight right (lighter is not always better on the salt) and with running out of time during our runs.

Despite coming up short, I have tasted success, and the learning experience was enormous. This year, I will be back, hoping to set a new record.

Hans Schulz is an AMA member from Hayward, Calif.

Photo Mathew James

Photo

Husqvarna is proud to sponsor the 2012 AMA National Dual-Sport Series

www.husqvarna-motorcyclesna.com

LESS SOUND MEANS MORE GROUND

FMF Joins Husqvarna To Support National Dual-Sport Series

Need a new silencer? Have we got a series for you. With FMF signed on as the presenting sponsor for the 2012 AMA Husqvarna National Dual-Sport Series, presented by FMF, riders in the series will have a shot at winning a new exhuast.

“With its Q Stealth and Q4 quiet off-road exhausts, FMF has long been a responsible corporate citizen of the motorcycling community,” says AMA Director of Operations Jack Penton. “We’re excited that FMF is on board with the country’s leading series of organized off-road motorcycle recreational rides.”

FMF has provided industry-leading exhausts for more than 39 years. With products for two- and four-stroke platforms, full-sized bikes, minibikes, allterrain vehicles and more, the company has a full lineup of both performanceenhancing and quiet pipes.

ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

REMINDER Check Your Card

One of the most popular benefits of AMA membership is AMA Roadside Assistance. AMA Roadside Assistance covers you and your family members in case of a mechanical breakdown on the road, whether you are riding your motorcycle, driving your car or towing your trailer.

Three-year and auto-renewing members receive this valuable benefit at no additional cost.

However, to take advantage of this benefit, you must call the number on your

“A driving force at our company is the love of riding,” says FMF founder Don Emler. “We ride every chance we get, and that fuels our passion to build the best products possible. Our goal is to help our customers get the most out of their riding experience, and to that end we’re pleased to support the AMA and the 2012 AMA Husqvarna National Dual-Sport Series, presented by FMF. Dual-sport riding is some of the most fun you can have on two wheels. We’re happy to be a part of this series, and I’m personally looking forward to throwing my leg over my motorcycle and experiencing these great rides myself.”

For more about the AMA Husqvarna National Dual-Sport Series, presented by FMF, see AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Riding > Husqvarna Dual Sport or Facebook.com/AMADualSport.

current AMA membership card. If you use an expired card, you may be calling the wrong number and your service could be delayed.

Pretty simple, right?

If you have any questions about whether you have your most current card, just give us a call at (800) 262-5646 or email us at membership@ama-cycle.org, and we’ll help you out.

FMF’s Don Emler

‘RIDE WELL’ IN CARSON CITY

Women’s Conference Seminar Lineup Debuts

Hundreds of women motorcyclists will come together July 26-29 in Carson City, Nev., for one of the year’s most inspirational motorcycling events, the 2012 AMA International Women and Motorcycling Conference.

In keeping with the theme of this year’s conference—”Ride Well”—seminar topics will promote safety, health, awareness and preparation.

“We are thrilled to announce the first part of our exciting seminar lineup,” says AMA Marketing Manager Tigra Tsujikawa. “Seminars are always one of the most popular activities at the AMA International Woman & Motorcycling Conference, and the women conducting these seminars all have a true passion for sharing their expertise.”

In addition to the seminar lineup, the 2012 AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference will also feature a health fair, where women can get a variety of health screenings such as mammograms and cholesterol and blood pressure checks. Conference participants will also have the opportunity to donate blood.

“Riding well means many things to women motorcyclists,” says Tsujikawa. “In a broader, more philosophical sense, it is also a call-to-action to be supportive members of our riding community.”

See WomenAndMotorcycling.com to register, which includes entry to seminars, the marketplace and moto action center, the Saturday Women’s Health Fair, priority registration for manufacturer demo rides, the Friday night cookout and Saturday night celebration banquet, as well as a conference t-shirt and gift bag.

Seminars Include

Get involved: How You Can Protect Your Rights To Ride And Race.

Hosted by Jessica Irving, AMA grassroots coordinator, and 2011 AMA Motorcyclist of the Year Nancy Sabater.

Women In The Business Of Motorcycling. Hosted by MAD Maps’ Jenny Lefferts.

The Best of Motorcycling Tips, Tricks and Techniques. Hosted by Diane Ortiz, president of the Big Apple Motorcycle School.

The History of Women in Motorcycling, and Women of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Hosted by author and Hall of Fame member Cris Sommer-Simmons.

How to Pack & Eat Healthy for the On-the-Road Motorcyclist. Hosted by health and fitness consultant Debbie Voss.

The Power of PINK: Aligning Power, Integrity, Negotiation & Knowledge. Hosted by personal growth and performance consultant Eldonna Fernandez.

MAD Maps’ Jenny Lefferts

Photo Brad Wenner

Enjoy great roads, great friends and great experiences, not to mention the camaraderie that you can only find in the presence of so many like-minded women motorcyclists. Join us in Carson City, Nev., for the country’s premier gathering expressly for female riders. Expect demo rides, seminars, parties and more at the AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN. PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SIGN UP TODAY!

For more information about Carson City and the surrounding area, please see visitcarsoncity.com

RACING

4 QUESTIONS WITH…

Supercross Racer Justin Brayton By Jim Kimball

Originally from Fort Dodge, Iowa, Justin Brayton began his professional racing career within the tight confines of AMA Arenacross, marking his pursuit with hard work and dedication. Eventually moving into AMA Pro motocross and Supercross, the 28-year-old gradually climbed through the ranks to podium finishes and as a member of one of the most-respected teams in the paddock: Muscle Milk Honda.

American Motorcyclist: Justin, how about your recent podiums in the premier class, starting with St. Louis?

Justin Brayton: It was really awesome to achieve our goal of getting on the podium. That’s what we wanted at the beginning of the series, but, unfortunately, we just fell short. To get on the podium after my leg injury at the San Diego round was a big relief. I was happy to get things going, and then to get some momentum on my side for the remaining rounds.

AM: You earned second in your heat

race and a fourth in the main at the series opener in Anaheim. How did you adapt to your new team so quickly?

JB: Getting results is what we all work for. So, to get that good of a finish at the first race was quite encouraging.

In the off-season we worked on a lot of different things to gain speed, and at that first race I was right there with [the front runners]. I just had a couple small tipovers, and some bad starts.

I got some momentum rolling, and at San Diego I felt very strong. However, during practice I had a crash, and broke my fibula, and have been riding with that injury ever since. It’s not a really bad break, just a minor fracture. So, yeah, it was good to get that podium in St. Louis.

AM: Some bench themselves when they have injuries. Why haven’t you?

JB: I am racing because this is what I do. The fibula is a non-weight bearing bone, so it’s not super painful to walk on, but can be painful when I’m on the bike.

But as I said, racing is what I do.

I also set some long-term goals for the season, and sitting at home doesn’t get any of those done. I want to meet my goals, and while it’s definitely painful at times, it is not unbearable. Racing with [the type of] injuries I have won’t make things worse, so if it is at all possible I’ll be racing. And as it’s worked out, I have had some pretty good results riding injured.

AM: What are your thoughts on the rest of the year, especially outdoors?

JB: I’m really looking forward to motocross. The bike is truly going to be unbelievable outdoors, just as it is in Supercross. I don’t want to say that motocross fits my style more, but I do think that it fits that hard-working, inshape approach that I believe I have. I work on my fitness a great deal, and I take it very seriously.

It would be awesome to take some wins outdoors, but for now I am still focused on Supercross. I’d love to win one of these before the series ends. I definitely want to spray some champagne, and thank the guys who have helped me out.

RACE ON THE SPRINGFIELD MILE!

Pre-Entry Available For AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships

The fastest amateur dirt-track racers on the planet will descend on the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., May 29June 1, for the 2012 AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships.

Registration forms, a daily schedule, applications for the AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award and Fast Brain Award, and a full class list are available on the event promoter’s website at SteveNaceRacing. com.

This year, for the first time, the event will feature a women’s class, which will award national championships in each discipline as well as an overall grand championship. The class will be open to female competitors 12 and older who are racing 250cc-open singles.

“The AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships have a long and rich history of featuring amazingly talented female racers in age- and displacementbased classes, but this is the first time we’ve included a dedicated women’s

class,” says

AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley.

“The addition of this class came at the request of a number of female racers and their families, and we’re excited to offer it at this year’s Grand Championships.”

This year, the AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships immediately follow the third and fourth rounds of the AMA Pro Flat Track, which will feature TT competition as well as mile racing on the legendary Springfield Mile on Memorial Day weekend.

“With the pro race immediately preceding this year’s amateur championship, we’re looking forward to having several pro racers on location

to support the Grand Championships,” Bromley says.

The AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships crown amateur and youth champions in individual dirt-track disciplines, including half-mile, TT and short-track events. Amateur racers also compete in mile events. In addition, AMA Grand Championships are awarded to the riders in each class who have the highest point totals across all disciplines.

The fastest riders also compete for the AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award, which recognizes an amateur racer poised for success on the pro level.

For more information about dirt-track competition, see the Racing section of AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

The 2012 Yamaha AMA National Adventure Riding Series.

Presenting the 2012 AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré® National Adventure Riding Series. Sixteen weekend events throughout the U.S., open to riders of all brands, offering the best routes, roads and two-track trails that let you push your hunger for adventure to the limit. Plus lots of other fun activities like camping, bon fires, food, prizes and more. Yamaha Super Ténéré riders receive 25% off their entry fees*. And all riders earn a chance to win a new 2012 Super Ténéré just for participating. So log on. Then, Get Out and Ride™ .

RYAN VILLOPOTO GETS TWO

Kawasaki Rider Clinches 2012 AMA Supercross Championship

Poulsbo, Wash.’s Ryan Villopoto clinched his second AMA Supercross Class Championship at the Houston round of the AMA Supercross Championship Series.

Villopoto locked up the title early despite what started out as one of the more competitive seasons in years, with four winners in the first four rounds. However, injuries to other top riders thinned the field, and by Houston, Villopoto stood alone.

“It’s huge,” said Villopoto after the race. “There is a lot of hard work that went into this, and I am only one piece

KURT CASELLI WINS IN IDAHO

Takes Round Three of AMA Kenda National Hare & Hound

With temperatures in the 70s and a slight breeze to carry away the dust, desert racers were treated to perfect racing conditions at round three of the AMA Kenda National Hare & Hound Championship series in Murphy, Idaho.

For the third time this year, FMF/KTM’s Kurt Caselli led the first lap. Even getting

of the pie; the whole Monster Energy Kawasaki team has worked very hard all year to help me make this happen.”

Still, it has been a stellar year for Villopoto, who had wins at seven rounds before Houston, and added a ninth at New Orleans the following week. At press time, he was heading to his home race in Seattle before the final two rounds at Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, Nev.

With three rounds to go, Davi Millsaps was second in points, 115 points behind Villopoto’s 321. Justin Brayton was in third, another 5 points back.

lost for more than a minute did not stop Caselli, who came down pit row in the lead and kept charging hard during the second loop of the 100-mile event to take the win.

Caselli also was first to catch the “hare” (a brave man dressed in a bunny suit on a dirtbike) and pocketed an extra $500 on top of his share of the pro purse.

JCR/Honda’s David Kamo had a great race behind Caselli. Kamo was held up by dust for most of the first loop, but after a speedy 2-second pit stop, he made a pass on THR Motorsports rider David Pearson and came down the main pit row in second.

Kamo and Pearson battled hard the second half of the race, with Kamo coming out on top.

Series info: NationalHare AndHound.com.

DAYTONA TRACK WRAP

Bike Week Racers Make History

Bike Week 2012 is in the history books, but not without several highlights that should keep fans talking until next year’s Daytona.

u In the AMA Pro SuperSport race: Suzuki rider Elena Myers of Discovery Bay, Calif., became the first female to win a professional motorsports event at Daytona International Speedway.

Myers won a tight four-bike duel on the final lap. Coming off of turn four, she held off Suzuki rider Corey Alexander and Yamaha rider Hayden Gillim by a margin of 0.240 seconds.

“I’d say this is my first legitimate win because I won last time on a red flag,” said Myers afterwards, who previously won an AMA Pro SuperSport event at Infineon Raceway in 2010. “That’s why we come out here and do what we do…to stand on top of the box.”

u In the 71st running of the Daytona 200, Project One Yamaha’s Joey Pascarella of Vacaville, Calif., survived a four-bike scramble to take the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike race win.

Pascarella, who led 41 of the 57 laps, held off 2011 Daytona 200 champion

In Friday’s season-opening race, Hayes’ off-season work showed. He easily had the motor to break free of the draft, taking a lopsided win. The result was a promising sign for Hayes, who often dominated qualifying in 2011 only to be defeated by the Yoshimura Suzukis in the race. Young wasn’t deterred by his 8.332-second loss, however, and made the necessary adjustments for Saturday’s contest to stay close and draft Hayes at the checkers, nipping him by a scant 0.002 seconds.

u In the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship Expert mains, Honda riders Johnny Lewis and Matt

Weidman put on a thrilling show, each taking a win at the opening two rounds. Lewis struck first, leading every lap of the 25-lap, 18-rider main event on Thursday night for his first career victory at Daytona. Lewis held off Weidman at the checkered flag for a margin of victory of 0.696 seconds.

On the second night, last-lap drama between Lewis and Jared Mees gave Weidman the win. Mees led the first 24 laps of the 25-lap main event, but in the final lap, there was contact with Lewis. The brush left Lewis on the ground and Mees was slowed long enough to let Weidman take the win by 0.114 seconds.

DAN’s AN origiNAl.

