American Motorcyclist 07 2012 Preview Version

JULY 2012

Don Emde And Joe Colombero Trace The Tracks Of A Motorcycling Legend

CANNON BALL BAKER RIDES AGAIN THE JOURNAL OF THE

NAVIGATION

Support The American Six Days Squad Maybe this isn’t your year to compete for U.S. off-road racing honor at the International Six Days Enduro, but you can still support the team by buying an official team shirt.

Proceeds from the shirts offset the substantial costs for the U.S. effort at the ISDE in Saxony, Germany, Sept. 24-29. To buy a shirt, just visit the AMA’s online store at AmericanMotorcyclist. com > ISDE Team Info > Buy An Official T-Shirt.

Cover

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Don Emde and his wing man, Joe Colombero, are planning a cross-country ride of a lifetime, retracing the 1914 route of famed endurance racer and Motorcycle Hall of Famer Erwin “Cannon Ball” Baker. To learn more, see page 38.

Photo: Conrad Lim.

Navigation Photo

The AMA organizes U.S. teams that race in team-based world championship events, such as the International Six Days Enduro. Racing for their country, these riders compete against the world’s best.

Photo: Steve Berkner.

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.

July 2012 Volume 66, Number 7 Published by the American Motorcyclist Association 13515 Yarmouth Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147 (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) AmericanMotorcyclist.com

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8. LETTERS You write, we read.

10. RICK PODLISKA Why be an AMA Defender member?

12. RIGHTS Rob Dingman named 2012 Powersports Business Executive of the Year.

18. RIDING Dispatch from the Golden Horsehoe, and AMA Member Tested: Shoei Neotec.

28. RACING Four questions with motocrosser Ryan Dungey, and family enduros are fun.

34. HALL OF FAME Scot Harden’s KTM 660 Dakar racer, and Hall of Famer Russ Collins.

38. ‘CANNON BALL’...IF ADVENTURE HAD A NAME Recreating Erwin “Cannon Ball” Baker’s 1914 coast-to-coast motorcycle ride.

46. RIDE WELL: AMA WOMEN & MOTORCYCLING CONFERENCE Destination: Carson City, Nev., where memories will be made.

49. GO RIDE What to do, where to go.

58. DR. DOUGLAS IDDINGS Against all odds.

Once you ride the track, you’re always on it. The new Battlax Hypersport S20 keeps the rush going. Better handling, superior grip, smooth ride on wet or dry surfaces.* Whether you’re making a left in Louisville or Laguna, the road will never look the same.

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EDITORIAL OFFICES

High Adventure. No Hassle.

The best routes, roads and twotrack, mapped by local experts. A great challenge with like-minded riders. A full weekend’s activities, with camping, campfires, food and prizes.

For more information visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com/Riding.

THE ADVENTURE is out there

comteit Ge

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

James Holter, Managing Editor Bill Kresnak, Government Affairs Editor Mark Lapid, Creative Director Jen Muecke, Designer Jeff Guciardo, Production Manager/Designer

Stan Simpson, Chairman Cibolo, Texas

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

Ken Ford, Assistant Treasurer Bartow, Fla.

Maggie McNally, Vice Chairwoman Albany, N.Y.

Perry King, Assistant Secretary Northern California

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

John Ulrich, Executive Committee Member Lake Elsinore, Calif.

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

Russ Brenan, Irvine, Calif.

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.

Sean Hilbert, Hillsdale, Mich.

Scott Miller, Milwaukee, Wis. Art More, Surprise, Ariz.

Jim Viverito, Chicago, Ill.

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

AMA STAFF EXECUTIVE

DEVELOPMENT/OPERATIONS

Rob Dingman, President/CEO Rhonda Hixon, Administrative Asst./Litigation Manager Bruce Moffat, Chief Financial Officer Sen. Wayne Allard, Vice President, Government Relations Bob Chaddock, Vice President, Administration Jeff Massey, Vice President, Operations Jim Williams, Vice President, Industry Relations & Corporate Member Programs Grant Parsons, Director of Communications & Marketing Rob Rasor, Director of International Affairs

Jack Penton, Director Paula Schremser, Program Specialist

ACCOUNTING

Sheila Andrews, Senior Legislative Assistant 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

Dawn Becker, Accounting Manager 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

See the event schedule in the Calendar section of this magazine.

AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

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

DISTRIBUTION/FACILITIES MANAGEMENT John Bricker, Mailroom Manager Heida Drake, Copy Center Operator/Switchboard Operator Bill Frasch, Mailroom Clerk Ron Williams, Facilities Manager GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

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

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MEMBER LETTERS

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

LETTER OF THE MONTH I read, with interest, a letter from Mr. Al Scovern in the June issue concerning what he thinks could be political swaying Each month, a lucky AMA member wins a Bike to the party most favoring the liberties of Bandit gift card worth $100. Didn’t win? No worries. You can still take advantage of your the majority of citizen voters affected.

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I don’t read, nor have ever read, in anything published by this organization any political favoritism, but only what is for the good of the AMA membership and of riders nationally.

Those goals can be naturally accomplished by Republican or Democrat electives. If more members think they are at an advantage with a Democrat in control, let that politician say what he proposes and gain the deserved votes. If it’s the other way around, so be it.

As an independent voter, I am glad for guidance provided by this reputable association. Thank you for your continuing hard work.

Glenn Pfau Bensalem, Pa.

LET THEM CHOOSE The letter by Randall Beecham titled “It’s About Choice” in the June issue of the AMA magazine is the best comment on the helmet issue I have ever seen or heard.

I never ride without a helmet, but I could care less if others do, and I think they should have that choice. Thanks, Randall, you couldn’t have said it better.

Mike Hosfelt Topeka, Kan. CHOOSING SAFETY [Regarding Randall Beecham’s letter in the June issue], I, too, have been riding for just about 45 years, and I choose to wear proper protective riding gear. And, I too am in favor of choice. I choose to be a responsible rider.

One would think others would be aware that the cost of freedom is not free. But many choose to close their eyes to the fact that their cost of freedom is quite expensive for the others of us.

Bill Gleason

I am totally in favor of one’s right to choose. The problem with poor choices is the cost to others who are innocent bystanders of those irresponsible decisions that some people make; thus, the reason there are laws.

I’m certainly no expert, but the little knowledge I have of how insurance premiums are determined is that insurance companies determine premiums based on risk. With that in mind, I assume that the more susceptible riders are to injury, the more expensive all our insurance premiums will be.

Were there a system in place that riders who ride without proper protection would in no way affect my pocket, I would support them 1,000 percent to do as they so please. Unfortunately, under the current system, the costs associated with injuries or death are passed on to the general public in the form of increased premiums and tax dollars required to provide health care, long-term treatments and death benefits for those riders and their families who exercised their “rights.”

Were those rights advocates willing to sign over their assets and provide a living will relieving the general public of their care or survivor benefits, I would support them completely.

Bill Gleason Clarksville, Tenn.

Thanks for the note, Bill. Some individuals and groups have used

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the “social burden” theory to attack motorcyclists’ rights not just on voluntary helmet use, but to argue that we should not ride sportbikes, not ride on certain roads or not ride motorcycles altogether.

However, studies show that injured motorcyclists are less likely than the general population to use public funds to pay for injuries sustained in crashes, no more likely to be uninsured than other vehicle operators, and the costs associated with the treatment of motorcyclist injuries account for a tiny fraction of total U.S. health care costs.

A miniscule portion of these costs is attributable to unhelmeted motorcyclists.

For specific references to the relevant studies, see AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Position Statements > Voluntary Helmet Use. The most effective way to reduce motorcyclist injuries and fatalities is to prevent crashes from occurring in the first place. Rider education and motorist awareness programs are sound strategies to achieve this.

PERSONAL FREEDOM I read two letters in June’s American Motorcyclist: Randall Beecham, who gets it, and Al Scovern, who doesn’t.

Al Scovern, this election is about true conservatism versus the progressives.

It is not a Republican/Democrat issue. It is about those who recognize individuals have the right to make their own decisions about their own lives. The same progressives who you imply you support are the same people who pass helmet laws, close off-road riding areas, close public roads to lawfully registered motorcycles and restrict public access to public lands.

They want to limit hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping also, even when these activities involve no motorized vehicles. They seek to limit access for bicycles and even horses. There are progressives in both parties, but the truth is, however unpalatable you may find it, the vast majority is in the Democratic Party.

These are people who believe they are better capable of making decisions about your life, because they believe you are just too ignorant to make them yourself. In their mind, you demonstrate this ignorance when your decisions run counter to their “wisdom.” Because of this, I believe the AMA needs to begin to reach outside our own sport to groups representing these activities.

John Thomas Utica, Ky.

KEEPING THEM HONEST I read Mr. Scovern’s letter (“BiPartisan Push”), and think that he missed an important point. The AMA is ultimately trying to influence the politician’s vote, not the member’s vote. This is done by speaking out in a unified voice (the AMA) describing what issues are important to the motorcycling community, directed at the public servants who we elect. They will certainly weigh their political actions against what votes they may gain or lose at the ballots, and it is the AMA’s job to show them the number of votes that we carry. If either political party ignores a voice this strong, then shame on them.

Dave Driscoll Cherry Hill, N.J. SOLUTIONS NOT POLITICS The story “Federal Off-Highway Vehicle Trail Guide Under Fire,” clearly demonstrates the transparent ignorance of the liberal-minded. In the story, a quote from the publication suggests that OHVs have some influence on the “intensity” and “frequency” of “weather events.”

While OHV’s obviously have no adverse affect on the climate, such statements have no place in what I think is otherwise suppose to be a serious publication. Maybe the far-left should publish something on the effects that their Lear Jets and limos have on the climate, instead of focusing just on activities that they do not agree with?

It’s really a sad state of affairs when those who do not support conservatism turn everything into something about race and gender, and when our government cannot stop itself from equating everything to climate change.

Gary Abernathy King George, Va. MOTORCYCLE-ONLY SOUND The article in the April issue “Ground Zero in Sound Battle” and the letter in the June issue from Mr. Linden prompted me to write.

Why is it that the focus is on “motorcycle exhaust noise” and not simply “exhaust noise?” Obviously, letters and articles that appear in a motorcycle publication are naturally going to focus exclusively on motorcycles, but that isn’t the full explanation.

According to the article “Sound Management” in the September 2009 issue of American Motorcyclist, the official title of SAE J2825 is “Measurement

of Exhaust Sound Pressure Levels of Stationary On-Highway Motorcycles.” Why does the title of this test/procedure specify only motorcycles? Is there a separate test/procedure/regulation for cars with aftermarket exhausts?

There are many other sources of engine-generated noise pollution in our communities: garbage trucks, chain-saws, industrial-strength chipper machines, etc. In my neighborhood, the garbage truck is much louder than either of my motorcycles. Even though it comes by at 6:30 a.m. week after week after week, nobody complains.

The town of Carefree, Ariz., has an 80-decibel noise limit (the limit specified in SAE J2825 is 92 decibels). Does law enforcement there issue citations to garbage truck drivers and landscapers? Of course not. People refuse to tolerate noise from motorcycles, yet garbage trucks and leaf blowers don’t bother them, even if they are louder.

Creating an objective standard that law enforcement must use is certainly better than a subjective judgment of what’s too loud. In this regard, SAE J2825 is to sound as radar detectors are to speed. However, there is another perspective on this.

If we in the motorcycle community allow laws to be passed that contain the wording “motorcycle exhaust noise” where and when it should just state “exhaust noise,” then we have put ourselves on a slippery slope.

By tolerating this wording, we are contributing to the already slanted bias against motorcycles and motorcyclists.

In fact, isn’t a motorcycle-only sound test disturbingly similar to motorcycleonly checkpoints?

I am not defending loud exhaust systems. Rather, I am concerned that, by crafting a regulation/procedure that focuses exclusively on “motorcycle” sound testing, we have placed far too much of the spotlight on ourselves.

Stan Reents Cave Creek, Ariz.

You make a valid point, Stan, one that the AMA also makes when questions about excessive motorcycle sound are raised. Although there are other sources of excessive sound such as loud cars and trucks, booming car stereos and whining leaf blowers, motorcyclists have a responsibility to be part of the solution.

To read the AMA position on motorcycle sound, see AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Position Statements > Excessive Motorcycle Sound.

VIEWPOINT

WHY YOU SHOULD BECOME AN AMA DEFENDER To Protect Your Freedom To Ride!

We all share the passion of riding, from remembering our first ride to passing the joy and excitement to another generation. However, that passion is being threatened.

Motorcycle-only checkpoints.

Public land grabs. Too much ethanol in gasoline. Health insurance discrimination against motorcyclists.

Little by little, a litany of

By Rick Podliska administrative fiats, laws, legislation and regulations from Congress and unelected government bureaucrats are eroding motorcyclists’ freedoms. Because we work for you—the rider—on the national stage, the American Motorcyclist Association is able to stand up for motorcyclists in a manner unlike any other national advocacy organization.

By being a member of the AMA you are doing your part, and we thank you.

There is even more you can do to counter these relentless attacks on motorcycling from Washington and elsewhere— you can become an AMA Defender. There are currently thousands of AMA Defender members, but many more are needed to support our fight to protect your freedom to ride—on the road, track or trail.

Without your support we could not have accomplished some of our recent successes, such as overturning key provisions of the federal lead law in 2011. The federal lead law had banned the sale of kids’ dirtbikes and ATVs, and our victory literally saved the future of motorcycling.

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The American Motorcyclist Association is able to stand up for motorcyclists in a manner unlike any other national advocacy organization.””

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

The AMA is also out front protecting your right to ride and race, defending the Recreational Trails Program that provides federal funding for motorized and non-motorized trails, rolling back motorcycle-only checkpoints, questioning the content of ethanol in gasoline and encouraging adoption of the SAE J2825 sound standard in lieu of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency labeling laws for controlling street motorcycle sound.

These accomplishments are a direct result of your financial support and our collective actions in protecting the motorcycle lifestyle. However, these individual victories must be viewed in the context of the overall war on motorcycling.

If we are going to succeed in protecting motorcycling for future generations, we must transition from a defensive posture and proactively advocate for what we want as motorcyclists.

You can help us fulfill this vision by becoming an AMA Defender.

AMA Defender membership includes all of the benefits of an AMA Champion membership, plus it includes a $10 annual contribution to the advocacy efforts of the AMA Government Relations Department. Some additional benefits include a copy of the department’s annual report (which summarizes the AMA’s governmental activities from the past year, including a breakdown of the top federal and state issues, behind-the-scene numbers, graphs and new online tools), and a detailed analysis of crucial issues, including access to related documents through the AMA Action Alert system.

Every member can subscribe to these alerts by email (search for “Get Alerts” at AmericanMotorcyclist.com), but AMA Defenders who sign up to receive, or who are already subscribed to, AMA Action Alerts automatically receive the detailed analysis.

By becoming an AMA Defender, you still receive all of the benefits currently offered with an AMA Championship membership, including AMA Roadside Assistance on all of your vehicles at no additional charge when you opt in for auto-renewal.

The best way to become an AMA Defender is to call us at (800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) and ask to upgrade your membership. For just $10 more than a regular membership, the cost of a few cups of coffee, it’s a small sum to help guarantee your freedoms as a rider or racer.

Rick Podliska is the AMA’s deputy director of government relations.

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Rob Dingman in Washington, D.C., presenting Adi Malcolm with a certificate for her award-winning lead-law video she created with her siblings, Erin and Carter.

ROB DINGMAN HONORED FOR AMA LEAD LAW BATTLE Named ‘Powersports Business Executive of the Year’

PowerSports Business has named AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman its “2012 Powersports Business Executive of the Year.”

PowerSports Business—which publishes news, features and profiles for powersports dealers, manufacturers and suppliers—honored Dingman for the intensive efforts by the AMA to successfully overturn provisions of the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, known as the lead law, that effectively banned the sale of kids’ dirtbikes and all-terrain vehicles.

“Dingman’s leadership during the three-year battle was impressive on a variety of fronts, but most importantly to the industry’s future riders,” PowerSports Business said in making the announcement. “The AMA’s grassroots efforts to put a face to those affected by the CPSIA showed legislators the importance of riding age-appropriate vehicles.

“The positive, healthy environment in which young riders thrive on their vehicles, and with their families, also helped to get the point across,” the announcement said. “For OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), aftermarket companies and track promoters, the lead

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law ban had obvious economic impacts.”

The CPSIA, which went into effect on Feb. 10, 2009, banned the making, importing, distributing or selling of any product intended for children 12 and under, including kids’ dirtbikes and ATVs, that contained more than a specified amount of lead in any accessible part.

The AMA was at the forefront of the fight to exclude child-sized motorcycles and ATVs from the CPSIA from the onset of the issue.

A highlight of the effort was the “AMA Kids Just Want to Ride” campaign, which included a day of lobbying in Washington, D.C., by kids clad in off-road riding gear and their families affected by the CPSIA. The association also participated in news events to focus media attention on the issue, lobbied on Capitol Hill and organized campaigns to encourage riders and parents to contact their federal lawmakers and key decision-makers to exempt kids’ off-highway vehicles from the CPSIA. “It’s thanks to the efforts of Dingman and his AMA team that those youngsters can return to their hometowns, and turn to you as dealers and OEMs for their next purchase,” wrote Dave McMahon, senior editor of PowerSports Business magazine

in an accompanying editorial.

As a result of the lobbying on Capitol Hill, Congress received powerful statements from members of the AMA and its All-Terrain Vehicle Association, and on Aug. 12, President Obama signed into law H.R. 2715, which granted kids’ OHVs a categorical exemption from the lead law.

“I’m very humbled by being named 2012 Powersports Business Executive of the Year,” Dingman said. “But the victory is the result of the intensive efforts of a lot of different people, from federal lawmakers to powersports industry officials and dealers to the kids and their families who ride every weekend.”

