AMA Racer, Issue 2

VOLUME 1, Number 2

Page 6 racing News Page 12 featured event Page 21 AMA RACING eventS

Director’s Letter AMA Racing STAFF Joe Bromley, Director Kevin Crowther, Deputy Director Bill Cumbow, Deputy Director Kip Bigelow, Motocross/Arenacross Manager Ken Saillant, Track Racing Manager Chuck Weir, Off-Road Manager Connie Fleming, Senior Coordinator Jane Caston, Supercross/Motocross Coordinator Tamra Jones, Off-Road/Track Racing Coordinator AMA Racing (614) 856-1900, AMARacing.com AMARacing@ama-cycle.org 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147

AMA Racer James Holter, Editor Mark Lapid, Creative Director Nora McDonald, Production Coordinator Ray Monroe Advertising Manager (815) 885-4445; rmonroe@ama-cycle.org Misty Walker Advertising Assistant (614) 856-1900 x1267; mwalker@ama-cycle.org AMA Racer (614) 856-1900, AmericanMotorcyclist.com AMARacer@ama-cycle.org 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147 AMA Racer is published periodically by the American Motorcyclist Association. Copyright (c) 2009 by the American Motorcyclist Association. Printed in USA. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damage to unsolicited materials. Send story ideas and photos to AMARacer@ama-cycle.org. All submitted material becomes property of the American Motorcyclist Association. Return of special items may be arranged, but please call before submitting. Please include your full name, AMA number and phone number with all submissions.

History Will Take Center Stage At AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships

By Joe Bromley As the largest motorsports sanctioning body in the world, the American Motorcyclist Association is in a unique position to help guide America’s greatest family sport to the next level.

Part of moving forward, though, involves looking back to our heritage. And there’s a lot of it. The AMA is celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2009, which will culminate at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, this July 24-26.

A significant slice of those 85 years has involved motorcycle racing, from board track to dirt track to enduros to motocross, and everything in between. So, of course, this anniversary celebration would not be complete without racing, and that’s why we’re proud to present the first-ever AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships.

To be held among the other activities at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships will crown AMA Racing national champions in motocross, dirt track, hare scrambles, road racing and trials.

AMA racers of all ages compete in vintage racing, which features non-current motorcycles on period-inspired courses. It’s affordable, fun, unique, laid-back and flat-out cool. Some of these racers grew up racing AMA-sanctioned events. Others are just starting out. All of them are die-hard enthusiasts who just want to have a good time racing motorcycles.

Some of them are also the fastest vintage racers in the country, and there certainly will be tough competition for the AMA Racing National

No. 1 plates up for grabs, not to mention two special awards that were created to echo what has historically represented this country’s highest honor in motorcycle racing: the title of AMA Grand National Champion.

The AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships will crown two AMA Vintage Grand National Champions, one in off-road and one in track racing. For details, see the supplemental rules in the Racing section of AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com.

I’m also happy to report that all champions crowned at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships will be recognized at the AMA Racing end-of-year banquet, set for Dec. 4 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, where the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum will hold its 2009 induction ceremony the following day. It will be a weekend you won’t want to miss.

I invite all AMA racers to come out and participate at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, battle for national recognition and have a great time at the granddaddy of vintage motorcycle get-togethers: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. There will be classes for all skill levels, and chances are that if you have an old bike in the shed there’s a place for it.

Come find out just how cool history can be at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships this July 24-26.

And, as always, let us know what you think at AMARacing@ama-cycle.org.

Joe Bromley is the AMA director of racing.

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ON THE COVER: Get your vintage on at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships this July 24-26 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rentals, transport, hotel stays and more. The AMA is everything motorcycling.

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snapshots It’s the 1970s all over again at this vintage hare scrambles race. Come see if the past is as cool as you remember it at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships this July 24-26 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

For closeups and captions of these member-submitted photos, please visit the online version of this issue at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/AMARacer/

Got a photograph that captures the spirit of AMA Racing? Send it in, along with a few words, to AMARacer@ama-cycle.org.

(Note: Only submit photos for which you own the full copyright. Thanks!)

Photo by Grant Parsons

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snapshots Proud mom Susan Miller submitted this photo of her son, Joshua, taken back in Michigan when she was deployed to Iraq.

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snapshots Mike Radford sent in this snapshot of his daughter, Nicole, captured at a vintage trials event.

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snapshots Kelly and Spencer made it to the top of the hill with dad, John.

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snapshots Jerry McWilliams is ready to burn up the salt at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

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snapshots Who says you can’t ride on water? John in Michigan poses with his 1979 Yamaha XS650, nicknamed “My Good Lookin’ Twin.” On most Saturdays and Sundays, it’s where you’ll find John in January, February and early March.

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snapshots Adam Bude’s 1987 Honda Reflex looking good in Mt. Hope, Wis.

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snapshots Will Sequino at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.

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snapshots Dave Holloway with Eric and Mick in a sandwash in northwest Colorado.

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snapshots The race action is fast and furious at Fast Friday’s Motorcycle Speedway at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn, Calif.

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AMA RACER NEWS

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points from all riders through the first two laps.

On lap three, Wineland and Webb turned in spectacular rides in the mud-hole section as the only riders to even see the end cards, but it was not enough to catch Smage, who claimed his second-straight win with a total of 16 points.

Webb took second with 20, and Wineland rounded out the podium with 27.

“I’m still not pleased with my riding at this point, but I am pleased with having the lead in the series standings,” said Smage. “I know now what I need to work on between now and Tennessee, and hopefully I can improve on things before then.” — Shan Moore

It’s All Sommers In ATV Woods Racing

Shan Moore

Yamaha Rider Leads AMA Racing ATV National Hare Scrambles Championship Series

Smage Wins Nebraska Trials DoubleHeader

Yamaha factory pilot Brandon Sommers is flying in this year’s inaugural AMA Racing ATV National Hare Scrambles Championship Series.

The 24-year-old Millersburg, Ohio, resident started out strong in the series, winning the opening round in Sparta, Ga., taking second place in Hayesville, N.C., and then taking the top spot again in the third round in Rhinelander, Wis. “I’m excited to be leading the series,” Sommers said. “Obviously, it is a national series, and to lead anything at a national level is always great. I’m looking forward to the next race In Pennsylvania. I’ve heard quite a few big names are planning to show up!”

Round 4 will be held June 13 in Elkland, Pa., and Round 5 is set for July 18 in Newark Valley, N.Y. For more information on these and the other remaining rounds of all the championships series, see AMARacing.com.

