ORGANIZER. Auction Set For U.S. Junior MX World Championship Effort. In This Issue: PAGE 7.

Transcription

1 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION FOR AMA/ATVA-CHARTERED CLUBS AND PROMOTERS ORGANIZER 15, NO. 3 OCTOBER 2012 NEWSVOLUME In This Issue: PORT STOCKTON MOTORCYCLE CLUB CELEBRATES 75 YEARS Page 2 FLORIDA WEST COAST MOTORCYCLE CLUB Page 4 ARE YOUR CLUB MEMBERS AMA MEMBERS? Page 6 CHASING FERRIES Page 8 NEW ENTRY FORMS FOR AMA EVENTS Page 10 SOUND METERS AVAILABLE Page 12 Auction Set For U.S. Junior MX World Championship Effort PAGE 7 America s Jake Pinhancos represented the United States well at the Junior MX World Championship.

2 CLUB SPOTLIGHT Port Stockton Motorcycle Club Celebrates its 75th Anniversary! By Carl Alvarez and David Stephens So the story goes, the year was 1937 when a few sailors from a local naval base in California, Rough and Ready Island, decided to form a family-friendly motorcycle club, and the name they came up with was the Vagabonds. The founding members would meet in rented halls big smoky places where everyone talked at the same time. The group was all men, a boys club, with a passion for motorcycles. In 1946, August Sharkey Alvarez and his 4-year-old son, Carl, went to one of the meetings. Sharkey was an avid rider and loved everything motorcycle. He was voted in and quickly got involved with the group and its politics. Being the trailblazer he was, Sharkey was in the group to make a revolutionary change to include women. At the time this was unheard of. Until this point, motorcycle clubs had been exclusively for men. Women could participate but only as part of the women s auxiliary and they were not given the rights to full membership. Sharkey fought for the vote and it was decided the females could become full paying members of the group. The group decided they needed a real clubhouse. Sharkey wrangled the task of finding a piece of August Sharkey Alvarez and his son, Carl. property to purchase. He was able to secure land from a club member, a Stockton police motorcycle officer, Art Noverski. In 1947, the club purchased the property and built a club of their own. Carl, now 70, remembers carrying the bricks to his dad where he mortared them into place. It took from early spring to late fall to complete it enough to use. When the doors opened, they renamed the club from Vagabonds to the Port Stockton Motorcycle Club. And so it was. With the opening of the clubhouse came many changes: Who were the members of the PSMC, and what did they want to be known for? At that time, everyone rode an Indian or a Harley-Davidson, wore black leather and had the bad boy image. The members wanted to change that to become more family friendly. They decided the colors for the club would be white and black and that summer dress was to be white shirts, white pants, a black belt, boots, black gloves and, of course, the everimportant black vest with the emblems on them. Winter dress would be the same, except instead of white pants, black pants would be worn. The club s goal was to be a family friendly, safe and happy organization. That would be a big change from the Hollister days. Seventy-five years later, the clubhouse still stands and is used by its members every week for meetings and events. The clubhouse has been the venue for weddings, parties and memorials. The structure is an integral piece of PSMC history. Rich in both history and character, if the walls could talk, they d have stories to tell. Some of the original club members.

3 Some of the members of the Port Stockton Motorcycle Club. Some of the original members of the Port Stockton Motorcycle Club. One of the early club members on her motorcycle. Some of today s club members. August Sharkey Alvarez wife, Ruby, 94. She is the oldest club member. Known for being family friendly, the PSMC participates in several events each year including poker runs, campouts, Halloween and Christmas parties, dinner rides, gypsy tours, and the Western Hey Dey celebration. All are well attended and looked forward to. On April Fool s Day, 1999, the club s beloved Sharkey passed on. It was fitting that he would leave the world he so loved on that day. Always a joker and good with a laugh, Sharkey will be a PSMC member for life. To thank him for his time and service and to make sure that all members, current and those yet to join, would remember the club s legacy, the PSMC group dedicated the club to him with a renaming ceremony. The clubhouse itself is now known as, the August Sharkey Alvarez Memorial Club Hall. It seems fitting that it would be named after the man who built it. Today, the club hall is undergoing major renovations that should be completed by year s end. The Port Stockton MC has been an AMA club from the start and has never had a break in AMA membership. All club members are required to be AMA members as well. This year, the Port Stockton Motorcycle Club celebrates its 75th anniversary. The club has endured, loved, and rode the endless highway and looks forward to the next 75 years. Some of the original club members. October

4 CLUB SPOTLIGHT Florida West Coast Motorcycle Club Re-Discovers Its AMA Roots By Bill Frederick, FWCMC newsletter editor If a number of events hadn t happened the way that they did, the dormant Florida West Coast Motorcycle Club, chartered by the AMA in 1936, might well have been lost forever in the vapors of motorcycling history. Instead, the club has roared back from the edge of oblivion. It has re-claimed its low, low original AMA charter number, No Best of all, it has begun an exciting second life as an AMA Historic Club with more than 100 members, twice the number that it had in its most glorious days more than a half century ago. More than 75 years after its founding and more than 15 years after it faded away, the Florida West Coast Motorcycle Club is back. It has risen from the dust and found its way home to its AMA roots. How did such a remarkable re-birth come about? Returning To Your AMA Roots By Serena Van Dyke Recently, I ve had some AMA callers say: We had a club back in the day with the AMA, and we would like to know if you still have us on file. Can you find our club information? That s when I get excited. I love history, especially the AMA s history. And digging into old club files interests me. I wanted to highlight some of the clubs that I have found information about that have chosen to come back to the AMA a Returning to your Roots story. One of these clubs is the Florida West Coast Motorcycle Club. I am proud to say Welcome back to the AMA! and have their story featured in this Organizer News. If you know of any clubs out there who once were AMA-chartered clubs, ask them: Why don t you return to your roots? I would be happy to dig into some old charter files to reinstate them. Just a few short months ago, few people in Tampa Bay even remembered FWCMC, which had begun life thanks to unknown founders several years before the beginning of Word War II. The club s best and most active years stretched from the 1940s through the 1970s. By the 1980s, membership had dwindled. By the mid- 1990s, the few remaining members decided not to renew the club s AMA charter or its state of Florida incorporation. In effect, FWCMC was replaced by the Florida Bay Area Clearwater Chapter of the Harley Owners Group, which was founded in 1990 and run out of Fletcher s Harley- Davidson in Clearwater. The central character in all this was Bob Fletcher, the well-known and much-loved founder of Fletcher s Harley-Davidson. A Harley-Davidson addict since his high school days in Illinois in the 1930s, Bob taught soldiers how to ride motorcycles in California before being shipped to Europe as a tank driver. After the war, he and a partner opened a small Harley-Davidson dealership in Harvard, Ill. Bob filled his weekends as a dirt-track racer, taking part in AMA-sponsored races in the Midwest. The chance to race on the beach at Daytona first brought him to Florida. In the early 1950s he and his wife, Lucille, brought their family to Florida s west coast, where he took a job as service manager in the Harley- Davidson dealership in St. Petersburg. It was in St. Petersburg that Bob first discovered the AMA-chartered Florida West Coast Motorcycle Club, a group of friends who participated in trips, sponsored races, and even sponsored a motorcycle drill team. Bob and Lucille used the club as the basis for their social life, and Bob also used it as a way to promote business at the Harley- Davidson dealership where he worked. Bob died last June at the age of 90. But he left many memories of his involvement with the FWCMC in his self-published book, The Life and Times of a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Enthusiast. I tried to build up the business, he says in one passage. I got real active in the club