To read the announcement, go to PowerSportsBusiness.com.

Meanwhile, the Motorcycle Industry Council has presented both U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) with its MIC Chairman’s Award for their efforts to stop the federal ban on the sale of youth dirtbikes and ATVs as well as Klobuchar’s efforts to save the federal Recreational Trails Program that funds motorized and nonmotorized trails.

The MIC represents manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and related businesses such as insurance firms.

Photo Morten Aigeltinger

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RIGHTS RIDER SAFETY VIDEO RELEASED Titled ‘Fools Gear, Cool Gear’

AMA MEMBER BEHIND NEW SPECIALTY PLATE Blue Ridge Parkway Plate Now Available

When AMA Charter Life Member Donald Green wants something, he gets it.

“The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most beautiful places on Earth,” says Green, who proudly displays the North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway specialty license plate on his car.

“On any given day it is possible that there are more bikes on the parkway than cars. It seemed to me that motorcyclists should also be able to have such a meaningful plate of their own,” he says.

So Green contacted the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation to ask about

a specialty plate for motorcycles.

He learned that to get the plate, the foundation needed 300 paid applications.

Determined, Green went to work distributing applications.

With the help of his club, the Carolinas BMW Motorcycle Owners Association, Green got the 300 paid applications. He was rewarded with plate 0001.

The specialty plates cost $30, of which $20 goes to support projects and programs of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. For more information, go to GetThePlate.org.

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Photo Plate: Courtesy Donald Green

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has released a new safety video highlighting the importance of motorcycle riders and passengers wearing protective gear.

Called “Fool’s Gear, Cool Gear,” the video is based on a popular MSF safety poster of the same name.

The video takes viewers on a guided tour from head to toe, contrasting the benefits of wearing a helmet and a full complement of safety gear to the risks of riding with inadequate protection, and demonstrating that you can be safe as well as stylish when you ride.

The video is now airing on the MSF’s website at MSF-USA.org.

Mail in, or complete online at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com/OffHighwaySurvey.aspx

Off-Highway Issues Survey 2012

Every two years, the AMA Government Relations Department surveys the association’s members to assist in establishing government relations policies and priorities. This month, members are asked to share their views regarding off-highway motorcycling issues. Offhighway riding enthusiasts have done a great job of supporting this survey in past years. We hope you’ll continue that support by taking a few minutes to complete and return this survey by Aug. 31. (If you don’t want to deface your copy of American Motorcyclist, please feel free to make a photocopy of the survey, complete the survey online, or download a PDF copy, from www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com/ OffHighwaySurvey.aspx). An on-highway survey will be included in the August issue of American Motorcyclist.

1. Are you a current AMA member?

1.1 q Yes 1.2 q No

12. How many competitive or organized events did you participate in during 2011?

12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5

2. What is your zip code? ___________________ 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5

3. What is your age? ________________

13. In what type of competition do you most frequently participate? (Check

3.1

4. What is the last grade or class you completed in school?

4.1 q Grade 8 or less 4.2 q Some high school 4.3 q High school graduate 4.4 q Some college 4.5 q College graduate 4.6 q Post-graduate

one box.)

(Check one box.)

5. What was your total household income last year? (Check one box.)

5.1 q Under $20,000 5.2 q $20,000-$24,999 5.3 q $25,000-$34,999 5.4 q $35,000-$49,999 5.5 q $50,000-$74,999 5.6 q $75,000-$99,999 5.7 q $100,000-$124,999 5.8 q $125,000-$149,999 5.9 q More than $150,000 6. What is your political party affiliation? (Check one box.)

6.1 q Democratic 6.2 q Republican 6.3 q Libertarian 6.4 q Other (minor party, independent, etc.)

6.5 q Not registered to vote 7. How many of the following motorized vehicles do you currently own?

7.1 q ___ Street motorcycles 7.2 q ___ Off-highway motorcycles 7.3 q ___ ATVs 7.4 q ___ Dual-sport motorcycles 7.5 q ___ Side-by-sides 8. If you included a dual-sport motorcycle in your response to question 7, did you modify it to make it street legal in your state? (If you, or a previous owner, added lights and/or other accessories to an off-highway motorcycle to make it street legal, answer “Yes.” If your dual-sport motorcycle was originally manufactured for on-highway use, answer “No.”) 8.1 8.2

q Yes q No

9. How many miles did you ride your dual-sport motorcycles, off-highway motorcycles and/or ATVs last year? (Check one box.)

9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5

q 0-499 q 500-999 q 1,000-1,499 q 1,500-1,999 q More than 2,000

10. Are your off-highway motorcycles or ATVs registered in your state as part of an off-highway vehicle program?

10.1 10.2

q Yes q No

11. Your off-highway vehicles or dual-sport motorcycles are primarily used for: (Check one box.)

11.1 11.2 11.3

q Competition events q Recreational events q Backcountry touring

___ Off-highway motorcycle events ___ Dual-sport events ___ ATV events ___ Adventure tour events ___ Side-by-side events

13.1 q 13.2 q 13.3 q 13.4 q 13.5 q 13.6 q 13.7 q

Enduro Motocross Hare & hound/hare scrambles Observed trials Flat track Other ________________________________ Don’t compete

14. How would you divide your recreational off-highway mileage among these five areas? (Your answers should total 100%.)

14.1 ___% 14.2 ___% 14.3 ___% 14.4 ___% 14.5 ___%

National forest Federal Bureau of Land Management State land County/city/local public facility Private land

15. How far do you travel one way to the place you ride most often?

15.1 q Less than 50 miles 15.2 q 50-100 miles 15.3 q More than 100 miles 16. How many people, including yourself, are usually in your group when off-highway riding?

16.1 q 1or 2 16.2 q 3 or 4 16.3 q 5 or more

17. How much do you and your group usually spend for food, accommodations and fuel on one of these trips?

17.1 q 17.2 q 17.3 q 17.4 q

$0-$99 $100-$199 $200-$299 $300 or more

18. How many gallons of fuel did you use for riding off-highway last year?

18.1 q Less than 50 18.2 q 50 to 74 18.3 q 75 to 100 18.4 q More than 100 19. Do you feel that special fees are an acceptable method for funding

construction, operation and maintenance of recreational riding opportunities?

19.1 q Yes 19.2 q No

20. If your answer to question 19 is “yes,” which method do you prefer?

(Check one box.)

20.1 q Annual registration fee 20.2 q Per site, day-use fee 20.3 q Other

21. What do you feel is an acceptable annual registration fee per off-highway vehicle (motorcycle or ATV)? (Check one box.)

21.1 q 21.2 q 21.3 q 21.4 q

$1-$15 $16-$30 $31-$50 More than $50

Continued on page 16 July 2012

15

Off-Highway Issues Survey 2012 (continued) 22. What do you feel is an acceptable day-use admission fee per person?

(Check one box.)

22.1 22.2 22.3

q q q

$1-$15 $16-$30 More than $30

23. Of the following issues, check the box on the LEFT of that which you

feel was the most important issue that motorcycle and ATV enthusiasts faced over the last two years. (Check one box.)

23.1

q

23.2 23.3 23.4

q q q

23.5 q 23.6 q 23.7 q 23.8 q 23.9 q 23.10 q 23.11 q

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)/lead law...........................................................................24.1 q Excessive motorcycle sound ....................................................24.2 q Local threats to privately owned OHV riding areas .............24.3 q Global harmonization of manufacturing and safety standards...................................................................24.4 q State-mandated restrictions on OHV use by children ........24.5 q U.S. Forest Service route designation process ....................24.6 q Health-insurance benefits discrimination...............................24.7 q Supporting rider education ........................................................24.8 q EPA emissions regulations.........................................................24.9 q Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ATV safety hearings..............................................................................24.10 q Ethanol-blended gasoline (i.e., E15) use in OHVs ...............24.11 q

24. In question 23, please check the box to the RIGHT for each issue with which you aren’t familiar.

25. Of the following issues, check the box on the LEFT of that on which you think the AMA spent the most time. (Check one box.)

25.1

q

25.2

q

25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6

q q q q

25.7 q 25.8 q 25.9 q 25.10 q 25.11 q 25.12 q 25.13 q 25.14 q 25.15 q

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ATV safety hearings ..........................................................................................26.1 q Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)/lead law...........................................................................26.2 q EPA emissions regulations.........................................................26.3 q Ethanol-blended gasoline (i.e., E15) ........................................26.4 q Excessive motorcycle sound ....................................................26.5 q Global harmonization of manufacturing and safety standards .......................................................................................26.6 q Health-insurance benefits discrimination...............................26.7 q Inadequate sentences in serious traffic crashes ..................26.8 q Local threats to privately owned OHV riding areas .............26.9 q Motorcycle insurance cancellations/premium increases ...26.10 q Motorcycle-only checkpoints....................................................26.11 q State mandatory helmet laws ...................................................26.12 q State-mandated restrictions on OHV use by children ........26.13 q Supporting rider education ........................................................26.14 q U.S. Forest Service route designation process ....................26.15 q

26. In question 25, please check the one box to the RIGHT of the issue on which you feel the AMA should have spent the most time.

27. Which of the following terms best describes your opinion of the AMA’s Government Relations Department?

27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4

q q q q

Highly effective Moderately effective Not very effective Ineffective

28. In your opinion, where should the AMA’s Government Relations Department be concentrating its off-highway vehicle efforts? (Check one box.)

28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5

q q q q q

Federal agencies (Forest Service, BLM, EPA) U.S. Congress State legislatures State agencies (DNR, DEP, state park dept.)

County/local agencies

29. Are you a member of a formal or informal riding club or organization?

29.1 q Yes, and it is AMA chartered 29.2 q Yes, but it isn’t AMA chartered 29.3 q Yes, but I don’t know if it is AMA chartered 29.4 q Not a member of any club 30. Did you participate in any volunteer trail maintenance or riding area clean-up projects last year?

30.1 30.2

16

q q

Yes No

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

31. If your answer to question 30 is “yes,” with which of these groups did you volunteer? (Check all that apply.)

31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 31.6

q q q q q q

U.S. Forest Service Federal Bureau of Land Management Other federal agencies State agency County/local agency Private property

32. Did you contribute financially to the AMA’s government relations efforts

(Defender membership, AMPAC, etc.) in 2010 or 2011? (Check all that apply.)

32.1 32.2 32.3

q q q

2010 2011 Didn’t contribute

33. Of the issues listed below, which do you believe has contributed the most to the loss of riding areas? (Check one box only.)

33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.5 33.6 33.7

q q q q q q q

Excessive sound Endangered species habitat Irresponsible riders Wilderness designation Resource damage Trespass Land development

34. Check all of the motorized recreation advocate activities in which you participated last year.

34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 34.5

q q q q q

34.6 34.7

q q

34.8 q 34.9 q 34.10 q

Testified at a public hearing Attended a public hearing but didn’t testify Sent a letter to a politician or a government agency Made a phone call to a politician or government agency Wrote a letter to the editor or otherwise commented through the press Attended a public land land-management meeting Used email to communicate with riders or to send messages to a politician or a government agency Applied for a trails grant Participated in party politics or a campaign Didn’t participate in any of these activities

35. Under what age are governmental bans on the operation of off-highway motorcycles and ATVs by minors appropriate? (Check one box.)

35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5

q q q q q

4 years and under 8 years and under 12 years and under 16 years and under No mandated age bans are acceptable

36. Which methods of addressing youth OHV safety concerns do you feel are appropriate? (Check all that apply.)

36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 36.6

q q q q q q

Rider fit (must demonstrate ability to reach all controls, etc.)

Age/engine size (cc) based limits Mandatory rider training classes Mandatory helmet use Adult supervision requirement No restriction

Completed surveys should be mailed to: American Motorcyclist Association Attn: Off-Highway Survey 13515 Yarmouth Dr. Pickerington, OH 43147

Optional AMA Number __________________________________________________ Name _________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________ City_________________ State_______ Zip Code _____________________ Daytime Telephone _____________________________________________ Please send AMA Government Relations alerts to the following email address _______________________________________________________

STATEWAT C H ARIZONA House Bill 2073, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Weiers (R-Glendale), extends the period of time the state has to receive U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval to exempt motorcycles in the Phoenix area from vehicle emissions requirements from July 1, 2012, to July 2014. Gov. Janice Brewer signed the bill into law on April 11.

CALIFORNIA Assembly Bill 1047, introduced by Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore), would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies that receive National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grant money intended for a motorcycle safety programs from using the money for motorcycle-only checkpoints. As of early May, the legislation was scheduled to be heard in the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee. See AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights for the latest information.

KANSAS House Bill 2459, sponsored by Rep. Tom Sloan (R-Lawrence), provides that applicants for class M licenses who have

RIGHTS

completed prior motorcycle safety training in accordance with Department of Defense instruction 6055.04 are not required to complete further written and driving testing.

Gov. Sam Brownback signed the bill into law on March 21.

KENTUCKY House Bill 328, sponsored by Rep. Royce Adams (D-Dry Ridge), provides that the instruction permit to operate a motorcycle shall be valid for one year and may be renewed one time. A person whose motorcycle instruction permit has expired may apply to the circuit clerk to receive a motorcycle operator’s license or endorsement if the person presents proof of successful completion of a motorcycle safety education course approved by the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. Gov. Steve Beshear signed the bill into law on April 11.

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

motorcycle-only checkpoints. The bill does not restrict any other type of checkpoint or roadblock that is lawful and is established and operated in accordance with the provisions of the U.S. Constitution and the Missouri Constitution. It was voted out of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on April 30 and sent to the full Senate for consideration.

OREGON In response to public outcry over a proposed closure of thousands of miles of long-established travel routes, the U.S. Forest Service has taken the rare step of withdrawing a recently released Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The withdrawal was announced in an April 17 letter to the editor from Forest Supervisor Monica Schwalbach.

VIRGINIA House Bill 97, sponsored by Del. Tony Wilt (R-Harrisonburg), provides that two motorcycles (two-wheeled) may ride abreast while traveling in a lane designated for one vehicle. Gov. Bob McDonnell signed the bill into law on Feb. 28. The new law takes effect on July 1.

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RIDING DISPATCH FROM THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE

to careful analysis and scientific study, community and individual input, and the efforts of hundreds of dedicated volunteers, this area is being conserved and managed for everyone’s future enjoyment.

Riding In Summit County, Colo. By Mark Newby

18

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Gold Run Gulch and Brown Gulch along the slopes of Brewery Mountain. Vistas of the Ten-Mile Range are visible to the west and the Williams Fork Range to the north.

Outside of the Golden Horseshoe, you may access routes all the way to the headwaters of the Swan River, climb over Glacier Mountain and travel all the way to the historic mining towns of Saints John and Montezuma. Dual-sport and full-sized vehicle enthusiasts may then access Forest Route 5 back to Colorado 6 and return to Silverthorne or the Front Range via Loveland Pass.

For the long-distance dual-sport adventurer, it is possible to go south from the Golden Horseshoe over Georgia Pass and travel into the Pike National Forest, reaching U.S. Highway 285 to return to the Front Range via Kenosha Pass, or continue your adventure into South Park and beyond.

The Golden Horseshoe is a destination for many types of use—isolated yet accessible, full of history and wild scenery, and a jumping off point for vast areas of the Rocky Mountain adventure. Thanks

Mark Newby is an AMA member from Northglenn, Colo.

If You Go...

Be aware of other users, and obey the rules of the road.

• There are many areas restricted to mountain-bike-only use, and motorized users must observe and follow all signage indicating restricted use.

• Be legal and registered in accordance with the laws of the state of Colorado, whether you are dual-sport riding or taking advantage of the nonlicensed motorcycle routes. See AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > State Laws.

Golden Horseshoe Recreation Area Ti g er

Gold Run Gulch

CO 9

Ro

ad

Lat: N39 31 18.5 Lon: W105 57 34.7

es

tH ills

Tiger Road East

B !

Fo r

Many of us travel far and wide to find new places to ride. Sometimes, events and timing combine to give us a ride that can be as exciting as a trip halfway around the world, but with all the comforts of home.

For me, that discovery occurred at Summit County, Colorado’s White River National Forest.

At 2.3 million acres, the White River National Forest, which recently finalized its federally mandated Travel Management Plan, is the largest and most-visited national forest in Colorado. It is also one of the most accessible, thanks to the I-70 corridor through the center of Colorado.

In fact, most people think of the forest as being on the other side of the state, but when you exit the Eisenhower Tunnel you are in the Dillon Ranger District, soon to arrive at a spectacular multiple-use destination for hiking, off-highway vehicle, mountain bike and equestrian use. It’s the Golden Horseshoe.

The Golden Horseshoe is a historic mining area located east of state Highway 9 between Silverthorne and Breckenridge.

It is most easily accessed for OHV recreation by traveling 69 miles west on I-70 and turning south on Colorado 9 at the Frisco exit, (exit 203). Continue 6.7 miles south on Colorado 9, and then turn east on Tiger Road for 4.8 miles to the parking area, which is near the historic mining community of Tiger.

There are 84.6 miles of roads and trails in the Golden Horseshoe; 46 miles accessible by a full-sized vehicle, 32 miles by non-licensed motorcycle, 27.6 miles by all-terrain vehicle and 69 miles by mountain bike. There have been 15.5 miles of roads and trails closed under the Travel Management Plan.

Many routes are shared-use.

Motorcycles, ATVs and mountain bikes may use any route designated for a fullsized vehicle, motorcycles and mountain bikes may use any route designated for a full-sized vehicle or ATV, and mountain bikes may use any route designated for motorized use.