AMA Racing/NATC National Trials Championship Series Opener

Patrick Smage laid the early groundwork for a third-straight national trials title by taking a pair of wins at the opening two rounds of the AMA Racing/NATC National Trials Championship Series in Nehawka, Neb. However, fellow Sherco rider Cody Webb, Gas-Gas USA’s Will Ibsen and Beta’s Keith Wineland were not far off Smage’s pace at the two-day event, and left town confident they are still very much in the championship hunt with six rounds left on the schedule.

On sections that rewarded precision over boldness, Smage considered himself lucky to have taken the win after a series of unforced errors left him considerably behind Ibsen and Webb at the end of lap one on Saturday.

Another score of 5 on the second section of lap two put Smage in an even deeper hole. The Wisconsin native kept his composure, though, and was within striking distance when both Ibsen and Webb faltered during the late stages of the day’s event.

Ibsen took the early lead, holding a 5-point advantage over Smage and a 3-point advantage

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over Webb at the end of the first lap of competition. But Ibsen tightened up on lap two, and the college freshman doubled his first lap score, giving Smage just the opening he needed to take control. Webb also faded, and Smage went on to win the event by 2 points over Webb with Ibsen finishing another point back.

“It was a big surprise. I had no idea I had won,” Smage said. “I had two stupid 5s, one in section 10 and another in section two. I knew it was close, but I thought I would be in the bottom half of the group. I’m really glad I was able to pull it off and come back from the mistakes, but I think the sections could have been harder.”

Smage’s win on Sunday was more clear cut, and he led from the start after Ibsen began the day with a 5 in the first section after he broke a ribbon. Another 5 in section eight dropped Ibsen even further down the order, and at the end of lap one Smage led with 6 points, followed by Webb and Wineland with 10.

Smage increased his lead on lap two after cleaning every section but the notoriously difficult mud-hole section that claimed the maximum

Championship Points (3 Rounds of 7) 1. Brandon Sommers, YAM: 85 2. Tom Wright, HON: 46 3. Brian Toney, HON: 46

AMA RACER NEWS

Strang, Mullins Survive The Rocks In Somerset

Photos GNCC: Krista Shaw; Hare & Hound: Christy LaCuvelle

Championship Points Shakeup At GNCC Round 7

The rocks, mud and fields of Western Pennsylvania provided the setting, while Team FMF/Makita Suzuki provided the drama, with Josh Strang outdueling his teammate Charlie Mullins in a three-hour battle in the premier XC1 class at the seventh round of the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country Series in Somerset, Pa. AmPro FMF Yamaha’s Barry Hawk finished third to collect his first podium of the season.

The XC2 Lites win went to Shock Doctor KTM’s Kailub Russell ahead of Monster Energy/ Andrews Yamaha’s Jason Thomas and Russell’s teammate Cory Buttrick.

Strang’s fourth win in the last five GNCCs may have played out well for his team, but championship rival Paul Whibley had a tough day. The New Zealander smashed a waterpump cover and put a hole in his radiator, but still dug out a seventh-place finish in the XC1 class.

Strang now holds the points lead for the second time this year.

In race action, Mullins snagged the $250 MotorcycleUSA.com Holeshot Award, but Whibley quickly moved into the lead and pulled a big gap early. Eventually, Strang and Mullins hooked up, and along with AmPro FMF Yamaha rookie Thad DuVall, mounted a charge and caught Whibley.

With DuVall falling victim to a mechanical failure, the Suzuki teammates battled Whibley, and when Whibley’s own mechanical issues cropped up, it became a Strang vs. Mullins race for the win.

“I was worried when Whibs got away like that, because he would be hard to reel in if we waited too long,” said Strang, a 21-year-old Australian.

“We were able to catch back up to him. I didn’t really feel that good in the rocks today, and I went over the bars one time in the mud. But I have some confidence after winning three races earlier in the year, so I just tried to go fast where I could and stay smooth in the other areas.”

Hawk overcame pressure from Shock Doctor KTM’s Nathan Kanney to claim third.

“Normally, I’m not happy with just getting on the podium unless I win,” said Hawk. “But I’ve been having some bad races, and I realize I maybe need to back my goals down a bit…. I think I have the speed to run with these guys.”

Kamo Carries Advantage Into The Break KTM Rider Comes From Behind To Win At Round 5

David Kamo won the fifth round of the AMA Racing National Hare & Hound Championship Series in Jericho, Utah, marking his second win of the season. It also gave the Shock Doctor/ KTM rider a solid advantage heading into the long summer break.

Kamo started out in third place after the bomb run behind Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Destry Abbott and Kamo’s Shock Doctor/KTM teammate David Pearson. The three riders stayed close together for the first 48-mile loop, which was fast and dusty.

“There was so much dust everywhere that it was very hard to see,” Kamo said. “I just kept charging forward trying to stay as close as I could. When Abbott stalled his bike, I was able to move around him on the first loop, and David (Pearson) and I came into the pits first and second.”

After a quick pit for both riders, they went out for the second loop with Pearson still leading and Kamo in second.

“The second loop was a lot more technical than the first loop, and it took about 25 minutes longer to complete,” Kamo said. “Pearson was riding strong, but I was able to get around him

with 10 miles to go.”

Kamo took the lead from Pearson, who was struggling with a dehydration problem, and went on to take the win and increase his points lead. Pearson was able to finish a solid third place overall and sits third in points behind Abbott.

“We have a pretty long break until the next event, but I plan to still race a few times in between. Mainly, I will focus on the ISDE qualifiers as I would like to qualify to race as a member of the ISDE Junior Team this year,” Kamo said.

The series will pick back up Sept. 26 in Wendover, Nev. It will then roll through Jericho, Utah, on Oct. 3 before the season finale in Lucerne Valley, Calif., on Oct. 25. More information is available at AMARacing.com.

Championship Points (5 Rounds of 8) 1. David Kamo, KTM: 121 2. Destry Abbott, KAW: 109 3. David Pearson, KTM: 102

XC1 Championship Points (7 Rounds of 13) 1. Josh Strang, SUZ, 165 2. Charlie Mullins, SUZ, 161 3. Paul Whibley, KAW, 159

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AMA RACER NEWS

Kid Racer Raines On Pace To Retain East Hare Scrambles Title Weigand At The Front Of Close Battle Out West

After three rounds, AmPro FMF Yamaha’s Jason Raines is in good shape to defend his AMA East Hare Scrambles Championship. With a win at Round 3, Raines made up for his first round 11th and second round second to pad his points lead.

In the AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series, where two rounds are in the books, Johnny Cambell Racing’s Tim Weigand leads the points chase with a third and first ahead of Brenden Ritzman, who has a win and a fourthplace finish.