And so is his Yuasa battery – the original equipment battery on more motorcycles, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and personal watercraft than all other brands combined. To locate your nearest Yuasa dealer, visit www.yuasabatteries.com.

will

or

Elena Myers

Joey Pascarella

Josh Hayes

HALL OF FAME

1972 YAMAHA TR3 A Giant Killer At Daytona

Bigger isn’t always better, even on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway.

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Don Emde proved that argument in 1972, winning America’s biggest motorcycle race, the Daytona 200, riding this 350cc two-stroke Yamaha TR3 against a field of bikes with engines as big as 750cc.

Emde’s Daytona 200 win was the first for a two-stroke, and it was

accomplished on the smallest bike ever to win the race. The victory was also Yamaha’s first in the 200, the first for a son of a Daytona 200 winner (Emde’s father, Floyd, won in 1948), and the first in Yamaha’s record streak of 13 consecutive Daytona wins.

For Emde, it also was the pinnacle of his roadracing career. An up-andcoming racer from Southern California, Emde earned a ride on the BSA team for

1971. But despite good results, he was a victim of budget cuts after just one season.

For the ’72 season, Emde found support from Team Motorcycle Weekly and Yamaha dealer Mel Dinesen. Dinesen had backed Emde before the BSA ride, and owned the TR3.

The bike, a production model, was fairly close to stock for a racebike. It had an extended swingarm, an aftermarket

seat, a more aerodynamic fairing, Koni shocks and some porting work.

Emde says that despite having little time to shake down the bike, he had high expectations.

“I actually was very confident—maybe in a naive way,” Emde says. “I expected to be competitive with the 750cc Kawasakis and Suzukis, which were having early season reliability problems.”

And that’s exactly what happened.

With attrition hitting the race’s early frontrunners—future Hall of Famers Kel Carruthers crashed and Kenny Roberts got a flat tire—Emde kept a steady pace, moving into the lead for good with five laps to go.

You can see this piece of pre-mixburning history, donated by Paul Kelsay, at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio.

More info: MotorcycleMuseum.org.

Hall of Fame features

Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio. The Hall of Fame

Hall of Famer

BILL BAIRD

The first AMA Grand National Enduro Champion

Hall of Famer Bill Baird, a leading AMA National Enduro rider in the mid-1950s to the late 1960s, won seven consecutive national championships.

In addition to being a top competitor, Baird was also a key figure in the AMA, serving on the Board of Trustees for 21 years and being one of the driving forces behind the formation of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame through his activities for the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which raises funds for the Hall of Fame.

Baird was born near Mt. Vernon, Ill., on May 5, 1929. His family moved to the northern Illinois community of Sterling when he was a teenager. Unlike many successful racers, Baird really didn’t take up motorcycling at an early age. He bought his first bike, a Triumph Tiger, when he was 19. He rode on the street, but really didn’t do much in the way of offroad riding in the early years.

By the mid-’50s, Baird began to ride in local enduro events in northern Illinois. In

Get your photo  in the AMA  Motorcycle Hall  of Fame for  $20!

1955, he entered Michigan’s famous Jack Pine Enduro for the first time.

By 1956, Baird was getting more serious about his racing. He began winning on the local level, gaining a lot of experience.

In 1962, Baird competed in the newly formed AMA Grand National Enduro Championship on a new 500cc Triumph Trophy. He edged out Michigan rider Bert Wieland by four points to win the first championship series.

Baird defended his national enduro title in 1963, and again for the next several years, battling his way to seven straight national titles through 1968.

He brought his National win total to 14 after his final championship year. He then raced at a few nationals in 1969 before retiring from the series.

Bill Baird was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

To read more about members of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, go to MotorcycleMuseum.org.

HANG HANG with the with the

LEGENDS LEGENDS

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is YOUR  hall of fame—we couldnʼt exist without the generous support of our sponsors. Now  thereʼs a new way for you to show that support in a very visible way:  My Hall of Fame. The idea is simple: $20  gets you a 3-inch-square space on the wall  in the Hall of Fame entrance foyer that hangs for one year.  Want a bigger space? A 6-inch square is an $80 donation, and  a 9-inch square is a $180 donation. You also get an official certificate noting that your picture is on display in the AMA Motorcycle  Hall of Fame.

AMA members come from many riding backgrounds, but we all crave the sense of freedom motorcycle riding gives us. How we express our moto-independence doesn’t matter—it might be 10 minutes on a backroad detour or 10 days across an Interstate highway—but we express it nonetheless.

The goal may not be to circumnavigate the globe, cross the continent or even test your skills on the most challenging local twisties. It’s to find some gem of riding bliss that provides your fix until the next ride.

Here are five very different rides—some challenging and some simple—that do just that. Ridden by five different AMA members from five different parts of the country, each route took them on a different journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels.

AMA Members Find Freedom On The Road

Motorcycling America

DISCOVERING THE SOUTHWEST

South To El Paso And Up To The White Sands

By Lee De Leonard

I am a Jersey boy, born and raised.

After many years on the East Coast with a friend, physicist and great photographer telling and showing me how great New Mexico was, I decided to relocate.

My first impression? If the aliens did land in Roswell, it most likely was because of the weather, which is conducive to do many things—one of which is year-round motorcycle riding. The views are amazing, and you can see for miles and ride for miles on some of the most scenic roads in the country. Whether you want to ride through the

desert or into the mountains, it’s here. The traffic is minimal to none, freeing you to set your cruise control and ride endlessly.

A recent ride took me through the Guadalupe Mountain National Park to El Paso, Texas, back north to Las Cruces, N.M., and the Whites Sand National Park, then to Cloudcroft, N.M., before trekking back through the desert to Roswell. The sun was shining and the temperatures were perfect. All I had to do was soak in the scenery.

A highlight for me was the White Sands. It was like riding down to the Jersey shore minus the ocean and the bumper-to-bumper traffic. Then, after going straight for miles across the desert, the elevation rises into the mountains, the temperature drops and you enjoy the numerous twisties. At times you can see elk, deer or antelope grazing in grassy fields mixed in with cattle.

Once in El Paso, I’m slightly reminded of riding back East, with more traffic and the view over the Rio Grande River, which is more like a brook in some sections.

The rest of this route is absolutely breathtaking and perfectly relaxing. The mood appears to be contagious, as others on the road seem more at ease and less high-strung.

Thanks to the advice of a friend—who I hope is not disappointed that I’ve revealed his secret—I’ve discovered a new frontier where, for me, the riding is fresh, new and different, with a pace and landscape that leaves me in awe. But what is important is what is the same— the freedom on two wheels that follows us wherever we ride, from Roswell to Hoboken and back again.

Lee De Leonard is an AMA member from Roswell, N.M.

shooting some photos around Long Pine Lake Reservoir, I check my destination maps. (Lesson learned, these were crudely hand-drawn in a rush that morning.) I begin buzzing through the forest roads and find that the beauty lies in the transitions from rock to sandy areas as you ascend and descend from around 600- to 2,060-foot elevation. Three hours and 100 miles later, I had met only a few other humans on twolane connector roads throughout the forest.

All is well until the end of the day when I take Watershed Road toward the Waynesboro dam. The rocks are daggerlike, similar to what I encountered at the beginning of Ridge Road the previous day. There is a loud pop at non-cautious speed, forcing me to inspect the ’Strom. All seems well, and I make another quick pass through a lonely Newman Road to grab I-34 and head back to the room.

But near the end of the wide Newman Road, the bike is unstable. Very unstable. Yep, I have a flat.

I place the bike on its centerstand, and this time notice a dent in the rim. Luckily, a couple of locals are passing through in a rotted-out ’90s Chevy Blazer. They offer help, and have one of those cigarette-lighter activated compressors. After a few cracks on the rim with the flattest rock I find, the tire holds some air. I then get moving. I know this rim won’t hold air much longer.

It gets me back to the hotel—barely. I have to get this bike going for Saturday’s few-hundred mile trip to watch the Daytona 200 at my good friend Jay’s house. I push the ’Strom a few blocks to a local tire station to top off the air, purchase some tire sealant at a local shopping district and, the next morning, further “adjust” the bent rim.

The air holds, and I sign out of Lee’s hotel. I conclude the Gettysburg Auto Tour,

Motorcycling America

checking out the spectacular views from Little Round Top and the once-gruesome sight of Wheatfield, where the bloodiest battle of the war took place, claiming more than 6,000 men. Shaken with historical thought, and my last two evenings in that hotel, I check the rear tire before heading into Maryland. It had lost 2 psi, easily due to temperature changes.

I travel southbound on 15, then explore various roads throughout Maryland, including a quick pass on Stoner Road. The curvy stretch must be a favorite of sportbike riders near that region—likewise with a loop north on Route 86, which turns into 516 in Pennsylvania.

The Run Home

Not wanting to miss the Daytona 200 at Jay’s, I take some main streets to speed up travel. But the opposite occurs; it is St. Patrick’s Day, and I’m stuck in parade traffic in York, the Pennsylvania town of HarleyDavidson.

I am a few minutes late for the race, but saved by Jay’s DVR, we won’t miss a beat. We first settle into a relaxed discussion of all things moto, including the current stars of professional racing and an un-restored 1962 Harley Duo Glide that was passed down through the generations from his grandfather. It is completely un-restored, and I am itching to ride it. Jay’s response?

“Like my grandfather used to say, if you can start it, you can ride it.”

I pass.

It is well after 8 p.m. when we watch the Daytona 200. The race provides the excitement only found in endurance motorcycle racing. Although I praise the young Joey Pasceralla for taking the win in his third start in the Daytona Sportbike class, my pick was Jake Zemke, a

frontrunner in the former Formula Xtreme class—well, that, and he rides one of my favorite machines, a Ducati 848EVO.

After a night with a maniacal-motorcycle friend, I awake early and check over the ’Strom. The rear tire is good. It needs just a few psi. I then began the slow trek home on a cloudy, cool morning.

I take 222 North, then turn onto 61 South. On the way, I find an entrance to a state park near Hawk Mountain completely by mistake. Due to the slight coldness of the morning, I throw on a fleece and check my rear rim. Should I take to the dirt even though I don’t completely trust the rim? I check Google Maps. Reassured, I am soon ascending the correctly christened “Dirt Road.”

Except for some mud, Dirt Road is not too challenging. But I take the shortest route due to my hammered rim, and after picking my way around Hawk Mountain, I follow 895 to one of my favorite routes, White Haven Road. It’s then on to Route 115 and back home as clouds part way to sunshine.

While the mud-ravaged V-Strom ticks and cools in the garage, I reflect on the past four days of solo travel, the surprises and the firsts represented by this ride. Many lessons surfaced. Always pack a good tire-repair kit, including a pump or CO2 cartridges for inflation, and never leave home without a good paper map for when electronic devices fail. But most importantly, never underestimate the therapeutic power of another journey

Ron Lieback is an AMA member from Bear Creek Township,

Photo

DESERT DUAL SPORT

Following Familiar Ground To Motorcycling Nirvana

By John Gil

“So how was your weekend?” It’s a fair question.

I like to think that for those of us who spent the previous two days riding our motorcycles, we simply say something about going on a bike ride, then drift into a pleasant daydream of a moto highlight reel.

Some motorcycling weekends, however, are bigger than others. When I was asked the Monday following Thanksgiving about my weekend, the inquisitor surely was sorry he asked. The ride was simply too much to share in a short time.

For the last two years I have participated in the LA Barstow to Vegas dual-sport ride. Also, for the last two years, I have ridden my motorcycle to the event and back from Las Vegas to my home in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles, Calif.

After Thanksgiving dinner at my motherin-law’s house, it is off to Palmdale, Calif., and the start of my ride. I am slightly apprehensive this year because I’m on a new bike. My 2011 Husqvarna TE 630 is just past its break-in period. Although I’m well packed with tools, tubes and spares, and the only thing I’m missing is the 200 pounds that I saved off my old bike, there are always unknowns about a new machine. Thankfully, this ride is the beginning of something wonderful between my new red-and-white friend and me.

Into The Desert

Meeting up at the Holiday Inn in Palmdale, Calif., with a few familiar faces on Thanksgiving night is a great way to kick off the 28th annual LA Barstow to Vegas dual-sport ride. I can’t help but notice how different it is today compared to my one and only entry in the famous desert race the ride is named for. (That was also on a Husqvarna—a 1978 390 CR.) The next

morning is a particularly inspiring sight. Bikes are everywhere, from everywhere. It really is something.

I hit the trail around 0800. My GPS and an extremely full roll-chart holder are in clear view, and an eager 630 Husky is keeping my hands warm. I’m an early sweep rider. My job is to stay approximately mid-pack and offer assistance to those who may encounter problems.

After a few pavement miles, the route turns toward the foothills. Recent rains make for prime dirt-riding conditions. I give an emphatic tip of the hat to those involved laying out the first several miles of dirt on this epic ride. The terrain is challenging enough to get a feel for what is in store the rest of the weekend. I’m asked more than once where the “easy” route is.

“You’re on it, buddy.” I say.

Once out of the foothills, and after a brief fuel stop, we enter the Antelope Valley, and then make our way into the desert. This is where I feel like I’m in my element. Riding

Photo Conrad Lim

Motorcycling America

a motorcycle through the desert is an experience that is unmatched and hard to explain. Yes, it may be my backyard, but I never grow tired of the desert.

There are so many variables in an organized event of this size, but weather has got to be one of the biggest concerns. It is so important to be prepared for anything. As a sweep rider, I can say that most riders were well prepared for what was ahead. I was impressed by the lack of broken bikes along the route. Bike prep was taken seriously by most of the riders this year.