The Golden Horseshoe features views of old mining equipment, buildings where the miners lived, and intermediatechallenge roads accessing Galena Gulch,

Route to Georgia Pass

n Fr e

I

0

0.25

0.5

Gu ch

lc h

1 Miles

Roa

d lo

r we

FSV - Full Size Vehicle MC - non-licensed dirtbike - OHV registration required ATV - All Terrain Vehicle - OHV registration required MTB = Mountain Bike

Legend Golden Horseshoe OHV Routes MC, MTB (No ATV) FSV, MC, ATV, MTB

Map copyright Black Ice Geospatial LLC - 970-480-7740

Mountain Bike Only

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If you searched YouTube for “motorcyclist” last fall, you likely saw, and were inspired by, the “TC Bank Dream Rangers.” The video, produced as a commercial for TC Bank, is an emotionally rousing tribute to the dedication of a group of 80-something Taiwanese men who became disenchanted with their station in life and recaptured their vitality through a circumnavigation ride around their island.

While the commercial uses actors, the riders who inspired it are very real, and Peter Starr, who most know as the director of the classic motorcycling movie “Take it to the Limit,” has ridden with them. This fall, Starr wants to ride with them again and take 10 other motorcyclists with him.

We caught up with Starr to talk about this latest project.

American Motorcyclist: What about this video sucked you in?

Peter Starr: When I saw this video, I was in tears. I’m a cancer survivor for eight years, and a lot of what I do now is talk to groups about battling cancer, getting old and still having a life, having a purpose. The stories depicted in that video are the living proof of the message that I convey. I just said to myself that I have to go ride with these guys. At the time, I had been riding motorcycles for 52 years, from my racing days on Triumphs to now.

So, I rode with them, but as an observer of their attitude of life.

I found that, in Taiwan, they encourage their old people to continue living their dreams. In America, generally speaking, we dismiss our old people quicker and easier. I want to say to people, ‘Guys, just because you turn 70 doesn’t mean that life stops.’

In Taiwan, they have a group called

the Hondao Foundation, a charitable foundation that helps old people live their dreams. The group has organized these older riders, known as “the Grand Riders,” and now the ride they do every year is an organized event.

AM: Are you doing the ride this year?

Starr: This year, I want to take 10 American motorcyclists with me to Taiwan to participate in the two-day Grand Riders event. We’ll fly into Taipei, leaving Los Angeles on Sept. 24. From Taipei, we’ll take the bullet train to Kaohsiung, rent some Kymco scooters—the big 700cc Kymcos—ride them five days through the country, the mountains, see the lakes, ride along the sea. The itinerary also includes a full-day ride with the Grand Riders around northern Taiwan, followed by a presentation in Taipei of a new movie about the Grand Riders.

AM: Is riding effective as an anti-aging tool?

Starr: I’m trying to put together the resources to study the general health of people who do ride vs. those who don’t.

I’m 69 years old, and I ride my scooter around Santa Monica and my Vstrom when I go on longer rides. It keeps my hand-eye coordination in shape and it keeps me more engaged, more alert. It helps your balance. That’s what I’m hoping a scientific study can show.

AM: If someone wants to go on this ride, what do they do?

Starr: Well, they should be “age appropriate,” and what that means is 60 or older, and you have to have an international driver’s license. Other than that, they just need the resources to cover the costs of the trip. If someone is interested, they should contact me at peter@starrfilm.com.

Photo Starr: Ian Grant Photography

Peter Starr

RIDING

Up to Harley-Davidson’s Willie G. Davidson. After nearly 50 years as head of styling, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer retired from the Motor Company on April 30.

Down to six kids on dirtbikes who did wonders for the reputations of off-road riders everywhere when they allegedly attempted to rob a seventh kid in Milton, Ga. Up to auto-clutch maker Rekluse for being named 2012 National Exporter of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Up to the Motorcycle Mall, which just expanded to 108,000 square-feet of motoshopping nirvana in Belleville, N.J. The massive dealership added 15 employees as part of the expansion.

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Up to Paul Rodden and Larry Murray, two longtime motorcyclists who have never stopped doing what they love to do, and are featured in the recent documentary “Fifty Years of Kicks.” Search for it on YouTube.

Thanks for 30 GREAT Years!

Down to the Clearwater National Forest travel plan, which closed about 200 miles of trails and 1 million acres to motorized travel in Idaho.

Up to the late Terry Pratt, a motorcycle industry icon and vintage motocrosser. Pratt, 67, passed on to that great MX track in the sky on April 15.

Godspeed, Terry.

Meet your friends NEXT year:

June 3 - 8, 2013

www.americade.com

518-798-7888

2/24/12 12:18 PM

The AMA has launched an online survey exclusively for woman motorcyclists. “How Many? How Strong?” is a brief 16-question poll that gives women riders the opportunity to share their opinions on topics such as riding style, how and where they ride, and more.

The survey is available at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com/HowManyHowStrong.aspx.

“Women riders represent a significant and increasing segment of the motorcycling community,” says AMA Marketing Manager Tigra Tsujikawa. “The AMA is committed to supporting these women across all ages and skill levels, and we encourage all women passionate about motorcycling to participate in the survey.”

The How Many? How Strong? survey is designed to provide a look at modern women motorcyclists and co-riders. Women can choose to participate anonymously if they desire, and any personal information volunteered will not be shared, sold or marketed.

The survey comes as the association prepares to welcome hundreds of women riders at the sixth AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference, which draws participants from as far away as Japan and Australia. The 2012 event is July 26-29 in Carson City, Nev., and the theme of “Ride Well” focuses on educating, encouraging, inspiring and mentoring women in the lifestyle and sport of motorcycling.

For more on the conference, see page 46.

Ask the MSF

ENGINE BRAKING OR NO ENGINE BRAKING? Q: When I’m coming to a stop, should I let out the clutch between shifts, using the engine braking in addition to the brakes to help me slow down? Of the guys I ride with, some say this is a great technique, but others insist I’m wearing out my clutch or transmission.

A: Engine braking can help slow you down from higher speeds, but the technique has an advantage even at lower speeds. Because you’re downshifting as you slow, you’ll be in the right gear in case you need to make a quick move (such as accelerating away from a tailgater) or in case the light changes to green before you come to a complete stop. If you were in high gear and simply held the clutch lever in while braking to a stop, you would be spending extra time making several downshifts to reach the right gear for accelerating quickly.

If you’re slowing using only engine braking, be sure to use a light tap of your foot on the brake lever to actuate the

brake light and alert those behind.

You should not worry about damaging the transmission. As long as the clutch is disengaged when you shift, the transmission does not care whether you’re doing a normal downshift or a downshift related to engine braking.

However, it is true you might wear the clutch out slightly sooner from frequent engine braking, because the clutch will be spending more time in the friction zone, but whether you want to consider that “damage” or normal wear is up to you.

You can minimize the time spent in the friction zone by doing a quick throttle blip to bring the revs up a bit before releasing the clutch lever.

Finally, some riders simply like the additional feeling of being in control that engine braking can provide.

For more, see MSF-USA.org.

Photo Tom Bear Photography

‘How Many? How Strong?’

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RIDING

Want to be an AMA tester?

E-mail submissions@ama-cycle.org for an application.

AMA MEMBER TESTED Shoei Neotec

Sizes: XS-XXL MSRP: $662.99 Details: www.shoei-helmets.com A modular helmet looks like a standard full-face street helmet, but the chin bar, along with the face shield, are attached by a hinge, allowing the front of the helmet to rotate upward. It’s a brilliant concept, when properly executed, allowing full protection when needed but ultimate ventilation and visibility when those qualities are preferred.

Unfortunately, when not properly executed, you get a helmet that is heavy, loud, hot, and not easy to operate.

That suggests that when looking for a good modular, you start at the top.

Shoei has a reputation

M E M B E R T E S T ED

for making great helmets, and they’ve just introduced a new modular, the Neotec, a revamped version of the Multitec model.

After about 3,000 miles with a Neotec in weather ranging from 20 degrees to the mid-80s, I conclude the Neotec performs optimally among modular helmets.

First, the Neotec’s flip-up chin bar is solid and rugged. With a slight push of the easy-to-find button, the chin bar smoothly opens and locks into position. It feels good, like it’s sliding on chrome rails, not swinging on a plastic hinge.

The Neotec features what Shoei calls a “Vortex Generator” on the chin bar.

When flipped down, it reduces wind noise and provides for additional airflow around the helmet.

While closed, the eye port provides a large field of vision. The Pinlock Anti-Fog system’s pins are initially distracting, but you get used to it, and the system’s anti-fogging function works great.

Ventilation on the closed lid is provided from an easy-to-manage intake vent with three positions: closed, halfway open and fully open. The Neotec also features an exhaust vent that can be open or closed.

In colder conditions, the helmet seals out air around the face shield and, with the use of the supplied chin curtain, will keep you comfortable in temps above 35 degrees or so. Once in the lower temps, though, remember to wear a balaclava.

The Neotec also comes with an easyto-use, flip-down internal visor, which is dark enough to bounce even the brightest rays of sunlight, but also transparent enough to safely see the surroundings.

In addition to replaceable liner sections of varying girth, the Shoei Neotec’s size range is divided across three unique shells. This means the sizes are not only spot-on, but they are, to a degree, customizable by swapping out different liner sections. Regarding weight, it’s a comfortable load, with the medium weighing less than 4 pounds.

If you’re looking for the latest hybrid helmet packed with one of the smoothest operating chinbar flip mechanisms currently on the market, the Shoei Neotec will not disappoint.—Ron Lieback

RIDING Bohn Bodyguard System Pants Sizes: XXS-XXXL Styles: Lycra, CoolAir, WinterThermal MSRP: $159.00 Details: www.actionstation.com Like health insurance, motorcycle armor is something you hope you never have to use, but are glad you have it when you need it. However, I have never been able to find a pair of armored pants that I could comfortably wear all day. I was eager to try a pair of Bohn’s Bodyguard System Pants to see if they were the solution.

Unlike conventional armored pants, the Bohn pants resemble Lycra long underwear worn under your street clothes.

Protection is provided by 3/8-inch thick rubber pads at the hips, knees and thighs.

The kneepad extends about 8 inches below the knee, providing protection for most of your lower leg. Along with the hip and thigh pads, anything that is

going to hit the ground when you crash is protected. In addition, strategically placed vents keep you cool and reduce sweating.

While intended to fit snuggly, the Bohn pants were remarkably easy to put on and required no adjusting. The armor was right where I wanted it and stayed there.

They are generously sized. You want a snug fit to keep the armor in place, so err on the side of caution by buying too small rather than too large. I had some concerns about adding armor under my blue jeans, but again, no problem, it was not even obvious that I was wearing armor.

On a 90-degree Texas day, I spent 8 hours riding and even stopped to take a 2-mile walk while wearing the Bohn pants. While riding, I pretty much forgot I was wearing them. When off the bike and walking, the kneepads shifted, and the movement was mildly annoying, but did not result in any chafing.

My only complaint is the optional thigh pads were difficult to install. I would prefer they just came installed to save the hassle.

Priced to compete against the lowestpriced traditional armored pants, the Bohn Bodyguard System Pants are an affordable, comfortable and practical alternative.—Don Birk

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OFF-ROAD DEMO RIDES COME TO AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS Ride The New With The Old

How can you make a perfect day at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 20-22 in Lexington, Ohio, even more perfect?

Include off-road demo rides on Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course’s infield.

KTM will have several of the company’s new full-sized XC and XCW off-road bikes on location for demos.

Mark Hyde, KTM’s Ride Orange manager and a former AMA National Hare Scrambles champ and International Six Days Enduro gold medalist, will manage the off-road demo area.

“This will be a great opportunity for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days attendees to ride some of the latest off-road technology,” Hyde says.

“We will have fresh-from-thefactory 2013 models for potential buyers to ride, and I’m sure they’ll come away impressed.”

You need to be over 18 years old, have photo identification and bring, at minimum, a helmet, eye protection, gloves, motorcycle boots and long pants.

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So, you’re heading out for a long weekend at your favorite trail system.

Bikes? Check. Fuel? Check. Gear? Check.

Food and drinks? Double check.

Now, you can stock up for less at everyone’s favorite wholesale club, Sam’s Club. The warehouse buying club is offering AMA members a $10 to $25 gift card, depending on the club level, when you sign up or renew your Sam’s Club membership. Be the envy of the trailhead when you roll in with your 5-gallon tub of sourdough pretzels.

For the discount coupon, see AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Membership Info > Member Discount Codes.

RIDE TO WORK: JUNE 18

Motorcycles Are Practical, Too Look for more motorcycles and scooters on the road this year on June 18, the 21st annual Ride to Work Day. On that day, an estimated 1 million riders around the world will become twowheeled commuters to help demonstrate that riding is an efficient, economical and beneficial form of personal transportation.

Participant-riders are of all ages, occupations and from all walks of life.

Commuting showcases the positive value of motorcycles and scooters for transportation.

For hundreds of thousands of workers, motorcycles and scooters are an economical, efficient and socially responsible form of mobility that saves energy, protects the environment and provides a range of other public benefits.

American Motorcyclist has long advocated the practical benefits of motorcycling. The August 1975 issue includes one of many examples. In it, AMA member Richard Peterson preached the good word with the guest editorial “Ride!”

Peterson provided strong arguments for riding more—much more—and addressed common excuses, from weather to kids to parking to vacations. However, he wrote, “based on past experiences, things aren’t likely to change much except for special cases. But how about for you? Maybe you’re special.”

As we remind ourselves of riding’s benefits with Ride to Work Day on June 18, hopefully you’ll get out and do something special—that is, if you aren’t already out doing it anyway.

American Motorcyclist is on Google Books. To browse for free, see Books.Google.com.

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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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4 QUESTIONS WITH… Red Bull KTM’s Ryan Dungey By Jim Kimball This has been a pivotal season for 2010 AMA Supercross Champion Ryan Dungey, who left long-time team Suzuki to join former boss Roger DeCoster at Red Bull KTM. His Supercross season derailed by a practice injury, Dungey still accomplished a lot, winning four races and giving Red Bull KTM its first win in the Supercross class and finishing third on the season.

We caught up with the 22-year-old just after his win at the season finale in Las Vegas, Nev., to get his thoughts on KTM, Supercross and the outdoor nationals.

American Motorcyclist: Do you consider the 2012 AMA Supercross season a success?

Ryan Dungey: Absolutely, it was a success. You can always look at something and say that you wanted more, or wished that you could have done better, but you need to be satisfied with doing

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your best, and then moving forward. You set your goals high, and do the best that you can to achieve them—but sometimes you are dealt things that you simply have no control over.

We had some great success right off the bat when we won at the second round in Phoenix, and then backed that up with a win in Atlanta. Those wins were not only a big step for me, but also for the team.

We racked up some more podiums before my injury, which set us back for six weeks. Coming back after my injury and winning in Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas was obviously great. While you always want it to be better, this was a great start, and a big step in the right direction.

AM: What brought you to the Red Bull KTM team for 2012?

Dungey: It was really a couple things.

KTM has been very successful in Europe,

Photo Jeff Kardas

RACING

and has achieved so many World Motocross Championships there, and I know that they wanted to come over here and do the same thing.

Of course Roger [DeCoster] joined KTM the year before, along with Ian [Harrison] the engine guy. I saw their plan right from the start; even back in 2011, I knew what they were trying to do at KTM. I was able to see all the hard work that they were putting in, and what they wanted to accomplish. My coming here had a lot to do with their will to win, and desire to accomplish what it takes to do that. As a rider, you try to align yourself with the best team, and the best people. They were out to win, and wanted to do everything that it took to do so—the sky is the limit.

To be able to be a part of this, a team that wants to go to the top, is awesome.

I believed what the guys at KTM told me, and they have been true to their word.

AM: What motivated you as you came back out and raced the last few rounds?

Dungey: There is always that saying that you are only as good as your last race, so we are always looking for that next win… Taking third in the championship is cool, and a very good accomplishment for a new bike and with all the great athletes in this series, but I want to win races and titles. Sometimes you just don’t win, so you focus on the positive and what you can learn to take that next race win and championship.

Taking the final win and third in the series was great, but I wanted to win!

AM: How are you feeling about 2012 AMA Motocross?

Dungey: With KTM so dominant in Europe, that will help—whether it’s feedback, bike settings, notes, anything at all. It should be helpful to learn from all that they do over there to stay so dominant. We’ve already had a couple great weeks of testing and the bike is shaping up to be really good—it’s already a great bike based on what we did in Supercross.

There were a few times that we went back to the drawing board, but we’ve always pinpointed areas of improvement. I definitely give a lot of credit to the guys for working so hard on bike set-up. They did an awesome job for Supercross, and will for motocross too.

It’s a bummer that [Ryan] Villopoto [who suffered a season-ending injury during Supercross] is out, as he is the reigning champion. We had a great season last year, and I value his competiveness. But there is always going to be someone there, and it could be someone that really surprises you. As a racer I want to race the best, and I look forward to a good fight.

RACING

FAMILY ENDUROS: FUN FOR EVERYONE

Know The Rules

Big Thrills, Low Pressure

Dirtbikes and families are an awesome combination, and some of the best events for families that ride are AMAsanctioned family enduros.

A family enduro takes the enduro concept and simplifies it so new riders and young riders can learn the ropes without the pressure of a high-intensity race. It’s a scaled back version of the real thing that can lay the foundation for a future of full-on racing or just serve as a unique trail-riding experience.

The concept has even been tested on the national circuit this year.

On April 21 in West Point, Tenn., the North Alabama Trail Riders Association held a family enduro the day before the Rad Dad National Enduro, round four of the 2012 AMA Rekluse National Enduro Championship Series, presented by Moose Racing. Sponsored by KTM, the family enduro was a special treat for riders. KTM and Husaberg factory racers came out to help run the checkpoints and hand out awards.

Perhaps best of all, family enduros are not just for kids.

There are classes for all ages. Parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents are invited to ride, either by themselves or to accompany a younger rider.