The AMA Racing East and West Hare Scrambles Championship Series crown regional champions in a number of classes, including A and B champions in 86cc-200cc, 201cc-250cc, 251cc-Open, and Vet, Senior, Super Senior and

Women’s classes. In addition, an Overall champion is crowned. All winners are invited to the AMA Racing end-of-year banquet where all AMA Racing champions are honored for their season accomplishments.

Round 3 of the AMA West Hare Scrambles Championship Series goes down June 12-14 at Riverdale Raceway in Toutle, Wash. More information can be found at westernharescrambles.com.

Round 4 of the AMA East Hare Scrambles Championship Series is set for June 21 in Lynnville, Ind. More information can be found at blackcoal.org.

Season schedules and more series information can be found at AMARacing.com.

Bushley Wants To Turn Dirt Skills Into Success On The Tarmac Rider’s Name: Patrick Bushley Age: 10 District: 13 (Virginia) Bike: KTM 65 Years Raced: 4-1/2 Classes Race: 65cc 7-11 Favorite Track: Virginia Motorsports Park, Petersburg, Va. Best Race Memory: When I won my first District 13 AMA title at the age of 5 and meeting Danny Eslick that same year.

Goals For The Year: To continue to race and expand my racing into road racing.

Favorite Riders: Danny Eslick and Roland Flego.

Other Cool Stuff: Patrick has won two District 13 AMA titles and has finished on the podium every year he’s raced. Patrick is an honor-roll student in the fourth grade and is taking honors math and English. He mows yards in the neighborhood to raise money for racing (one of his biggest purchases being a set of leathers for road racing). He’s also into football, basketball and soccer when he is not pursuing racing.

What Patrick Says: “I’m not the fastest guy out there, but I for sure have more fun than anyone else on the track!”

What Dad Says: “I have coached Patrick in all other sports, but motorcycles are by far what has fostered our relationship.

He spends time with me in the shop turning wrenches and servicing his bike and mine, and the hours on the road in the cab of the truck are priceless!”

Who Has Patrick’s Back: Piedmont Motorsports, Custom Race Wear, Virkler & Bartlett LLC, Roland Flego, 661 Moto, Hedrick Insurance and Financial, Month 2 Month Insurance, Dad and Mom. Know a kid (or vet) racer who deserves a shoutout? Send the above info and several high-resolution pics to AMARacer@ama-cycle.org.

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AMA RACER NEWS

A New Way to Get Free Roadside Assistance

Sound And Moving Images.

What More Could You Want?

The AMA-sanctioned World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) provides some awesome off-road racing action, whether you’re on the track or watching the top riders navigate a gnarly technical section at warp speed.

It’s definitely don’t-miss stuff. But if you do happen to miss it, you can get your fix at WORCStv.com, where each round is chronicled for posterity on video, including race action, race recaps and interviews.

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supported organization, we are happy to pass those savings back to our members in the form of free AMA Roadside Assistance.”

As always, AMA Roadside Assistance covers all your vehicles, from street motorcycles to cars to trailers, and even to RVs. To sign up, visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com and click the “Join/Renew” option on the left side of the page, or contact the AMA Member Services Center at (800) AMA-JOIN.

Three-Year Membership Requires No Automatic Renewal Heading out for the races is cool. Dealing with a breakdown along the way is not.

And now, there’s a new way to get the peace of mind provided by AMA Roadside Assistance—for free. All members who sign up for a three-year membership will now qualify for towing and other emergency roadside services provided by one of the most well-received member benefits in the Association’s 85-year history.

AMA Roadside Assistance is also provided, at no additional cost, to all members who enroll in the AMA’s auto-renewal membership program. New three-year members do not have to opt for auto-renewal, however.

“Whether members autorenew or sign up for a three-year membership, the result is the same: cost savings for the AMA,” said AMA President and CEO Rob 2:59 PMDingman.

Page 1“As a member-

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STATS Length: Turns: Top Speed:

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AMA RACER NEWS

Introducing the AMA eGrandPrix

Electric Bikes To Perform On Track At AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days to see the future up close and personal.”

The AMA eGrandPrix Introduction will showcase a number of teams, racers and machines that took part in the inaugural TTXGP eGrandPrix race on the Isle of Man in early June. The bikes are sleek, all-electric machines with performance on par with many of today’s internal-combustion racebikes.

“The world’s first eGrandPrix will launch clean-emission motorcycle racing onto a global platform and demonstrate to the world that clean technologies have matured,” said Azhar Hussain, founder of the eGrandPrix. “AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days provides us with a fantastic opportunity to take our message directly to the United States, a nation with a passion for motorcycling.”

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AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days may be the country’s premier gathering of vintage bike enthusiasts, but this year it will also offer a peek into the future.

During breaks in the vintage road-race program that is running as part of the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, cuttingedge electric road-race motorcycles will perform spirited exhibition laps as part of the AMA eGrandPrix Introduction. The event will mark the first international gathering of high-tech electric road-race bikes in the U.S. in the 21st century.

“As the AMA celebrates its 85 years of twowheeled history, we thought it only fitting to also offer a glimpse into what the next 85 years of motorcycling may bring,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “We’re excited for fans

You Want This: EVS Vision Knee Braces

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Lateral Protection For The Rest Of Us

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When it comes to gear, I’m a minimalist. Don’t get me wrong. I wear all the good stuff: helmet, boots, gloves, elbow guards, chest protector, etc. But I don’t dig bulk—the lighter and less intrusive, the better.

That’s a big reason why I’ve always opted for knee and shin guards instead of knee braces.

Without a doctor’s order to do otherwise, I feel more comfortable with the freer movement afforded by guards.

The latest generation of EVS Sports Vision knee brace wants to convince me protection can also be flexible.

What It Is: It’s guys like me who EVS Sports (EVS-Sports.com) is trying to win over with its new Vision knee brace. The $250 Vision is a relatively low-cost brace that uses aluminum dual-pivot hinges that imitate the flexion and extension motions of the knee.

What It Does: In addition to sideways support and hyperextension control, the brace offers serious impact resistance for the knee, as well as thigh protection, which I don’t get with basic knee and shin guards.

How Well It Does It: The Vision knee brace is lined with anti-slip sharkskin neoprene and uses single calf and thigh straps to secure it. One key in fitting the braces correctly is not to make the thigh strap too tight. Doing so can cause it to ride lower on the leg. Once broken in and adjusted properly, the Vision is one of the least obtrusive knee braces you can buy. — James Holter

FEATURED EVENT Welcome to Mid-Ohio National Championship Vintage Racing In The Heartland

Entry Fees As Little As $40 For The First Class And $25 For The Second If You Pre-Register.