5 promoting rides, field meets, etc. The name of the club was the Florida West Coast Motorcycle Club and it was the oldest AMAfranchised club in Florida. Bob s reminiscences might not have meant very much were it not for a series of events that unfolded very quickly this summer. After Bob passed away, his three daughters, who had run the dealership since Bob s retirement in the 1980s, announced they had been unsuccessful in negotiating the terms of the dealership s future with the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Fletcher s Harley-Davidson, the dealership that had been a beloved biker icon in Pinellas County since 1964, would close. It didn t take long for everyone to realize that the closing of Fletcher s would mean the end of FBACC, the HOG chapter that the Fletcher s sponsored. The club had more than 250 members, some of whom had been active since the chapter was founded in FBACC was a very active HOG chapter with a tight-knit group of members. Most of them were crushed by the thought that FBACC would be no more. I cried when I heard the news, one longtime member says. I couldn t get to sleep until after 4 a.m. Chapter members considered a number of options, including simply joining other nearby HOG chapters or even joining a HOG chapter in Lexington, Ky., where some members had developed friendships. Harley-Davidson said FBACC could move as a unit a few miles south to St. Petersburg and affiliate with Jim s Harley- Davidson, a dealership that already sponsored a HOG chapter. We just felt there was too much potential for us becoming a sort of second-class citizen at a dealership that had already been sponsoring its own HOG chapter for many years, said Ed Ketcham, FBACC s director. Nothing struck the right chord until someone remembered Bob Fletcher s references in his book to the Florida West Coast Motorcycle Club. Maybe we could look into resurrecting Bob s old AMA club, the member said. The idea got everyone s attention. The first step was sending off an to AMA headquarters, asking if there were any records available for the old club, and could we possibly re-start it after so many years? We heard back quickly from Serena Van Dyke, AMA organizer services coordinator. We would love to have you charter with the AMA again, with such history, she said in her reply. I would hate for you not to renew your charter. The Iron Saints Memorial Fundraiser was created to raise money for academic scholarships for the children of disabled military veterans. Iron Saints Host Memorial Fundraiser By Rob Gator Shafer The Iron Saints Motorcycle Club and the Combat Vets United held their first annual Memorial Fund Event and War Memorial in Yakima, Wash., on May 28. This was the Iron Saints Motorcycle Club s first AMA-sanctioned event. The day started off with the rededication of the War Memorial at Sarg Hubbard Park in Yakima and then there were free hot dogs, sodas and music by a local band Eleven69. There were more than 400 hot dogs and drinks served to the people in attendance at the food court and 100 motorcycle riders in attendance for the Show and Shine. That inquiry to the AMA happened on July 17. Fletcher s Harley-Davidson and its HOG chapter were scheduled for extinction on July 31. The HOG chapter s final meeting was to take place on July 28, and its final ride was set for the next day, a Sunday. Could we possibly bring the Florida West Coast Motorcycle Club back from the dead in time for the next scheduled meeting on Saturday, Aug. 25? The green light from the AMA set off a whirlwind of activity among the leaders of the now-defunct HOG chapter. Who knew so many details would be necessary to bring an old club back from the dead? Leaders and members built a new website, researched and wrote FWCMC s history from old newspaper clips found in Google news, designed a patch and logo, found old FWCMC photos on the internet, wrote a new set of bylaws, reincorporated as a non-profit with the state of Florida, opened a new checking account, produced membership forms, The Iron Saints were joined by the Hi- Roller s Motorcycle Club from Spokane, Wash., and the Unforgiven Motorcycle Club and Combat Vets United, both from Yakima, Wash. The Iron Saints Memorial Fundraiser was created to raise money for academic scholarships for the children of disabled military veterans. This is something we want to do to honor those who served our country like some of our members have, myself included. We are a community-oriented club and also promote the positive side of the biker world. What better way of doing it than to hold fundraisers such as this one. designed and published a new newsletter, and came up with designs for shirts and baseball caps. On July 31, the day that the HOG chapter officially went out of business, we received another from Van Dyke. We have received your charter for the Florida West Coast Motorcycle Club, she wrote. You are now chartered with the AMA again! Whether by coincidence or some sort of divine intervention, our old club died on the same day that our new club was officially re-born. By Sunday, Aug. 19, three weeks to the day after the HOG chapter s final lunch jaunt, the new club sponsored its first event, a dinner ride to St. Petersburg. Six days after that, more than 100 new members showed up for the first meeting of our resurrected AMA Historic Club. The Florida West Coast Motorcycle Club had found its way home. October