Check out NationalEnduro.com for which national rounds will also hold a family enduro. Make sure you also check AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Events > Search All Events, Races for family enduros in your area.

Although individual events vary, here are some general rules and procedures for most family enduros: • Motorcycles need a quiet exhaust and spark arrester.

• Riders start in groups of five, leaving every minute. The minute you leave is called your “row.”

• You can request a particular row, but it’s first-come, first-served.

If you are riding with family or friends, your group will be placed on the row nearest your request that can accommodate all riders.

• Family enduros should not be treated as a warm-up race. The course will include riders of varying skill levels and ages.

• Courses are designed to be fun first and challenging second.

• Most family enduros will run the same loop twice.

• Typical class structure: BPeeWee, PeeWee, Intermediate Kid, Vet Kid, B Girls, Vet Girls/Women, 14-39, 40-54, 55+, Trail Rider.

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STEWARD BAYLOR TOPS CAJUN CLASSIC NATIONAL ENDURO

KTM Support Rider Paces The Field Steward Baylor continues to gather momentum in the AMA Rekluse National Enduro Championship Series, taking his fourth win of the season under extremely hot and humid conditions at this weekend’s Cajun Classic National Enduro near Forest Hill, La. Baylor kicked off the six-test, 73-mile race by posting the fastest time in the opening test, topping New Jersey KTM rider Jesse Groemm and eight-time national champ Michael Lafferty in the fast and flowing 10-mile section.

Unlike the Tennessee round, where Baylor swept all six tests, the South Carolina native had to work for his win in Louisiana, as Lafferty claimed the fastest times in both the second and fourth tests. In fact, Lafferty held the overall lead heading into the fifth test, but Baylor poured it on over the final two sections to take the win by a 33-second margin over Lafferty.

Consistency was the key to Lafferty’s runner-up finish, as he was either first or second in every test except for the opening one, where he was third. The Husaberg rider now sits second overall in the series standings, 32-points behind Baylor.

FAR Husqvarna’s Andrew DeLong claimed his first-ever podium in national enduro competition by taking third, holding off a late charge by Groemm to do so. — Shan Moore

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PONCA CITY, OKLA., JOINS AMA AMATEUR MOTOCROSS CALENDAR Elevating The Sport For years a premier amateur motocross race in Ponca City, Okla., has drawn some of the country’s top amateur racers, and for 2012, the July 21-26 event is on the AMA amateur motocross calendar.

Promoted by RPM Sports, the amateur event will include both AMA amateur and Pro-Am motocross classes.

Allen McWilliams, RPM Sports founder and a member of AMA Congress—the independent rule-making body that ensures the AMA amateur rulebook is the fairest, most-comprehensive rulebook in the nation—says AMA affiliation is important to strengthen amateur motocross in his region of the country.

“RPM Sports has been an AMA supporter and AMA promoter since the 1990s,” McWilliams says. “When we got the opportunity to become the promoter at Ponca City, we wanted to make sure it was an AMA event. For us, it is a win-win situation. One of our goals is to grow the AMA in the South Central and Western part of the country. An AMA sanction provides a consistent rules package, the proper class structure and the third-party validation that are valued by racers, sponsors and manufacturers who pay event contingency. We really wouldn’t want to go any other direction.”

For more information on the 2012 Ponca City amateur motocross race, see RPMSportsOnline.com. For more information about AMA motocross, see AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Racing or email mxracing@ama-cycle.org.

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And‌ A classic field meet on the infield!

Enjoy all those great field meet games that test your skills and get the laughs! Ride the plank, bite the weenie, slow race! Have fun, win prizes!

Learn more on the World Wide Web: AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com

RACING

17 Rounds In 18 Weeks

It’s the announcement you’ve been waiting for to plan your 2013 winter travel schedule. The 2013 AMA Supercross Championship schedule is out.

The world’s premier stadium, off-road motorcycle racing series will feature a 17-race season, visiting the country’s most recognizable stadiums in 10 different states, as well as Toronto.

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AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman says AMA Supercross is the goal that many amateur racers strive to achieve.

“We are looking forward to working with Feld Motor Sports to produce another brilliant year of racing, and the 2013 schedule is perfectly suited to showcase what has become the most fan-friendly stadium-based motorsport event in the world,” Dingman says. “For many amateur racers around the country, AMA Supercross represents the pinnacle

of their professional dreams, and we’re proud of our work with Feld Motor Sports to elevate this professional championship, as well the AMA-sanctioned amateur competition that will get them there.”

More info: AMASupercross.com.

MOTO ARMORY BACKS AMA VINTAGE MOTOCROSS GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Signs On As Presenting Sponsor

Moto Armory will be the presenting sponsor of the 2012 AMA Motocross Vintage Grand Championships. The races are part of the vintage competition program at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days July 20-22 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

“Moto Armory is the leader in commercially available museum-quality vintage motocross bike restorations, which makes them a perfect fit for the AMA Vintage Grand Championships,” says AMA Director of Operations Jack Penton. “Their display is wonderful eye candy for racers of all ages, and their presence elevates the event and brings additional support to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.”

The event is a fundraiser for the nonprofit AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and

draws everyone from first-time vintage competitors to some of the country’s best racers on vintage, post-vintage and non-current motorcycles.

A variety of skill-, age- and motorcycle-based classes are available.

Sign up at AMAVintageMotorcycleDays. com > Register to Race.

“AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days and the AMA Vintage Grand Championships are without question one of the best times you can have around motorcycles,” says Moto Armory’s Tom Reese. “We are excited to sponsor the motocross portion of the national championship event with the AMA Motocross Vintage Grand Championships, presented by Moto Armory. We will be on location in full force and welcome racers and fans of all disciplines to check out our display.”

Photos Supercross: Jeff Kardas; Vintage: Corey Mays; Endurocross and MiniMotoSX: Drew Ruiz

AMA SUPERCROSS SCHEDULE SET FOR 2013

RACING

RYAN ABRIGO WINS BIG AT MINIMOTOSX World’s Largest Minibike Race

COLTON HAAKER WINS ENDUROCROSS OPENER

Defending Champ Crashes On Start Colton Haaker got his first GEICO AMA EnduroCross main event win at the 2012 series opening inside the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., by leading every lap of the main event.

The Lucas Oil-backed Kawasaki rider withstood heavy pressure from Kawasaki’s Justin Soule for the duration but never put a wheel wrong.

KTM’s Taddy Blazusiak, the defending champ, came back from a first-turn

crash to finish third. After going undefeated in 2011, Blazusiak had an uncharacteristically tough day and crashed a few times in practice and during his heat race, which forced him to the semi.

Beta’s Cody Webb finished fourth ahead of Taylor Robert, who rounded out the top five.

The Women’s class was won by KTM’s Maria Forsburg. Kacy Martinez passed Forsburg early, making it interesting but a mistake forced her to settle for second.

Louise Forsley finished third.

More info: EnduroCross.com.

The ninth annual MiniMotoSX at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., saw BBRbacked Ryan Abrigo win both the 12-Inch Expert and World finals to walk away with $8,000 in purse money for an evening of minibike racing.

Abrigo had an intense battle with France’s Mike Valade in the premier 12-Inch Expert class, but Valade ultimately made a mistake and finished third behind Willy Browning. In the 10-Inch Expert class, Michael Blose took the win over Abrigo and Browning.

Abrigo also won the World Final, which combines the top riders from Expert, Youth and Women’s classes, as well as top international riders. Browning and Valade again finished second and third.

HALL OF FAME

SCOT HARDEN’S KTM 660 A Desert Sled For The Dakar Rally Though known primarily for his success as a racer aboard Husqvarnas, particularly early in his career, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Scot Harden has also seen success aboard other brands, including KTM. Harden served as team manager and a rider for the 2004 and 2005 U.S. Red Bull KTM Dakar Rally teams. This KTM 660, which Harden raced in the 2005 Dakar Rally, was built from the ground up to do one thing: go fast across massive swaths of sand in excruciating heat.

It worked, and so did Harden, who

at age 48 finished 17th out of 250 motorcycle competitors in the 2005 rally.

Interesting bits on this low-volume racer include mounts for the Dakar’s rollchart, auxiliary gas tanks to improve range and electronic enduro computers to help estimate progress.

It was a good racebike for Harden, who enjoyed a nearly 40-year career as one of America’s top off-road racers and compiled a set of records that few can match.

He raced in North and South America, Europe and Africa, earning titles and

building a reputation as a world-class racer. A short list of his major titles includes: two-time Baja 1000 overall winner; three-time overall Baja 500 winner; three-time overall SCORE Champion; four-time overall Best in the Desert Champion; three-time International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) medalist (Gold: Italy, 1981; Silver: France, 1980; Bronze: Czechoslovakia, 1982); winner of the 1987 Djerba 500 Rally Tunisia; Total Challenge Performance winner of the 1987 Rally de Atlas Morocco; 1982 AMA National

Hall of Fame features the machines and people of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio. The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation that receives support from the AMA and from motorcycling enthusiasts. For info and directions, visit MotorcycleMuseum.org, or call (614) 856-2222.

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Photos Jeff Guciardo

Reliability Series Open Champion and 1994 AMA National Enduro Vet Class Champion.

He also helped develop the careers of other off-road champions, including Dan Smith, Danny Hamel, Russ Pearson and Chris Blais. Blais finished third in the 2007 Dakar Rally.

This KTM 660 is on loan from Harden to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

For information on the many significant machines in the Hall of Fame and the men and women who rode them, go to MotorcycleMuseum.org.

HALL OF FAME Hall of Famer

RUSS COLLINS Radical Dragracer

Russ Collins was one of the leading motorcycle dragracers and dragbike builders of the 1960s and ’70s. His dual- and even triple-engine monster motorcycles—such as the “Assassin” and the “Sorcerer”—marked the apex of the outrageous dragracing motorcycle designs of the era.

Collins rode these incredibly powerful machines to the fastest quarter-mile times set by motorcycles of that period.

Born in Somerville, N.J., on Aug. 27, 1939, Collins bought a dilapidated, basketcase 500cc Triumph in 1957, gradually hopped up the engine and then dragraced it on a local strip.

In 1964, Collins moved to Los Angeles and worked at motorcycle shops. He then dragraced Honda’s new, revolutionary CB750, and was soon setting records. He also built a four-into-one exhaust system that many Honda owners wanted, so in 1970 he quit his job at a motorcycle dealership and opened RC Engineering.

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Collins pushed the boundaries of motorcycle dragracing design. His talents as a builder became evident when he built a supercharged, fuel-injected Honda 750 he named the Assassin in 1971. The 400-horsepower Assassin dominated its smaller class so Collins raced in Top Fuel.

In 1973, Collins built the revolutionary, three-engine, Honda-based dragbike he dubbed Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe— named in honor of the famous railroad line of the late 1800s. It was, perhaps, the most famous dragbike of the 1970s.

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to the first 7-second quarter-mile on a motorcycle in Ontario, Calif., in 1973.

In 1977, he built the Sorcerer, which featured dual Honda 1,000cc engines. This bike proved to be the fastest motorcycle he ever built. Collins ran a record-setting 7.30-second/199.55 mph run on the Sorcerer, a record that would stand for 11 years.

Collins, who continued to race until the early 1980s, was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

To read more about Collins and other members of the Hall of Fame, go to MotorcycleMuseum.org.

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‘CANNO …If Adventure Had A Name

AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Don Emde (foreground) and Joe Colombero are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. They will recreate the 1914 California-to-New York motorcycle trek of Hall of Famer Erwin “Cannon Ball” Baker. For Emde and Colombero, the adventure has already begun.

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AmericanMotorcyclist.com

ON BALL’ E

By the time he retired from his pursuit of records, it was estimated that Baker had ridden or driven more than 5 million miles. During his exhaustive career, Baker made more than 143 attempts at a variety of timed, long-distance records, including his most famous transcontinental and three flags (Canada to Mexico) attempts.

Baker’s rides are legendary among some motorcyclists, but many riders don’t know very much about the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer.

Fellow Hall of Famer Don Emde wants to change that.

Emde and riding partner Joe Colombero are tracing Baker’s transcontinental route from the West Coast to the East Coast. But this isn’t simply a modern version that ties together several wellknown state routes with slabs of Interstate.

“We want to ride the routes that Baker rode,” Emde says, “that is, to the extent they still exist.”

Emde’s order is a tall one. Baker came of age during a time of great change across America.

The automobile was still a novel concept in many people’s minds, and roads were more akin to cross-country routes across much of the nation. Baker’s accomplishments even helped establish motorcycling itself as a viable form of transportation.

The tall and lanky Baker moved to Indianapolis when he was 12 years old. His stature served him well, and his reputation as an athlete grew as he participated in boxing, wrestling and tumbling. It ultimately earned him a job with an acrobatic drill team that traveled the vaudeville circuit at the turn of the century.

Photos Colombero and Emde: Conrad Lim; Baker: Don Emde Collection

rwin “Cannon Ball” Baker is arguably America’s original adventure motorcyclist.

Born Erwin George Baker in 1882 in a four-room log house in Dearborn County, Ind., Baker set dozens of cross-country records riding a variety of motorcycles and sidecars. He also was known for record-setting runs in automobiles.

It was perhaps the same spark for showmanship that drove Baker to become involved in the popular bicycle-racing craze of that era. That, of course, exposed him to the first motorized bicycles.

On To Motorcycles

In 1908, Baker transitioned to motorcycles. He purchased an Indian motorcycle and entered and won local races. His most famous victory came in 1909 at the first race ever held at the newly built Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

It was also during this time that Baker began his endurance runs. Most of his early records were cityto-city runs. One of Baker’s well-publicized stunts was racing passenger trains from town to town.

Baker often encountered deep mud, sand washes, flooded river crossings and snowed-in mountain passes during his long-distance attempts and races against the trains.

Baker’s big break came in 1912 when Indian’s George Hendee commissioned him to take a twospeed, 7-horsepower model on a demonstration tour of Cuba and Central America. It also Continued on page 42

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Page from a 1915 Pacific Blue Book showing the recommended route at the time for cars and motorcycles to go from San Diego to Yuma, Ariz. The northerly route from El Centro was necessary to drive around the great sand dune area known today as Glamis.

(Credit: Don Emde Collection)

Cannon Ball Baker’s Day 1 took him from San Diego to Yuma, Ariz. While there are some unavoidable differences to what Baker rode, this map identifies the closest ride-able route that exists today. Butler Maps is a partner on the Cannon Ball Baker Official Historic Route project and ultimately will produce highquality detailed maps of the entire route.

Don Emde near Mammoth Wash in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area in California holding up Cannon Ball Baker’s Hall of Fame medal.

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Don Emde riding a KTM 990 in“axle-deep” silt heading to Mammoth Wash in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (Glamis) in California.

Joe Colombero at the same bridge at Mammoth Wash in Glamis that Cannon Ball Baker used to get onto the railroad tracks in 1914. Baker made better time riding the railroad track 65 miles to Yuma, Ariz., than he would have on the sandy road alongside it.

Actor and AMA Board of Directors member Perry King (left) rode with Don Emde and Joe Colombero on a portion of their ride to Yuma, Ariz.

“Cannon Ball was here!” Joe Colombero at the last remains of the old Yuma, Ariz., train station where Cannon Ball Baker stayed the night at the end of his first day of riding in 1914.

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Continued from page 39

established a relationship that closely associated Baker with Indian for the rest of his motorcycle career, although he remained independent and did recordsetting rides for other manufacturers.

Baker’s first transcontinental run occurred in 1913, and it ended in Savannah, Ga. Although a significant accomplishment because Baker arrived in Savannah on the same machine he had just ridden across the country in the 300-mile national championship race, the coast-to-coast ride was not a record. That would come the next year.

In 1914, Baker made the recordbreaking run for which he is best known.

At the ride’s conclusion, a New York newspaper writer compared him to the Cannonball Express train, which gave him the famous moniker that would stick with him the rest of his life.

This is the ride that Emde is recreating.

Evolution

Baker accumulated his share of scars and trophies during his record-setting years. He also had number of interesting stories about things that happened to him during his record runs.

In one three-flags record attempt in 1916, Baker had to change routes several times to avoid vast forest fires. In another run he exited a curve at a high rate of speed and came upon a herd of cattle in the road. Attempting to miss the herd, Baker turned sharply, hit a hole in the road and was thrown off his motorcycle into a fence, which in turn bounced him right onto the back of one of the cows.

The surprised cow bucked him off and he ultimately landed in a ditch off the side of the road.

Baker took his skills overseas and set numerous records in foreign countries, most notably Australia and New Zealand.

By the 1930s, Baker began shifting his focus, staging most of his record

attempts in automobiles. In 1922, he ran in the Indianapolis 500 and finished 11th, though well in back of the leaders. He also became a test driver for automobile companies. He worked for Rickenbacker Automobiles, which was owned by the famous World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker.

On motorcycles, Baker began to increasingly participate in fuel-economy runs. In one such run, his Neracar motorcycle went 3,364 miles on 45 gallons of gas. He became an AMA race official and later was named national commissioner for NASCAR. After his record-setting competition days, Baker kept close to motorsports, building miniature racing cars.

Baker died in Indianapolis on May 10, 1960, survived by his wife Emma. He goes down in history as one of the most famous motorcyclists of the early 20th century.

Indeed, his name was perhaps the most recognized of any motorcycle racer through the 1930s.

To complete the 3,378-mile ride in 11-1/2 days meant Cannon Ball Baker had to ride almost 300 miles a day. 300 miles is a nice ride today on pavement, and the roads in Baker’s day were sand, dirt or mud.

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Photos Colombero and Emde: Conrad Lim; Baker: Don Emde Collection

Finding Cannon Ball’s Trail

By Don Emde

How The Project Came Together I have been collecting motorcycle magazines, photos and other historical items all the way back to when I first started riding in the early 1960s.