By Kevin Crowther, AMA Racing Deputy Director

The AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships is one of the most expansive racing programs in amateur racing. It features competition in vintage Pre-Register by and post-vintage motocross and hare scrambles, July 17 And Receive trials, road racing and dirt track. It’s all packaged A $20 Gift Card To into three days and surrounded by the beehive of BikeBandit.com. activity known as AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

I’m happy to report that 2009 is looking like it will (AMA Members Also be our best year yet.

Get A 10 Percent We’ve put together a comwprehensive package Discount.) of supplemental rules on our official event website, AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com. This information Competitors Who can also be found at AMARacing.com, along Pre-Register Get Two with information about all of the AMA’s amateur Passes To AMA Vintage championship events and national series.

Motorcycle Days and the The rules are designed to maintain the integrity of the eras they represent, yet AMA Motorcycle Hall Of recognize the practical needs of racing decades-old technology and the riskFame Museum. management expectations we have for contemporary race courses. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to e-mail us. Contacts for each discipline are provided on the above websites.

Once you’ve checked out the rules, make sure you pre-enter before July 17.

Not only will you help us better plan the race program before the event, but you’ll qualify for a number of great benefits, such as gift cards and event passes.

This is one event no racer will want to miss. At the AMA Vintage Grand Championships, you can expect to see the same level of professionalism and fairness you would expect at a national-caliber racing event. The AMA is in its ninth decade of sanctioning competition, and along with the AMA-chartered Class Champions Will Be clubs we are partnering with to operate the race program, we have the Honored At The AMA Racing experience and historical perspective to get the job done right.

End-Of-Year Banquet At

Get The Rules What You Need To Know

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas On Dec. 4, Where All 2009 AMA Racing Champions Will Be Recognized.

As with all AMA Racing amateur events, the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships are run under the 2009 AMA Racing Rulebook Governing Pro-Am, Standard, ATV and Youth Competition. However, the unique nature of vintage racing requires supplemental rules, particularly for class structure.

To see where you and your bike fit into the program, just check out the Racing section of AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com. You also can find the supplemental rules at AMARacing.com.

The supplemental rules are provided in two documents: one for road racing and one for everything else.

Any questions? Write to: AMARacing@ama-cycle.org.

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Event Schedule Thursday, July 23 12 p.m. - 7 p.m............ Road race registration (Gate 3) 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.............. Road race technical inspection Friday, July 24 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.............. Road race registration (Gate 3) 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m......... Hare scrambles registration (Ross

Road off Steam Corners Road) 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.............. MX registration (Ross Road

off Steam Corners Road) 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.............. Road race technical inspection 9 a.m............................ Road race practice begins 10 a.m. - 3 p.m............ Dirt track registration

(Ashland County Fairgrounds) 10 a.m.......................... Vintage hare scrambles races begin 12 p.m......................... Post-vintage hare scrambles

races begin 12 p.m. - 2 p.m............ Road race worker lunch break 2 p.m........................... Modern hare scrambles races begin 2 p.m........................... Road race practice resumes 3 p.m........................... Dirt track practice begins

(Ashland County Fairgrounds) 5:30 p.m...................... Dirt track heat races begin

(Ashland County Fairgrounds) 8 p.m........................... Dirt track finals begin

(Ashland County Fairgrounds) Saturday, July 25 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.............. Road race registration (Gate 3) 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m......... Vintage/Evo 1 MX registration (Ross

Road off Steam Corners Road) 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.............. Road race technical inspection 8 a.m............................ Road race practice begins 8:30 a.m....................... Vintage/Evo 1 MX practice begins

9:30 a.m....................... Vintage/Evo 1 MX racing begins 11 a.m. - 1 p.m............ Road race worker lunch break 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m..... MX worker lunch break 12:10 p.m.................... Mandatory road race rider’s meeting

(base of Goodyear Tower) 1 p.m........................... Road race begins 5 p.m........................... MX concludes 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.............. Evo 2/Evo 3/Evo Age Motocross

registration (Ross Road off Steam

Corners Road) 6 p.m........................... Road race concludes Sunday, July 26 7 a.m. - 12 p.m............ Road race registration (Gate 3) 7 a.m. - 8:30 a.m......... Evo 2/Evo 3/Evo Age MX registration

(Ross Road off Steam Corners Road) 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m......... Trials registration 7 a.m. - 12 p.m............ Road race technical inspection 8 a.m............................ Road race practice begins 8:30 a.m....................... Evo 2/Evo 3/Evo Age MX practice

begins 9:30 a.m....................... Trials begins 9:30 a.m....................... Evo 2/Evo 3/Evo Age MX racing

begins 11 a.m. - 1 p.m............ Road race track worker lunch break 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m..... MX worker lunch break 12:10 p.m.................... Mandatory road race rider meeting

(base of Goodyear Tower) 1 p.m........................... Road race begins 5 p.m........................... MX concludes with awards

presentation 6 p.m........................... Road race concludes

with awards presentation

And Then There Were Two Do You Want To Be An AMA Vintage Grand National Champion?

The AMA Grand National Championship has always represented speed and versatility, going to the rider who succeeds at Mile, half-mile, short-track and TT racing. Years ago, the AMA Grand National Champion had to excel in road racing, as well. The top woods racers of years past also battled for the AMA Grand National Enduro Championship.

AMA Racing is recognizing this honor’s historical significance by establishing new titles to be awarded annually at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships.

The event will crown two AMA Vintage Grand National Champions. The AMA Vintage Track Racing Grand National Champion will have the highest combined point total in designated road racing and dirt-track classes. The AMA Vintage Off-Road Racing Grand National Champion will have the highest combined point total in designated motocross, hare scrambles and trials classes.

AMA Racing reserves the right to alter the event schedule, track configuration and venues as needed.

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AMA RACER FEATURED EVENT

Back To The Past

A ‘Never Raced’ 1977 Husky Finally Sees The Track By Loren Westcott My original motocross career began in 1974. A family friend was racing at the time and urged my brother and me to come to the track on Sunday and sign up for a race. I was instantly hooked!

I started with a 1973 Rupp RMX125. It took a few modifications, but I eventually was able to hold my own with the Yamaha YZs and Honda Elsinores.

I competed in the 125 Amateur class for a few years. I had always wanted to move up to the 250 Class, and I finally saved enough money to buy a new 1977 Husqvarna 250CR. I prepped the bike for racing and then reality came calling.

I had a new daughter to provide for, so I had to sell the Husky. A local shop sold the bike on consignment for me to a local guy looking for a trail bike. My racing career went officially on hold.

A short 32 years later, one of my old racing buddies, Jeff Barrow, called me and urged me

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to get back into racing.