And for good reason. If you look at a map, the distance between Los Angeles and Barstow doesn’t look that far, but considering our route, it is quite a ride. I roll into Barstow well after dark.

Day 2

Saturday morning around the sign-up area is even more impressive than Day 1. I’m also excited to see an old desert racing partner and his son. We plan to ride together as much as possible barring any incidents requiring my attention. We managed to stay together a good portion of the day—just like old times.

It’s a mix of old and new for me. I hadn’t ridden through the Calico Mountains since the late 1970s. A ride through Afton Canyon is a first, and muchanticipated, event that didn’t disappoint. If riding through deep sand for what may feel like 100 miles doesn’t appeal to you, then you may want to make other plans.

The Husky never backs down.

“Sand, rocks, roots, ruts, hills. What else you got?” I imagine I hear this quite a few times over the weekend. I definitely made a good choice concerning the bike (although I might want to get those voices looked at…).

Riders choosing the more difficult route through Red Rock Canyon on Saturday are treated to some spectacular scenery. It is, however, a challenging ride in a few places. Similar to the previous year, I run slightly behind schedule and manage to view the sunset in this incredible place.

It’s moments like these

when I’m reminded how great this sport is. Here I am on Highway 159. It’s dark, pretty chilly, and I have traveled close to 500 miles in two days on what most people would consider an outright dirtbike. Despite the hot shower waiting for me at the end of this day’s ride, something in me already wants to turn around and ride it all again. Alas, I have more miles of sweep rider duties ahead of me, however, so I ride into Las Vegas and take Flamingo Road to the Orleans Hotel.

Dual-Sport Dreams

Over the years, I’ve learned that much of the success of a dual-sport event depends on accurate roll charts and GPS maps. This event had both. The months and months of hard work came down to just two days for the LA Barstow to Vegas crew. Absolutely, mission accomplished (again) this year.

Thankfully, a lot of folks enjoyed all that hard work. For 2011, there were a record number of participants. It was great to see so much enthusiasm on two wheels. There was also a large contingent of adventure

bikes this year. That’s fine, though. As with most rides, a lot of care was taken to find routes that would be enjoyable for both smaller and larger machines. At the end of the ride, most of the adventure crowd reported they were challenged, but not uncomfortably so. Perfect.

The terrain on this ride varies greatly. There are routes designated easy and hard, and each rider can make the choice that suits him or her. That is a huge plus when accommodating more than 500 riders. For me, I added another layer to this incredible weekend by riding the Husky back to L.A. No truck or trailer for me. There is nothing like wearing out a set of tires in four days!

I guess that brings up a question. What do I call myself? A dual-sport rider? An adventure rider? Whatever the answer, I’m the guy grinning under my helmet like Malcolm Smith in “On Any Sunday.”

So, how was your weekend?

John Gil is an AMA member from Reseda, Calif.

NATIONAL DUAL-SPORT, ADVENTURE SERIES

All The Thrills, None Of The Hassle

As in past years, in 2012, the LA Barstow to Vegas dual-sport ride will be part of two of the AMA’s national recreational riding series: the AMA Husqvarna National Dual Sport Riding Series, presented by FMF, and the AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré Adventure Riding Series.

The AMA Husqvarna National Dual-Sport Riding Series, presented by FMF, was created by the AMA in 1987 to highlight this amazing way to use a motorcycle. It has become increasingly popular, as off-road and street riders alike have turned to dual-sport recreation to experience the freedom of two wheels. The 2012 schedule for the AMA Husqvarna National Dual-Sport Trail Riding Series is one of the largest in history, featuring 24 events.

The AMA Yamaha Super Ténéré Adventure Riding Series is geared toward riders of all brands of adventure-touring motorcycles. It offers incredible rides in some of the most scenic riding areas in the country. The series’ “High Adventure, No Hassles” approach includes asphalt, gravel and two-track routes mapped by local experts, the camaraderie of like-minded enthusiasts and a full weekend of activities, including camping and bonfires.

For more on either series, see AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Riding.

Motorcycling America

NEW ENGLAND EXPERIENCE

Biased Expectations Make Way For Great Destinations

By Steve Stoyke

As a college kid in Minneapolis who simply could not afford a car, learning how to ride a motorcycle brought a world of discovery and freedom that I never thought possible.

However, for me, the utility of riding continued to dominate my time on two wheels. I’ve traveled extensively for my job, much of the time riding a motorcycle. In recent years, however, I’ve tried to focus more on the pleasure of riding, and have tried to visit places that didn’t involve work.

What I learned is that my assumptions were formed with prejudices based on what I read or heard. When I’ve taken the time to experience an area first-hand, I’m usually surprised at what I find.

For example, I could expound on the beauty of the West in Colorado, or the thousands of lakes throughout the northern Midwest, but for this seasoned biker, nothing can compare to the innocence, the variety and the culture of the southern Vermont’s Green Mountain area and its roadways.

On North

As I pass through Hoosick, N.Y., I notice stores welcoming me to Vermont. I see the many chainsaw sculpture galleries along Route 7 leading into Bennington, with the Vermont logo of untouched or unmolested America.

Soon, the tourist in me makes way for the biker. The road becomes a smaller two-lane blacktop with mountain views on both sides. As you enter Vermont, the landscape’s demeanor changes. There are clean, broad roads that smell of fresh air. Litter and signs disappear, and it is easy to navigate at any speed toward my destination: the Aerie Inn of Vermont.

As I continue riding, I bypass Bennington, Vt., on 279 and reconnect with Route 7 north. Within a few short miles the terrain changes from rolling hills to green mountains carved with perfectly banked roads.

Roughly 1 mile past the small gas station of East Dorset I barely see the sign on the right that tells me to take the next right onto Bowen Hill Road for the Aerie Inn.

Bowen Hill Road is an unassuming small lane off of Route 7 that glides up a tree-lined drive. It opens up to a vast 20-acre meadow. The inn is surrounded on all sides by the mountains, and there are no other structures within view. For a

traveler seeking security, privacy and ample parking, this is it.

I find out the owners are motorcyclists, and as fellow riders, they already know me before I put the kickstand down. After checking in, I’m recommended a variety of restaurants for dinner. I opt for a place in Manchester, have a great meal and stop by the local bookstore to pick up a motorcycle magazine.

The next morning, after a complementary continental breakfast, I take advantage of the owners’ local knowledge. They suggest a ride north to Route 30 and a little area known as Paulet. The ride itself is unbelievable. The forests are so dense they go straight up on both sides of the roads, crowned by massive mountains that are highlighted by the clarity of the surrounding skies.

At my day’s destination, I discover something I have never seen despite travels all over the United States and Canada: a hardware/dry goods store built over

a waterfall with a floor open to the raging rapids below. I browse the establishment, but remain captivated by this small store with a waterfall running under it.

This area offers a number of great experiences and routes. Some roads reveal isolated Victorian villages where nothing appears to have changed since the American Revolution. Others lead to more modern experiences, such as the Dam Diner in Townshend—a must-try. Another great ride is Hogback Road, just east of Jeffersonville and spanning Routes 109 and 15 that leads to another colorful local establishment, punctuated by views that

The weeklong trips to a beach or on a cruise were nice, but for me they no longer provide enough life experience to matter. Superb is the road less traveled. I work and compromise like everyone else, but thanks to my motorcycle, I can also enjoy a

Steve Stoyke is an AMA member from Frederick, Md.

Photo Patrice Gilbert

AMA REWARDS

Now Available Free To AMA Members

Get your full-color copy of the all-new AMA Member Benefits Guide online at AmericanMotorcyclist.com

> Members and make sure to check out some of these featured benefits.

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THE ESSENTIALS

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The Best Deal In Towing Get peace of mind with AMA Roadside Assistance, which covers all your vehicles, as well as those of your family members living with you. Best of all, you can get this coverage free. For details, call (800) 262-5646.

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

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• Toll-free assistance available 24/7/365.

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Honda, BMW and Polaris rentals and tours. Call (888) 900-9901.

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In the United States, call Federal Companies, an agent for Allied Van Lines, at (877) 518-7376 for at least $60 off standard rates. For international shipments, call Motorcycle Express at (800) 2458726. To get your discount, be sure to have your AMA number handy. Motorcycle Express also offers temporary international insurance.

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Get up to 25 percent off prevailing rates at any Avis or Budget car rental agency. For Avis, enter discount code: D388100. For Budget, enter code: Z942000.

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

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The best routes made easy. Save 20 percent. Use promo code AMATHXU at MADmaps.com.

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The $60 initiation fee is waived for AMA members. Enter your AMA number when you sign up at MASAAmerica.com or by calling (828) 994-2621.

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RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel magazine offers a 20 percent subscription discount to AMA members. RoadRUNNER is the touring expert of North America giving readers information on the best places to ride. AMA discount code is CRIAMA at www.roadrunner. travel/promo/ama.

Schampa Cold-Weather Gear

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Classic motorcycling subcultures to take center stage at...

Two of motorcycling’s most iconic genres are the British café-racer motorcycles and Italian metal-bodied scooters made popular by the selfdescribed Rockers and Mods of the 1960s.

On July 20-22, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days—the country’s grandest celebration of classic bikes and the people who love them—will highlight the history, as well as the popular resurgence, of these twowheeled subcultures at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

High-profile characters in one of motorcycling’s most colorful bits of history, Rockers sported pompadours, wore leather jackets festooned with pins, and rode Triumph, Norton, BSA and other Brit-bikes chopped into café racers. The Rockers stood in stark contrast to the Mods of the same era—dapper-dressed riders who prized the glorious cosmetic and performance enhancements of Italian metal-body scooters like Vespas and Lambrettas. For a Mod, the more shinychrome rear-view mirrors mounted on the front legshields, the better.

The Rockers and Mods showcase at Mid-Ohio will be evident in bike and scooter shows, and in a special tent devoted to the Rockers and Mods, with machines, memorabilia, history displays, interviews and entertainment throughout the three-day event.

Heading up the café contingent and coordinating bike shows and displays is Mike Seate, motorcyclist, author, founder of Café Racer magazine (www.caferacermag. com) and star of the “Café Racer” television show (www.caferacertv.com) on Velocity.

“We’ve had a significant presence at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days for several years now, and we love the crowds, the energy, the fun and the very cool vibe you get there,” Seate says. “We’re glad to be at the forefront of the modern resurgence of the café-racer motorcycle, and taking that enthusiasm to the next level by being frontand-center at this event will be awesome.”

Mike Seate

Spearheading the Mods and their scooters will be Phil Waters of the Pride of Cleveland scooter shops (www. clevelandscooters.com), who is working with scooter clubs—like the Columbus Cutters in Ohio, XYL in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh Vintage in Pennsylvania—to create one of the most unique opportunities in years for scooter enthusiasts.

“This is just going to be great,” Waters says. “Scooter riders—all scooter riders but especially those who love vintage metal-bodied scooters—will find plenty to love with everything we’re pulling together for this event. We’ll even have a special area for the scooter crowd to camp, and a few surprises that I don’t want to give away yet but definitely involve field games. I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones at this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.”

As with every year at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the festivities aren’t limited to one brand or theme. Riders and fans of all types—and their motorcycles and scooters—will be out in full force, whether to take in the bike shows, catch a high-demand seminar, peruse the massive swap meet or race some vintage motorcycles in the woods or on a track.

Field Meet: Bike Games On Mid-Ohio’s Infield

Do You Have What It Takes To Ride The Plank Or Push The Barrel?

One of motorcycling’s most classic activities is the field meet—when riders get

together and display their riding skills in classic bike games in an organized setting.

The main goal of all field meets is the same: for everyone to have fun. Activities are designed to be as entertaining as they are challenging. These aren’t trials contests! You certainly don’t need a particular type of motorcycle, and you don’t need any special skills—beyond a healthy confidence in your own ability to maneuver your motorcycle.

This year, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will host a classic field meet on the infield with the help of ABATE of Ohio, which will oversee registration and officiating. All licensed motorcyclists are invited to register and participate. Prizes will be awarded and everybody will have a great time. Classic field meet games will include activities like Ride the Plank, Bite the Weenie and Push the Barrel—to name a few.

And, with this year’s theme of Rockers and Mods, there no doubt will be several café bike riders and scooters in the mix.

Here are the field game details:

• There is no extra cost to register and participate, but a small donation to the Hall of Fame is encouraged.

• Registration will take place throughout the event and be located onsite in the infield (follow the signs).

• Field meet activities will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Specific times will be provided at sign up.

• You will need to provide your own motorcycle or scooter and wear appropriate gear (helmet, long pants and eye protection are mandatory).

• Classes will divide riders based on motorcycle size and type.

• Class finishes will be determined by a rider’s performance across all activities.

• Prizes will be awarded each day based on that day’s class finishes.

Questions? Email Dave Hembroff at dhembroff@ama-cycle.org.

Vintage Racing Is About Having Fun

Motocross, Roadracing, Hare Scrambles, Trials, Dirt Track

Few—very few—things on this planet are more fun than blasting around a field or through the woods on a dirt bike.

The same could be said about slicing your way along a perfectly smooth asphalt track, or circulating a classic half-mile in the shadow of a mid-20th century grandstand.

This is vintage motorcycle racing, and its unique combination of high thrills, low pressure and reasonable cost makes it one of the best pastimes on the planet. Throw in a few hundred friendly competitors, national championship competition and classes for nearly all ages, skill levels and motorcycle eras, and you have the AMA Vintage Grand Championships.

Now in their fourth year, the AMA Vintage Grand Championships crown vintage class AMA amateur national champions in motocross, hare scrambles, trials and roadracing. The dirt-track competition is a round of the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series. Top riders also compete for AMA Vintage Grand Champion honors.