Somewhere along the way, I bought a little booklet for my collection that had been produced by the Indian Motocycle

Company. It was the full written account

by Erwin “Cannon Ball” Baker of his record-setting motorcycle ride from San Diego to New York City in 1914. I remember looking through it, but didn’t spend a lot of time with it. I soon had it filed away with my other historical papers and don’t recall looking at it again. I also since acquired a copy of Motorcycle Illustrated, dated May 28, 1914, and it included Baker’s same story.

Fast forward to 2010 when the Motorcycle Cannonball Run was held. This

cross-country event for riders on pre-1916 motorcycles generated a lot of publicity. It sounded like great fun, and I was wishing I had the time and a suitable machine to ride. It started near the Outer Banks of North Carolina and would end 17 days later in Los Angeles.

The one detail that I couldn’t get out of my head was that the riders would need 17 days to complete the journey from coast to coast. I remembered that booklet in my files, and was pretty sure Cannon Ball Baker crossed the country way back

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needed to retrace Baker’s complete route from San Diego to New York City and to tell his story as best I could. KTM came on board with two Adventure 990s for myself and co-rider Joe Colombero to ride.

Parts Unlimited, Touratech and numerous accessory suppliers provided other needed items, and Butler Maps agreed to help us create the maps of our findings.

We also became the first Heritage Partner of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the organization that raises funds for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. When we’re done, we’ll commemorate the ride as an Official Historic Route recognized by the AMHF.

Methodology

in the day faster than that. And when I pulled out the booklet, my thoughts were confirmed. Baker did his ride in 1914 in 11-1/2 days!

This time, I read the booklet from cover to cover. Every page had some detail that seemed totally amazing. To complete the 3,378-mile ride in 11-1/2 days meant he had to ride almost 300 miles a day.

Heck, 300 miles is a nice ride today on pavement, and the roads in Baker’s day were sand, dirt or mud. He rode by

This is a running 1913 Indian twin on loan from AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Fred Fox. Don Emde will use it to do some demonstrations on film showing what it was like for Cannon Ball Baker to ride in the dirt.

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himself, on a route he and his wife had worked out. And the 7-horsepower Indian twin that he rode developed very little in the way of mechanical problems, despite having to run for 12 to 15 hours a day in varying terrain that included hills and streams. Baker did run out of gas once in Arizona and had to push his machine in the sand for 4 miles in 119-degree heat.

Yet he still finished out that day’s ride after [taking] a couple of hours to cool off.

I was inspired, and soon decided that I

I hear a couple of things that make me laugh these days.

One is when people ask about my “Cannonball Run.” If I see it typed, I remind them it’s Cannon Ball with two words, and it’s not a “Run.” That’s the movie, or the other event.

The other funny comment I get a lot is, “So when are you leaving?” Most people think we are just going to take off and somehow figure the original route out as we go.

It’s much more complicated than that.

We have broken the full ride down into the 11-½ days that Baker rode. Day 1, for example, was his ride on May 3, 1914, from San Diego to Yuma, Ariz. Day 2 was May 4 from Yuma to Phoenix, and so on. Each of these days has required a lot of research and we’re taking it, as the old saying goes, “a day at a time.” Our plan is to work out the complete route in 2012 and 2013. From that, we will put together a continuous Centennial ride from coast to coast in 2014.

Unfortunately, there is no existing, clearly defined map of Cannon Ball’s ride.

Emde, Colombero At AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

Photos Indian: Kinney Jones; Colombero and Emde: Conrad Lim

Don Emde and Joe Colombero will present a 1-hour seminar each day at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 20-22 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

“Finding Cannon Ball’s Trail” will detail their findings from extensive research and on-thetrail rides to locate and mark routes with GPS for an upcoming Centennial ride in 2014.

The seminar is free for anyone attending AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

A lot of research and interpretation is necessary, particularly since our goal is to stick to the original route.

I started with Cannon Ball’s 1914 written account. From that I know where he started each day and where he ended, as well as other points of interest during those days that he mentioned.

Once I note the cities and towns he passed through, I consult old maps from 1914 to see what his options were to connect them. We know Baker was in a hurry, so the fastest route that would get him there is what he would have taken.

So far, I have had excellent luck finding maps in historical museums in the towns he passed through.

Once I identify the likely route in 1914, I will use travel books, plus paper and online maps, to see how many of the old roads are still accessible, and then we will go ride it. It’s one thing to see a map online, but we’re finding it’s quite another to get on it and actually ride it. I have a Garmin Zumo GPS on my bike, and when we ride to check the route out, we are also logging the specific data that Butler Maps needs to document it for us.

Cannon Ball Was Here

The highlights of the scouting rides so far have been when we come to locations that Baker specifically mentions in his writings. We can confidently say, “Cannon Ball was here.”

One example was where he wrote about

“riding silt, that was axle deep for 19 miles to Mammoth Wash.” Shortly after passing through Brawley, Joe and I got into some soft sand (aka silt) and struggled on our KTM 990s to make it to Mammoth Wash [at Glamis in California], where Baker got onto the railroad tracks and rode 65 miles to Yuma. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame sent us Baker’s Hall of Fame medal and we stopped at that bridge to get a photo with the medal.

Another “Cannon Ball was here” moment from Day 1 came at the location of the old train station in Yuma where he ended his first day of riding.

An Adventure So Far

As of early May, we had Baker’s California route mapped, which he rode on his first day. We also have some of “Day 2” mapped, although I took Joe down a wrong road between Yuma and Phoenix, and we almost had to spend the night out in the desert.

We got the KTM 990 v-twins into an area of desert that was better suited for one of the company’s single-cylinder off-road competition models, and we needed some assistance to get out. We did, though, have the right high-tech equipment with us and identified our location with a SPOT handheld GPS and made contact with a satellite phone.

What could have turned into a real “situation” was no big deal thanks to having the right communication tools with

us—a safety net that Baker didn’t have back in 1914.

The Search Continues

We will continue to work out and confirm Baker’s 1914 route. Due to changing weather conditions, we won’t necessarily do it all in chronological order.

We may move east to log in the route along the Old National Road, now known primarily as Highway 40. In the Midwest and East, we will be riding primarily on paved roads. But whatever it is, we will follow his route as best we can according to our research.

We invite you to follow our project as we work to retrace a motorcycle ride that set a milestone at the time, and has gone unrecognized and unappreciated for almost a century. In addition to updates in American Motorcyclist, we have a dedicated website at www.CannonBallProject.com and also a Facebook page called “The Cannon Ball Project.”

The year 2012 is Don Emde’s 50th year as an AMA member. A former professional racer, he and his father, Floyd, are the only father and son to have both won the Daytona 200. The two, along with Don’s late brother David are AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductees. Don is president of Don Emde Inc., a publishing business that produces motorcycle books and magazines. His website is www. partsmagazineonline.com.

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Ride Well: AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference Destination: Carson City, Nev.

WomenAndMotorcycling.com The best memories aren’t made every day, and the best motorcycling events may not come around every year. Case in point: The AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference.

Last held in 2009 in Keystone, Colo., the gathering is the country’s premier event for women who ride. The conference returns in 2012, bringing hundreds of women riders to Carson City, Nev., July 26-29, for four days of motorcycles, friends, networking, riding and great memories.

The AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference combines inspirational speakers, great

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roads, demo rides, product showcases and unmatched camaraderie. Participants can improve their skills, broaden their motorcycling horizons and learn about the industry’s newest products for women who ride.

Plus, they’ll have an incredible time with hundreds of likeminded riders at get-togethers, dinners, lunches and parties planned by women motorcyclists for women motorcyclists.

Men are also welcome to attend the conference.

Get the latest info about the conference, including activities and seminar, registration and travel information at WomenAndMotorcycling.com. Follow us on Facebook.com/ AMAWomenAndMotorcycling. See you in Carson City!

Seminars & Speakers

Panel Discussion: Women In The Motorcycle Industry

Motorcycle Match Maker

The AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference includes a long list of seminar topics that appeal to all types of women riders. In many ways, the cast of speakers is the heart and soul of the event, while the range of topics covers just about everything you could ever want to know about motorcycling.

The seminars were developed to complement the conference theme of “Ride Well” on the subjects of motorcycling, health and empowerment.

Come along for an exciting ride as four women with proven track records in motorcycle industry businesses share their tips and tricks for success.

Moderated by MAD Maps founder Jenny Lefferts, the panel includes Baja Design’s Deanne Moore, Christa Neuhauser of RoadRUNNER magazine, and former Kawasaki PR manager Jan Plessner, who is now the editor of LadyMoto.com. The discussion will also feature a questionand-answer session for participants.

A fun, interactive presentation, Motorcycle Match Maker educates the new or current rider on the importance of choosing and fitting a rider to her motorcycle. Equipped with an informative questionnaire, attendees will leave the seminar more competent and empowered to roll into a dealership ready to purchase or customize their ride. Christine Firehock, a fourth-generation female rider who has more than 30 continuous years of riding experience, will lead the seminar.

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

The Power of PINK Freedom of choice means different things to different people. When your choices affect others, your commitments, your character, your ability to influence others and the use of available resources and information determine how you respond. Learn how to align power, integrity, negotiation and knowledge to fully realize the opportunities available to you. This seminar will be led by Air Force Master Sgt. (ret.) Eldonna Lewis Fernandez, a negotiation specialist and performance expert for women.

Get Involved: How You Can Protect Your Rights To Ride And Race From motorcycle-only roadside checkpoints to off-road recreation area closures, motorcyclists face a constant threat to their freedoms. Learn how you can get involved and have a voice in the future of motorcycling. The seminar will be led by Jessica Irving, AMA grassroots coordinator, and features Nancy Sabater, the 2011 AMA Motorcyclist of the Year whose contributions helped overturn the lead law that banned youth motorcycles.

History Of Early Women Riders Join AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame member Cris Sommer-Simmons as she takes a walk down memory lane, profiling some of the early women pioneers of motorcycling. Cris will also share her experience as the only American woman to participate in, and complete, the 2010 Motorcycle Cannonball, a coast-to-coast event for pre-1916 classic motorcycles.

How to Pack And Eat Healthy For OnThe-Road Motorcyclists What are the tips and tricks for staying in top form on the road? Learn how you can feel younger, healthier and be more willing to seek new challenges in your life with enthusiasm and confidence.

Debbie Voss, who through healthy choices successfully lost 125 pounds—and has kept it off for seven years—will share her secrets about how to create a healthy eating environment no matter where your bike takes you.

Why Motorcycle Riding Is Good For Your Health Join us for an exploration of bodymind-spirit philosophy. Many theorists and behavioral health specialists recognize that it takes a balance and blend of good physical health (body), a clear and open mental attitude (mind) and a quest for spirit (defined as a non-religious connection to joy/satisfaction). Learn how being active, having movement, connecting with something that has meaning to you, and how being intimately and enthusiastically involved in a special activity that nurtures you can bring about important, healthy and positive outcomes.

Jana Mulvaney, a psychotherapist who has been riding off-highway vehicles and dirtbikes since she was 8 years old, will lead the discussion.

The Health Benefits Of Off-Road Riding Researchers at York University in Canada have found that exertion levels while riding off-road are similar to the effects of jogging, and that the fitness benefits can be compared to mountain biking. Join a discussion on how offroad riding can improve your health that will include Jo-Anne Farquhar, who has been the director of communications and public affairs for the Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council and the Canadian OffHighway Vehicle Distributors Council, and Kellee Irwin, chairwoman of the Motorcyclists Confederation of Canada.

The Best Motorcycle Tips, Tricks And Techniques Join motorcycle journalist Diane Ortiz for an informative—and sometimes humorous—journey through the best of her “Tips, Tricks and Techniques” monthly columns designed to make you more comfortable and confident, both on and off your bike. Ortiz has written for various publications including Newsday, Midwest Motorcyclist, Accelerate, Full Throttle and WomenRidersNow.com.

Wherever The Road Takes You Aimed at answering the many questions of women who ride their own motorcycles, this seminar will cover mechanical safety points, routine maintenance and the tools you need on the road. Learn how to become more maneuverable on your bike, gear up to get the most for your mileage and customize your bike on a budget. The seminar is led by Athena “Chickie” Ransom, owner of Vagabond Choppers, who built her first chopper at age 16.

Riding Past Your Limitations Times have certainly changed since the days when women were deemed unfit to ride motorcycles. In this seminar, you learn about the many resources available to strike down other barriers that might impede your riding experience—things such as your size, age and health issues.

Holly Ralph, a director of the Canadian Motorcycle Association, moderates.

Motorcycle Helmet Seminar This seminar will help motorcyclists gain insight into everything related to head protection technology, helmet standards and regulations, and more. Schuberth North America will present.

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Learn To Ride At The Moto Action Center Sponsored By The Women’s Motorcyclist Foundation The Moto Action Center, sponsored by the Women’s Motorcyclist Foundation, will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the conference. It will cover a wide range of performance and riding tips, for both on- and off-road riders.

Schedule • Runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10:00 a.m.: Solo Loading Your Motorcycle on a Trailer, presented by Gin Shear 11:30 a.m.: Developing a Relationship; Understanding Your Bike End to End, Top to Bottom, Presented by Peg Preble 1:30 p.m.: Picking up Your Motorcycle, presented by Gin Shear 2:30 p.m.: Dual-Sport Riding: Preparing Yourself, Finding the Right Bike, Opportunities for Riding. presented by Sue Slate, Lisa Bakker, Alisa Clickenger and Debi Cable

Accommodations One great thing about Carson City is that its intimate size and friendly atmosphere mean you’re never far away from the fun. A number of great hotels are all within a short walk or ride from conference activities. For a full list, see www.WomenAndMotorcycling.com > Accommodations.

Demo Rides Registration Information General registration for the AMA Women & Motorcycling Conference is $175 for AMA members and $235 for non-AMA members through July 10. After July 10, fees are $225 for AMA members and $275 for non-AMA members, including on-site registration.

Registration fees include: • A gift bag • Conference T-shirt • Entry to seminars, the Moto Action Center, the marketplace and the Women’s Health Fair • Manufacturer demo ride priority • Virginia City Cookout (Friday night) • Saturday night Celebration Banquet • Skills class access (additional fee may apply) Register online at WomenAndMotorcycling.com, where you also can learn more about the event and help plan your trip. If you have any questions, please call the AMA at (800) 262-5646 or email us at IWMCinfo@ womenandmotorcycling.com. Also, please subscribe to our Twitter updates for the latest conference information at http:// twitter.com/#!/womenandmoto (#IWMC) or visit us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ AMAWomenAndMotorcycling.

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Get There!

Where The West Is Wilder

8:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.: Riding Twisties

4:00 p.m.: Simple Roadside Fixes

Carson City, Nevada:

Demo rides will be a big draw at the AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference. As of mid-May, the following companies had committed to bringing their demo fleets to the conference. The lineups aren’t set in stone, but these models, or ones like them, are expected to be on hand.

Harley-Davidson: CVO Road Glide Custom, Dyna Switchback, Dyna Street Bob, Dyna Wide Glide, Road King, Electra Glide Ultra Limited, Road Glide Ultra, Heritage Softail Clasic, Softail Fat Boy Lo, Softail Deluxe, Softail Blackline, Sportster 1200 Custom, Sportster SuperLow, Tri Glide Ultra Classic, Night Rod Special, Street Glide, Softail Slim and the Seventy-Two. Kawasaki: ZX 6R, Ninja 650R, Versys, Z1000, Ninja 1000, ZX 10R ABS, ZX 14, EX 250, 900 Classic LT and Custom, Voyager ABS, 1700 Nomad, 1700 Vaquero, Concours 14 and the KLR 650.

KYMCO USA: Xciting 500 Ri ABS, Xciting 500i, Downtown 300i, People GT 300i, LIKE 200i, SUPER 8 150, AGILITY 125 and the SUPER 8 50.

Yamaha: FZ8, FZ6R, YZF-R1, YZF-R6, Super Ténéré, FJR1300A, VMAX, Stratoliner Deluxe, V Star 1300, V Star 950, Raider SCL, Stryker and the Road Star.

Carson City, Nev., abuts the Sierra Nevada Mountains—a breathtaking backdrop that provides both the perfect environment for a stunning event as well as some of the best motorcycle riding in the region. Plus, the mountains intercept the moisture of the air currents flowing from the Pacific Ocean, which creates a relatively dry climate that ensures an above-average share of beautiful, sunny days.

The list of local activities is diverse and long. It includes hiking, biking, golfing, gaming, shopping, dining, railroads, museums, antiquing, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, scenic byways and much, much more.

Riding directions: • Take Highway 80 East into Reno • Turn south on Highway 395 • Follow Highway 395 for approximately 30 miles, until you see the “Welcome to Carson City” sign Travelers coming from Lake Tahoe can travel Highway 50 east along Lake Tahoe’s South Shore until it intersects with Highway 395 at Carson City’s south end. Take a left to get to the downtown corridor.

Air travel includes flights into Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The airport is located roughly 30 miles from Carson City.

RoadRUNNER magazine also is supplying GPS coordinates and maps for riding to the event. Learn more at RoadRunner.travel.

Thanks To Our Partners!

The AMA would like to recognize the following companies and organizations who are supporting the 2012 AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference: BikeBandit, BMW Motorrad USA, CycleGear, Carson City Harley-Davidson, Ducati North America, Garmin, GoPro, Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA, Kymco USA, Nevada State Tourism, RoadRUNNER, Pepsico, Schuberth Helmets, Women’s Motorcyclist Foundation, Yamaha Motor Corp.

USA.

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

GO RIDE

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7 July 20-22, 2012 Lexington, Ohio

July 26-29, 2012 Carson City, Nev.

November 16-17, 2012 Las Vegas, Nev.