Vintage racing was the easy way in, he said. He went into great detail on how affordable it was to buy an old bike like those that we raced back in the day.

So, my quest began, and I found a race-ready 1978 KTM 400MX at a local bike shop. I made a deal on the bike and brought it home to give it the usual end-to-end inspection.

Shortly after, my father-in-law stopped in with a local used classified paper. I was browsing the classic motorcycle section when I came across this ad: “1977 Husqvarna 250 CR, never raced, very good condition.” I was curious, so I called the guy.

He gave me the full background on the bike.

He said he owned the bike for 30 years. He bought it from a local dealer who he remembered was selling it for a local kid who had to unload it for “family reasons.” He still had the two primary sprockets—one of which had never been

used—and the owner’s manual that it came with.

Obviously, I had to see the bike.

When I arrived the next day, he met me at the garage and said, “I’ve got something that you’ve got to see!”

He handed me the original owner’s manual, and on the inside cover was my name and some other quick notes that I had jotted down about the bike! When I walked into the garage, I was amazed how well this old Husky had been preserved. He said that he only rode it occasionally in the woods behind his house. The bike still had the original Barum tires, the 250 Husqvarna decal on the front number plate and my AMA sticker from 1977 on the back fender!

What a feeling! Clearly, there was no doubt in my mind that I was buying this motorcycle. I loaded it into my truck and strapped it down for the ride home.

When I called Jeff, he could hardly believe that after three decades I found my old Husky in almost the same condition it was in 1978. We laughed and reminisced about some old racing stories and talked about our future racing plans.

This kid was finally going to be able to race his “new” Husky!

I got the opportunity at a vintage meet at Allen’s Farm in Pennsylvania. I was a bundle of nerves when I approached the starting line. The first moto went off without any problems. When I finished the race, I was so pumped that I could hardly wait for the next moto. In moto 2, I actually got the holeshot to the first turn!

I was hooked once again! I competed at various events during the 2008 season and thoroughly enjoyed every minute that I was on and off the track.

I always look forward to attending the next event and to be a part of the vintage family that has grown up around the sport. I love to watch the old iron in action and reminisce with my old and new friends about motocross, old and new.

Loren Westcott, AMA No. 1009720, lives with his wife, Jill, in Phoenix, N.Y.

AMA RACER FEATURED EVENT

Getting Started In Vintage Dirt Track Doing It Your Way The Second Time Around Have a conversation with longtime dirt-tracker, historian and restoration expert Bill Milburn, and you figure something out real fast: the guy loves vintage dirt track. We caught up with Milburn to get his thoughts on the sport, as well as some advice for new racers.

Is vintage dirt track a good point of entry for someone with no dirt-track experience?

Definitely. The guys involved in vintage racing tend to be gentlemen, and there actually are a lot of new racers in vintage dirt track. A lot of guys couldn’t compete when they were younger because of a career, a family, military service, whatever. Now they can, and the nature of these riders has more to do with having a good time than being consumed by testosterone.

What do you tell someone just getting started?

First, go to Danny Walker’s Supercamp

(www.AmericanSupercamp.com). Think of it as taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic RiderCourse for racers. Just going out on the racetrack is not a good way to learn how to race.

Supercamp will teach you racing fundamentals, and it will also tell you whether dirt track is for you in the first place.

As far as the bikes go, here’s the thing. We all probably have a second chance to have the childhood we wanted. Go ahead and relive those years. Go out and get the bike you wanted when you were growing up. Live the fantasy. If you wanted a Triumph then, get one now. If you wanted a BSA Gold Star then, get one now. It’s only money. You can’t take it with you.

What about someone who has no bias because they weren’t into it when they were young? What’s a good generic starting point?

Sure, a Yamaha TT500 or an SR500, that could

be a fun, easy bike to start on. You also could pick yourself up a ’63-’65 Triumph 650 if you want something that has a little more classic panache to it. The SR would be like a Camaro.

The Triumph like a Jaguar.

If you could find an old Honda 250 scrambler, that’d be a good place to start, as well.

As far as modifications, you’re going to want dirt-track tires on it, obviously. You’re going to want a reasonable selection of gearing, and you’re going to want a steel shoe for yourself.

Consider some suspension work. The bike will have more than enough power for a beginner.

What draws you to vintage racing?

Vintage racing to me is real simple. Did it happen back then, and did we see it at the race track? When you walk through the pits, it should be walking through the past. You should walk though the ’20s with board trackers, the ’30s with hand-shift Harley-Davidsons. Everything should be authentic. You should not have Lindsay Lohan dressed up as Marilyn Monroe. It just doesn’t work that way.

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AMA RACING FEATURED EVENT

WERA Helping Run Vintage Road Racing At AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Road-Racing Organization Providing Workers, Logistical Support

Grant Parsons

AMA Racing has partnered with WERA Motorcycle Roadracing to oversee road-race operations at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championship that will go down at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course July 24-26.

“Since we announced the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, our intention has been to work with partners to help with the operations of each discipline,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “WERA Motorcycle Roadracing is one of the country’s leading amateur road-racing organizations, and brings both the experience and hands-on knowledge to see that the on-track portion of our program happens without a hitch.”

WERA Motorcycle Roadracing Owner and CEO Evelyne Clarke says helping at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships fits perfectly with WERA’s mission.

“It has always been WERA’s goal to support motorcycle road racing in the United States and grow the sport’s audience,” Clarke said. “Helping the AMA with the road-racing portion of the AMA Vintage Grand Championships supports that goal. WERA Motorcycle Roadracing has

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run a vintage series since our inception, and we can offer our services to the AMA and also give WERA vintage racers an additional event they can participate in. This is good for both the AMA and WERA, and we are happy to be a part of the event.”

As part of its involvement with the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, WERA Motorcycle Roadracing is also making the event a points-paying meet for WERA vintage racers who compete in classes at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships that are comparable to WERA’s vintage class structure.

Competitors at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships need to pre-register with AMA Racing, and WERA Motorcycle Roadracing will handle all on-site road-race operations.

AMA RACING FEATURED EVENT

Don Emde: Grand Marshal

In 1971, a group of young American motorcycle racers who rode for the Birmingham Small Arms Co. (BSA)—marketers of the BSA and Triumph brands—flew to England to compete against some of the most talented motorcycle riders in the world at the inaugural running of the Trans-Atlantic Match Races.

Don Emde was one of those riders. Although the Americans didn’t win, Emde had a solid pro rookie year when he returned to the States.

With third-place finishes at the Daytona 200, the Talladega 200 and at the Kent, Wash., Mile, Emde scored the third most road-racing points in the AMA Grand National Championship that season.