6 COMMUNITY Are All Your Club Members AMA Members? By Cherie Schlatter, AMA organizer services manager Your club members are wasting hardearned cash if they aren t AMA members. Why? Because of the many money-saving benefits offered by the Association. Plus, AMA members who sign up to have their membership automatically renewed each year get AMA Roadside Assistance at no additional charge. AMA Roadside Assistance covers cars, RVs and non-commercial trailers for the AMA member and his or her family members. Here s an added bonus: Club members who join the AMA or renew their memberships by the end of the year will automatically be entered in the AMA Membership Sweepstakes drawing for a chance to win a 2011 Husqvarna TC449 motorcycle! The most important reason for you to get all your club members to join the AMA is because opponents of motorcycling are hard at work trying to take away our riding and racing freedoms. They want to stop us from riding down streets, on public land or even in our own back yards! By joining the AMA, your club members help us fight these important battles. And that helps everyone who loves to ride and race. Here are just some of the reasons why it makes sense for your club members to be AMA members: VIP treatment and discounts: AMA members enjoy incredible savings on motorcycle parts, accessories, event tickets, hotel rooms, bike rentals and tours, car rentals and much, much more. The $49 annual membership fee easily pays for itself. Plus, AMA members get a special deal on admission to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. AMA Roadside Assistance: AMA members enjoy this benefit at no additional charge when they sign up to autorenew their membership. AMA Roadside Assistance includes 24-hour roadside assistance for your motorcycles and all the rest of your vehicles, including cars, trucks, RVs and trailers. Coverage is included for your spouse and dependent children living at home or away in college. American Motorcyclist magazine: Dedicated exclusively to life on two wheels with stories, racing news, and real-world AMA member product reviews, American Motorcyclist is delivered 12 times a year. It s only available to AMA members. Plus, members can opt-in at no extra charge to also receive AMA Racer magazine, which is devoted to the AMA racing scene, or ATVA News, which is a publication for ATV riders. Exclusive members-only website content: The AMA website at www. americanmotorcyclist.com is chocked full of information that every motorcyclist needs. But there is even more information that is available online to AMA members only. This password-protected content includes an extensive list of the best on-road and offroad riding areas in the country. Representation in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere: AMA freedom fighters in Washington, D.C., Pickerington, Ohio, and on the West Coast are hard at work every day fighting for your right to ride and race. Our only defense against the many threats we face as riders is the strength we derive by banding together. Politicians understand strength in numbers. Do you need more reasons to urge your club members to join the AMA? Consider this: The AMA is fighting health insurance discrimination against motorcyclists: Some insurance policies won t pay for medical care if you re injured on a motorcycle or ATV. The AMA opposes motorcycle-only checkpoints: The AMA opposes the discriminatory practice of motorcycle-only traffic checkpoints. The AMA is currently fighting a federal grant program that provides money to states for these checkpoints. The AMA works to improve motorcycling safety: Thanks largely to the lobbying efforts of the AMA, the federal government has launched a national study into the causes of motorcycle crashes, the first in three decades. The AMA wants proof that ethanol won t damage motorcycle engines: There s a big push by the ethanol industry to increase the amount of ethanol in gasoline. Increased ethanol could damage motorcycle engines. The AMA is working to ensure that increased ethanol-gasoline blends aren t approved for motorcycles until it s proven to be safe for motorcycles. The AMA fights bike bans: When cities try to ban bikes from streets, the AMA fights back. For example, the AMA successfully turned back proposed bans in Chicago and Delray Beach, Fla. That s thanks to AMA efforts to get Congress to pass a law barring bike bans on streets built or maintained with federal funds. The AMA played a major role in overturning the federal lead law that imposed a de facto ban on the sale of kids dirtbikes: Your club members can be a part of future battles to protect our kids right to ride and race by joining the AMA. The AMA fights for access to public land: Do your club members ride on public land? Where would they ride if access to that land was suddenly denied? At the national and local levels, the AMA is working to block efforts to close trails and shut riders out of public land. Do your club members want to ride on their own land? Is there a private riding area near them? Some jurisdictions are trying to pass laws that would even ban riding in your own back yard, or on private motocross tracks. The AMA fights them. The AMA works to create more trails: When you buy gas for your offhighway vehicle, do you know where the gas tax money goes? It goes to the federal Recreational Trails Program, which the AMA helped establish. The RTP provides funds to the states to develop and maintain recreational trails. Federal lawmakers recently wanted to gut the program but the AMA fought back. There are many more reasons why it makes sense for your club members to also be members of the AMA. Urge them to join now at membership/join or have them call (800) AMA-JOIN ( ). Who knows, maybe one of your club members will win the Husqvarna TC449! 6

7 AMA EVENTS Auction Set For U.S. Junior MX World Championship Effort L-R: Conner Mullennix, Austin Forkner and Jordon Smith with the American team s third-place trophy. To help offset the cost of supporting the U.S. team in the 2012 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship, the AMA is organizing an online auction that will take place the last week of October. The auction will include one-of-a-kind items donated by AMA Supercross and motocross stars. Search for AMA Jr MX at to bid. On Aug , six riders made the trek to Sevlievo, Bulgaria, to compete for the United States at the 2012 FIM Junior World Championship. The Netherlands won the team championship, followed by Italy. The U.S. team finished third. Jordan Smith, 16, and Jerek Balkovic, 17, competed in the 125cc class. Austin Forkner, 13, and Jake Pinhancos, 14, raced in the 85cc class. Conner Mullennix, 12, and Parker Mashburn, 10, fielded 65cc bikes. Although the U.S. riders showed considerable speed on the track, they were plagued throughout the event by mechanical problems, crashes and even errant fencing. We re extremely proud of all of our riders, says AMA Motocross Manager Kip Bigelow. This was a tough, characterbuilding event, and I m pleased to report that the young men representing the United States held their heads high and gave it their all against the best in the world. We congratulate The Netherlands on their win, but we re already looking forward to next year when we intend to return to the FIM Junior Motocross World Championships and reclaim the world title. America s Conner Mullennix had some serious speed. Helix Racing Products Announces Racing Organization Support And 2013 Amateur Race Support Program Helix Racing Products, a leading supplier of essential maintenance and repair products to the powersports industry since 1993, welcomes inquiries from grassroots racing organizations seeking merchandise support for Helix is also accepting racer résumés for its Amateur Race Support Program for the 2013 off-road and ATV racing season. The application deadlines are Dec. 31. Helix is offering support to qualified amateur racers in multiple disciplines of offroad motorcycle and ATV racing, including motocross, supercross, arenacross, enduro, endurocross dirt track, hare scrambles, hare and hound, trials, hillclimb and ice racing. For two decades, Helix Racing Products has been a key source for indispensable mechanical products like fuel line, vent hose, cable ties, hose clamps, muffler packing, pipe springs, safety wire, radiator caps, specialized tools and much more, not to mention event supplies like course arrows and course-marking tape. Once accepted into the program, racers can earn contingency Helix Bucks for top-five finishes in sanctioned events. Helix Bucks can be applied toward purchases from the secure, racers-only area at helixracingproducts.com, where competitors benefit from substantial discounts on all Helix products. Supported racers will also enjoy full customer-service phone support Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. To be considered for the Helix Racing Products Amateur Race Support Program, racers should submit résumés to: Helix Racing Products, Attn: Race Support, P.O. Box 1570, Covington, LA Full details of the program will be mailed to all accepted racers. To complete enrollment in the program, racers pay a modest administration fee, which is likely to be offset by racer discounts on a participant s initial order. Helix Racing Products was founded in 1993 with the mission to provide excellent service, support and satisfaction to the powersports industry. Helix products are available to dealers through all leading powersports distributors, including Parts Unlimited, Western Power Sports, Tucker Rocky, Marshall Distributing, Lockhart Phillips, Sudco, P3 Distributing, KK Motorcycle Supply, Southern Motorcycle Supply and others. Helix Racing Products is proud to be a corporate member of the American Motorcyclist Association. For more info, contact Helix Racing Products at info@helixracingproducts.com, by phone at (985) , by fax at (985) Also, you can visit the company website at October