Continued on page 48

Best of all, you can bring the kids and give them a taste of what racing was like years ago. Riders 12 and older can compete in motocross, off-road and dirttrack events. (Riders must be 14 or older to compete on a motorcycle 250cc or larger, and youth riders are not permitted in the dirt-track Brakeless class.)

Finally, like all activities at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the racing is a fundraiser for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Entry fees are donated to the Hall of Fame to preserve and promote motorcycling’s heritage for future generations.

You can sign up now at AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com > Register to Race.

AMA Members Save On Advance Tickets

Purchase By May 28, Get $10 Off A Weekend Pass

What’s better than AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days?

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days for less.

AMA members can now purchase a weekend pass for $35, a $10 savings off the regular advance rate, and a one-day pass for $20, a $5 savings off the regular advance rate. The AMA member discount is in addition to the regular $10 savings on advance ticket purchases, and there is no service charge for AMA members when purchasing through the AMA.

But you’ll have to act fast to save big. You must order your tickets by May 28, and you must order them by calling the AMA directly at (800) 262-5646.

In addition to these ticket savings, kids under 12 will be admitted free with a paying, supervising adult.

Got Motorcycle Stuff?

Sell It In The Swap Meet

Do you have a shelf of old motorcycle parts in your garage, or maybe even an old motorcycle?

A great place to turn that old motorcycle stuff into cash so you can buy some new motorcycle stuff is the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days swap meet.

In addition to perusing the swap meet, enthusiasts can sign up as swap meet vendors and take advantage of free onsite primitive camping. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days experience.

Swap meet vendor applications are available at AMAVintageMotorcycleDays. com > Vendor and Swap Meet Info.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Schedule

Everything Vintage Under The Sun

A fundraiser for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features classic motorcycles of all makes and styles, and honors the riders who made them famous. Activities include vintage racing, North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet, bike shows and awards, stunt shows, demo rides of current production bikes, a classic field meet, seminars on a number of topics by noted motorcycling experts and much more.

Below is the 2012 schedule. (As always, the schedule is subject to change without notice.)

FRIDAY, JULY 20

7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Event Registration (Gate 3)

7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mid-Ohio gate hours / ticket sales for the general public

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. North America’s Largest Motorcycle Swap Meet

New Product Factory Demo Rides

Off-Road Demo Rides

Public Service Displays

Vendor Midway

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Tent

• Hall of Fame Display

• Hall of Fame Gift Shop

• Raffle Bike Tickets

• AMA Membership Services

• AMA Member Hospitality

Classic Club Displays Club Corrals

SATURDAY, JULY 21

7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Event Registration (Gate 3)

7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Mid-Ohio gate hours / ticket sales for the general public

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

North America’s Largest Motorcycle Swap Meet

New Product Factory Demo Rides

Off-Road Demo Rides

Public Service Displays

Vendor Midway

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Tent

• Hall of Fame Display

• Hall of Fame Gift Shop

• Raffle Bike Tickets

• AMA Membership Services

• AMA Member Hospitality

Classic Club Displays

Club Corrals

11 a.m. Annual Hall of Fame Raffle Bike Drawing

12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Motorcycle Hall of Fame Bike Show Judging (AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Tent)

TBA Seminars

SUNDAY, JULY 22

7 a.m. - 12 p.m. Event Registration (Gate 3)

7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Mid-Ohio gate hours / ticket sales for the general public

8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Second Annual Life Members Only Breakfast

8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Mid-Ohio gate hours / ticket sales for the general public

North America’s Largest Motorcycle Swap Meet New Product Factory Demo Rides

Off-Road Demo Rides

Public Service Displays

Vendor Midway

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Tent

• Hall of Fame Display

• Hall of Fame Gift Shop

• Raffle Bike Tickets

• AMA Membership Services

• AMA Member Hospitality

Classic Club Displays Club Corrals

TBA Seminars

Racing Schedule (subject to change)

THURSDAY, JULY 19

Competitor Registration: Roadrace (Gate 3); Off-Road (Ross Road)

FRIDAY, JULY 20

Competitor Registration: Roadrace (Gate 3); Hare Scrambles, Motocross & Trials (Ross Road)

Vintage Roadrace Practice

Vintage Hare Scrambles Races

SATURDAY, JULY 21

Competitor Registration: Roadrace (Gate 3); Motocross & Trials (Ross Road); Dirt-Track (Ashland County Fairgrounds)

Vintage Roadraces

Vintage/E1 Motocross Races

Vintage Trials Tech Inspection

Vintage Dirt-Track Races (Ashland County Fairgrounds)

SUNDAY, JULY 22

Competitor Registration: Roadrace (Gate 3); Motocross & Trials (Ross Road)

Vintage Roadraces

E2/E3/E1,2,3 (Age) Motocross Races

Trials Competition

Motocross Awards Presentation (1/2 hour after racing concludes)

Trials Awards Presentation (1/2 hour after racing concludes)

Roadrace Awards Presentation (1/2 hour after racing concludes)

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

July 20-22, 2012 Lexington, Ohio

July 26-29, 2012 Carson City, Nev.

November 16-17, 2012 Las Vegas, Nev.

1

Are you an adventure rider who wants to try something new? Then check out the first-ever Adventure Summit that will be held May 27-28 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Organizers say that it’s a test of all the essential adventure-riding skills, and to win you need to be a good navigator, photographer or videographer. Info: ADVSummits.com.

2

Americade, one of the largest roadriding rallies on the planet, will be held in picturesque Lake George, N.Y., June 4-9. This AMA National Convention, which is part of the AMA Premier Touring Series, features legendary roads in the 6-millionacre Adirondack National Park. It’s billed as a great motorcycle vacation—and it is. Info: Americade.com.

3

The gladiators of the AMA National Enduro Championship Series will battle in Upton, Wyo., on June 17. Don’t miss it. For the full schedule, see page 53.

4

Catch some vertical drag racing. The season-opener of the AMA Pro Racing Hillclimb National Championship Series will be held on June 3 in Jefferson, Pa., hosted by the White Rose Motorcycle Club. The second round is set for June 10 in Freemansburg, Pa., and then the hillclimbers head to Canaan, N.H., June 13 and Oregonia, Ohio, June 23. For the full schedule, see page 52.

5The AMA Pro Grand National Championship is in full swing with the best dirt-track racers in the nation headed to Lima, Ohio, on June 30 for a half-mile battle. For the full schedule, see page 52.

6

There are more events than you can point a wheel at in the AMA Husqvarna Dual-Sport Series and the Yamaha Super Ténéré National Adventure Ride Series this month, beginning June 2-3 in Mill Hall, Pa., Bixby, Mo., and Custer, Mich. For the full schedules, see page 54.

7

The famed Laconia Motorcycle Week, a mega-gathering that is an AMA National Gypsy Tour and part of the AMA Premier Touring Series, is set for June 9-17 in Laconia, N.H. Info: LaconiaMCWeek.com.

8

The 2012 ROT Biker Rally promises more fun than you can fit in a 10-gallon hat. An AMA National Gypsy Tour, the ROT rally will be held June 7-10 in Austin, Texas. Info: ROTRally.com.

COMING UP

One of the greatest motorcycling festivals in the world is AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, which will be held July 20-22 at the MidOhio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The event features North America’s largest motorcycle-related swap meet, vintage racing, demo rides, seminars and more. Info: AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com.

The AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference is set for July 26-29 in Carson City, Nev. The 2012 extravaganza, which has a theme of “Ride Well,” combines inspirational speakers and seminars, great roads, demo rides, product showcases and unmatched camaraderie. Info: WomenAndMotorcycling.com.

ALABAMA

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

JUN 9-10: PELL CITY: 2-DAY EVENT, RPM SPORTS, (205) 6998857, MILLCREEKMOTOCROSS. COM

ALASKA

RECREATIONAL

ADVENTURE RIDE

JUN 21: FAIRBANKS: AEROSTICH TOURS, (575) 776-8785, AEROSTICHTOURS.COM

JUN 22: FAIRBANKS: AEROSTICH TOURS, (575) 776-8785, AEROSTICHTOURS.COM

ARIZONA

COMPETITION

OBSERVED TRIALS

JUN 3: FLAGSTAFF: CENTRAL ARIZONA TRIALS INC, (602) 8403640, CENTRALARIZTRIALS.ORG CALIFORNIA

RECREATIONAL

DUAL SPORT RIDE

JUN 23-24: WILDWOOD: 2-DAY EVENT, IRONMAN DUAL SPORT, (530) 680-6019, IRONMANDUALSPORT.COM

ROAD RUN

JUN 9: SAN DIEGO: BLUE KNIGHTS-CA VI COMPETITION

ENDUROCROSS

JUN 9: SACRAMENTO: SOURCE INTERLINK MEDIA, (916) 455-4647, POWERBLANCEPAVILLION.COM

GRAND PRIX

JUN 2-3: (Includes ATVs) ANZA: 2-DAY EVENT, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (949) 981-6776, SOCALMC. COM

JUN 16: SAN BERNARDINO: PRAIRIE DOGS MC, (714) 2316718, PRAIRIEDOGMC.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 9-10: (Includes ATVs) LUCERNE VALLEY: 2-DAY EVENT, RACERS UNDER THE SON INC, (949) 689-5078, RUTS.ORG MOTOCROSS

JUN 16-17: HESPERIA: 2-DAY EVENT, COMPETITIVE EDGE MX PARK, (909) 456-1070, RIDECEMX. COM

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs) LAKE ELSINORE: ROVERS MC, (661) 252-6392, AMASOCALMOTORCROSS.COM

JUN 24: (Includes ATVs)

HESPERIA: DESERT DAISIES MC, (626) 438-5164 SHORT TRACK

JUN 9: (Includes ATVs) LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 3687182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM

JUN 23: (Includes ATVs) LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 368-7182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM

COLORADO

RECREATIONAL ROAD RUN

JUN 10: GOLDEN: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

JUN 22: AVON: STAYIN’ SAFE/THE A.R.T. OF MOTORCYCLING, (724) 771-2269, STAYINSAFE.COM

JUN 23: AVON: MOTORCYCLE SPORT TOURING ASSOCIATION, COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

JUN 24: DACONO: IMI MOTORSPORTS INC, (303) 8334949, IMIMOTORSPORTS

JUN 24: BERTHOUD: ROCKY MOUNTAIN PROMOTIONS INC, (720) 220-4698, RPMEVENT.COM

CONNECTICUT

RECREATIONAL POKER RUN

JUN 3: DERBY: BRIDGEPORT MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION, INC., (203) 395-0782

ROAD RUN

JUN 23-24: DANBURY: 2-DAY

EVENT, STAYIN’ SAFE/THE A.R.T. OF MOTORCYCLING, (724) 7712269, STAYINSAFE.COM GEORGIA

RECREATIONAL ROAD RUN

JUN 2: CORNELIA: 2 DAY EVENT, STAYIN’ SAFE/THE A.R.T. OF MOTORCYCLING, (724) 771-2269, STAYINSAFE.COM

JUN 3: ALPHARETTA: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

IDAHO

RECREATIONAL

DISTRICT TOUR

JUN 16-17: KINGSTON: 2-DAY

EVENT, HI ROLLERS M.C., (509) 326-7154, HIROLLERS.ORG

ROAD RALLY

JUN 1-2: HARVARD: 2-DAY EVENT, ABATE OF NORTH IDAHO, (208) 771-1774, ABATEOFNORTHIDAHOBIKERS. ORG

COMPETITION

ENDURO

JUN 2-3: BOISE: 2-DAY EVENT, BOISE RIDGE RIDERS, (208) 3845141, BOISERIDGERIDERS.ORG

ILLINOIS

RECREATIONAL

TRAIL RIDE - RECREATIONAL

JUN 3: (Includes ATVs) OTTAWA: VARIETY RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (815) 434-3669, VARIETYRIDERS.COM

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs) OTTAWA: VARIETY RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (815) 434-3669, VARIETYRIDERS.COM

COMPETITION HILLCLIMB

JUN 9-10: (Includes ATVs) NEOGA: CENTRAL ILLINOIS M/C, (217) 234-2505, CENTRALILLINOIS MOTORCYCLECLUB.ORG

JUN 17: OREGON: ROCK RIVER RIDERS MC, (815) 946-2183, ROCKRIVERRIDERSMC.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 9: (Includes ATVs) CASEY: MID AMERICA XC RACING, (317) 4186084, MIDABERICAXC.COM

JUN 10: WHITE CITY: CAHOKIA CREEK DIRT RIDERS, (618) 9464316, CCDIRT.COM MOTOCROSS

JUN 2: (Includes ATVs) PECATONICA: PRO SHOW INC, (815) 275-6686, STATELINEMX. COM

JUN 2: (Includes ATVs) BELLEVILLE: BELLEVILLE ENDURO TEAM INC, (618) 2773478, BETDIRT.COM

JUN 3: (Includes ATVs) BYRON : MOTOSPORTS ENTERPRISES

JUNE EVENTS

LTD, (815) 234-2271, MOTOBYRON.COM

JUN 10: (Includes ATVs) BYRON : MOTOSPORTS ENTERPRISES LTD, (815) 234-2271, MOTOBYRON.COM

JUN 10: NASHVILLE: SEAT TIME MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (573) 7018674, SEATIME.US

JUN 17: MT. CARROLL: MC MOTOPARK INC., (815) 238-1614, MCMOTOPARK.COM

JUN 23-24: MT. CARROLL: 2-DAY EVENT, MC MOTOPARK INC., (815) 238-1614, MCMOTOPARK.COM

JUN 23: (Includes ATVs) BYRON : MOTOSPORTS ENTERPRISES LTD, (815) 234-2271, MOTOBYRON.COM

OBSERVED TRIALS

JUN 24: OREGON: ROCK RIVER RIDERS MC, (815) 946-2183, ROCKRIVERRIDERSMC.COM TT

JUN 10: (Includes ATVs) FOSTERBURG: SPLINTER CREEK DIRT RIDERS INC, (618) 372-4355, SPLINTERCREEK.COM

JUN 16: (Includes ATVs)

BELLEVILLE: BELLEVILLE ENDURO TEAM INC, (618) 2773478, BETDIRT.COM INDIANA

RECREATIONAL ROAD RALLY

JUN 8: WEST HARRISON: MOTORCYCLISTS FOR JESUS MINISTRIES

COMPETITION

HILLCLIMB

JUN 2-3: (Includes ATVs) CAYUGA: 2-DAY EVENT, PLEASURE RIDERS MC, (217) 247-2216, PLEASURERIDERS.NET

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 3: COLUMBUS: STONEY LONESOME M/C, (812) 342-4411, STONEYLONESOMEMC.COM

JUN 24: COLUMBUS: STONEY LONESOME M/C, (812) 342-4411, STONEYLONESOMEMC.COM

MOTOCROSS

JUN 2: (Includes ATVs) ROCHESTER: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING. COM

JUN 3: (Includes ATVs) ROCHESTER: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING. COM

JUN 9-10: (Includes ATVs) WABASH: 2-DAY EVENT, WABASH CANNONBALL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (765) 985-3657, WABASHCANNONBALLMC.COM

JUN 10: (Includes ATVs) AKRON: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING.COM

JUN 16: (Includes ATVs)

PIERCETON: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING. COM

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs)

PIERCETON: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING. COM

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs)

CROTHERSVILLE: LET’S GO RACING LLC, (812) 374-8228, HIGHFLYMX.COM

JUN 23-24: (Includes ATVs) LAOTTO: 2 -AY EVENT, G & S RACING, (260) 637-5416, GANDSRACINGS.COM

JUN 30: (Includes ATVs)

PIERCETON: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING.