That’s just one story that attendees can look forward to hearing from Emde, now an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and the Grand Marshal at 2009 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

“I consider it a real honor to be asked to be the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Grand Marshal,” Emde said. “There’s so much of motorcycling represented at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, from the road-race course to the swap meet to the motocross track to the half-mile at the fairgrounds in Ashland. The range of interest is

Stories and rare footage from the greatest days of American motocross.

considerable. You say ‘vintage’ to one person, and it might mean a bike from the ’70s, and to someone else it might be an Indian from the ’40s.

“Personally, I really like the vendor area,” Emde said. “I collect a lot of literature, and I always find a lot of paper-related motorcycling stuff, and every year I find books and programs and whatever, and have this big pile that I have to figure out how to get home.”

Emde’s history with BSA runs deep. He grew up at his father’s BSA dealership in the San Diego area, and when Emde’s dirt-track status advanced in 1970 from novice to amateur, he graduated to a BSA A65.

“BSA helped a lot that year,” Emde remembers. “I won a lot of main events at Ascot.

I won the California State TT Championship.

Then, in 1971, BSA put together its biggest race team ever, which contested the first year of the Trans-Atlantic Match Races.”

Emde will get another chance to get up close and personal with several BSAs at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, both in bike shows and in the pits as part of the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships.

Courtesy Don Emde Collection

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Honoree Grew Up On BSAs

“When men were men and bikes were bad.”

Paul “The Baz” Boudreau

A 2005 Xtremey Award Nominee!

BackTrack Video • P.O. Box 29781 Lincoln, NE 68529-0781 • www.backtrackvideo.com

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AMA RACING FEATURED EVENT

Off The Track Excitement It’s All Part Of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

Vintage road rallies are about as laid back and fun as anything on two wheels. First, you have tons of cool old bikes and the great people who ride them. Second, you have miles of killer road laid out by local riders.

Although these aren’t races, the events are competitive, requiring riders to maintain an average speed over a set course. When you’re talking about vintage machinery that can, at times, be as close to a race as you want to get.

One of the best vintage road rallies is Moto Giro East. This year, it was organized by Richard Snyder. We caught up with Snyder to find out more about the event.

Q: What got you interested in doing an event like Moto Giro East?

A: I love riding vintage motorcycles on the road. With 40-year-old brakes and ribbed tires, just doing the speed limit is very exciting!

I am a member of the vintage racing club USCRA (United States Classic Racing Association). A half-dozen years ago, they announced there would be a road rally of vintage bikes taking place over two days, I had to give it a try. Since then I have attended all but one. The bikes have been a Honda CB200, now banned for being too new; a 180cc 1968 Yamaha YCS1; and a 1966 Honda CA160.

I volunteered to organize this year’s event so that folks could see what great roads we have around the Catskill Mountains.

Q: What’s the atmosphere like at Moto Giro East?

A: These old bikes take a lot of skill, patience and luck to ride nearly 300 miles successfully. So help, supplies and advice are generously shared.

That is not to say it isn’t competitive.

The skill level has risen tremendously over the years. In the beginning, a winning penalty total

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for the entire event was 8 to 11 seconds. Now, the top handful of finishers all have a penalty of less than 4 seconds, with hundredths of a second separating them.

Q: For your participants, what’s the point of going out and competing on vintage motorcycles?

A: Just finishing a Moto Giro gives a rider a huge sense of accomplishment. It’s a challenge to man and machine to go up and down the mountains all day with less than 305cc. For most of us, these were the motorcycles we envied when we were kids. The Moto Giro allows us to show them off and to be part of a special group of individuals who are willing to ride, and not just own, little motorcycles that are over 40 years old!

Q: How long have you been doing this?

A: I have participated in this event since 2004.

That year the USCRA held its first Moto Giro USA in the fall. It then expanded to include a spring event called the Moto Giro East. Each event is organized by a volunteer, with support from the club’s president, Robert Coy. Managing this year’s Moto Giro was my contribution. The down side is the director does not get to ride.

Fortunately, that is more than made up for by the smiles and countless “atta-boys” that I received!

Q: What was the coolest bike you saw out there this year?

A: There was the group of Moto Guzzi’s from the 1950s. “Meat Slicers” and Ladolas truly represent the originality of the Moto-Giro D’Italia from which we adopted the USCRA’s event.

There was a beautiful, green Benelli that looked like it just left the show room. But I think my personal favorite was a café style Honda Benly from the early ’60s. It looked like it would be a blast to ride.

For Dirt Track, Head To Ashland Tickets Now Available For AMA Racing Vintage Flat Track Championships In Ashland, Ohio You’re competing in the Friday, July 24, hare scrambles as part of the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships. What do you do when the program wraps up? Catch some more racing, of course!

Some of the best seats at the track are just a telephone call away for the dirt-track portion of the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, held at the Ashland County Fairgrounds in Ashland, Ohio, Friday night.

Box seats are now on sale for just $25 each, plus a $1.85 processing fee. General admission seating is available at the track for just $15 a ticket. The cost for seniors is $10, and kids 12 and under get in free. Just call (419) 289-0466 or (419) 281-6831.

Grant Parsons

4 Questions With…

Richard Snyder, Moto Giro East Organizer

The AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships are part of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, just about the coolest three days in the vintage-racing universe. Here’s the short list: • Search for unobtanium new-old stock (NOS) or “lightly worn” parts in North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet.

• Buy some new gloves or get a great deal on a helmet at the Manufacturer’s Midway.

• Drool over the machines up for sale (or just buy one) at the AMA Used Bike Corral.

• Check out classic BSAs at the Marque of the Year exhibit.

• Learn more about Honda’s Sandcast CB750 and CBX1100 models at the exhibits for the Classic Clubs: the Sandcast Only Owner’s Club and the International CBX Owners Association.

• Take in a seminar from one of the numerous experts on hand who will be talking about everything from restoring old bikes to riding new bikes safely.

• Hang out and take in a stunt show.

• Settle in and watch one of the coolest motorcycle parades ever, with bikes representing the last nine decades—all 85 years of the AMA’s history.

• Get an autograph from Grand Marshal Don Emde.

AMA RACING FEATURED EVENT

AMA Clubs, Members Supporting Race Program With A Little Help From Our Friends

James Holter

The AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships are a huge event, and AMA-chartered clubs and members have been quick to lend a hand. Here are a few who are helping make this way-cool event a reality: • WERA Motorcycle Roadracing is overseeing the road-racing portion of the event (see story, page 16).

• Amanda Mastin, multi-time member of the Team USA Women’s Team for the International Six Days Enduro, and her crew will lay out and work the hare scrambles.

• Don May, Royce Cline and other members of Trials Inc., will staff the trials competition.