8 LET S RIDE! Chasing Ferries By AMA Congressman Ben Wright About mid-summer is when I start planning my trip to AMA Congress in October. The reason for planning so early is because my wife and I usually take some get-away time wrapped around the Congress meeting. My wife doesn t ride with me anymore, but will visit with some friends or do some genealogy research while I attend Congress. This is where my story begins. Back in 2008, my wife wanted to do some genealogy research in Kentucky at town named Somerset. As the crow flies, Somerset is about 265 miles south and east of Columbus, Ohio, where the Congress is held. If we arranged our time right, I could have two or three days to get to Columbus, so we loaded the bike on the trailer and headed out. By trailering the bike to Somerset, my wife would have the pickup for transportation while running around the museums, graveyards, court houses and such. Arriving in Somerset, we got settled into accommodations and after a good night s rest, I was up early and ready to go. As in years past, I was going to avoid the interstates and big cities and do some backcountry exploring, even to the point of staying off the red line roads if at all possible. I had plenty of time to get to Columbus. Checking my GPS, which, by the way, is a paper map, I headed north out of town on Kentucky Route 39 and found an interesting road up Crab Orchard and U.S. 150, which took me up to Lancaster where I picked up U.S. 27. U.S. 27 took me up to Nicholasville and Kentucky Route 169. I followed 169 until it intersected with Kentucky Route Traveling on weekdays, the roads were pretty empty of traffic and the scenery was great. I stopped for lunch at a little store at this crossroad and chatted with the owner about the local countryside. While relaxing on the front porch and looking at my map, I noticed a notation of a river ferry not far from the store. Having finished my lunch, I asked the proprietor for directions and headed out. Being born and raised in Tennessee, I do speak the language in this part of the country but sometimes what is said does not soak in far enough. After a few wrong turns and a couple of dead ends, I found the ferry located at Valley View, Ky. This Kentucky River crossing has had ferry service since Yep, It has transported pioneers, Revolutionary War and Civil War soldiers, farmers, business people, and probably some moonshiners for over two centuries. It belongs to three local county governments that maintain it and give you a free ferry ride. A little more curious now, and still with plenty of time, I looked at my map again to see if I could find another ferry on the way to Columbus. Sure enough, I found one crossing the Ohio River at Augusta, Ky., and less than 100 miles away. Heading north again, I found more great motorcycle roads and more great scenery. Twisting and turning along, I reached Augusta about suppertime. Finding a local establishment with several pickups parked around, I was all set for some local food. The café turned out to be a barbecue joint, where I could pig out. (Excuse the pun.) I sat at a back corner table and a waitress asked for my order. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with some coleslaw on it and a glass of iced tea. The waitress cocked her head a little and said, You re not really from New Mexico are you? (She must have seen my licenses plate.) It seems that only Southern states serve coleslaw on barbecue. After explaining my Southern heritage, I totally enjoyed the meal and set out to find the ferry. It turned out to be a commercial ferry that cost motorcycles $2 for the crossing. After my ferry ride across the Ohio River, I found a place to spend the night in Russellville, Ohio, on U.S. 62. Up early the next morning, I played around the southern part of the state for another day. I have to say I found some great motorcycle roads. Having enjoyed the trip so far, I headed to Columbus to chat with old friends and do the business set before me. But the story does not end here. Having finished my congressional duties, I had another three days to get back to Somerset. Can you guess what I was gonna do? Yep, find some more ferries. Out came the paper GPS again and, lo and behold, there were three more ferries just waiting down the road. These ferries were in the Mammoth Cave area, two of which were in the park itself. Mammoth Cave is 300 miles from Columbus plus another 110 miles back to Somerset for a total of 410 miles in three days. Very doable, so off I went. Taking my time along blue line roads with a few red lines thrown in, I reached the park in the late afternoon. Excited about what I might find, I went looking for the one ferry that was located outside the park. I found the ferry tied up on the other side of the river. Out of service, I guessed. I headed for the park to find the other ferries. The first was on the west side of the park outside of Brownsville, Ky., on the Houchins Ferry Road. After my ride on the ferry and conversing with Capt. Charles Childrest, I found him to be very busy. Not. He confided that on a busy day in season he serviced about six to 10 vehicles a day. He had a radio and his books to help pass 8