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Mark your calendar for July 20-22 for a really swell time during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days featuring rockers and mods at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Tens of thousands of enthusiasts attend this AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame fund-raising event each summer. Highlights include the nation’s largest motorcycle swap meet, vintage racing, demo rides, a classic field meet and more. Info: AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com.

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For an event you don’t want to miss, head out to Carson City, Nev., July 26-29 for the 2012 AMA International Women & Motorcycling Conference. The event features inspirational speakers, great roads, demo rides, product showcases and camaraderie. Info: WomenAndMotorcycling.com.

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July marks the halfway point in the battle for supremacy in the AMA Pro Racing Motocross National Championship Series. Check out the action July 7 in Buchanan, Mich., July 14 in Millville, Minn., and July 21 in Washougal, Wash. For the full schedule, see page 53.

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If you’re looking for some fun on your dual-sport machine, head off to the Zanesville National Dual Sport in Chandlersville, Ohio, July 14-15. The event is part of the AMA Husqvarna National DualSport Series, presented by FMF. For the full schedule, see page 55.

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Rocky Mountain Promotions is hosting the second round of the SRAC Summer Classic Motocross Series at Valley Dirt Riders Motocross Park in Berthoud, Colo., on June 24. The six-round series opens June 17 in Watkins, Colo. Info: RMPEvent.com.

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Any time is the right time to get in on the AMA Grand Tours. You can ride at your own pace and take in sights and sounds that you might otherwise miss. Get going on the Polar Bear Grand Tour, Smoke Chasing Grand Tour, Tour of Honor or the Hodgepodge Grand Tour. For more info, see page 55.

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The professional speed demons of the roadrace track are making their way to Ohio and California this month. Catch the action in AMA Pro Road Racing July 13-15 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, and July 27-29 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.

See schedule on page 53.

COMING UP Motorcycles don’t get any faster than this: The AMA Land Speed Grand Championships/BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials will be held Aug. 26-30 at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah.

Info: BubSpeedTrials.com.

For loads of atmosphere and action, check out the AMA Hillclimb Grand Championships Aug. 17-19 in Bay City, Wis. Info: AMARacing.com.

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JULY EVENTS CALIFORNIA RECREATIONAL POKER RUN JUL 14: STOCKTON: STOCKTON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 9561505, STOCKTONMC.ORG COMPETITION MOTOCROSS JUL 22: (Includes ATVs) GORMON: PROSPECTORS MC, (562) 421-0128, PROSPECTORSMC.ORG SHORT TRACK JUL 7: (Includes ATVs) LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 3687182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM

MOTOCROSS JUL 21: (Includes ATVs) PECATONICA: PRO SHOW INC, (815) 275-6686, STATELINEMX.COM JUL 22: (Includes ATVs) BYRON : MOTOSPORTS ENTERPRISES LTD, (815) 234-2271, MOTOBYRON.COM JUL 25-26: GRAYS LAKE: 2-DAY EVENT, SCHAEFER TRACKS LLC, (608) 330-3600, FAIRMX.COM OBSERVED TRIALS JUL 15: STERLING: BRUSHPOPPERS M.C., (815) 622-4099, BRUSHPOPPERSMC.COM TT

JUL 14: (Includes ATVs) LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 3687182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM

JUL 21: (Includes ATVs) ALTON: SPLINTER CREEK DIRT RIDERS INC, (618) 372-4355, SPLINTERCREEK. COM

JUL 27: (Includes ATVs) LODI: LODI MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (209) 3687182, LODICYCLEBOWL.COM

RECREATIONAL

COLORADO COMPETITION MOTOCROSS JUL 7: GREELEY: REV LIMIT PROMOTIONS, (970) 396-1432, SRAC.ORG JUL 8: GREELEY: TWO RIVERS RACING LLC, (970) 587-5770 JUL 14: CANON CITY: WILDRAT PROMOTIONS, ROYALGORGESUPERCROSS.COM JUL 22: ALAMOSA: CAT SUPER SPORTS, (719) 589-9717, CATSCLASSIC ILLINOIS RECREATIONAL ROAD RUN JUL 15: ELGIN: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG JUL 28: ALTON: MARCH OF DIMESMO GREATER MISSOURI CHAPTER, (314) 513-9968, BIKERSFORBABIES. ORG TRAIL RIDE - RECREATIONAL JUL 8: (Includes ATVs) OTTAWA: VARIETY RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (815) 434-3669, VARIETYRIDERS.COM JUL 29: (Includes ATVs) OTTAWA: VARIETY RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (815) 434-3669, VARIETYRIDERS.COM COMPETITION 1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK JUL 25: (Includes ATVs) CHAMPAIGN: CENTRAL ILLINOIS M/C, (217) 2342505, CENTRALILLINOIS MOTORCYCLECLUB.ORG

INDIANA DUAL SPORT - OFF ROAD JUL 29: MATTEWS: MUDDOBBERS MC INC, (765) 998-2236, MUDDOBBERSMC.ORG DUAL SPORT RIDE JUL 29: MATTEWS: MUDDOBBERS MC INC, (765) 998-2236, MUDDOBBERSMC.ORG ROAD RUN JUL 8: SOUTH BEND: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS. ORG COMPETITION 1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK JUL 28: (Includes ATVs) GOSHEN: GOSHEN IRON HORSEMEN, (574) 825-3399 HILLCLIMB

JUL 29: ROCHESTER: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING.COM

JUL 15: MIDLAND: POLKA DOTS M/C, (989) 832-8284, POLKADOTSMC.NET

IOWA COMPETITION ENDUROCROSS JUL 22: (Includes ATVs) WEST LIBERTY: IOWA CITY COMPETITION RIDERS, (319) 530-1554 HARE SCRAMBLES JUL 15: MT. PLEASANT: BURLINGTON VALLEY DUSTERS, (319) 753-6961, IERA MOTOCROSS JUL 1: (Includes ATVs) MONTEZUMA: FV MOTO X, (641) 623-3456, FVMOTOX.COM JUL 7: (Includes ATVs) CEDAR RAPIDS: CEDAR VALLEY TRAIL RIDERS INC, (319) 363-7800, CVTR. ORG JUL 21: (Includes ATVs) CEDAR RAPIDS: CEDAR VALLEY TRAIL RIDERS INC, (319) 363-7800, CVTR. ORG JUL 28: (Includes ATVs) MONTEZUMA: FV MOTO X, (641) 6233456, FVMOTOX.COM

ROAD RUN

JUL 7: (Includes ATVs) AKRON: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING.COM

JUL 14: WHITE CITY: CAHOKIA CREEK DIRT RIDERS, (618) 946-4316, CCDIRT.COM

JUL 14: (Includes ATVs) AKRON: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING.COM

JUL 28: OREGON: ROCK RIVER RIDERS MC, (815) 946-2183, ROCKRIVERRIDERSMC.COM

JUL 15: (Includes ATVs) AKRON: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING.COM

MICHIGAN

JUL 14: TAYLOR: AXEMEN FIREFIGHTERS MC MICHIGAN #1, (313) 461-7840, AXEMGNMC.ORG

JUL 21: (Includes ATVs) MARTINSVILLE: MID AMERICA XC RACING, (317) 418-6084, MIDAMERICAXC.COM

JUL 1: (Includes ATVs) PIERCETON: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING.COM

JUL 28: WEST WARREN: SPRINGFIELD MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (413) 245-3037

JUL 28: (Includes ATVs) ROCHESTER: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING.COM

RECREATIONAL

MOTOCROSS

ROAD RALLY

RECREATIONAL

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUL 22: COLUMBUS: STONEY LONESOME M/C, (812) 342-4411, STONEYLONESOMEMC.COM

JUL 29: RAYNHAM: KEVIN MOREIRA - SAFETY DIRECTOR FOR SEMMSF

JUL 22: (Includes ATVs) PIERCETON: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING.COM

JUL 29: (Includes ATVs) MONTEZUMA: FV MOTO X, (641) 6233456, FVMOTOX.COM

HILLCLIMB

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

JUL 21: (Includes ATVs) PIERCETON: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING.COM

JUL 21-22: (Includes ATVs) CAYUGA: 2-DAY EVENT, PLEASURE RIDERS MC, (217) 247-2216, PLEASURERIDERS.NET

JUL 8: (Includes ATVs) AKRON: READS RACING, (574) 893-1649, READSRACING.COM

50

JUL 15: (Includes ATVs) CROTHERSVILLE: LET’S GO RACING LLC, (812) 374-8228, HIGHFLYMX. COM

KANSAS

JUL 29: OVERLAND PARK: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS. ORG MARYLAND COMPETITION MOTOCROSS JUL 22: BUDDS CREEK: BUDDS CREEK MOTOCROSS PARK, (302) 475-2000, BUDDSCREEK.COM SHORT TRACK JUL 20: TIMONIUM: BALTIMORE COUNTY TRAIL RIDERS ASSOC. , BCTRA.COM JUL 27: TIMONIUM: BALTIMORE COUNTY TRAIL RIDERS ASSOC. , BCTRA.COM MASSACHUSETTS

ROAD RUN

ROAD RALLY JUL 28: PORTLAND: PORTLAND TRAIL RIDERS, (517) 647-7045, PORTLANDTRAILRIDERS.COM DUAL SPORT - OFF ROAD JUL 21-28: GRAYLING/INDIAN RIVER: SIX DAYS OF MICHIGAN, THE CYCLE CONSERVATION CLUB OF MICHIGAN, (517) 416-0126, CYCLECONSERVATIONCLUB.ORG DUAL SPORT RIDE JUL 21-28: GRAYLING/INDIAN RIVER: SIX DAYS OF MICHIGAN, THE CYCLE CONSERVATION CLUB OF MICHIGAN, (517) 416-0126, CYCLECONSERVATIONCLUB.ORG COMPETITION DIRT DRAG JUL 13: (Includes ATVs) BRIDGETON TWP: MUSKEGON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (231) 733-9856, MUSKEGONMOTORCYCLECLUB. COM JUL 14: (Includes ATVs) BRIDGETON TWP: MUSKEGON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (231) 733-9856, MUSKEGONMOTORCYCLECLUB. COM 1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK JUL 20-21: (Includes ATVs) LAKE ODESSA: 2-DAY EVENT, I-96 SPEEDWAY LLC, (616) 642-0555, I96SPEEDWAY.COM ENDURO JUL 1: GREENVILLE: KNUCKLE BUSTERS RIDERS CLUB, (989) 2870120 JUL 15: MOORESTOWN: LANSING MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (231) 6316669, LANSINGMOTORCYCLECLUB. ORG HILLCLIMB JUL 15: BRIDGETON TWP: MUSKEGON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (231) 733-9856, MUSKEGONMOTORCYCLECLUB. COM HARE SCRAMBLES JUL 22: (Includes ATVs) BENTLEY: VALLEY TRAIL RIDERS, (989) 8796397, THEVALLEYTRAILRIDERS.COM

RECREATIONAL

MOTOCROSS

ROAD RUN

JUL 1: MIDLAND: POLKA DOTS M/C,

JULY EVENTS (989) 832-8284, POLKADOTSMC.NET

SPRINGCREEKMX.COM

JUL 14-15: (Includes ATVs) BARK RIVER: 2-DAY EVENT, DEGRAVE MOTORSPORTS PARK, (906) 420-0205, DEGRAVEMX.COM

JUL 15: MILLVILLE: HI WINDERS, (507) 753-2779, SPRINGCREEKMX.COM

JUL 15: (Includes ATVs) CADILLAC: CADILLAC MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (231) 884-3729, CADILLACMC.COM JUL 20: (Includes ATVs) LAKE ODESSA: I-96 SPEEDWAY LLC, (616) 642-0555, I96SPEEDWAY. COM JUL 21: MILLINGTON: BAJA MX INC, (989) 8713356, BAJAACRES.COM JUL 22: MILLINGTON: BAJA MX INC, (989) 8713356, BAJAACRES.COM JUL 28-29: (ATV only) BUCHANAN: 2-DAY EVENT, RED BUD, (269) 695-6405, REDBUDMX.COM JUL 29: (Includes ATVs) BATTLE CREEK: BATTLE CREEK MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (269) 729-9691, BATTLECREEKMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM SHORT TRACK JUL 7: (Includes ATVs) DEFORD: LUCKY THUMB MC, (810) 404-2895, LUCKYTHUMBMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM JUL 28: (Includes ATVs) MIDLAND: POLKA DOTS M/C, (989) 832-8284, POKADOTSMC.NET

JUL 22: KELLOGG: MOTOKAZIE INC, (952) 2449996, MOTOKAZIE.COM JUL 22: (ATV only) BROWERVILLE: MOTO CITY RACEWAY & RECREATION INC, (612) 919-3457, MOTOCITYRACEWAY.COM JUL 22: BROOK PARK: BERM BENDERS RACEWAY, (320) 679-2582, BERMBENDERS.COM JUL 29: LITTLE FALLS: MOTO CITY RACEWAY & RECREATION INC, (612) 919-3457, MOTOCITYRACEWAY.COM JUL 29: MANKATO: MOTOKAZIE INC, (952) 6011169, MOTOKAZIE.COM OBSERVED TRIALS JUL 15: THEILMAN: UPPER MIDWEST TRIALS ASSOCIATION, (507) 351-8879, UMTA.ORG MISSOURI COMPETITION MOTOCROSS JUL 15: FARMINGTON: SEAT TIME MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (573) 701-8674, SEATIME.US MONTANA

TT

RECREATIONAL

JUL 8: (Includes ATVs) DEFORD: LUCKY THUMB MC, (810) 404-2895, LUCKYTHUMBMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM

ROAD RUN

JUL 14: BRIDGETON TWP: MUSKEGON MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (231) 733-9856, MUSKEGONMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM JUL 29: (Includes ATVs) MIDLAND: POLKA DOTS M/C, (989) 832-8284, POLKADOTSMC.COM MINNESOTA RECREATIONAL ROAD RUN JUL 15: WHITE BEAR LAKE: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 2536530, RIDEFORKIDS.ORG

JUL 14: BILLINGS: MARCH OF DIMES MONTANA, (406) 206-1686, BIKERSFORBABIES.ORG/ MONTANA NEW JERSEY RECREATIONAL FUN RUN JUL 15: RED BANK: RARITAN ROAD RUNNERS, (732) 278-5259, RARITANROADRUNNESRMC.COM ROAD RUN JUL 1: FREEHOLD: MARCH OF DIMES, (932) 9529016, MARCHOFDIMES.COM/NEWJERSEY COMPETITION

COMPETITION

MOTOCROSS

1/2 MILE DIRT TRACK

JUL 7: (Includes ATVs) ENGLISHTOWN: RACEWAY PARK, (732) 446-7800

JUL 21: KASSON: GOLDEN EAGLES CYCLE CLUB, (507) 273-7400, GOLDENEAGLESMC.ORG ENDURO JUL 1: AKELEY: NORTHERN LITES MC, (218) 8296656, ARMCA.ORG JUL 21: WOODLAND: NORSEMEN MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (612) 282-5383, NORSEMENMC.ORG JUL 28-29: MORA: 2-DAY EVENT, NORSEMEN MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (612) 363-9512, NORSEMENMC.ORG HILLCLIMB JUL 21: (Includes ATVs) MANKATO: KATO CYCLE CLUB, KATOCYCLECLUB.COM MOTOCROSS JUL 1: BROOK PARK: BERM BENDERS RACEWAY, (320) 679-2582, BERMBENDERS.COM

JUL 8: (Includes ATVs) ENGLISHTOWN: RACEWAY PARK, (732) 446-7800 NEW YORK RECREATIONAL DICE RUN JUL 22: HAVERSTRAW: SECOND GENERATION MOTORCYCLE ASSN INC, (845) 947-1131, SECONDGENERATIONMA.ORG DUAL SPORT - OFF ROAD JUL 7-8: DEPOSIT: 2-DAY EVENT, RIDGE RIDERS M/C, (201) 456-5519, RIDGERIDERS.ORG DUAL SPORT RIDE JUL 7-8: DEPOSIT: 2-DAY EVENT, RIDGE RIDERS M/C, (201) 456-5519, RIDGERIDERS.ORG ROAD RUN

JUL 1: (ATV only) LITTLE FALLS: MOTO CITY RACEWAY & RECREATION INC, (612) 919-3457, MOTOCITYRACEWAY.COM

JUL 8: NEW ROCHELLE: EMPIRE CHAPTER OF THE HARLEY OWNERS GROUP, (914) 525-3409, EMPIREHOG.COM

JUL 1: MILLVILLE: HI WINDERS, (507) 753-2779, SCMXPARK@MR.NET

JUL 8: CONGERS: BLUE KNIGHTS-NY XVIII, (845) 386-2852, BKNYXVIII.ORG

JUL 8: MAZEPPA: HURRICANE HILLS MX PARK INC,

JUL 14-15: SLOATSBURG: 2-DAY EVENT, RAMAPO MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (845) 223-6090, RAMAPOMC.ORG

JUL 13: MILLVILLE: HI WINDERS, (507) 753-2779,

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

www.husqvarna-motorcyclesna.com

JULY EVENTS JUL 15: DEERFIELD: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS. ORG