• Members of Dayton MC, one of 11 clubs chartered with the AMA since the AMA’s inception, will help staff the motocross events.

• Jim Pooler will provide technical assistance in road racing.

• Rick Doughty with Vintage Iron will serve as technical adviser.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days: Between The Motos AMA Board Member Perry King may be focused on the competition at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, but it isn’t the only activity he’s looking forward to at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

“I’m a motorcycle addict. If it’s motorcycles, it fascinates me. I’ll be in heaven there,” King said. “I have 26 bikes now, and half of them are vintage. I like them all in different ways. Certainly one favorite is a ’68 Bonneville that I built from a basket case in 1977, then used up and rebuilt again. Another is a ’71 BMW R60.

It had been sitting in the corner of some guy’s shop, and he just wanted it to go away. I got it for 600 bucks. It took me two hours to clean the carb and put a battery in it and it was running. I just love old bikes.”

Fellow AMA Board Member Charles Goman added that the people are an equally big attraction of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

“Just seeing everybody and meeting all these old and new friends is great,” Goman said. “It’s a fair thing to say that in the vintage racing world, if it wasn’t for the people I’ve been meeting, I’m not sure I’d still be doing it. When it comes to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the motorcycles are great, but it’s really the people—in the pits, in the swap meet or on the track— who do it for me.”

Perry King Takes The Vintage Racing Challenge Joining Fellow AMA Board Member On Track At AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Perry King has battled injustice about coming out and vintage riding,” as Cody Allen in the NBC series Goman said. “I offered him a ride on “Riptide,” global warming as one of my bikes, and he was very President Blake in the movie “The interested in doing it. I told him I Day After Tomorrow” and societal normally ride the hare scrambles and norms as Chico in “The Lords of then vintage motocross, and he was Flatbush.” But the long-time rider game.” and accomplished actor has faced While King said he’s thrilled few challenges that stack up to and excited to compete at the the one he’ll tackle this July 24-26 AMA Racing Vintage Grand at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, he doesn’t intend to Championships. ride on the edge in either the woods Perry King Accepting the invitation of fellow during the hare scrambles or on the AMA Board Member and vintage motorcycle track during motocross. racer Charles Goman, King will line up with “There are just three rules: don’t crash, don’t Goman in the vintage hare scrambles and crash, don’t crash,” King said. “You just can’t motocross programs at the event, which are part heal the way you can when you’re young. I do of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. tend, certainly in cars, to find it hard not to go for “Vintage racing seems fitting to me,” said King, it. But I want to make sure I have many years left who has raced cars but never competed on a of fun. I’m not looking for the red mist to descend motorcycle despite decades of riding experience. over my eyes.”

“I’m pretty vintage myself now. I feel like a Goman is an Ossa aficionado, and will likely vintage guy, and I love motorcycles, so it seems loan King a 1974 Ossa Phantom 250 to ride at like a perfect fit.” the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships.

Goman said that King showed particular “I don’t know much about it, but I love enthusiasm in vintage racing at a recent AMA everything with two wheels, so I know I’ll love it,” Board of Directors meeting. Goman was happy to King said. “If I were Charles, though, and I had oblige King’s interest. more than one race bike, I’d give the other guy “Perry and I just hit it off, and I let him know the more difficult one to ride.”

Charles Goman

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AMA RACING FEATURED EVENT

Dispatch From Monticello Vintage Hare Scrambles Throw Down By Dan Born

The Monticello Hare Scrambles put on by the Norsemen Motorcycle Club in Monticello, Minn., is one of the few events with a vintage category offered at AMA District 23 (Minnesota) races, and that means this is one of the must-do races on my calendar.

Lined up at the front of the C class, my fellow vintage racers and I created an eclectic scene, with bikes from the mid-1970s to the early ’80s.

There were Yamaha IT and YZ models, a Honda XR and an early ’80s KTM. Behind us around 150 modern bikes were spread across five classes.

The green flag drops, and we take off, across an open field and into the woods. Soon after, the modern bikes make their charge, chasing down the vintage bikes like hounds after a hare.

The majority of the course is narrow singletrack, barely wider than the handlebars on a bike, on a 10-mile loop that takes the rider over rolling hills, around a lake and through stands of pine.

Along the way you pass, and are passed by, vintage and modern bikes alike, ridden by men, women, boys and girls, first-time riders and crusty old vets. This mixture of old and new, of young and old can make for interesting results at the end of the day’s racing.

When it is all said and done, the top two overall finishers are vintage riders, with Joseph Cartwright on his 1983 Yamaha YZ 125 taking the overall. The author finishes at the opposite end of the spectrum, happy just to finish on his 33-yearold machine.

The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, tells the amazing stories of

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Five Reasons Dan Born Rides Vintage Friends don’t just let friends race vintage.

They talk them into it. Here’s why: 1. Vintage racing is affordable. Or can be.

Including the purchase price of my 1976 IT400, I have less than $1,500 in my bike. Sure, there are improvements to be made, but I’ll never drop the kind of money a new bike would cost.

2. When trail riding, it’s easy to imagine I’m Steve McQueen looking for that barbed-wire fence.

3. Vintage bikes are extremely accessible to someone with a basic knowledge of mechanics.

You really can’t get much more simple than a 1970s-1980s two-stroke, singlecylinder, kick-start-only bike.

4. Arrive at a race with a vintage bike, and you will find friends you never knew you had. People will come out of the woodwork to inquire, give advice and generally want to talk to you about your machine.

5. It’s plain old fun. I feel a lot less pressure to push the bike beyond what it is capable of doing, which makes the ride itself that much more enjoyable. Even if I don’t win, just finishing the race ahead of modern bikes makes me feels like I accomplished something.

Now go out and get yourself a crusty old machine with limited suspension and drum brakes, sign up for the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, and discover your own reasons why vintage riding is so cool.

Dan Born and his ’76 IT 400

Race For Trophies And History AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships Supports AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Museum

Dan Born, AMA No. 889808, pays the bills as a U.S. Forest Service Archaeologist. He’s an avid street and off-road rider with a 2001 Triumph Bonneville and a 1976 Yamaha IT400 in his shed.

members of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

These are some of the most impressive individuals in motorcycling’s history. They include racers such as Erwin “Cannonball” Baker, safety proponents such as Dr. Hugh H. “Harry” Hurt and social pioneers such as Bessie Stringfield.

As a competitor in the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, you can rest assured that you’re doing your part to help tell those stories.

All proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle

Days, which includes the vintage-racing program, support the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. And, if you pre-register, you qualify for two free passes to the Museum to use anytime you like. It’s one way the AMA is saying thanks for supporting an event that supports all of our shared history.