COM

JUN 30-July 1: (Includes ATVs)

CAYUGA: 2-DAY EVENT, PLEASURE RIDERS MC, (309) 8385062, PLEASURERIDERS.NET IOWA

RECREATIONAL

POKER RUN - OFF-ROAD

JUN 17: WINTERSET: EASTERN IOWA TRAIL TAMERS, (515) 253-0190

COMPETITION

HILLCLIMB

JUN 3: ANOMOSA: MIDWEST HILLCLIMBERS ASSOCIATION, (319) 489-2361, ANAMOSAHILLCLIMB.COM

MOTOCROSS

JUN 9: (Includes ATVs) CEDAR RAPIDS: CEDAR VALLEY TRAIL RIDERS INC, (319) 363-7800, CVTR.ORG

JUN 16: (Includes ATVs) MONTEZUMA: FV MOTO X, (641) 623-3456, FVMOTOX.COM

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs)

MONTEZUMA: FV MOTO X, (641) 623-3456, FVMOTOX.COM

JUN 23: (Includes ATVs) CEDAR RAPIDS: CEDAR VALLEY TRAIL RIDERS INC, (319) 363-7800, CVTR.ORG

JUN 30: (Includes ATVs) MONTEZUMA: FV MOTO X, (641) 623-3456, FVMOTOX.COM

KENTUCKY

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

JUN 2-3: (ATV only) OAKLAND: 2-DAY EVENT, VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORYSPORTS.COM

JUN 9-10: BOWLING GREEN: 2-DAY EVENT, VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORYSPORTS.COM

MASSACHUSETTS

COMPETITION

OBSERVED TRIALS

JUN 3: BRIMFIELD: SPRINGFIELD MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (508) 625-2074 MICHIGAN

RECREATIONAL

DUAL SPORT RIDE

JUN 2-3: CUSTER: 2-DAY EVENT, GREAT LAKES DUAL SPORTERS, (989) 751-6863, GLDSMC.ORG

POKER RUN

JUN 17: BAY CITY: TRI-CITY TRAVELERS, (989) 501-0911

JUN 23: BRIGHTON: LONSKEY’S ANGELS, (810) 844-2055, HARRISONMCSERVICE.COM

COMPETITION

DIRT DRAG

JUN 22: (Includes ATVs)

BRIDGETON TWP: MUSKEGON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (231) 7339856, MUSKEGON MOTORCYCLECLUB.COM

1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK

JUN 8: (Includes ATVs) LAKE ODESSA: 2 DAY EVENT, I-96 SPEEDWAY LLC, (616) 642-0555, I96SPEEDWAY.COM

JUN 16: (Includes ATVs) MIDLAND: POLKA DOTS M/C, (989) 8328284, POLKADOTSMC.NET

JUN 23: (Includes ATVs) CROSWELL: 2 DAY EVENT, PORT HURON MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (810) 985-7800, PHMC-USA. COM

ENDURO

JUN 10: MARQUETTE: UP SANDSTORMERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (906) 228-7010

HILLCLIMB

JUN 23-24: (Includes ATVs)

BRIDGETON TWP: MUSKEGON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (231) 7339856, MUSKEGON MOTORCYCLECLUB.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 3: (Includes ATVs) MIO: WHITE TRASH RACING MC, (989) 274-7243

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs) BENTLEY: VALLEY TRAIL RIDERS, (989) 8796397, THEVALLEYTRAILRIDER. COM

JUN 24: (Includes ATVs)

ROSE CITY: BENT WHEELS COMPETITION CLUB INC, (248) 895-6740, BENTWHEELS.COM MOTOCROSS

JUN 2-3: BUCHANAN: 2-DAY EVENT, RED BUD, (269) 695-6405, REDBUDMX.COM

JUN 3: MIDLAND: POLKA DOTS M/C, (989) 832-8284

JUN 9-10: (Includes ATVs) BARK RIVER: 2-DAY EVENT, DEGRAVE MOTORSPORTS PARK, (906) 4200205, DEGRAVEMX.COM

JUN 9-10: (Includes ATVs) PORTLAND: 2-DAY EVENT, PORTLAND TRAIL RIDERS, (517) 647-7045, PORTLANDTRAILRIDERS.COM

JUN 10: (Includes ATVs) CADILLAC: CADILLAC MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (231) 884-3729, CADILLACMC.COM

JUN 15: (Includes ATVs) LAKE ODESSA: I-96 SPEEDWAY LLC, (616) 642-0555, I96SPEEDWAY. COM

JUN 16-17: (Includes ATVs) CHRISTMAS: X-MAS

FAMILY MOTORSPORTS PARK LLC, (906) 202-2681, X-MASFAMILYMOTORSPORTS. COM

JUN 22: (Includes ATVs) LAKE ODESSA: I-96 SPEEDWAY LLC, (616) 642-0555, I96SPEEDWAY. COM

JUN 23-24: MILLINGTON: BAJA MX INC, (989) 871-3356, BAJAACRES.COM

OBSERVED TRIALS

JUN 3: METAMORA: MICHIGAN ONTARIO TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (248) 634-2184, MOTATRIALS.COM MINNESOTA

RECREATIONAL ROAD RUN

JUN 3: OSTEGO: VETERANS RIDE INC, (651) 260-7204, JOHN@ VETERANSRIDEINC.COM

TRAIL RIDE - RECREATIONAL

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs) MANKATO : KATO CYCLE CLUB, , KATOCYCLECLUB.COM COMPETITION

1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK

JUN 24: (Includes ATVs) CAMBRIDGE: NORSEMEN MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (612) 8652661, NORSEMENMC.ORG ENDURO

JUN 2-3: HUNTERSVILLE: 2-DAY EVENT, RIVER VALLEY ENDURO RIDERS, (763) 682-1778

JUN 30: AKELEY: NORTHERN LITES MC, (218) 829-6656, ARMCA.ORG HILLCLIMB

JUN 10: (Includes ATVs) MANKATO: KATO CYCLE CLUB, KATOCYCLECLUB.COM

JUN 16-17: HILL CITY: 2-DAY EVENT, RANGE RIDERS MC, (218) 341-9691, RANGERIDERSMC.ORG HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 10: CARVER: MOTOKAZIE OFF ROAD CLUB, (952) 601-1169, MOTOKAZIE.COM MOTOCROSS

JUN 3: MANKATO: MOTOKAZIE INC, (952) 601-1169, MOTOKAZIE. COM

JUN 3: BROOKSTON: ECHO VALLEY MOTOCROSS PARK, (218) 348-4754, ECHOVALLEYMOTOCROSS.COM

JUN 10: (ATV only) LITTLE FALLS: MOTO CITY RACEWAY & RECREATION INC, (612) 919-3457, MOTOCITYRACEWAY.COM

JUN 10: BROOK PARK: BERM BENDERS RACEWAY, (320) 6792582, BERMBENDERS.COM

JUN 10: MILLVILLE: HI WINDERS, (507) 753-2779, SPRINGCREEKMX. COM

JUN 16-17: MILLVILLE: 2-DAY EVENT, HI WINDERS, (507) 7532779, SCMXPARK@MR.NET

JUN 17: MAZEPPA: HURRICANE HILLS MX PARK INC,

JUN 24: KELLOGG: MOTOKAZIE INC, (952) 244-9996, MOTOKAZIE. COM

JUN 24: (ATV only) BROWERVILLE: MOTO CITY RACEWAY & RECREATION INC, (612) 919-3457, MOTOCITYRACEWAY.COM

JUN 24: BROOKSTON: ECHO VALLEY MOTOCROSS PARK, (218) 348-4754, ECHOVALLEYMOTOCROSS.COM

MISSOURI

RECREATIONAL

DUAL SPORT RIDE

JUN 2-3: BIXBY: 2-DAY EVENT, MIDWEST TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION, (314) 434-5095, RIDEMTRA.COM

ROAD RALLY

JUN 17: SPRINGFIELD: AMERICAN GOLD WING ASSOCIATION, (319) 350-4669, AGWA.COM COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

JUN 16-17: COLUMBIA: 2-DAY EVENT, MOTOCROSS PARENTS, (573) 489-1500, MXPRACING.COM

JUN 24: (Includes ATVs)

KIRKSVILLE: THUNDER RIDGE MX PARK LLC, (660) 626-5138, THUNDERRIDGE-MXPARK.COM

COMPETITION

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 2-3: CLANCY: 2-DAY EVENT, LONE PEAK RACING LLC, (406) 431-8228

COMPETITION

HARE & HOUND

JUN 23-24: RENO: 2-DAY EVENT, WESTERN STATES RACING ASSOCIATION, (775) 544-6463, WESTERNSTATESRACING.COM

NEW HAMPSHIRE

RECREATIONAL

GYPSY TOUR

JUN 9-17: LACONIA: LACONIA MOTORCYCLE WEEK ASSOCIATION, (603) 366-2000, LACONIAMCWEEK.COM

NEW JERSEY

DUAL SPORT RIDE

JUN 3: PEMBERTON: SOUTH JERSEY ENDURO RIDERS, (609) 266-9272, SJER.ORG

DUAL SPORT RIDE

JUN 9-10: HAMMONTON: 2-DAY EVENT, BMW OF MANHATTAN, INC., (732) 714-8874

POKER RUN

JUN 9: JACKSON: SINISTER STEEL MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION, (732) 688-1451, SINISTERSTEELMA.COM ROAD RUN

JUN 17: BRIDGEWATER: KELSEY CHARITY RUN INC, (908) 2524545, KELSEYRUN.COM

JUN 24: LIVINGSTON: NEW JERSEY BLUE KNIGHTS CHAPTER VII, (973) 951-5011

JUN 24: FREEHOLD: MARCH OF DIMES, (732) 952-9016, MARCHOFDIMES.COM/ NEWJERSEY

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

JUN 1: (Includes ATVs) WILDWOOD: NEW JERSEY THUNDER MOTORSPORTS INC, (609) 523-8051, THUNDERMOTO. COM

NEW MEXICO

RECREATIONAL

ROAD RUN

JUN 3: ALBUQUERQUE: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

NEW YORK

RECREATIONAL

ADVENTURE RIDE

JUN 2: HARPURSVILLE: SQUARE DEAL RIDERS M/C, (607) 6932634, SQUAREDEALRIDERS.COM

JUN 9-10: ATLANTA: 2-DAY EVENT, WAYNE COUNTY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (315) 945-6911, WAYNECOUNTYMC.COM

CONVENTIONS

JUN 4-9: LAKE GEORGE: AMERICADE, (518) 798-7888, AMERICADE.COM

FUN RUN

JUN 3: CLARENCE: REGENT RIDERS

ROAD RUN

JUN 2: ARKPORT: CONESUS LAKE RIDERS M/C, (585) 335-2084, CLR-MC.COM

JUN 3: LONG ISLAND CITY: H.O.G.-NY NEW YORK CITY, (718) 707-9300, NYCHARLEYDAVIDSON. COM

JUN 10: CASTLE POINT: ROLLING THUNDER NY CHAPTER 3, (845) 928-0895, RTNYCH3.COM

JUN 24: CLARENCE: REGENT RIDERS, (716) 759-6837

TOY RUN

JUN 24: HICKSVILLE: NASSAU COUNTY FIRE RIDERS MC, (516) 570-0678

COMPETITION

ENDURO

JUN 10: DEPOSIT: RIDGE RIDERS M/C, (201) 456-5519, ECEA.ORG

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 3: (Includes ATVs) NEWARK: ARCADIA BARK BUSTER, (315) 548-5145