9 GET ORGANIZED the time, but his wife and kids visit often. They even invited me to share their lunch. Off I went to find the next ferry. This one turned out to be on the Maple Springs Ranger Station Road, County Road Capt. Kenneth Logston told me he serviced around 300 vehicles per day in season. An interesting point was that he lived in a log cabin that his grandfather had built with an ax and a saucer of water for a level. The cabin is about 6 miles from the ferry that he had been operating for 30 years. Doesn t look he is thinking about retirement any time soon. After touring the park I headed back to Somerset, all the time thinking that it might make a good hobby to look up these old ferries, explore the countryside and learn some history about the area. The next three years were about the same, and to date, I have ridden nine river ferries, taken pictures and done my exploring. I was up in the Wyoming/Glacier National Park area last year and found three ferries close by. All three were on gravel roads and I was on my touring bike. The round trip would have been over 80 miles. Wish I had my dual-sport with me. Maybe next trip. I will be going to AMA Congress again this October and have located eight river ferries north of St. Louis along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers and their tributaries. Guess where I will be in October. Chasing ferries. Don t Forget To Vote For AMA Congress Delegates Each year, AMA Charter Promoting Clubs and Promoters elect delegates from their geographical AMA District to the two divisions of AMA Congress the Competition Division and the Road and Off-Road Recreation Riding Division. This year s election of delegates to the 2013 AMA Congress will be conducted entirely online using the VoteNet balloting services. The AMA is in the process of mailing AMA Congress Delegate Election Information to each AMA Charter Promoting Club, AMA Charter Promoter, AMA Congress Delegate and AMA Recognized District Organization. This package includes a complete explanation of the election procedure. The election will take place in December The AMA Congress meets annually, and this year from Thursday, Oct. 4 through Saturday, Oct. 6 Congress delegates will be hard at work in Columbus, Ohio, representing your interests. For those three days, Congress delegates will be busy considering and making changes to the rules for sanctioned amateur activity. While making and changing rules are key aspects of Congress, these are only a part of the responsibility of Congress delegates. Congress delegates promote cooperation, consensus and harmony among AMA clubs and promoters. They provide information to expand organized activity in their AMA districts. They also promote the interests of the Association, including growth in membership. Do you know someone who has what it takes to be a good AMA Congress delegate? As an AMA-promoting organization, each club and promoter should nominate and vote for the person best qualified for the position. On your charter application, you specified the type of charter for which you were applying. That designation competition or recreation determines the type of Congress delegate for which your club or organization can vote. And remember, one charter entitles you to one vote. Complete details are available at AmericanMotorcyclist.com > ClubsandPromoters > Resources & Forms. Get Your Club Name In The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame We have a new feature at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame that helps us show our appreciation for supporters, and we hope your club will get involved. It s called My Hall of Fame and it allows us to hang photos of supporters, or their names or club s name, at the Hall of Fame. How does it work? The idea is simple. For a $20 donation you get a 3-inchsquare space for a photo on the wall in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame entrance foyer. Want a bigger space? A 6-inch square is an $80 donation, and a 9-inch October

10 GET ORGANIZED square is a $180 donation. You also get an exclusive certificate recognizing your support of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and noting your photo is on display through You can submit a photo of yourself, your club logo, just about anything you want to hang in My Hall of Fame. You can make your donation and submit your photo online at www. motorcyclemuseum.org/myhalloffame or give us a call (800) If you just want your club name posted on the wall, we can do that, too. We have plans to enhance the Hall of Fame exhibit for 2013 and any donation you can make will help immensely. If you prefer not to take part in the My Hall of Fame program, please consider making a separate donation. Donations are tax deductible. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is a mecca for motorcyclists and others that features our past, present and future under one roof. It s a proud symbol of our devotion to the motorcycling lifestyle. With your help, we will continue sharing why American motorcycling is so great. Plan Now To Attend The 2012 AMA Championship Banquet! The AMA is ramping up the program for the 2012 AMA Championship Banquet, bringing the event closer to eastern U.S. riders and honoring even more racers on Jan. 19, 2013, at the Aladdin Center in Columbus, Ohio. The top three finishers in AMA-sanctioned motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle 2012 national championship competition will be honored that evening. When we surveyed our champions, it was clear that everyone would welcome a return to an eastern venue for the championship banquet, says AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. In addition, we re adding more activities to the program, and expanding the format to recognize not just champions, but the top three riders in each national championship class. Richardo Valdez was among the 2011 national champions. The program which will include dinner, door prizes, refreshments, a bike show and an after-party will honor hundreds of top competitors in disciplines ranging from landspeed racing to motocross to woods racing and everything in between. Class champions will receive medals and No. 1 plates at the banquet, while second- and third-place finishers will also receive awards. The winners of special annual awards such as the AMA Grand Championship Athlete of the Year and the AMA National Championship Athlete of the Year awards will be announced as well. We also use this opportunity to shine the spotlight on those who went above and beyond to promote all aspects of motorcycling, Bromley adds. AMA Organizer Services will recognize top clubs and promoters in competition and recreational road and off-road events, as well as those who excelled in media coverage and as ambassadors of the sport. Columbus Aladdin Center, which is adjacent to the expansive Easton Town Center shopping complex and only 20 minutes from AMA headquarters and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, offers free parking, easy access to Interstate 270 and is a short drive from Port Columbus International Airport. For more information about this gala event, go to com/racing/racingbanquet.aspx. New AMA Charter Opportunities The best clubs, service organizations and online communities in the nation are chartered with the AMA. Riders and others know that AMA-chartered organizations are well-organized, family friendly and an asset to the community. There is prestige in being chartered with the AMA and in being part of a greater community of motorcyclists: AMA members nationwide. There are now five charters to choose from: Social Club: This charter is for clubs made up of enthusiasts who ride together, be it road or off-road, but don t host formal events requiring liability insurance. At least five current AMA or All-Terrain Vehicle Association members must be listed on the charter application. Social clubs can t vote for AMA Congress delegates or host AMAsanctioned events. Historic Club: These clubs must have been in existence for at least 50 years to be verified by the AMA and don t host formal events requiring liability insurance. At least five current AMA/ATVA members must be listed on the charter application. New Entry Form For AMA-Sanctioned Events Thank you for your continued support of the AMA and for hosting AMAsanctioned events, the gold standard in motorcycling. We have a template entry form that should speed up registration as well as serve as proof to riders of their participation in your events. This will replace the data card slips. The plates and slips are no longer available. You are encouraged to come up with your own system or use our template to help you. You are also welcome to have the onion skins printed yourself for registration purposes. We had these forms printed on carbon paper (purchased online through Staples) and used the yellow copy as a receipt for the riders. The AMA is no longer using or issuing data card slips, or onion skins. These data card slips served for many seasons as a secondary waiver and also as a record of participation. Over the years, however, changes in many local, state and even federal laws have made the waiver verbiage on the data card obsolete. Depending on the scoring software you use, you can contact Trackside Software at or Moto- Tally at for inquiries to the card swipe system. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact AMA Organizer Services. We are here to serve you, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time) at (800) AMA-JOIN ( ). Historic clubs can t vote for AMA Congress delegates or host AMA-sanctioned events. Promoting Club: Promoting clubs can sanction events and vote for AMA Congress delegates. A promoting club charter is suggested for clubs that want to sanction AMA events such as poker runs, road rallies, races and other events. Promoting Clubs are able to get liability insurance through the AMA for their events and enjoy other benefits. All club officers must be current AMA/ATVA members. And, the club must have at least 10 current AMA/ATVA members, including the officers. A club officer, preferably a risk management officer, also must view online, or attend, an AMA risk management workshop every year. The workshop can be Continued on page 12