More information about the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum can be found at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

Kids Can Race At AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships Too Here’s A Chance To Beat Dad On Dad’s Bike You don’t have to be vintage yourself to enjoy vintage racing.

In fact, the casual atmosphere and less-intense race scene is a great environment for introducing someone, especially kids, to the sport of motorcycle racing.

This year at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships, kids as young as 12 years old can compete on bikes up to 249cc in off-road, motocross and dirt-track. Those as young as 14 can race a 250cc or larger machine. (Road racers still have to be 18 or older.)

So, if you have, say, an old Yamaha MX100 in the back of the garage that you, dad, are too, uh, substantial to ride competitively these days, consider loaning it to your favorite 12-year-old racer. Who knows? They might even bring home an AMA Racing amateur national championship.

Cool T-Shirts Never Go Out Of Style Metro Racing Has You Covered Let’s face it. The best T-shirts will always be motorcycle-themed, and when it comes to shirts honoring the great bike-makers of the past, you won’t find a better selection than the offerings from Metro Racing.

Whether you’re looking for shirts featuring the great old logos from companies such as Jawa, Greeves, Gilera, Cagiva, Laverda, Maico, NSU or dozens of others, including Japanese and European makers, Metro Racing can hook you up. They even make a few designs using distressed printing that makes it look like you’ve owned the shirt since back in the day.

They also have tons of vintage jerseys and other gear that protects as well as the new stuff, but has that classic style you’re after.

Even better, when you buy from Metro, you’re supporting a company that supports the sport.

Metro is a sponsor of the dirt-track program at the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships.

Check out the complete selection at MetroRacing.com.

AMA RACER UPCOMING EVENTS

AMA Racing National Championship Events (June 15 through July 31)

The following events are on the AMA Racing National Championship calendar. Nearly all events include classes for riders ranked novice to expert. Contact the promoters for more information.

Amateur Grand Championships AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships June 27-July 4 Du Quoin State Fairgrounds Du Quoin, Ill. AMARacing.com AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships July 24-26 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio Ashland County Fairgrounds Ashland, Ohio AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com

National Championship Series AMA Racing Rekluse National Enduro Championship Series, presented by Moose Racing Round 6: June 21 Upton, Wy. Paul Douglas Inyan Kara Riders (307) 468-2840 pauld@rtconnect.net NationalEnduro.com Round 7: June 28 Bull Run Guest Ranch Russ Ehnes MTVRA (406) 781-0967 russehness@bresnan.net MTVRA.com Round 8: July 19 Blain Picnic Grounds, Blain, Pa. Jim Landvater Susquehana Off Road Riders (717) 533-2242 jktm300@yahoo.com SCRRMC.org AMA EnduroCross Championship Round 1: July 25 The Orleans Arena Las Vegas. Nev. Becky Koons Source Interlink Media Motorsports endurocross@sourceinterlink.com Endurocross.com

AMA Racing/NATC Observed Trials National Championship Series Rounds 3 and 4: June 27-28 Trials Training Center Sequatchie, Tenn.

Dan Brown Southeastern Trials Riders Assoc (423) 942-8688 contactus@trialstrainingcenter.com TrialsTrainingCenter.com Rounds 5 and 6: July 18-19 Swanton, Vt. Tom Butland Green Mountain Plonkers (GMP) (802) 578-3022 tbutland@myfairpoint.net GreenMountainPlonkers.org Round 7: July 25-26 Cayuta, N.Y. Matthew Hughson District 4 Trials Committee (607) 796-9558 hughson79@yahoo.com District4Trials.org AMA Racing East Hare Scrambles Championship Series Round 4: June 21 Lynnville, Ind. Eric Linenschmidt IN, IL, KY Enduro Riders (812) 204-1113 elindenschmidt@insightbb.com BlackCoal.org Round 5: July 19 Newark Valley, N.Y. Dan Leonard Beaten Trails (607) 657-8433 leonard13736@yahoo.com Round 6: July 26 Valley View, Pa. Tiffany Tobias Raush Creek Powersports (570) 682-4600 tiffany@rauschcreekracing.com RauschCreekRacing.com AMA Racing East Youth Hare Scrambles Championship Round 3: June 20 Lynnville, Ind. Eric Linenschmidt IN, IL, KY Enduro Riders (812) 204-1113 elindenschmidt@insightbb.com BlackCoal.org

Round 4: July 18-19 Newark Valley, N.Y. Dan Leonard Beaten Trails (607) 657-8433 leonard13736@yahoo.com AMA Racing ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series Round 5: July 18 Newark Valley, N.Y. Dan Leonard Beaten Trails (607) 657-8433 leonard13736@yahoo.com AMA Racing ATV Extreme Dirt Track National Championship Series Round 2: June 20 Franklin, Pa. Tri-City Raceway (814) 676-0477 hetrickracing@hotmail.com HetrickRacing.com Round 3: July 11 Danville, Va. Birch Creek Motorsports (434) 836-7629 carlsmail1@comcast.net BirchCreekMotorsports.com Round 4: July 25 Ashtabula, Ohio Pine Lake (440) 997-4166 williamfischer07@yahoo.com FischerCycleRacing.com Grand National Cross Country Championship (GNCC) Series GNCCRacing.com World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) WORCSRacing.com AMA Dragbike Championship Series AMADragbike.com ITP Tires/Moose Racing AMA ATV Motocross Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited ATVMotocross.com AMA Racing/USA Speedway National Championship Series USASpeedway.org

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CLOSING SHOT With one win so far this season on his 600+ HP Turbo Hayabusa, Mike “Anything But� Slowe is vying for his fourthstraight AMA Dragbike Pro Street championship.

Slowe currently holds the quarter-mile record at 7.171 seconds at a blistering 200+ mph.

Photo: Matt Polito/ DragbikePhotos.com

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62 GLOVE STYLES AT YOUR

FINGERTIPS With a selection of more than 62 styles and colors of gloves, Cortech® and Tour Master® offer riders an incredible array of choices. Whatever your needs may be and whatever weather conditions await you, we offer gloves for every kind of riding, from racing to touring, electrically heated to vented to weatherproof, short or long, synthetic or leather.

With so many varieties of colors and styles available, you can have the perfect look and fit, right at your fingertips.

APPAREL • LUGGAGE • GLOVES

CORTECH ADRENALINE GLOVE

For more information see your local dealer or visit cortechperformance.com. Cortech and Tour Master are registered trademarks of Helmet House. ©Helmet House, Inc. 2009.

Always maintain, inspect and wear protective motorcycle riding gear. No gear can offer complete protection from all situations. Obey all speed and safety laws. Riding and alcohol or other drugs don’t mix.