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A FAMILY AFFAIR
News, notes, insight and more from the motorcycling universe
Tsakanikas Takeover
The Tsakanikas family of seven shares a love for race day
BY KEATON MAISANO PHOTOS: TSAKANIKAS ARCHIVE
Bound by blood and bonded through motor oil, the Tsakanikas family is no stranger to motorcycles and race day.
Andrew, who grew up in a racing family, and Meagan Tsakanikas are married with five kids, the oldest four of which have followed in Andrew’s footsteps — and tire tracks — by competing in off-road events.
“It’s just honestly something we bond over,” Andrew said. “I don’t know how they grew into the passion, but it just came and it’s what we talk about at dinner; it’s what we look forward to doing on the weekends. It’s a life that we created.”
Both 15-year-old Austin and 12-year-old Mason were the first two kids to ride off-road, and now they serve as mentors to their younger siblings — 9-year-old Aubrey and 7-year-old Maura. The youngest of the group is 3-year-old Alden, who will have plenty of teachers as he grows and gets into the full swing of things.
While there is undoubtedly support among the kids, Andrew said there is still some friendly competition as well.
“My boys are very competitive with each other,” Andrew said. “They’ll talk around the dinner table, on the way to the races, after the races. They definitely push each other to get better, and everybody wants to be the one that got first on the weekend. And the kids for the most part can win.”
Competing in the GNCC series, AMA U.S. Sprint Enduro races and other events near their home in Maryland, the Tsakanikas kids have not only raced but taken home hardware.
Racing motocross growing up before switching to off-road later in his racing career, Andrew recently got to do something at the 2022 Dragon’s Back National Enduro he had never done before in his decades of racing: line up in a race next to his two sons.
“We all got to line up together and race on the same row at a national enduro for the first time, which was definitely a good dad feeling,” Andrew said. “It’s definitely an event I won’t forget for a long time.”
In terms of bragging rights at the dinner table, Andrew said Austin was able to flash his talent and potential, which Andrew jokingly said left himself with mixed emotions.
“He beat me in a couple sections of the enduro, which kinda upset me,” Andrew said while laughing. “Proud moment being able to line up with him and proud moment that ‘Hey my kid’s getting faster than
ANDREW TSAKANIKAS
up to speed
me,’ so he’s doing something right.”
Beyond the competitions, Andrew instills in his kids the need to be of service within the world of motorsports. Serving as a trail boss for enduro and hare scrambles, Andrew — with the help of his family — has worked to set up courses for different events.
“We’re not just racers,” Andrew said. “We also try to give back as much as we can to the sport because we love it.”
Andrew added that his wife, who was not involved in the world of motorsports before meeting him, has become “a moto-mom like you have never met before” and has provided unwavering support to their kids’ racing careers as well as his own pursuits.
“Besides wrenching on bikes, she has everything else covered,” Andrew said.
When it comes to the kids’ futures within motorsports, Andrew said it is up to them to decide what they want to do and how far they want to take it.
“Their mother and I just give them every opportunity,” Andrew said. “We’ll give them every opportunity to chase this as far as they can, and if they want to get into something else, we’d support them just as well.”
Clockwise from the upper left: Meagan and Alden (on the right) at Big Buck GNCC; Maura at Specialized General GNCC; Austin at Track 93 U.S. Sprint Enduro; Aubrey at Hoosier GNCC; Dad and Maura at the South of the Border MX U.S. Sprint Enduro.
JEFF KARDAS
Northeast, Southwest Regions to Hold AMA Board Elections
Individual members can apply to run
AMA members in the Northeast and Southwest regions of the United States may apply to run in an election for the AMA Board of Directors. The Northeast seat is currently held by AMA Board member Hub Brennan, while the Southwest seat is currently held by AMA Board member Byron Snider.
AMA members who live in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia or West Virginia are eligible to apply to run for the Northeast Region.
AMA members who live in Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Hawaii are eligible to apply to run for the seat representing the Southwest Region.
The deadline for applications is Sept. 1, 2022. The election will be held Dec. 15 through Jan. 15. For application information, email elections@ama-cycle.org or call (614) 856-1900.
