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MUDDY MAYHEM
News, notes, insight and more from the motorcycling universe
The AMA Hillclimb Grand Championship overcame adverse weather to crown its champions
KEATON MAISANO
G
o watch a hillclimb event, and the focus is usually on what’s going up the hill. But at the AMA Hillclimb Grand Championship in August at Michigan’s historic Mount Garfield, the concern was what was coming down!
“We got to the 450 class,” said first-time event promoter John Radke, “and as the bikes were going out, the hill was coming down faster
than the bikes! Every time they went over one of the breakers, the water would pour out from behind it, so there were times where more of the mud was coming down than bikes were going up.”
While a heavy rain had turned Mount Garfield — a sand dune that has been tied to hillclimb and the Muskegon Motorcycle Club for more than a century — into a muddy version of itself, it was up to Radke and those working the event to adapt and try to salvage the weekend.
Deciding to postpone the event until the next day, the competition was limited to a single round, tie breakers and the King
of the Hill competition, for the more than 170 riders due to limited time and hill conditions.
With any tough decision, Radke said the altered format was met with mixed emotions.
“We took our lumps. Some people were happy, though there were some that were very definitely not,” Radke said. “But at the end of the event, and in days following, I received numerous texts and phone calls from some of those people that were upset at the time. Cooler heads had prevailed, and they seemed to appreciate what we did and knew that we did the best we could with the situation we were given.”
Despite difficult conditions and hard decisions, Radke said there were fortunately no major injuries sustained by any of the riders during the event.
While Radke promoted and ran the event, he was quick to point out that the success of the event was not thanks to his efforts alone.
“It takes a village to
PHOTOS: LUKE CIPALA
Dan D. Raymond organized the Muskegon Motorcycle Club in 1920, and Mount Garfield (main) was leased for a hillclimb a year later in 1921. Jason Vanberg (right) was named AMA Hillclimb ATV Racer of the Year. The AMA Senior Hillclimb Racer of the Year went to Jason Braun (far right).
JOHN RADKE
up to speed
put on a hillclimb,” Radke said. “I had a great group of people that I’ve worked with for the last few years. And I’d say the success of it all is based upon them — everybody being willing to help out.”
From local riders and club members to groups from outside the area, Radke said the work that was put into making the event run as smooth as possible was crucial.
“It truly was a nationwide effort,” Radke said. “I had a little bit of help from all the districts involved, and they contributed a lot to make this event happen. That was probably the best feeling. Yes, we all have our
rivalries, and we all pick on each other, but at the end of the day, we’re family.”
As for the competition side of things, Radke said the adverse conditions challenged each rider’s abilities to the extreme. Showing off their skills in the mud, four riders took home AMA Awards at the event.
Cullen Vice, who earned the top spot in the 125cc class, took the honor of AMA Hillclimb Racer of the Year, while Blaze Gouty, who
won the Mini Junior class, was named AMA Youth Hillclimb Racer of the Year.
The AMA Senior Hillclimb Racer of the Year went to Jason Braun, winner of the Masters class, and Jason Vanberg, who won the ATV Open class, took home the AMA Hillclimb ATV Racer of the Year.
Beyond the AMA Award winners, Broc Williamson earned the prestigious title of King of the Hill for 2022.
Radke found his own slice of glory when he won the vintage class.
“I just came off an injury, two broken ribs and a broken thumb,” he said. “I played it conservative. Conservative got me through the roughest part, and I was able to get a better footing.”
A decade before running events or edging out the competition, Radke was among the spectators with his grandson at Muskegon Motorcycle Club’s Bridgeton location. It was through being a spectator that his grandson got into riding hillclimb, and Radke found himself moving into a role as a referee. Within two years he was the District 14 chairman for hillclimb.
From his time as a spectator all the way to running the AMA Hillclimb Grand Championship, Radke said it is the family atmosphere of the sport that remains appealing to him.