JUL 28: (Includes ATVs) PORT CRANE: SQUARE DEAL RIDERS M/C, (607) 693-2634, SQUAREDEALRIDERS. COM

(937) 358-2427, AMERICANMX.COM

ENDURO

JUL 15: MILTON BRIDGE: IRON RIDERS MC NY, (845) 691-9312, IRONRIDERMC.COM

NORTH DAKOTA

JUL 8: GREENVILLE: TREATY CITY MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (937) 5487197, TREATYCITYMC.COM

JUL 8: GILLETT: SOUTHERN TIER ENDURO RIDERS, (607) 382-8534, STER-MC.ORG

RECREATIONAL ROAD RALLY

JUL 14: (Includes ATVs) HILLIARD: AMERICAN MOTORSPORTS LLC, (937) 358-2427, AMERICANMX.COM

JUL 15: BLAIN: SUSQUEHANNA OFF ROAD RIDERS, (717) 533-2242, SORRMC.ORG

JUL 27-28: BISMARK: 2-DAY EVENT, RETREADS-NORTH CENTRAL REGION

JUL 15: BLANCHESTER: DIRT COUNTRY, (513) 625-7350, DIRTCOUNTRYMX.COM

JUL 29: CROSS FORK: BRANDYWINE ENDURO RIDERS, (610) 368-7332, BER.US

JUL 16: (Includes ATVs) HILLIARD: AMERICAN MOTORSPORTS LLC, (937) 358-2427, AMERICANMX.COM

HARE SCRAMBLES

JUL 29: STATEN ISLAND: ROLLING THUNDER-NY CHAPTER 2 TRAIL RIDE - RECREATIONAL JUL 22: (Includes ATVs) E. QUOGUE: LONG ISLAND RECREATIONAL TRAILS CONSERVANCY, (631) 9281153, LITRC.ORG COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLES JUL 15: (Includes ATVs) BERKSHIRE: BEATEN TRAILS, (607) 657-8433 JUL 21-22: DEPOSIT: 2-DAY EVENT, RIDGE RIDERS M/C, (201) 456-5519, ECEA.ORG MOTOCROSS JUL 1: (Includes ATVs) CAROGA LAKE: ROYAL MOUNTAIN SKI AREA, (518) 835-6445, ROYALMOUNTAIN. COM JUL 4: (Includes ATVs) RICHFORD: BROOME TIOGA SPORTS CENTER INC, (607) 849-4438, BROOMETIOGA.COM JUL 7: (Includes ATVs) RICHFORD: BROOME TIOGA SPORTS CENTER INC, (607) 849-4438, BROOMETIOGA.COM JUL 8: (Includes ATVs) RICHFORD: BROOME TIOGA SPORTS CENTER INC, (607) 849-4438, BROOMETIOGA.COM JUL 8: (Includes ATVs) AUBURN: FROZEN OCEAN MOTOCROSS INC, (315) 784-5466, FROZEN-OCEAN. COM JUL 14: BATAVIA: AREA 51 MOTOCROSS, (585) 345-7433, AREA51MOTOCROSS.COM JUL 14-15: (ATV only) NEW BERLIN: 2-DAY EVENT, UNADILLA VALLEY SPORTS CENTER, , UNADILLAMX. COM JUL 15: (Includes ATVs) CAROGA LAKE: ROYAL MOUNTAIN SKI AREA, (518) 835-6445, ROYALMOUNTAIN. COM JUL 22: (Includes ATVs) YAPHANK: LONG ISLAND MOTOCROSS INC, (631) 286-9411, ISLANDMOTOCROSS. COM JUL 28: (Includes ATVs) MAPLEVIEW: SMX ASSOCIATES LLC, (315) 4807733, MOTOMASTERS.COM JUL 29: (Includes ATVs) MAPLEVIEW: SMX ASSOCIATES LLC, (315) 4807733, MOTOMASTERS.COM OBSERVED TRIALS JUL 15: CAYUTA: DISTRICT 4 TRIALS COMMITTEE, (607) 731-8440 JUL 29: PINE CITY: DISTRICT 4 TRIALS COMMITTEE, (607) 742-6648 SHORT TRACK

52

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

OHIO RECREATIONAL BIKE SHOW JUL 29: CLEVELAND: MYSTIC KNIGHTS, (216) 641-1525, MKMCCLEVELAND.COM DUAL SPORT - OFF ROAD JUL 14-15: CHANDLERSVILLE: 2-DAY EVENT, ZANESVILLE TRAIL RIDERS, (740) 221-1050, ZANESVILLTRAILRIDERS.COM DUAL SPORT RIDE JUL 14-15: CHANDLERSVILLE: 2-DAY EVENT, ZANESVILLE TRAIL RIDERS, (740) 221-1050, ZANESVILLTRAILRIDERS.COM

JUL 17: (Includes ATVs) NEW LEXINGTON: AMERICAN MOTORSPORTS LLC, (937) 358-2427, AMERICANMX.COM JUL 24: (Includes ATVs) MARYSVILLE: AMERICAN MOTORSPORTS LLC, (937) 358-2427, AMERICANMX.COM JUL 29: GREENVILLE: TREATY CITY MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (937) 5487197, TREATYCITYMC.COM TT JUL 23-24: (ATV only) ASHTABULA: 2-DAY EVENT, FISCHER CYCLE, (440) 997-4166, FISCHERRACING.COM

FUN RUN

OKLAHOMA

JUL 15: ORIENT: CAPITAL CITY MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (614) 877-1777

COMPETITION

POKER RUN

JUL 21-26: PONCA CITY: RPM SPORTS, (205) 699-8857, RPMSPORTSONLINE.COM

JUL 21: COVINGTON: ABATE-OH INC, (937) 417-3936, ABATE.COM

MOTOCROSS

PENNSYLVANIA

JUL 28: MAINEVILLE: ABATE-OH INC, (513) 625-1960, ABATE.COM

RECREATIONAL

ROAD RUN

BIKE SHOW

JUL 7: MASON: TRAIN MRO INC., TRAINMRO.ORG

JUL 14: BOYERTOWN: MOTORCYCLISTS FOR JESUS MINISTRIES, (215) 234-8611, GO2MJM.COM

JUL 22: MARYSVILLE: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS. ORG JUL 29: AKRON: GREATER AKRON M/C, (330) 760-3715 COMPETITION ENDURO JUL 15: LOGAN: HOCKING VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (740) 385-7695, HOCKINGVALLEYMC.COM JUL 29: SHADE: ATHENS MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (740) 591-0648, ACES-RACES.COM HILLCLIMB JUL 14: (Includes ATVs) MARIETTA: PIONEER MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (740) 350-8626, PIONEERMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM JUL 15: (Includes ATVs) MARIETTA: PIONEER MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (740) 350-8626, PIONEERMOTORCYCLECLUB.COM

JUL 20: CARLISLE: CARLISLE PRODUCTIONS, (717) 243-7855, CARLISLEEVENTS.COM

MOTOCROSS JUL 13: (Includes ATVs) LATROBE: MX PRODUCTIONS, (724) 322-0415, LATROBEMOTORSPORTS.COM JUL 15: ELKLAND: MILES MOUNTAIN MX, (607) 368-3429 JUL 15: HANOVER: HAPPY RAMBLERS, (717) 634-2353, HAPPYRAMBLERS.COM JUL 22: NEW ALEXANDRIA: PITTSBURGH RACEWAY PARK, (724) 668-7600, PITTSBURGHRACEWAYPARK.COM JUL 27: (Includes ATVs) LATROBE: MX PRODUCTIONS, (724) 322-0415, LATROBEMOTORSPORTS.COM SHORT TRACK JUL 8: (Includes ATVs) SHIPPENSBURG: SHIPPENSBURG MC, (717) 796-0294 JUL 10: DELTA: BALTIMORE COUNTY TRAIL RIDERS ASSOC., , BCTRA. COM SOUTH CAROLINA RECREATIONAL CONVENTION JUL 10: SPARTENBURG: MOTOR MAIDS INC

CARNIVAL RUN

ROAD RUN

JUL 8: LEBANON: LEBANON VALLEY MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (717) 2709797, LEBANONVALLEYMC.COM

JUL 10: GREENVILLE: WOMEN ON WHEELS

POKER RUN

RECREATIONAL

JUL 15: SCHUYLKILL HAVEN: SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (570) 385-1460, SCHUYLKILLCOUNTY MOTORCYCLECLUB.COM

ROAD RUN

JUL 15: BUCK: GENTLEMEN MC SPORTSMEN, (717) 285-3710 JUL 15: YORK: YORK MOTORCYCLE CLUB, (717) 854-5980, YORKMOTORCYCLE.COM JUL 22: COLUMBIA: THUNDERBIRD MOTORCYCLE CLUB INC, (717) 898-0871

MOTOCROSS

TRAIL RIDE - RECREATIONAL

JUL 1: CHILLICOTHE: CHILLI TOWN MX, (740) 703-5791, CHILLITOWNMX. COM

JUL 21: (Includes ATVs) SKIPPACK: BLUE COMET MOTOCYCLE CLUB INC, (276) 261-3580, BLUECOMETMC.COM

JUL 4: (Includes ATVs) MARYSVILLE: AMERICAN MOTORSPORTS LLC,

JUL 21-22: (Includes ATVs) VALLEY VIEW: 2-DAY EVENT, RAUSCH CREEK POWERSPORTS, (570) 682-4600, RAUSCHCREEKRACING.COM

COMPETITION

TENNESSEE

JUL 29: KNOXVILLE: PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION OF THE U.S., (800) 253-6530, RIDEFORKIDS. ORG COMPETITION OBSERVED TRIALS JUL 5: SEQUATCHIE: SOUTHEASTERN TRIALS RIDERS ASSOCIATION, (423) 942-8688, TRIALSTRAININGCENTER.COM JUL 6: SEQUATCHIE: SOUTHEASTERN TRIALS RIDERS ASSOCIATION, (423) 942-8688, TRIALSTRAININGCENTER.COM VERMONT RECREATIONAL ROAD RALLY

JULY EVENTS JUL 17: BRANDON: INTERNATIONAL NORTON OWNERS ASSOCIATION, (802) 247-6984 VIRGINIA

EVENT, WASHOUGAL MX PARK LLC, (541) 673-1671, WASHOUGALMXPK. COM WEST VIRGINIA

COMPETITION

RECREATIONAL

CROSS COUNTRY

POKER RUN - OFF-ROAD

JUL 15: (Includes ATVs) JAVA: LONE RIDER PRODUCTIONS LLC, (866) 967-8927, VXCS.ORG

JUL 28: (ATV only) CRESTON: CRESTON COMMUNITY BUILDING ORGANIZATION

GRAND PRIX JUL 29: BRISTOL: VIRGINIA COMPETITION HARE SCRAMBLE SERVICES, (276) 591-6076, VCHSS. ORG MOTOCROSS JUL 15: (Includes ATVs) DISPUTANTA: SOUTH FORK COMPETITION PARK, , SOUTHFORKMX.COM WASHINGTON COMPETITION MOTOCROSS JUL 19-20: WASHOUGAL: 2-DAY

WISCONSIN COMPETITION HILLCLIMB JUL 29: (Includes ATVs) HIXTON: CMJ RACEWAY LLC, (608) 220-6853, CMJRACEWAY.COM HARE SCRAMBLES JUL 8: STONE LAKE: STRAIGHT ARROW ENDURO RIDERS, (651) 456-0224, STRAIGHTARROWS.ORG JUL 29: HIXTON: CMJ RACEWAY LLC, (608) 220-6853, CMJRACEWAY. COM

MOTOCROSS JUL 1: (Includes ATVs) RHINELANDER: SUGAR CAMP AREA RACING ENTERPRISES, (715) 2721101, SUGARCAMP.ENT.COM JUL 8: LAKE MILLS: AZTALAN CYCLE CLUB INC, (414) 265-1582, AZTALANMX.COM JUL 21-22: (Includes ATVs) CHILTON: 2-DAY EVENT, GRAVITY PARK USA, (920) 849-7223, GRAVITYPARKUSA. COM JUL 25: (Includes ATVs) PORTAGE: CMJ RACEWAY LLC, (608) 220-6853, CMJRACEWAY.COM JUL 28: (Includes ATVs) ARKANSAW: ARKANSAW CREEK CYCLE CLUB INC, (715) 285-5679, ARKANSAWMX. COM JUL 29: (Includes ATVs) ARKANSAW: ARKANSAW CREEK CYCLE CLUB INC, (715) 285-5679, ARKANSAWMX. COM OBSERVED TRIALS

JUL 21-22: BARABOO: 2-DAY EVENT, WISCONSIN OBSERVED TRAILS ASSOCIATION, (608) 4345530, WISCONSINTRIAL.ORG SCRAMBLES JUL 15: (Includes ATVs) BURNETT: BEAVER CYCLE CLUB INC, , BEAVERCYCLECLUB.COM SHORT TRACK JUL 14: (Includes ATVs) BURNETT: BEAVER CYCLE CLUB INC, , BEAVERCYCLECLUB.COM JUL 21: LAKE MILLS: AZTALAN CYCLE CLUB INC, (414) 265-1582, AZTALANMX.COM WYOMING COMPETITION MOTOCROSS JUL 15: CHEYENNE: LARAMIE COUNTY RIDERS ASSOCIATION INC, (307) 421-2289, LARAMIECOUNTYMX.COM

2012 EVENTS HALL OF FAME EXHIBITS AND EVENTS AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME MOTORCYCLEMUSEUM.ORG The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio, and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Main Hall: AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame: Recognizing those who have made significant contributions to all aspects of motorcycling.

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

30-Year Ride: Honda’s Ohio-made Motorcycles: Gold Wings aren’t the only bikes that Honda produced at its plant in Marysville, Ohio. This exhibit showcases the 30 years of production, from the CR250 to the Rune.

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

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days: July 20-22, Mid-Ohio 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 June 9: Mt. Morris, Pa.: High Point Raceway June 16: Mechanicsville, Md.: Budds Creek Motocross

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

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

Sept. 8: Knoxville, Iowa: Knoxville Half-Mile, Knoxville Raceway Sept. 30: Santa Rosa, Calif.: Santa Rosa Mile, Sonoma County Fairgrounds Oct. 6: Tucson, Ariz: Tucson Half-Mile, Tucson Int’l Raceway Oct. 13: Pomona, Calif.: AMA Pro Flat Track Finals, Pomona Half-Mile, LA County Fairplex AMA PRO HILLCLIMB NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AMAPRORACING.COM

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

AMA PRO FLAT TRACK AMAPRORACING.COM

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

June 30: Lima, Ohio: Lima Half-Mile, Allen County Fairgrounds

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

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

AMA PRO ATV MOTOCROSS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ATVMOTOCROSS.COM

July 14: Lake Odessa, Mich.: I-96 HalfMile, I-96 Speedway July 28: Sacramento, Calif.: Sacramento Mile, Cal Expo Aug. 4: Castle Rock, Wash.: Castle Rock TT, Castle Rock Race Park

July 7: Buchanan, Mich.: RedBud

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

July 14: Millville, Minn.: Spring Creek Motocross

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

July 21: Washougal, Wash.: Washougal MX Park

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

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

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

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

June 24: Reno, Nev.: Jeff Henning, Western States Racing Association; (775) 544-6463, DirtIncRacing.com Sept. 8: Panaca, Nev.: Zach Livreri, Silver State Trailblazers; (702) 9946823, 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) 3687332, 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 July 1: Los Angeles: Staples Center (X Games) Sept. 15: Ontario, Calif.: Citizens Bank Arena

July 28-29: Buchanan, Mich.: Red Bud

Oct. 6: Denver: National Western Complex

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

Oct. 20: Everett, Wash.: Comcast Arena

AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES AMA KENDA HARE & HOUND NATIONALHAREANDHOUND.COM

Oct. 27: Boise, Idaho: Idaho Center Nov 17: Las Vegas, Nev.: Orleans Arena AMA WEST HARE SCRAMBLES AMARACING.COM

July 2012

53

2012 EVENTS 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 June 16-17: Toronto, Ohio: Jim Watson, Trials Inc.; (317) 861-6275, TrialsInc.org June 23-24: Exeter, R.I.: David Alen, Rhode Island Trials Club, (508) 2856074, RITrialsClub.com AMA/NATC YOUTH TRIALS AMARACING.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

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

Nov. 19-21: Gainesville, Fla.: Gatorback Cycle Park; (813) 470-7498, UnlimitedSportsMX.com

Aug. 17-18: Carlisle, Iowa

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

Nov. 22-24: Gainesville, Fla.: Gatorback Cycle Park; (813) 470-7498, UnlimitedSportsMX.com

July 5: Sequatchie, Tenn.

July 21: Ashland, Ohio: HalfMile, Ashland County Fairgrounds, Ken Saillant; (800) 262-5646, AmericanMotorcyclist.com Aug. 17-18: Dundee, N.Y.: 4/10-Mile, Black Rock Speedway, Dean Hoag; (607) 243-8686, BlackRockSpeedway. com AMA RACING PRO-AM MOTOCROSS AMARACING.COM

54

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

June 17: Springville, Ind.: Riley Miracle Trail Race July 21: Martinsville, Ind.

Sept. 22: Spencer, Ind.

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

Oct. 27-28: Casey, Ind.

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. 17: Pecatonica, Ill.: Stateline MX; (815) 275-MOTO, StatelineMX.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) 222-9290, HHMotocross.com Sept. 23: New Castle, Del.: Blue Diamond MX Park; (302) 834-5867, BCTRA.com

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

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

June 9-10: Casey, Ill.

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

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

June 9: Oktakha, Okla.: Outlaw Motor Speedway

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

Aug. 11: Merango, Ind.

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

AMA ATV EXTREME DIRT TRACK EDTRACING.COM

AMA FEATURED SERIES

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

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

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

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

AMA VINTAGE DIRT TRACK AMARACING.COM

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

July 28-29: Buchanan, Mich.: Red Bud

Sept. 8-9: Beaconsfield, Iowa: Coyote Crossing

AMA GBC MOTORSPORTS HEARTLAND CHALLENGE HEARTLANDCHALLENGE.COM

Sept. 30: Canton, Texas: Buffalo Creek Motocross Park; (214) 939-4321, BuffaloCreekMX.com

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

Nov. 10-11: Wortham, Texas: Freestone County Raceway; (713) 962-3386, FreestoneMX.com Nov. 10-11: Lizella, Ga.: Echeconnee MX Park; (205) 699-8857, FreestoneMX. com

Aug. 31-Sept. 1: Goldsboro, N.C.: Busco Beach, (919) 222-9614, BuscoBeach.com

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

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

699-8857, RPMSportsonline.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)

Sept. 8: Canaan, Ind. Oct. 13-14: Culver, Ind. AMA WESTERN CHECKPOINT ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RIDECHEC.COM 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 ALL-STAR NATIONAL FLAT TRACK SERIES STEVENACERACING.COM 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.: Half-Mile, Winchester Speedway

AMA ENDURO TRIALS TRIALSTRAININGCENTER.COM AMA AMATEUR GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS AMA AMATEUR NATIONAL MOTOCROSS MXSPORTS.COM June 9-10: Mill Creek, Ala.: Southeast regional (Amateur), Mill Creek, (205) 699-8857 June 9-10: Bowling Green, Ky.: MidEast regional (Youth), Ballance MX, (423) 323-5497 June 9-10: Milford, Calif.: Northwest regional (Youth & Amateur), Honey Lake, (530) 827-2639 June 16-17: Ellerbe, N.C.: Southeast regional (Youth), Windy Hills MX, (423) 323-5497 June 16-17: Millville, Minn.: North Central regional (Youth), Spring Creek, (507) 753-2779 June 16-17: Conroe, Texas: South Central regional (Youth), Three Palms, (936) 321-8725 June 16-17: Hesperia, Calif.: Southwest regional (Youth & Amateur), Competitive Edge, (909) 454-1070 June 23-24: Shippensburg, Pa.: Northeast regional (Youth), Doublin Gap, (717) 249-6036 June 23-24: Mt Carroll, Ill.: North Central regional (Amateur), MC Motopark, (815) 238-1614 July 29-Aug.4: Hurricane Mills, Tenn.: Grand Championships (final), Loretta Lynn’s Ranch AMA VINTAGE GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS AMAVINTAGEMOTORCYCLE DAYS.COM July 20-22: Lexington, Ohio: AMA Vintage Grand Championships, MidOhio Sports Car Course

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

AMA HILLCLIMB GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS AMARACING.COM

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

Aug. 17-19: Bay City, Wis.: AMA Hillclimb Grand Championships

Sept. 28: Hanover, Pa.: ST, Trail-way Speedway

AMA LAND SPEED GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS/BUB MOTORCYCLE SPEED TRIALS BUBSPEEDTRIALS.COM

Sept. 29: York, Pa.: Half-Mile, York Fairgrounds AMA CAN-AM IATVHSS IATVHSS.COM June 17: Spragueville, Iowa: Hansen Hollows July 7-8: Beaconsfield, Iowa: Coyote Crossing 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

Aug. 26-30: Wendover, Utah: Bonneville Salt Flats, Delvene Manning, (530) 272-4310 AMA KENDA TENNESSEE KNOCKOUT TENNESSEEKNOCKOUT ENDURO.COM Sept. 1-2: Sequatchie, Tenn.

AMA ISDE QUALIFIERS AMA ISDE QUALIFERS AMARACING.COM June 9-10: (Round 2) Wellston, Ohio: William Defue Jr., Appalachian Dirt Riders; (740) 384-6379, ADROhio.org AMA U.S. TEAM COMPETITION AMARACING.COM

2012 EVENTS Aug. 12: FIM Junior Motocross World Championship: Sevlievo, Bulgaria Sept. 24-29: International Six Days Enduro: Sachsenring Circuit and Saxony, Germany Sept. 29-30: Trials des Nations: Moutier, Switzerland Sept. 30: Motocross of Nations: Lommel, Belgium AMA DUAL-SPORT/ADVENTURE SERIES

Woods 200, Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, John Newton; (920) 350-2030, WIDualSportRiders.org Oct. 6-7: Mt. Solon, Va.: Shenandoah 500 Dual Sport, Washington Area Trail Riders, Andy Giordano; (540) 379-5631, NVTR.webs.com Oct. 6-7: McArthur, Ohio: Baby Burr National Dual Sport, Enduro Riders Assn., Steve Barber; (614) 582-7821, EnduroRiders.com Oct. 27-28: Chatsworth, N.J.: Meteor Ride in the Pines, Meteor MC, Jeff Fitzpatrick; (609) 654-5015, MeteorMC.com Oct. 27-28: Payson, Ariz.: Howlin’ at the Moon Dual Sport, Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood; (602) 692-9382, dohood@us.ibm.com

AMA HUSQVARNA NATIONAL DUAL-SPORT SERIES, PRESENTED

BY FMF AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM June 9-10: Odell, Ore.: Black Dog Dual Sport, Northwest Tour & Trail, Tom Niemela; (503) 681-8881, BlackDogDualSport.com

Nov. 3-4: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Hammer Run, Tri-County Sportsmen, Eldin Polhaumas; (888) 274-4469, TeamHammer.org Nov. 23-24: Palmdale, Calif.: LABarstow to Vegas, AMA D37 Dual Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 792-7384, District37AMA.org

June 9-10: Wabeno, Wis.: Ride For Research, Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders, John Newton; (920) 350-2030, WIDualSportRiders.org June 23-24: Fort Rock, Ore.: Fort Rock National Dual Sport, Lobos MC, Billy Toman; (503) 656-5801, LobosMC. com July 14-15: Chandlersville, Ohio: Zanesville National Dual Sport, Zanesville Trail Riders, Jerry Sode; (740) 221-1050, ZanesvilleTrailRiders. com July 21-28: Grayling/Indian River, Mich.: 28th Annual Six Days of Michigan, Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan, Lewis Schuler; (517) 4160126, CycleConservationClub.com Aug. 1-5: Stevenson, Wash.: Dualsport Northwest, SoundRider!, Tom Mehren; (206) 329-7808, SoundRider.com Aug. 4-5: Walden, Colo.: Moose Run Dual Sport Rally, Front Range Riders, Deborah Nielsen; (307) 778-8685, FrontRangeRiders.com Aug. 4-5: Hancock, N.Y.: Hancock Quarry Run, Bear Creek Sportsmen, Mike Goetz; BearCreekSportsmen.com Aug. 11-12: Columbus, Ind.: Buffalo 500 D/S Adventure Ride, Stoney Lonesome MC; Nathan Gaskill; (812) 343-9772, StoneyLonesomeMC.com/ DualSport/index.html Aug. 18-19: Wolverine, Mich.: Ted’s Chandler Hill Challenge, Great Lakes Dual Sporters, Jeremay Valley; (989) 751-6863, GLDSMC.org Sept. 8-9: Golden Pond, Ky.: Land Between the Lakes 200, K.T. Riders, Jesse Thomas; (270) 522-3703, LBL200.com Sept. 22-23: Buck Meadows, Calif.: Yosemite Dual Sport Adventure, Family Off Road Adventures, Lawrence Borgens; (209) 649-3633, FamilyOffRoadAdventures.com Sept. 22-23: Logan, Ohio: Nutcracker 200, Buckey Dual Sporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050, KaeppnersWoods.com Sept. 29-30: Wabeno, Wis.: Big

District37AMA.org AMA PREMIER TOURING SERIES AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST. COMROADRIDE/TOURING AMA GRAND NATIONAL RALLY July 26-29: Carson City, Nev.: International Women & Motorcycling Conference, AMA, (614) 856-1900, WomenandMotorcycling.com AMA NATIONAL RALLY July 20-22: Lexington, Ohio: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, AMA, Connie Fleming; (614) 856-1900 ext. 1258, AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com AMA NATIONAL CONVENTION Sept. 12-16: Ruidoso, N.M.: Golden Aspen Rally, MotorcycleRally.com AMA NATIONAL TOURING RALLY June 24-28: Avon, Colo.: STAR 2012, SportTouring.us/STAR2012 July 11-15: Maggie Valley, N.C.: Roadrunner Motorcycle Touring & Travel Annual Touring Weekend, Roadrunner.travel/events/touringweekend/

June 9-17: Laconia, N.H.: Laconia Bike Week, LaconiaBikeWeek.com

Sept. 8-9: Morganton, N.C.: Blue Ridge Adventure Ride, JB Saki Promotions, Ron Miller; (704) 309-3271, VolunteerRiders.com Sept. 14-16: Taos Ski Valley, N.M.: Land of Enchantment, Aerostich Tours, Roger Pattison; (575) 776-8785, AerostichTours.com Sept. 22-23: Logan, Ohio: Nutcracker 200, Buckey Dual Sporters, Bill Kaeppner; (740) 380-3050, KaeppnersWoods.com Oct. 27-28: Payson, Ariz.: Howlin’ at the Moon Dual Sport, Arizona Trail Riders, Don Hood; (602) 692-9382, ArizonaTrailRiders.org Nov. 3-4: Port Elizabeth, N.J.: Hammer Run, Tri-County Sportsmen, Eldin Polhaumas; (856) 785-2754, TeamHammer.org Nov. 23-24: Palmdale, Calif.: LABarstow to Vegas, AMA D37 Dual Sport, Paul Flanders; (626) 792-7384,

AMA SIGNATURE EVENTS - RIDE FOR KIDS PBTFUS.ORG/RIDEFORKIDS/ EVENTS/2012/ June 10: Independence, Ohio: Independence Fieldhouse Soccer Fields, road ride June 10: Golden, Colo.: Jefferson County Human Services Building, road ride July 8: South Bend, Ind.: Pinhook Park, road ride July 15: White Bear Lake, Minn.: East Century College, road ride July 15: Elgin, Il.: Elgin Community College, road ride

July 22: Marysville, Ohio: Scotts Miracle-Gro Headquarters, road ride

June 9-10: Odell, Ore.: Black Dog Adventure Ride, Northwest Tour & Trail, Tom Niemela; (503) 681-8881, BlackDogDualSport.com

Aug. 20-24: Various locations, Idaho: Sasquatch Adventure Tour, SoundRider!, Tom Mehren; (206) 3297808, SoundRider.com

Nov. 12-13: Titusville, Fla.: March of Dimes Bikers for Babies, BikersforBabies.org

AMA DISTRICT TOURING RALLY

AMA NATIONAL GYPSY TOUR

Aug. 11-12: Columbus, Ind.: Buffalo 500 D/S Adventure Ride, Stoney Lonesome MC, Nathan Gaskill; (812) 343-9772, StoneyLonesomeMC.com

Aug. 6: Sturgis, S.D.: Sturgis Mayor’s Ride , (605) 720-0800, SturgisMotorcycleRally.com/events

July 15: Deerfield, N.Y.: Deerfield Volunteer Fire Dept., road ride

AMA YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ NATIONAL ADVENTURE RIDING SERIES AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM

June 21-25: Fairbanks, Alaska: Tag the Deadhorse Adventure Ride, Aerostich Tours, Roger Pattison; (575) 776-8785, AerostichTours.com

AMA SIGNATURE EVENTS AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM/ ROADRIDE/TOURING

Aug. 1-5: Stephenson, Wash.: Rally in the Gorge, SoundRider.com/rally June 18-21: Matamoros, Pa.: MTA 2012 Gathering, Vikingbike@ mindspring.com

June 9-10: Atlanta, N.Y.: Thrills in the Hills 2012, Wayne County Motorcycle Club, Don Rice; (315) 945-6911, WayneCountyMC.com

Motorcycle Association (SCMA), SCMA.com

June 7-10: Austin, Texas: Republic of Texas Biker Rally, ROTRally.com

June 21-24: Johnstown, Pa.: Thunder in the Valley, VisitJohnstownPa.com/ thunderinthevalley Aug. 6-12: Sturgis, S.D.: Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, SturgisMotorcycleRally.com AMA NATIONAL GRAND TOURS AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM/ ROADRIDE/TOURING Jan. 1-Dec. 31: Polar Bear Grand Tour, AMA District 2 of New Jersey, (609) 894-2941, PolarBearGrandTour. com

July 29: Knoxville, Tenn.: Pellissippi StateCommunity College, road ride July 29: Overland Park, Kan.: Johnson County Community College, road ride Aug. 5: Cranberry Township, Pa: Home Dept, road ride Aug. 5: Central Valley, N.Y.: Central Valley Elementary School, road ride Aug. 5: Middleton, Wis: Firemen’s Park, road ride Aug. 11: Salt Lake City: This is the Place Heritage Park, road ride Aug. 19: Cottleville, Mo.: St. Charles Community College, road ride Aug. 19: Fiskdale, Mass.: Tantasqua Regional High School, road ride Aug. 26: Ann Arbor, Mich.: Washtenaw Community College, road ride/dual-sport

March 1-Nov. 30: Smoke Chasing Grand Tour, Team Strange Airheads, SmokeChasing.com

Aug. 26: Fletcher, N.C.: WNC Ag Center and Fairgrounds, road ride

March 17-Sept. 9: Prostate Cancer Pony Express Grand Tour, Prostate Cancer Awareness Project, http:// prostatecancerponyexpress. wordpress.com

Sept. 9: Leeds, Ala.: Barber Motorsports Park, road ride

April 1-Oct. 31: Tour of Honor Grand Tour, Tour of Honor, TourofHonor.com April 1-Nov. 30: Hodgepodge Grand Tour, Midnight Riders Motorcycle Club, (765) 566-3807, Midnight-Riders-MC. com AMA NATIONAL EXTREME GRAND TOURS AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM/ ROADRIDE/TOURING Jan. 1-Dec. 31: USA Four Corners Grand Tour, Southern California Motorcycle Association (SCMA), (949) 246-4941, USA4Corners.org

Sept. 9: Carnation, Wash.: Remlinger Farms, road ride

Sept. 9: Indianapolis: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, road ride Sept. 16: Tulsa, Okla.: Tulsa Health Dept., road ride Sept. 16: Phoenixville, Pa.: Valley Forge Christian College, road ride Sept. 23: Ellicott City, Md.: Turf Valley Resort, road ride Sept. 30: Las Vegas, Nev.: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, road ride Oct. 7: Fairfield, Calif.: Solano Community College, road ride Oct. 7: Grapevine, Texas: Grapevine Mills Mall, road ride

Jan. 1-Dec. 31: Best US 15 Roads Challenge Grand Tour, Southern California Motorcycle Association (SCMA), SC-MA.com

Oct. 21: Cardiff, Calif.: MiraCosta College, road ride

Aug. 30-Sept. 4: Three Flags Classic Grand Tour, Southern California

Nov. 4: Lithia, Fla.: Heinrich Training Center, road ride

Oct. 21: Mesa, Ariz.: Desert Ridge High School, road ride

July 2012

55

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July 2012

57

GUEST COLUMN

AGAINST ALL ODDS

I am a motocrosser and will always be one. However, like most people who throw a leg over two wheels, I never won an AMA Pro Racing outdoor motocross National or an AMA Supercross.

As a young MX racer, I never realized that success is rarely measured in AMA professional championships. I grew up in Michigan and raced amateur AMA motocross for a few years in the mid ’80s. Then in ’88, I completed my first full amateur season, finishing the year as a respectable 125 “B” rider. After that year, I considered myself a mid-ranking member of the Michigan Mafia, and I watched the ultra-elite Mafia members (the Bowen brothers, Jeff Stanton, Todd DeHoop, adopted Michigan son Mike LaRocco and later Brian Swink) carve through the amateur ranks to compete on the AMA Pro Motocross outdoor national circuit.

I admired the talent, grit and determination they had to compete professionally. With only a fraction of their skill and experience, I wondered if it was possible for me to compete at their level. As I grew up, I never seriously thought of making a living racing a motorcycle and always wanted to go to medical school, but this was a unique opportunity. What would it take for a rider of minimal natural talent to compete at the highest level? What would I have to learn? Is this impossible? I was about to find out.

When it comes right down to it, every motocross racer desires to compete in an outdoor National, but only a few have the experience of doing so. My home state is Michigan, and Redbud is essentially holy land and considered sacred in the world of motocross racing. To qualify there and finish in the top 20 is something I felt I could learn a lot from. Lacking significant natural talent, I focused on finding another way into the top 20.

It was during this pivotal time as an AMA member that I learned the most about motocross and about life in general. I made up for any deficit with hard work. I learned that trying twice as hard as everyone else made a difference, but it was not enough…it took more. I learned that practicing and training with your peers was important, but it was the tireless effort that you put in when no one was watching that made the difference. I learned that you are capable of more than you think. I eventually came to understand that no matter what lies behind you or what lies in front of you, it is nothing compared to what lies within you.

Against all odds, it was in my home state at Redbud in 1990 that I finished 19th in moto one. I realized that what I was taught as a child was right: Start by doing what is needed, and then do what is possible, and soon you can do the impossible. I went on to race the first half of the AMA Pro Motocross National Championship season that year and qualified for all but two of the Nationals prior to moving on and going to medical school.

I am now a cancer surgeon, lifetime AMA member, husband and father. I value my American Motorcyclist Association membership more today than ever, and certainly more than my American

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Medical Association membership. I say this because it was during my years racing motocross when I learned what was important in life and how to apply it to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles. These are the lessons I would like to teach my children, lessons that result in meaningful life skills that can be applied to any challenge they face, no matter how great.

In my everyday work as a cancer surgeon, the most critical skills I have learned were not learned in medical school. Although the most complex minimally invasive cancer surgeries today are performed with multi-million dollar robotic instruments, the most important tools I bring into the operating room are not made of steel. The most important tools are the fundamentals I learned on and off the track with my mom and dad while racing motocross.

My kids may never win a National, but that won’t change the emphasis that we put on the importance of riding and racing motorcycles.

You will see us at the track doing what matters: preparing for life, racing motocross as members of the AMA. Dr. Douglas Iddings is an AMA Life Member from Davison, Mich.

Photos Portrait: Sarah Gerbers; Surgery: Provided by Douglas Iddings

Learning The True Value Of Life Lessons

By Dr. Douglas Iddings

Carson City , NV 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!

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

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