JUN 9-10: (Includes ATVs) NEW BERLIN: 2 DAY EVENT, THUNDER

JUNE EVENTS

RIDGE SPORTS, (607) 847-6520, THUNDERRIDGE.BIZ

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs) CATO: CATO MX, LLC, (315) 247-7245, CATO-MX.COM

JUN 24: (Includes ATVs)

BERKSHIRE: ITHACA DIRT

RIDERS INC, (607) 657-8248, ITHACADIRTRIDERS.COM

MOTOCROSS

JUN 2: BATAVIA: AREA 51 MOTOCROSS, (585) 345-7433, AREA51MOTOCROSS.COM

JUN 3: (Includes ATVs) SOUTH EDMESTON: THUNDER RIDGE SPORTS, (607) 847-6522, THUNDERRIDGE.BIZ

JUN 9-10: (Includes ATVs) RICHFORD: BROOME TIOGA SPORTS CENTER INC, (607) 8494438, BROOME-TIOGA.COM

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs) NEW BERLIN: UNADILLA VALLEY SPORTS CENTER, (607) 965-8450, UNADILLAMX.COM

JUN 24: (Includes ATVs) RICHFORD: BROOME TIOGA SPORTS CENTER INC, (607) 8494438, BROOME-TIOGA.COM

JUN 30: (Includes ATVs) CAROGA LAKE: ROYAL MOUNTAIN SKI AREA, (518) 835-6445, ROYALMOUNTAIN.COM

OBSERVED TRIALS

JUN 10: CAYUTA: DISTRICT 4 TRIALS COMMITTEE, (607) 738-2077

SHORT TRACK

JUN 2: (Includes ATVs) PORT CRANE: SQUARE DEAL

RIDERS M/C, (607) 693-2634, SQUAREDEALRIDERS.COM

JUN 29-30: (Includes ATVs)

PORT CRANE: SQUARE DEAL RIDERS M/C, (607) 693-2634, SQUAREDEALRIDERS.COM

NORTH CAROLINA

COMPETITION

CROSS COUNTRY

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs)

HENDERSON: LONE RIDER PRODUCTIONS LLC, (804) 9667595, VXCS.ORG MOTOCROSS

JUN 3: (Includes ATVs) ASHEBORO: ZOO CITY MOTOR SPORTS PARK, (336) 873-9447, ZOOCITYMX.COM

JUN 16-17: ELLERBE: 2 DAY EVENT, VICTORY SPORTS INC, (423) 323-5497, VICTORY-SPORTS. COM

OHIO

RECREATIONAL

DUAL SPORT RIDE

JUN 2: TORONTO: OHIO VALLEY BSA OWNERS CLUB, (724) 9456018

JUN 24: BROWNSVILLE: LICKING COUNTY TRAIL RIDERS INC, (740) 323-4129

POKER RUN

JUN 10: TALLMADGE: CIRCLE CITY HORSEPOWER PROMOTIONS, (330) 633-5296, DNDFUND.ORG ROAD RUN

JUN 10: INDEPENDENCE: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

JUN 10: DAYTON: DAYTON MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC., (937) 263-9321, DAYTONMC.ORG ROAD RALLY

JUN 13: SUNBURY: THE

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE RALLY, (614) 321-7909, AMERICANMOTORCYCLE RALLY.COM

SWAP MEETS

JUN 2-3: TORONTO: 2-DAY EVENT, OHIO VALLEY BSA OWNERS CLUB, (724) 945-6018 COMPETITION ENDURO

JUN 9-10: WELLSTON: 2-DAY EVENT, APPALACHIAN DIRT RIDERS INC, (740) 384-6379, ADROHIO.ORG

HILLCLIMB

JUN 16-17: (Includes ATVs) MARIETTA: PIONEER MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (740) 350-8326, PIONEERMOTORCYCLECLUB. COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 3: (Includes ATVs) SUGAR GROVE: CENTRAL OHIO COMPETITION RIDERS INC., (740) 983-3937, COCRMX.COM

JUN 17: CHILLICOTHE: CHILLICOTHE ENDURO RIDERS ASSOCIATION, (740) 773-6115, CHILLICOTHEENDURO.COM

MOTOCROSS

JUN 3: DAYTON: DAYTON MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC., (937) 263-9321, DAYTONMC.ORG

JUN 10: GREENVILLE: TREATY CITY MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (937) 548-7197, TREATYCITYMC. COM

JUN 15: (Includes ATVs) HILLIARD: AMERICAN MOTOSPORTS LLC, (937) 358-2427, AMERICANMX. COM

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs) BLANCHESTER: DIRT COUNTRY, (513) 625-7350, DIRTCOUNTRYMX. COM

OBSERVED TRIALS

JUN 16-17: TORONTO: 2-DAY EVENT, TRIALS INC, (317) 8616275, TRIALSINC.ORG OKLAHOMA COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

JUN 16: BEGGS: SOUTH 75 MX, (407) 967-6599, SOUTH75MX.COM

JUN 30: BEGGS : SOUTH 75 MX, (407) 967-6599, SOUTH75MX.COM TT

JUN 9: (ATV only) MUSKOGEE: SD RACING, OREGON

RECREATIONAL ADVENTURE RIDE

JUN 9-10: ODELL: 2-DAY EVENT, NORTHWEST TOUR & TRAIL, (503) 681-8881, BLACKDOGDUALSPORT.COM DUAL SPORT RIDE

JUN 9-10: ODELL: 2-DAY EVENT, NORTHWEST TOUR & TRAIL, (503) 681-8881, BLACKDOGDUALSPORT.COM

JUN 23-24: FORT ROCK: 2-DAY EVENT, LOBOS MC INC, (503) 6565801, LOBOSMC.COM

ROAD ENDURO

JUN 2-3: TIGARD: 2-DAY EVENT, ROSE CITY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (503) 706-3969, ROSE-CITY-MC. ORG

ROAD RALLY

JUN 21: ATHENA: HODAKA CLUB, (503) 475-6005 COMPETITION

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 16-17: ELKTON: EMERALD TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION INC. MOTOCROSS

JUN 24: ATHENA: HODAKA CLUB, (503) 475-6005, HODAKADAYS. ORG

OBSERVED TRIALS

JUN 24: ATHENA: HODAKA CLUB, (503) 475-6005, HODAKADAYS. ORG

PENNSYLVANIA

RECREATIONAL

ADVENTURE RIDE

JUN 2-3: MILL HALL: 2-DAY EVENT, DURTY DABBERS, (570) 726-3343, DURTYDABBERS.COM

JUN 23: SPRING MILLS: SEVEN MOUNTAINS CONSERVATION CORPS, (814) 574-0404, SEVENMOUNTAINS CONSERVATIONCORP.COM

CARNIVAL RUN

JUN 3: REAMSTOWN: GARDEN SPOT MC, (717) 336-5451, GARDENSPOTMC.COM

JUN 10: MARIETTA: AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS PA POST CHAPTER #466, (717) 898-0871 DISTRICT TOUR

JUN 18: MATAMORAS: MOTORCYCLE TOURING ASSOCIATION, (570) 491-2400, MTARIDERS.COM

DUAL SPORT RIDE

JUN 2-3: MILL HALL: 2-DAY EVENT, DURTY DABBERS, (570) 726-3343, DURTYDABBERS.COM

JUN 24: SPRING MILLS: PENNSYLVANIA TRAIL RIDERS ASSN, (814) 574-1798, PATRAILRIDERS.ORG

GYPSY TOUR

JUN 21: JOHNSTOWN: JOHNSTOWN/CAMBRIA COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU, (800) 237-8590, JOHNSTOWNTHUNDER.COM

POKER RUN

JUN 3: BUCK: GENTLEMEN MC SPORTSMEN, (717) 285-3710

JUN 10: SCHUYLKILL HAVEN: SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (570) 3851460, SCHUYLKILLCOUNTY MOTORCYCLECLUB.COM

JUN 17: LEBANON: LEBANON VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (717) 270-9797, LEBANONVALLEYMC.COM

JUN 24: COLUMBIA: THUNDERBIRD MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (717) 898-0871 ROAD RUN

JUN 3: DANVILLE: MOTORCYCLE MIRACLE TOUR, (570) 745-3835

JUN 9-10: BRIDGEVILLE: 2-DAY EVENT, STAYIN’ SAFE/THE A.R.T. OF MOTORCYCLING, (724) 7712269, STAYINSAFE.COM

JUN 10: NORRISTOWN: FRIENDS OF THE FORGOTTEN INC., (215) 362-7989, FRIENDSOFTHEFORGOTTEN. COM

ROAD RALLY

JUN 21: GETTYSBURG: MID ATLANTIC WOMENS MOTORCYCLE RALLY, (717) 4717026, MAWMR.ORG COMPETITION

ENDURO

JUN 17: RYAN TWP: HIGH MOUNTAIN DIRT RIDERS, (570) 954-7799, HMDR.ORG

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 10: (Includes ATVs) NEELYTON: FT OF MOUNTAIN, (814) 259-3873

JUN 17: (Includes ATVs) PLYMOUTH: BACK MOUNTAIN ENDURO RIDERS, (570) 675-1814, BMER.ORG

JUN 23-24: TAMAQUA: 2-DAY EVENT, READING OFF ROAD RIDERS, (610) 921-3592, RORR. ORG

JUN 30: (Includes ATVs) SHAMOKIN: 2 DAY EVENT, VALLEY FORGE TRAIL RIDERS, (610) 4763747, VFTR.ORG MOTOCROSS

JUN 2-3: DELMONT: 2-DAY EVENT, BELLCO INC, (304) 284-0084, RACERPRODUCTIONS.COM

JUN 3: SHIPPENSBURG: DOUBLIN GAP MX PARK INC, (717) 2496036, DOUBLINGAP.COM

JUN 3: (ATV only) HANOVER: HAPPY RAMBLERS, (717) 6342353, HAPPYRAMBLERS.COM

JUN 10: HANOVER: HAPPY RAMBLERS, (717) 634-2353, HAPPYRAMBLERS.COM

JUN 15: (Includes ATVs) LATROBE: MX PRODUCTIONS

JUN 16: ELKLAND: MILES MOUNTAIN MX, (607) 368-3429

JUN 16-17: (ATV only) MT. MORRIS: 2-DAY EVENT, RACER PRODUCTIONS INC, (304) 2840084, ATVMOTOCROSS.COM

JUN 17: ELKLAND: MILES

MOUNTAIN MX, (607) 368-3429

JUN 22: SHIPPENSBURG:

DOUBLIN GAP MX PARK INC, (717) 249-6036, DOUBLINGAP.COM

JUN 29: SHIPPENSBURG: DOUBLIN GAP MX PARK INC, (717) 249-6036, DOUBLINGAP.COM

JUN 29: (Includes ATVs) LATROBE: MX PRODUCTIONS, (724) 3220415, LATROBEMOTORSPORTS. COM

SHORT TRACK

JUN 30: DELTA: BALTIMORE COUNTY TRAIL RIDERS ASSOC., , BCTRA.COM TT

JUN 10: PARKESBURG: E PA PISTON POPPERS MC INC, (484) 336-9160

RHODE ISLAND

COMPETITION

OBSERVED TRIALS

JUN 23-24: EXETER: 2-DAY EVENT, RHODE ISLAND TRIALS CLUB, (508) 285-6074, RITRIALSCLUB.COM

SOUTH CAROLINA

RECREATIONAL

DUAL SPORT RIDE

JUN 3: ABBEVILLE: LONG CANE MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION, (864) 223-3848

SOUTH DAKOTA

COMPETITION

JUN 29-30: (ATV only) SIOUX FALLS: MICHAEL COBURN RACING, (605) 594-3465

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 2-3: TBA: 2-DAY EVENT, SOUTH PENN ENDURO RIDERS TEXAS

RECREATIONAL

DISTRICT TOUR

JUN 7: AUSTIN: REPUBLIC OF TEXAS BIKER RALLY, (512) 2529768, ROTRALLY.COM ROAD RUN

JUNE EVENTS

JUN 2: HOUSTON: RIDERS FOR THE CURE, (713) 563-9230, RIDERSFORTHECURE.ORG COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

JUN 16-17: CONROE: 2-DAY EVENT, E.S.E. EXTREME SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT, (936) 321-8725, THREEPALMSESP.COM

UTAH

RECREATIONAL ROAD RALLY

JUN 9: KANAB: AMERICAN VOYAGER ASSOCIATION, (208) 746-3530, AMERVOYASSOC.ORG COMPETITION ROAD RACE

JUN 30-July 1: TOOELE: 2-DAY EVENT, UTAH SPORT BIKE ASSOCIATION, (435) 277-RACE, MILLERMOTORSPORTSPARK. COM

VIRGINIA

RECREATIONAL ROAD RUN

JUN 3: MECHANICSVILLE: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG COMPETITION

GRAND PRIX

JUN 10: IVOR: VIRGINIA CHAMPIONSHIP HS SERIES, (757) 570-2209, VCHSS.ORG

MOTOCROSS

JUN 9-10: DILLWYN: 2-DAY EVENT, MIDDLE ATLANTIC MOTOCROSS ASSOCIATION, (410) 375-1059, MAMAMX.COM

WASHINGTON

RECREATIONAL DUAL SPORT RIDE

2012 EVENTS

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.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days: July 20-22, MidOhio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio; AMA VintageMotorcycleDays.com

AMA Legends Weekend: Nov.