11 ENTRY FORM EVENT NAME/LOCATION DATE AMA/ATVA# NAME (IMPRINT CARD below) ADDRESS: CITY STATE ZIP CODE DAYTIME PHONE: CELL: AGE DATE OF BIRTH EMERGENCY CONTACT: EC# QTY CLASS Bike # Brand/Displacement Fee TOTAL FEES: CASH CHECK# CHARGE: AMEX / DISCOVER / MASTERCARD / VISA (IMPRINT CARD TO THE LEFT) PRINT NAME: SIGNATURE: PHONE: V White AMA Yellow Customer

12 GET ORGANIZED Continued from page 10 viewed online at: com/asp/organizers/resources/rmw/index. asp. Also, to obtain a promoting club charter, two letters of recommendation, printed on company letterhead of the person making the recommendation, are required as well as a copy of the club constitution and bylaws. This is required for first-year applicants or clubs that haven t renewed their AMA charter for two or more years. Service Organization: A service organization charter is for motorcyclists rights, military, police, firefighter or charity organizations that don t promote events. These chartered organizations aren t eligible to sanction AMA/ATVA events or vote for AMA Congress delegates. At least five current AMA/ATVA members must be listed on the charter application, including the president and contact person. Online Community: An online community charter is for online motorcycling forums and the like that exist solely online and don t sanction events. Those organizations can t vote for AMA Congress delegates. At least five current AMA/ATVA members must be listed on the charter application, including the president and contact person. All charter fees Social, Historic, Promoting, Service Organization and Online Community are for a calendar year. That is, the charter expires Dec. 31 regardless of the Sound Meters Available The AMA is once again donating sound testing kits to help AMA members, Districts, Clubs and others educate riders about sound. Few other factors contribute more to misunderstanding and prejudice against the motorcycling community than excessively loud motorcycles, says Imre Szauter, AMA government affairs manager. With accurate sound testing, riders can know how loud their bikes are and can get advice from the testers about how to quiet their machines, he says. The sound testing kit consists of a type 2 sound meter, tachometer, training materials, spark arrester probe, personal protective equipment and a storage case. The kits will be awarded through a competitive grant process. To apply for a sound testing kit, a club or promoter must complete an application and return it to the AMA Government Relations Christian Motorcyclists Association members. date the charter was approved. If you have any questions on chartering, sanctioning or insurance, please contact us at (800) AMA-JOIN ( ) and ask for Organizer Services. Or Serena Van Dyke at svandyke@ama-cycle.org. Renewing Your Charter The Easy Way The new AMA Charter Automatic Renewal Program allows us to automatically renew your organization s AMA charter each year with no action on your part. All charter eligibility requirements apply. By agreeing to automatic renewal of your AMA charter, the annual charter fee, at the then-current rate, will automatically be charged once a year on Dec. 1 to the credit card on file with the AMA unless you alter or cancel your AMA charter as outlined below. Department by March 1. For more information on the sound meter grant program, or to request an application, send an to amagrd@ ama-cycle.org. We will notify you by at least 30 days before charging your credit card, and you reserve the right at that time to alter or cancel your AMA charter for the coming year. If you wish to alter or cancel your AMA charter you must provide us at least 10 days notice of your desire to cancel by contacting us at the following address or telephone number: AMA Attn: Organizer Services, Charters Yarmouth Dr. Pickerington, OH (800) AMA-JOIN ( ) In the event that you wish to dispute any charge to your credit card made pursuant to the automatic renewal authorization, you agree to contact us first at the above address or telephone number to resolve the dispute. You also authorize us to charge or credit your credit card as needed to account for any undercharge or overcharge errors, or to resubmit a failed or declined charge. Charter Requirements for Promoters Since 1924, the AMA has partnered with clubs and promoters to help them conduct successful events. The best races, rallies, rides and tours on the planet fly the AMA banner. If your event isn t AMA sanctioned, chances are you are losing out on revenue. Businesses and track owners charter with the AMA as promoters because of the many advantages a charter brings. Some of the requirements for a new promoter who charters with the AMA are: Two letters of recommendation printed on the company letterhead of the person making the recommendation. These letters should attest to your character or abilities as a motorcycle event promoter. The officers listed on the charter application must be current AMA or All-Terrain Vehicle Association members. An officer, preferably a risk management officer, must view or attend an AMA risk management workshop before holding an AMA-sanctioned event. The risk management workshop must be viewed or attended each year. The workshop can be viewed online at com/clubsandpromoters/ riskmanagementworkshop. Charter fees must be paid in full for the calendar year. A charter expires on Dec. 31 regardless of when it was approved. Continued on page