“The community aspect
of hill climbing has been one of the biggest draws for me,” he said, “and it’s what has kept me involved. You go anywhere, you meet somebody, they become a friend and they become part of your family by the end of the day.”
Blaze Gouty (above left) earned the AMA Youth Hillclimb Racer of the Year award while Cullen Vice (above right) won the AMA Hillclimb Racer of the Year honor. Broc Williamson (right) took home the title of King of the Hill.
JOHN RADKE
up to speed
RIGHTS
Roundup
What’s trending in government relations and legislative affairs
BY KALI KOTOSKI
Inflation Reduction Act Neglects e-Motorcycles
The Inflation Reduction Act recently signed into law by President Biden fails to support the motorcycle industry’s push into the electrification of two-wheeled transportation by not including tax credits meant to lower the cost of EVs.
The law aims to reshape the nation’s energy sector and spur the production and demand of electric automobiles to foster widespread consumer adoption. Currently, most electric vehicles are too expensive for many Americans, and e-vehicle infrastructure is lagging, as well.
The law includes a $7,500 tax credit at the point of sale for new EVs and $4,000 for used EVs. The new tax credits replace the old incentive system, which included a $7,500 credit for new EVs and set a manufacturing cap on automakers. Beginning January 1, 2023, the cap no longer exists, and the credit scheme lasts until 2032.
However, electric motorcycles were left on the cutting room floor after Congress failed to revive a federal tax credit for motorcycles that expired on the first of this year.
“The AMA was very disappointed to see the entire electric motorcycle tax credit provision eliminated in the bill,” said AMA Director of Government Relations Michael Sayre. “The AMA worked
New Study Confirms Self-Driving Tech Concerns
Anew study released by the Connected Motorcycle Consortium
— an industry-led group — proves that Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) pose safety risks for motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users. The study comes as governments plan to allow self-driving technology on public roads. For example, the United Kingdom plans to allow limited self-driving cars on its roads next year, with full implementation in 2025. The study provides actionable science to raise the standard for automakers to ensure that technology is safe for motorcyclists.
The study also aims to close the gap in ADAS research that has focused on detecting pedestrians, bicyclists and other four-wheeled traffic, but has never analyzed motorcycles as a singular variable.
The Consortium found that as drivers become more dependent on ADAS, they become less attentive to the task of driving. While the group says this technology could lower car-to-car collisions, car-to-motorcycle collisions would likely increase. The study also found that current technology can detect motorcycles but with a latency that may not give a driver, or the technology, enough time to react.
Focusing on radar-detection systems, which operate like sonar, the Consortium found that current settings have not dialed in the ability to detect motorcycles. The reason is that the radar detection systems can be set too low, which will adequately detect larger objects like cars, or set too high and thus unable to distinguish motorcycles from small, irrelevant detections.
There are similar concerns for camera-based ADAS systems and their ability to detect motorcycles that the study didn’t address. For example, suppose a camera is reading two taillights ahead that are at staggered distances. In that case, it can appear as one set of taillights, which is one of the hypotheses for the recent crashes involving Teslas that killed two motorcyclists in Utah and California after being struck from behind.
For automakers, the study concluded that radar systems need more robust testing and precise settings to account for motorcycles and the myriad differences between them and cars. In addition, the CMC advised that OEMs should consider adding radar reflectors on motorcycles, a common practice in the boating industry, to help ADAS systems
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“We believe any incentive that’s extended to those buying electric vehicles with four wheels should be extended to those buying an electric motorcycle,” added Sayre. The electric motorcycle industry www.mxbootrepair.com 1-949-791-8009 and the AMA are already working with supportive members of Congress to inBC_047460_DRI0416P.indd 1 Anthony's benefit logo.indd 1troduce the electric motorcycle tax credit in future legislation. “We have and will continue to engage with members of Congress to promote incentives for electric motorcycles and LEATHER more choices for consumers,” said Harley-Davidson VP Communications and REPAIR Corporate Relations George Prassas. AS THE PREFERRED REPAIR COMPANY FOR DAINESE, “Manufacturing as well as EV credits ALPINESTARS, REV’IT, SPIDI, AVG SPORT AND MITHOS, for all types of vehicles are essential to ANTHONY’S LEATHERWORKS ENSURES FIT AND FUNCTION FOR ANY TYPE OF LEATHER APPAREL. ensuring America leads the transporta tion industry.” ANTHONYSLEATHERWORKS.COM | 949-486-9000 AUTHORIZED REPAIR CENTER
Since Harley-Davidson’s debut of electric motorcycle LiveWire in 2019, the company and its sub-brand have sold 1,648 units.