16-17, Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa, Las Vegas, Nev.; MotorcycleMuseum.org

AMA PRO RACING AMA MOTOCROSS SERIES MXSPORTSPRORACING.COM

May 19: Sacramento, Calif.: Hangtown

May 26: Wortham, Texas: Freestone Raceway

June 2: Lakewood, Colo.: Thunder Valley

June 9: Mt. Morris, Pa.: High Point Raceway

June 16: Mechanicsville, Md.: Budds Creek Motocross

July 7: Buchanan, Mich.: RedBud

July 14: Millville, Minn.: Spring Creek Motocross

July 21: Washougal, Wash.: Washougal MX Park

Aug. 11: Southwick, Mass.: Moto-X 338

Aug. 18: New Berlin, N.Y.: Unadilla

Sept. 1: Delmont, Pa.: Steel City Raceway

Sept. 8: Lake Elsinore, Calif.: Lake Elsinore Motocross Park

AMA PRO ROAD RACING CHAMPIONSHIP AMAPRORACING.COM

May 26-28: Tooele, Utah: Miller

JUN 16: (Includes ATVs) LEAVENWORTH: LAKE WENATCHEE RECREATION CLUB, (509) 763-3858, LAKEWENATCHEERECCLUB.COM

WEST VIRGINIA

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

JUN 2-3: HEDGESVILLE: 2-DAY EVENT, MIDDLE ATLANTIC MOTOCROSS ASSOCIATION, (410) 375-1059, MAMAMX.COM

WISCONSIN

RECREATIONAL DUAL SPORT RIDE

JUN 9-10: WABENO: 2-DAY EVENT, WISCONSIN DUAL SPORT RIDERS, (920) 350-2030, WIDUALSPORTRIDERS.ORG

COMPETITION

1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK

JUN 9: (Includes ATVs) JUNEAU: BEAVER CYCLE CLUB INC, BEAVERCYCLECLUB.COM

ENDURO

JUN 16-17: HAYWARD: 2-DAY EVENT, MIDWEST OFFROAD TRAIL RIDERS, (715) 834-2793 HILLCLIMB

JUN 17: KEWASKUM: KETTLE MORAINE SPORT RIDERS INC

JUN 24: (Includes ATVs) HIXTON: CMJ RACEWAY LLC, CMJRACEWAY.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUN 24: HIXTON: CMJ RACEWAY LLC, (608) 220-6853, CMJRACEWAY.COM

MOTOCROSS

JUN 3: HIXTON: CMJ RACEWAY LLC, (608) 220-6853, CMJRACEWAY.COM

JUN 10: LAKE MILLS: AZTALAN

CYCLE CLUB INC, (414) 265-1582, AZTALANMX.COM

JUN 16-17: (Includes ATVs) ARKANSAW: ARKANSAW CREEK CYCLE CLUB INC, (715) 285-5679, ARKANSAWMX.COM

JUN 24: TIGERTON: FANTASY MOTO LLC, (920) 419-2863, FANTASYMOTO.COM

JUN 30: (Includes ATVs) RHINELANDER: SUGAR CAMP AREA RACING ENTERPRISES, (715) 272-1101, SUGARCAMP. ENT.COM

OBSERVED TRIALS

JUN 3: TRIMBELLE: UPPER MIDWEST TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (507) 351-8879, UMTA.ORG

JUN 10: BLACK RIVER FALLS: WISCONSIN OBSERVED TRAILS ASSOCIATION, (608) 434-5530, WISCONSINTRIALS.ORG SCRAMBLES

JUN 24: (Includes ATVs) BURNETT: BEAVER CYCLE CLUB INC, , BEAVERCYCLECLUB.COM

SHORT TRACK

JUN 1: (Includes ATVs) PLYMOUTH: SOUTHEASTERN SHORT TRACKERS LTD, (262) 339-7430, DAIRYLANDCLASSIC.COM

JUN 16: LAKE MILLS: AZTALAN CYCLE CLUB INC, (414) 265-1582, AZTALANMX.COM

JUN 23: (Includes ATVs) BURNETT: BEAVER CYCLE CLUB INC, , BEAVERCYCLECLUB.COM

WYOMING

COMPETITION

ENDURO

JUN 17: UPTON: INYAN KARA RIDERS, (307) 468-3840, UPTONWYO.COM

Motorsports Park

June 1-3: Elkhart Lake, Wis.: Road America

June 22-24: Birmingham, Ala.: Barber Motorsports Park

June 26-27 Official Series Test: New Orleans: NOLA Motorsports Park

July 13-15: Lexington, Ohio: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

July 27-29: Monterey, Calif.: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

Aug. 18-19: Indianapolis: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Sept. 7-9: Millville, N.J.: New Jersey Motorsports Park

Sept. 21-23: Homestead, Fla.: Homestead-Miami Speedway

Oct. 5-7: New Orleans: NOLA Motorsports Park

AMA PRO GRAND

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AMAPRORACING.COM

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

May 27: Springfield, Ill.: Springfield Mile, Illinois State Fairgrounds

June 30: Lima, Ohio: Lima HalfMile, Allen County Fairgrounds

July 7: Hagerstown, Md.: Hagerstown Half-Mile, Hagerstown Speedway

July 14: Lake Odessa, Mich.: I-96 Half-Mile, I-96 Speedway

July 28: Sacramento, Calif.: Sacramento Mile, Cal Expo

Aug. 4: Castle Rock, Wash.: Castle Rock TT, Castle Rock Race Park

Aug. 12: Peoria, Ill.: Peoria TT, PMC Race Park

Aug. 18: Indianapolis: Indy Mile, Indiana State Fairground

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

Sept. 2: Springfield, Ill.: Springfield Mile II, Illinois State Fairgrounds

Sept. 8: Knoxville, Iowa: Knoxville Half-Mile, Knoxville Raceway

Sept. 30: Santa Rosa, Calif.: Santa Rosa Mile, Sonoma County Fairgrounds

Oct. 6: Tucson, Ariz: USA Raceway Half-Mile, USA Raceway

Oct. 13: Pomona, Calif.: AMA Flat Track Finals at the Pomona Half-Mile, LA County Fairplex

AMA PRO HILLCLIMB NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AMAPRORACING.COM

June 3: Jefferson, Pa.: White Rose MC; WhiteRoseMC.org

June 10: Freemansburg, Pa.:

Bushkill Valley MC; BikeHillcimb. com

June 13: Canaan, N.H.: Ridge Runner Promotions; RidgeRunnerPromotions.com

June 23: Oregonia, Ohio: Dayton MC; DaytonMC.com

July 15: West Branch, Mich.: Ogemaw Hills Bike Week; OgemawHillsBikeWeek.com

Aug. 5: Muskegon, Mich.: Muskegon MC; MuskegonMotorcycleClub.com

Sept. 9: Freemansburg, Pa.: Bushkill Valley MC; BikeHillclimb.com

Sept. 30: Jefferson, Pa.: White Rose MC; WhiteRoseMC.org

Oct. 14: Oregonia, Ohio: Dayton MC; DaytonMC.com

AMA PRO ATV MOTOCROSS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ATVMOTOCROSS.COM

May 19-20: Walnut, Ill.: Sunset Ridge

June 2-3: Oakland, Ky.: Ballance MX

June 16-17: Mt. Morris, Pa.: High Point Raceway

June 30-July 1: Millfield, Ohio: Sunday Creek

July 14-15: New Berlin, N.Y.: Unadilla

July 28-29: Buchanan, Mich.: RedBud

Aug. 11-12: Hurricane Mills, Tenn.: Loretta Lynn’s AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

AMA KENDA HARE & HOUND NATIONALHAREANDHOUND. COM

May 19: Jericho, Utah: KC Bogue, Sugarloafers MC; (435) 864-8305, SugarloafersMC.com

June 24: Reno, Nev.: Jeff Henning, Western States Racing Association; (775) 544-66463, DirtIncRacing.com

Sept. 8: Panaca, Nev.: Zach Livreri, Silver State Trailblazers; (702) 994-6823, https://sites.google.com/site/ silverstatetrailblazers/

Oct 14: Johnson Valley, Calif.: Justin Shultz, SoCal MC; (949) 981-6776, SoCalMC.com

Oct. 28: Lucerne Valley, Calif.: Ryan Sanders, 100’s MC; (949) 584-9395, 100sMC.org

AMA REKLUSE NATIONAL ENDURO, PRESENTED BY MOOSE RACING NATIONALENDURO.COM

June 17: Upton, Wyo.: Paul Douglas, Inyan Kara Riders; (307) 468-2840, NationalEnduro.com

July 29: Cross Fork, Pa.: Peter Burnett, Brandywine Enduro Riders; (610) 368-7332, BER.us

Sept. 9: Park Hills, Mo.: Michael Silger, Missouri Mudders; michael.silger@avnet.com, MoMudders.com

Oct. 14: Matthews, Ind.: Doug Spence, Muddobbers MC; (765) 998-2236, MuddobbersMC.org

Nov. 4: Stanton, Ala.: Glenn Hollingshead, Perry Mountain MC ; (334) 872-4286, PerryMountain. com

GEICO AMA ENDUROCROSS ENDUROCROSS.COM

June 9: Sacramento, Calif.: Power Balance Pavilion

TBD: Los Angeles: TBD

Sept. 15: Ontario, Calif.: Citizens Bank Arena

Oct. 6: Denver: National Western Complex

Oct. 20: Everett, Wash.: Comcast Arena

Oct. 27: Boise, Idaho: Idaho Center

Nov 17: Las Vegas, Nev.: Orleans Arena

AMA WEST HARE SCRAMBLES AMARACING.COM

June 16 (Youth & C Amateur)

June 17 (Pro, A & B Amateur): Elkton, Ore.: Toni Bamford, ETRA; (541) 968-1664, ETRA.net

Aug. 25 (Youth) Aug. 26

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

AMA EAST HARE SCRAMBLES AMARACING.COM

June 9 (Youth) June 10

(Amateur): S. Edmeston, N.Y.: Jim Simmons, Thunder Ridge Sports; (607) 847-6522, ThunderRidge.biz

July 21 (Youth & Amateur): Valley View, Pa.: Tiffany Tobias, Rausch Creek Powersports; (570) 682-4600, RauschCreekRacing. com

Aug. 4 (Youth) Aug. 5

(Amateur): Hill City, Minn.: Paul Otto, Range Riders MC; (763) 229-1177, RangeRidersMC.org

Aug. 11 (Youth) Aug. 12

(Amateur): E. Freetown, Mass.: Gordie Coyle, Pilgrim Sands Trail

Riders; (781) 294-8355, PSTR.org

Sept. 1 (Youth) Sept. 2 (Amateur) Arrington, Va.: Chuck Honeycutt, April Fools Promotions; (757) 375-5665; AprilFools62@verizon.net

AMA/NATC MOTOTRIALS

AMARACING.COM

May 19-20: Cahuilla Creek, Calif.: Pete Croft, So. California Trials Assn.; (714) 580-7369, SoCalTrials.com

May 26-27: Cotapaxi, Colo.: Frank Peterson, Rocky Mountain Trials Assn.; (303) 477-6793, RockyMountainTrials.org

June 16-17: Toronto, Ohio: Jim Watson, Trials Inc.; (317) 8616275, TrialsInc.org

June 23-24: Exeter, R.I.: David Alen, Rhode Island Trials Club, (508) 285-6074, RITrialsClub.com

AMA/NATC YOUTH TRIALS AMARACING.COM

June 6-8 (East): Sequatchie, Tenn.: Ashley Jackson, Southeastern Trials Riders Assn., (423) 942-8688; TrialsTrainingCenter.com

July 20-22 (West): Howard, Colo.: Bill Markham, International Trials School; (719) 942-3372, ITSoffroad.com

AMA ATV HARE SCRAMBLES AMARACING.COM

June 9: S. Edmeston, N.Y.: Jim Simmons, Thunder Ridge sports; (607) 847-6522, ThunderRidge.biz

July 22: Valley View, Pa.: Tiffany Tobias, Rausch Creek Powersports; (570) 682-4600, RauschCreekRacing.com

Aug. 4: Hill City, Minn.: Paul Otto, Range Riders MC; (763) 229-1177, RangeRidersMC.org

Oct. 13: TBD: Mike Gibbs, Mid America XC; (317) 418-6084, TheMAXC.com

Oct. 27: Gosport, Ind.: Mike Gibbs, Mid America XC; (317) 418-6084, TheMAXC.com

ITP/MOOSE RACING AMA ATV MOTOCROSS, PRESENTED BY PARTS UNLIMITED ATVMOTOCROSS.COM

May 19-20: Walnut, Ill.: Sunset Ridge

June 2-3: Oakland, Ky.: Ballance MX

June 16-17: Mount Morris, Pa.: High Point Raceway

June 30-July 1: Millfield, Ohio: Sunday Creek

July 14-15: New Berlin, N.Y.: Unadilla

July 28-29: Buchanan, Mich.: RedBud

Aug. 11-12: Hurricane Mills, Tenn.: Loretta Lynn Ranch

AMA ATV EXTREME DIRT TRACK EDTRACING.COM

May 12: Kinston, N.C.: Lenoir County Fairgrounds, Ironclad Motorsports, (252) 624-9808, EDTRacing.com

June 9: Oktakha, Okla.: Outlaw Motor Speedway

June 29-30: Sioux Falls, S.D.: Sioux Valley Cycle Club, (605) 977-3866, SiouxValleyCycleClub. com

July 21-22: Ashtabula, Ohio: Pine Lake Off-Road Facility, Bud Fischer, (440) 997-4166, EDTRacing.com

Aug. 11: Batavia, N.Y.: Batavia Motor Speedway, BataviaMotorSpeedway.com

Aug. 31-Sept. 1: Goldsboro, N.C.: Busco Beach, (919) 2229614, BuscoBeach.com

2012 EVENTS

AMA VINTAGE DIRT TRACK AMARACING.COM

May 29: Springfield, Ill.: Mile, Steve Nace; (270) 442-7532, SteveNaceRacing.com

June 29-30: Harpursville, N.Y.: ST, Don Miller; (877) 746-3876, SquareDealRiders.com