13 AMA Chartered Club Member Patch/Pin/Decal Order Form Access to AMA-chartered club member patches, pins and decals is one of the many exclusive benefits of chartering your club with the AMA. If your club is currently chartered with the AMA, a recognized officer of your club can order these items. The quantity of the order is restricted to the number of current AMA/ATVA club members listed on your current charter application. Although you are not permitted to incorporate the AMA-chartered club member logo into individual club items, it is acceptable to wear your individual club patch, pin, or decal beside AMA-chartered club member items. To order your AMA-chartered club member items, complete and deliver this application to the AMA with a check, money order or credit card information. Number of White Patches (Acct #601)... X $5.00 each = $ (Dimensions: 3.5 x 2.5 ) Number of White Pins (Acct #602)... X $3.00 each = $ (Dimensions: 1 x.75 ) Number of White Decals (Acct #603)... X $4.00 each = $ (Dimensions: 3.5 x 2.5 ) Number of Eagle Patches (Acct #601)... X $5.00 each = $ (Dimensions: 3.5 x 2.5 ) Number of Historic Club Patches (Acct #601)... X $5.00 each = $ (Only available to AMA Historic Clubs and Promoting Clubs that have been in existence 50 years or more. Dimensions: 3.5 x 4 ) Total = $ Signature of Club Officer: AMA Charter Number: Club Name: Mail to: Address: City: State: Zip: Credit Card # Expiration Date: (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express) REVISED 10/12 Send completed order form with payment to: American Motorcyclist Association Attention: Organizer Services Yarmouth Drive Pickerington, OH Fax: (614)

14 GET ORGANIZED Continued from page 12 If you have any questions on chartering, sanctioning or insurance, please contact us at (800) AMA-JOIN ( ) and ask for Organizer Services. Or Serena Van Dyke at Why Charter Your Club With The AMA? Credibility, Prestige And Assistance! There are a lot of great reasons to charter with the AMA. They include: Increased Membership. By chartering your organization with the AMA, your status is acknowledged on the AMA website at which can lead to increased exposure and membership. Organizational Help. From creating club bylaws to incorporating to getting liability insurance for events to organizing races, road rides and rallies, the AMA is ready to help. Sanctioning both recreational and competition events nationwide, the AMA provides a uniform set of rules covering many types of motorcycling activities. With these, members know their abilities will be fairly judged. The popularity of AMA rules is seen in the thousands of events offered each year by AMA organizers. Full Range Of Services. The AMA remains the only national organization devoted to providing a full range of services to America s motorcyclists and is equipped to effectively work for the betterment of all forms of motorcycling. Whether a rider prefers motocross or touring, the AMA exists to keep the fun in motorcycling for everyone. More than 225,000 motorcycle enthusiasts support AMA activities through their annual membership dues. Your Voice Is Heard. The AMA is assisted by the AMA Congress. Representatives from every AMA District attend this annual meeting to establish and define rules. Each AMA-chartered promoting organizer has the privilege of voting for Congress delegates, providing a say in how the AMA functions. Be Part Of Motorcycling History. Since 1924, the AMA logo has symbolized organized motorcycling activity throughout the United States. AMA-chartered clubs are part of that rich history. Some AMA clubs are 100 years old, and newly formed clubs are establishing rich histories of their own. Protecting Your Right To Ride and Race. By chartering with the AMA, you are helping protect motorcycling now and in the future. The AMA has dedicated government relations staff hard at work every day fighting threats to motorcycling, and you are doing your part. Also, clubs are an integral part of social activity that provides the foundation for the political and community relations activities that will help ensure the future of motorcycling. Why Should A Race Promoter Charter And Sanction With The AMA? For the race promoter there are many good reasons to charter and sanction with the AMA, including less work and more profit. Here are some of the top reasons: A Proven Track Record. As the largest motorcycle-racing sanctioning body in the world, and with a history dating back to 1924, the AMA knows what it s doing. We make your job easier because there is no need for you to reinvent the wheel. From safe track and course design to rules to protecting yourself and your business from liability, the AMA can help. More Racers/Spectators. The prestige that goes with being an AMAsanctioned event attracts more racers and spectators. And the fact that the AMA has an established class structure means that racers already have machines matched to the classes you run. Plus, racers are automatically plugged into an AMA advancement points system and, depending on your event, racers may be chasing national championship points so they won t want to miss your race. Standardized Rules. The AMA rulebook was written by the best minds in amateur racing, and it is used at all AMA-sanctioned events. This means you don t have to come up with rules of your own, and processes for protests and appeals are clearly spelled out. Fewer arguments, fewer hassles, and AMA staff support. Plus, you have a voice in making the rules. Talkin AMA By Chuck Gibbs On April 7, I attended a meeting of about 20 motorcyclists in Westminster, Colo. My mission was to talk to them about the AMA and explore the camaraderie of motorcycling. As I was introduced to the rest of the group, it was with a great deal of acceptance and made me feel immediately at home. Not knowing the particular interests of this group, I assumed that these were primarily road riders and would address this aspect of the Association. First I addressed the overall aspects of the Association of Rights. Riding. Racing. Then I went into the Riding more specifically. I discussed the advantages of membership, both individually and as a group (club). Since this was a group of riders, but not actually a club, we didn t dwell very long on the club benefits. I reviewed the individual benefits and some other reasons for being a member. I gave them a brief history of the AMA and where it is heading. I also explained the AMA Roadside Assistance program, which got a very positive response. The group greeted and treated me with great respect. They were courteous and attentive. After the presentation there were several questions that resulted in three new memberships. This was a very positive response, which left me with a great deal of satisfaction. I only hope that others in the group will become members after they have had some time to think about it, and join online or by phone. I, for one, feel that this was a really positive experience and would like to see more of these types of presentations take place in the field. Volunteering to make them happen is the only way to get this job done. 14