detect motorcycles. Some places that could improve ADAS detection include the end of the handlebars, axles, mirrors or near the indicators and the front fender.
“By mounting [radar reflectors] on the ends of the bars and the bike’s axles front and rear, there’s no angle at which a radar can be pointed at a bike without hitting at least one of the reflectors, bouncing a strong signal back to the radar sensor and improving the conspicuity towards sensor-based ADAS,” the study said.
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Riding ROUNDUP BUCKET LIST Ride Jeff Shultz
AMA Charter Life Member Jeff Shultz has been a licensed motorcyclist for more than 50 years and ridden thousands of miles, but it wasn’t until 2021 that he got to live his motorcycling dream of taking a cross-country motorcycle trip.
Setting out from his home in Dillsburg, Pa., Shultz rode his BMW R1200RT West to Arizona, up through California, across the scenic states of the Central United States and all the way back home. Along the way he explored Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon, all while enjoying the exhilarating freedom of two wheels.
While a great opportunity to see some of the country’s most significant sites, Shultz’s bucket list trip also gave him the chance to see many of his friends and family scattered across the country.
“It’s not often that a person gets to fulfill a lifelong dream,” Shultz told American Motorcyclist, “and love the manner in which it is accomplished.” —Keaton Maisano
To have your riding story featured in AMA Riding Roundup, send your photos and story to submissions@ama-cycle.org.
Racing ROUNDUP
WHAT’S WHAT IN THE WORLD OF AMA RACING COMPETITION
SWEET VICTORY!
Although nearly halfway around the world, Team USA’s seven-rider roster made the United States proud as they finished atop the international standings at the 2022 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship in Vantaa, Finland, in August 2022.
Making their first appearance in the annual event since 2019, Team USA rose to the occasion and tallied 17 points — edging out the host country Finnish team, which took second with 25 points. The Netherlands rounded out the podium with 26 points. The title became Team USA’s fifth overall and first since 2014.
“This year was a great opportunity
for our team, and they seized the moment on the world stage,” said AMA Deputy Director of Racing Mike Burkeen. “I am truly proud of every member of this team, and they reaffirmed what we knew when we selected them: they are some of the brightest young stars in motocross.”
Tayce Morgan of Clermont, Fla., and Maddox Temmerman of Visalia, Calif., represented the team in the 65cc FIM Junior Motocross World
Left: AMA Deputy Director of Racing Mike Burkeen. Above: Left to right, Seth Dennis, Maddox Temmerman, Landon Gibson, Tayce Morgan, Collin Allen, Carson Wood and Casey Cochran.
Cup Class.
The 85cc FIM World Championship Class included Carson Wood of Zephyrhills, Fla., Seth Dennis from Port Saint Lucie, Fla., and Landon Gibson of Peachtree City, Ga.
Finally, the 125cc FIM Junior Motocross World Championship Class included riders Casey Cochran of Clermont, Fla., and Collin Allen of Clayton, N.C.
Jeff Cernic, longtime amateur motocross supporter who managed the U.S. team in its last appearance in 2019, served as team manager. Roost MX and MXtire sponsored the team.
The FIM Junior Motocross World Championship hosts competitors between 11 and 17 years of age. Countries select their own best and brightest motocross stars to participate in individual classes and team events.