July 21: Ashland, Ohio: Half-Mile, Ashland County Fairgrounds, Ken Saillant; (800) 262-5646, AMARacing.com

Aug. 17-18: Dundee, N.Y.: 4/10Mile, Black Rock Speedway, Dean Hoag; (607) 243-8686, BlackRockSpeedway.com

AMA RACING PRO-AM MOTOCROSS AMARACING.COM

May 12-13: Little Falls, Minn.: RM Promotions; (612) 919-3457, MotoCityRaceway.com

May 13: Petersburg, Va.: Virginia Motor Sports Park; (443) 7833249, VirginiaMotorSports.com

May 26-27: Dalton, Ga.: Lazy River MX; (706) 278-1620, LazyRiverMotocross.com

May 27: Athelstane, Wis.: Pine Ridge Raceway; (715) 856-6612, Gmellissa337@aol.com

May 27: Crothersville, Ind.: High Fly MX; (812) 374-8228, HighFlyMX.com

May 28: Casey, Ill.: Lincoln Trails Motosports; (217) 932-2041, LincolnTrailMotosport.com

May 28: Wortham, Texas: Freestone County Raceway; (713) 962-3386, FreestoneMX.com

May 28: Brush, Colo.: Swene Cycle Park; (970) 768-0518, SweneyCyclePark.com

June 16 (Sat night): Mendota, Ill.: Moto Pro Inc. Stadium Megacross; (815) 539-9021, Megacross.com

June 17: Mt. Carroll, Ill.: MC Motopark; (815) 238-1614, MCMotopark.com

June 17: Leonardtown, Md.: Budds Creek Motocross Park; (301) 481-6148, BuddsCreek.com

July 1: Shippensburg, Pa.: Doublin Gap MX; (717) 249-6063, DoublinGap.com

July 14: Batavia, N.Y.: Area 51 MX; (585) 345-7433, HighFlyMX. com

July 15: Crothersville, Ind.: High Fly MX; (812) 374-8228, HighFlyMX.com

Aug. 26: Armagh, Pa.: Pleasure Valley Raceway; (814) 695-2453, PVRMX.com

Aug. 26: Millville, Minn.: Spring Creek MX Park; (507) 753-2779, SpringCreekMX.com

Sept. 1-3: Millington, Mich.: Baja MX; (989) 871-3356, BajaMX.com

Sept. 2: Athelstane, Wis.: Pine Ridge Raceway; (715) 856-6612, Gmellissa337@aol.com

Sept. 9: Clifford, Pa.: Hurricane Hills Motorsports; (570) 2229290, HHMotocross.com

Sept. 23: New Castle, Del.: Blue Diamond MX Park; (302) 8345867, BCTRA.com

Sept. 30: Canton, Texas: Buffalo Creek Motocross Park; (214) 9394321, BuffaloCreekMX.com

Sept. 30: Walnut, Ill.: Sunset Ridge MX; (815) 379-9534, SunsetRidgeMX.com

Oct. 7: Gaylord, Mich.: Ostego Club; (989) 871-3356, BajaMX. com

Oct. 7: Englishtown, N.J.: Raceway Park; (734) 446-7800, RacewayPark.com

Oct. 14: Birdsboro, Pa.: Pagoda Motorcycle Club; (610) 582-3717, PagodaMotorcycleClub.com

Oct. 27-28: Leonardtown, Md.: Budds Creek Motocross Park; (301) 481-6148, BuddsCreek.com

Oct. 28: Prentiss, Wis.: Golden Pine Raceway; (601) 506-8669, GoldenPineRaceway.com

Nov. 4: Wortham, Texas: Freestone County Raceway; (713) 962-3386, FreestoneMX.com

Nov. 4: Pell City, Ala.: Mill Creek; (205) 699-8857, RPMSportsonline.com

Nov. 10-11: Wortham, Texas: Freestone County Raceway; (713) 962-3386, FreestoneMX.com

Nov. 10-11: Lizella, Ga.: Echeconnee MX Park; (205) 6998857, FreestoneMX.com

Nov. 19-21: Gainesville, Fla.: Gatorback Cycle Park; (813) 4707498, UnlimitedSportsMX.com

Nov. 22-24: Gainesville, Fla.: Gatorback Cycle Park; (813) 4707498, UnlimitedSportsMX.com

AMA FEATURED SERIES

AMA MID AMERICA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP HARE SCRAMBLES SERIES THEMAXC.COM

May 19: Greenfield, Ind.

June 9-10: Casey, Ill.

June 17: Springville, Ind.: Riley Miracle Trail Race

July 21: Martinsville, Ind.

Aug. 11: Merango, Ind.

Sept. 8: Canaan, Ind.

Sept. 22: Spencer, Ind.

Oct. 13-14: Culver, Ind.

Oct. 27-28: Casey, Ind.

AMA WESTERN CHECKPOINT ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RIDECHEC.COM

May 19-20: Gorman, Calif.: Hungry Valley 2 Day, Ventura County MC

Sept. 29-30: Reno, Nev.: Wildhorse Enduro, Western States Racing Association

Oct. 20-21: Fouts Springs, Calif.: Jackhammer Enduro, Jackhammer MC

Oct. 20-21: Red Mountain, Calif.: Ghost Rider Enduro, Training Wheels MC

Nov. 11: Stoneyford, Calif.: Climbers Enduro, Valley Climbers MC

AMA DIRT TRACK GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP HOLESHOT SERIES AMARACING.COM

May 12: Castle Rock, Wash.: TT & ST, Mount St Helens MC, Denise Holt, (425) 785-7702, MSHMC.org

May 18-19: Harpursville, N.Y.: ST, Square Deal Riders, (877) 7463876, SquareDealRiders.com

AMA ALL-STAR NATIONAL FLAT TRACK SERIES STEVENACERACING.COM

May 19: Little Rock, Ark.: ST, Crooked Creek Speedway

June 2: Chilton, Wis.: ST, Calumet County Speedway

June 15: Peoria, Ill.: ST, Peoria Speedway

June 17: Peoria, Ill.: TT, Peoria Motorcycle Club

July 4: Frederick, Md.: Half-mile, Al Wilcox Memorial at the 90th Annual Barbara Fritchie Classic

July 6: Winchester, Va.: Halfmile, Winchester Speedway

July 21: Billings, Mont.: ST, Billings Motorcycle Club

Aug. 10: Peoria, Ill.: ST, Peoria Speedway

Sept. 28: Hanover, Pa.: ST, Trailway Speedway

Sept. 29: York, Pa.: Half-mile, York Fairgrounds

AMA CAN-AM IATVHSS IATVHSS.COM

May 26-27: Fort Dodge, Iowa: Mineral City Speedway

June 17: Spragueville, Iowa: Hansen Hollows

July 7-8: Beaconsfield, Iowa

July 20: Centerville, Iowa: Appanoose County Fair

July 25: Indianola, Iowa: Warren County Fair

July 28-29: Mount Pleasant, Iowa: Greenhurst Farms

Aug. 4: Chariton, Iowa: Lucas County Fairgrounds

Aug. 17-18: Carlisle, Iowa: Heartland Challenge

Sept. 8-9: Beaconsfield, Iowa

Oct. 6-7: Carlisle, Iowa: Blue Ridge Run

AMA GBC MOTORSPORTS HEARTLAND CHALLENGE HEARTLANDCHALLENGE.COM

Aug. 16-18: Carlisle, Iowa

AMA ENDURO TRIALS TRIALSTRAININGCENTER.COM

Aug. 16-18: Sequatchie, Tenn.

AMA AMATEUR GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

AMA AMATEUR NATIONAL MOTOCROSS MXSPORTS.COM

May 12-13: Winchester, N.H.: Northeast area qualifier, Winchester Speed Park, (603) 239-6406

May 12-13: Little Falls, Minn.: North Central area qualifier, Little Falls Raceway, (612) 919-3457

May 12-13: Beaumont, Texas: South Central area qualifier, Cowboy Bad Lands MX, (409) 794-1985

May 19-20: New Berlin, N.Y.: Northeast area qualifier, Unadilla Valley Sports Center, (607) 9658450

May 19-20: Danville, Va.: Southeast area qualifier, Birch Creek, (434) 836-7629

May 19-20: Nelsonville, Ohio: Mid-East area qualifier, Fast Traxx Motoplex, (740) 767-3740

May 19-20: Mason, Ill.: North Central area qualifier, Cross Roads MX, (618) 686-2769

May 19-20: Little Rock, Ark.: South Central area qualifier, Tony Wynn MX, (870) 342-5373

May 20: Washougal, Wash.: Northwest area qualifier, Washougal, (360) 601-5347

May 26-27: Chatsworth, Ga.: Southeast area qualifier, Lazy River, (706) 278-1620

May 26-27: Walnut, Ill.: North Central area qualifier, Sunset Ridge, (815) 379-9534

June 2-3: Delmont, Pa.: Northeast regional (Amateur), Steel City, (304) 284-0084

June 2-3: Buchanan, Mich.: Mid-East regional (Amateur), Red Bud, (269) 695-6405

June 2-3: Wortham, Texas: South Central regional (Amateur), Freestone, (713) 962-3386

June 9-10: Mill Creek, Ala.: Southeast regional (Amateur), Mill Creek, (205) 699-8857

June 9-10: Bowling Green, Ky.: Mid-East regional (Youth), Ballance MX, (423) 323-5497

2012 RAFFLE BIKE

ADVERTISER INDEX

GUEST COLUMN

MOTORCYCLING PASSION

It’s What Drives Us

By Steven Holt

I recently stopped by to browse in a Ducati store and, lo and behold, there it was, sitting on a pristine podium under a spotlight, the latest MV Agusta 1000cc F4 Series Del Oro! Yum…

My heart rate went up about 10 clicks and my blood pressure increased. It was as if I was standing in front of royalty. I didn’t know whether I should kneel down and kiss its tires or just stand back in awe. It was love at first sight with a big dollop of passion. My girlfriend was used to this type of behavior and just whispered sardonically under her breath, “It’s just a motorcycle…”

What is passion? According to the dictionary, it’s: “1. Any powerful emotion or appetite, such as love, joy, hatred, anger or greed. 2. Ardent, adoring love. 3. Boundless enthusiasm.”

Certain things evoke certain passions at differing times in a person’s life. Inclusive of the arts, dance, music and love, passion is the one glowing aura of human nature that especially manifests when dealing with motorcycles. Motorcyclists, you see, follow a very poignant creed.

Given its rather industrial development in the late 19th century, the motorcycle was just another form of transportation in those early days of the internal combustion engine. One more form of locomotion for the masses, overtaking the legendary horse and buggy. Today, the motorcycle has well exceeded its transportation function by becoming the focal point of millions of people’s interest throughout the world. Its inventors probably had no idea what future passions it would instill in the hordes of riders who would fall under its spell.

Rarely in the field of human studies has one seen such levels of enthusiasm, nay, obsession, for a tangible collection of metallic and rubberized items; mechanical things that make the total more than the sum of its parts. The motorcycle stimulates people into a frenzy of lifelong passion possibly more than love itself.

How motorcycles came to develop this wide-ranging growth of passion is nearly universal. Perhaps it has been through the media, which has searched continuously through the years to find an action vehicle suitable for its movie heroes such as Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen, Peter Fonda, Angelina Jolie, et al. They needed some exciting, vested vehicle for their exploits.

Similarly, the literary love for motorcycle rests in the pages of novels like “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” a must-read book for the guru hippies of the mid-1970s. Or modern movies such as “Faster.” All these forms of media images are absorbed and assimilated into young minds just waiting for the right time of maturation and finances to pursue their adventures.

Throughout the world we see people dreaming of riding off into the sunset on a motorcycle, free and fast. Motorcycles, depending on their genre, are a cheap, practical and fun way to offer that image and project it onto the public as they see fit. The machine transposes itself into one’s psyche and persona.

Motorcycles also offer a practical and economical way to parlay status in the motorized world. Why buy a Ferrari or a Porsche when, for a fraction of the cost one can merely buy a stock Japanese, German, Austrian or Italian 1,000cc street bike that can blow those cars away—if that’s the intended purpose? Motorcycles not only offer form, function and technological advances well beyond that of most automobiles in production, but also the performance-per-cost ratio of an SR-71 Blackbird. They offer something extreme for the common man that is well within his price range.

Beyond the image issue, there’s the actual, deep-rooted love for the motorcycle itself. Some people just love technology and the mechanical soul. To these people, there is something intimately sexy and alluring about the metallurgy, mechanical aptitude, design and sound of a finely tuned machine.

Just as art or music embodies their fans’ passion, a truly great motorcycle goes down in history as either a wonderful technological design or as a piece of art within itself. Ask an Italian male of any age to view a beautiful piece of artwork or a blood red Ducati 1199 Panigale, and then ask him to point to his favorite. You know the answer… Show a picture of an old Triumph Bonneville traversing the winding English countryside to a Brit and you’ll likely get either a tear or a smile of reminiscence. The passion for motorcycles knows no geographic, age, nationality or gender boundaries.

Passion lives deep within us all and is brought out by images, senses and smells of just the right attributes of imagination, practicality and mechanical form. The motorcycle evokes all of these senses from those who have come under its infatuating spell. Enveloped within a domain of multiple realities, the motorcycle offers so much to so many for so little, surpassing many other great passions of life.

The passion for a motorcycle is far deeper to some than even the passion for love itself. Trust me. I speak from experience.

Steven Holt, a former AMA roadracer, is from San Diego County, Calif.

Photo Chelsea Anne Photography