15 Training and Tips. The AMA Risk Management Workshop helps you protect yourself, and referee training helps ensure your event is top shelf. Plus, get valuable information for running a successful event from the AMA publication Organizer News. Liability Insurance. Obtaining quality liability insurance through AMA providers ensures competitive prices and quality customer service. If you are AMA sanctioned, you are approved no credit check, no million questions, no hassle. And you know the rates up front they won t change for the year. Supplies. The AMA has what you need, from liability release and waiver forms to injury reports to referee reports and more. National Publicity. AMA-sanctioned events automatically receive national publicity that is seen by racers and spectators around the country and in your own back yard. All AMA-sanctioned events are listed in the calendar section of American Motorcyclist magazine and are online at Make your event easy to find. Also, your race results are posted online, attracting more interest in your events. Protecting Your Future. By sanctioning your event with the AMA, you are helping keep racetracks and riding areas open. The AMA has dedicated government relations staff in Washington, D.C., California and Pickerington, Ohio, hard at work every day fighting threats to motorcycling, and you are doing your part. There are even more reasons why racers across the country want to take part in AMAsanctioned events. They include: Racing with the Best. The best amateur racers in America take part in AMAsanctioned events, so winning an AMAsanctioned race really means something to your racers. National Championships. Only AMA racers taking part in AMA-sanctioned events are eligible to earn the esteemed AMA national No. 1 plate in their discipline, and to compete in the series and events that award them. Continued on page 16 Racers compete for prestigious AMA No. 1 plates. AMA District Organizations Announce 2012 Annual Meetings Every year, district organizations hold annual meetings to coordinate calendars, address organizational issues, celebrate the past season and plan for the next season. We encourage all AMA Organizers to attend an annual meeting if one is being held in your AMA District. It s a great opportunity to meet and exchange information with other club representatives, promoters and congress delegates, and maybe even discover some business opportunities. Here s a list of annual meetings for 2012 by district: Dist. 2: Dec. 1, Dawn Patrol Clubhouse, Roberts Road, Bradley Gardens, Somerville, N.J., noon Dist. 3: Dec. 1, Thunder Ridge Sports, 4128 County Highway 18, New Berlin, N.Y., 11 a.m. Dist. 4: Dec. 2, Days Inn, Batavia, N.Y., 1 p.m. Dist. 5: Nov. 17, Presbyterian Senior Care, 835 S. Main St., Washington, Pa., 9 a.m. Dist. 6: Dec. 2, Holiday Inn, Hershey Grantville, Pa., 9 a.m. Dist. 7: Dec. 1, Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, 8 a.m. Dist. 11: Nov. 10, American Legion Post 134, US Route 23, Circleville, Ohio, noon Dist. 12: Nov. 3, Iron Skillet, I 75 Exit 167, North Baltimore, Ohio, noon Dist. 13: Dec. 5, Brian s Steakhouse, South Hill, Va., 6 p.m. Dist. 14: Dec. 1, Best Western Plus and Convention Center, 6820 South Cedar, Lansing, Mich., 9 a.m. Dist. 15: Nov. 3, UAW 1166 Hall, Kokomo, Ind., 11 a.m. Dist. 16: Nov. 10, Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells, Wis., 11:30 a.m. (MX is Friday night, call District for details.) Dist. 17: Dec. 8, Hawthorn Suites, 1 Lyon Court, Bloomington, Ill., 1 p.m. Dist. 18: Dec. 2, St. Peters Cultural Arts Centre, 1 St Peters Centre Blvd., St. Peters, Mo., 9 a.m. Dist. 22: Nov. 11, Fun Valley Moto X, th Ave., Montezuma, Iowa, 10 a.m. Dist. 23: Nov. 10, Knights of Columbus, 1114 American Blvd., Bloomington, Minn., 8 a.m. Dist. 29: Nov. 12, Lonestar, 5307 New Hope Commons Dr., Durham, N.C., 6 p.m. Dist. 34: Dec. 1, Celtics MCC Clubhouse, 4360 Bullard Ave, Bronx, N.Y., noon Dist. 37: Nov. 1, Brea Olinda High School, Brea, Calif., 8 p.m. Dist. 38: Dec. 13, Giovanni s Restaurant San Diego, Calif., 6 p.m. October

16 This year s AMA Roadrace Grand Championships will be held at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Oct Continued from page 15 Level Playing Field. Racers in AMAsanctioned events know that the rules are fair because of the standardized national rulebook, and know that they are competing against racers with the same skills because the AMA national advancement points system keeps track of all racers. Top Honors. AMA racers compete for the prestigious AMA Horizon Award, given to the best up-and-coming racers in several disciplines who appear destined for successful pro racing careers. There are also many other national-level awards given to top amateur youth and vet riders. Championship Recognition. Racers at your event aren t pros, but they can feel like they are with the quality of your event and the AMA Championship Banquet. Every year, the AMA honors its amateur, and some pro, racing champions at this gala banquet. Path to the Pros. For amateur racers aspiring to be pros, AMA events are where they need to be. With a path from novice classes all the way to the pros, AMA riders advance to become the best in the world. Parents Peace of Mind. Few things are more important than a good, fair and growth-building experience for kids. AMA-sanctioned events keep the focus on what s important. The AMA s standardized rulebook makes parents feel comfortable, and they feel they belong to a larger group when their kids participate in AMAsanctioned events. Sign Up For Alerts On Actions Affecting You The AMA Government Relations Department will keep you informed on hot topics affecting the riding community, town hall meeting notices, and opportunities to communicate with your elected officials. Subscribe to this free service today at www. americanmotorcyclist. com > Rights > Issues & Legislation and at the bottom of the page select Action E-List. Protect Your Right To Ride Volunteering is easier than you think. Visit us at > Rights > Get Involved to help protect the future of motorcycling. We Need History Lessons The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame has a new project under way and needs your help. Because the history of AMA clubs is important to the AMA and the Hall of Fame, we re asking clubs to help us collect historical club information to build an AMA club archive. We are seeking AMA charter certificates, lists of club members, club activities, newsletters and photographs. If your club can t part with the originals, please send electronic versions to be added to the archive. For more info, contact Serena Van Dyke in Organizer Services at (614) , ext CONTACT US ORGANIZER SERVICES COORDINATOR Jacki Burris (614) ext jburris@ama-cycle.org ORGANIZER SERVICES COORDINATOR D Andra Schwabel (614) ext dschwabel@ama-cycle.org ORGANIZER SERVICES COORDINATOR Serena Van Dyke (614) ext svandyke@ama-cycle.org ORGANIZER SERVICES MANAGER Cherie Schlatter (614) ext cschlatter@ama-cycle.org MOTOCROSS EVENT RESULTS mxresults@ama-cycle.org OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Check out our website at > Clubs & Promoters AMA MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the American Motorcyclist Association is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling.