kjax

With much disappointment I must announce that our (third) EnduorCross originally scheduled for Aug 23rd 2008 has been cancelled. This event originally was planned to run on Saturday Aug 23, 2008 in Rose City, MI. as part of a three race series. Two of three races have been cancelled due to low rider turnout at prior events. Our first try in 2007 resulted a great time but at serous financial cost to the club. Our second try on June 7, 2008 (run in conjunction with our AMA D-14 Gare Scrambles race on June 8, 2008) was a bit better but still had very low rider sign up's. Our cost of insurance and other items is too high to continue on this path in 2008. WE are hoping to make another run at this thing in 2009. It will most likely be a single event, once again run in conjunction with our AMA D-14 2009 Hare Scrambles. We obviously are hoping that riders will make a full weekend of riding- spectating and racing, espescially with cost of fuel so high. Every effort will be made to try and get dates that will not compete with a MOTA event. Our dates will be firm before 12/15/08. So I will make sure that our event date is posted before the MOTA firms up the 2009 Schedule. Please feel free to e-mail me here: kja5705@hotmail.com or post on the Bent Wheels Forum here: http://www.bentwheels.com/modules.php?name=Forums We really want your feedback- it will help us to make this success! Keith A. Compettion Director- Bent Wheels Comp Club and member of East Side Comp Riders (MOTA)

Jeremy, along with Les, John and Joe have really spearheaded the layout. I'm just a worker bee on this one. On the move to Sportsman, I am kinda in the groove with Zippy. I know I'll have more fun, plus it will up my skills A few of he guys riding Sprtsman this year jumped in just for the that reason- to pull them up a notch. On the idea of the Sportsman line, I agree that the original plan sounds best (shared mix of adv and int) . But while we are playing with the idea of unique classes and lines why not have Senior Adv (SRA)and Senior Int.(SRI) No new lines, just use Spt and Int lines already in place. This might put a reasonable separation between the many riders in the Senior class. Scott, The rocks are there, we just put em away when we're not using them. We got a really big slippery one out ...just for you! There are no big gullies full, but numerous man made piles all over the property..kinda like Vermontville, plus a few big ones that are naturally placed. The property is not sandy actually, some of most greasy clay anywhere north of Saginaw. When it rains it's kinda messy. It does dry quickly though, espescially in the summer, so a rain one day or two days before the event usually makes for ideal traction. The recent Hare Scrambles had us pulling guys out of woods and swamp sections with 4 wheelers.. we have buried bikes to the bars in some of our races in years past. It rained before, during, and after the E-Cross and Hare Scrambles this summer. Steve, I have not been involved in the details of the Sportsman lines for our event..yet. So no insight there for you...sorry. I think you still are better off at the Scenic, you can leave your bike and gear on site so you wont need to load it up. If you want just put yer stuff with mine. I think I am actually ready to beat myself up a bit more on the SPT line. The real key (for me) is to actually make to an event to ride instead of work.... Between all of BWCC events and now our East Side trials I am always working instead of riding. See my new thread regarding the cancellation of the Aug 23 rd Endurocross event in Rose City.

Another good thing is that it generally frees up more weekends throughout the season. . (For other riding opportuniies if we are lucky!). I for one will be able to make more events as a result of more two day format style events. Speaking of two day events- we are having a killer one on Aug 2-3rd in Rose City MI. Bring your off road bike to play after the trials. Very kid friendly site too. Camping (water and pit tiolet) and hotel on site! www.motatrials.org

Even better than last year is an understatement. The loop uses most of the 160 acre property. Lots of rocks....... A few great big rocks to climb up on too (6'+) No giant splatters, but we are challenging everyone. Another man made section with new stuff too. Big loop (over 2 miles around) New sections each day (10 ea day) except for 3 that will be rerun on day two in the opposite direction. Only 3 sections in the ravine. The event is way more spread out than last year- hopefully no waiting lines! Ok to bring your "other motorcycles", can ride trails out from property (legally) to ORV route. Very kid friendly on site as well as on the trails (Rose City loop) Still room at the hotels: Badlands Motel 866-686-3950 (on site) Scenic Motel 989-685-2668 (1/2 mile south- nicer too) Potable water on site, Pit toilets on site, Electric Hook ups are avaiable on a very limited basis for $10.00. Hey Jim, contact me about your ACL surgery- I have an inside line to some info there that may be of interest. On another note- I finally went play riding for the FIRST time this season yesterday. Contrary to popular opinion, I did not forget how to ride a motorcycle. Man - do I hate how work gets in the way of having fun... Looking for some comments here, I am gonna jump up to Sportsman from Senior. My thinking is that with little or no practice time I am never gonna get my game so perfect to get 1-2 point scores in SR class, so my finish position will always be 3rd or more. I can do bigger stuff, so I'm thinking that I will place just as well (top 5) and have more fun. What do you guys think?

Ah Hah... Now you have a name for this event "The Annual Cow Pie Classic" . I will actually be there too. It's on my short list of events that I will make this year. NO rain- please!

Hey Pat, It sounds as though you have a great support structure with your family-friends and sponsors. You pushed the injury as far as you could...then your support (and their common sense) took over. Which is how it usually works. As an athelete you just go...and go.... and go.... until someone (or something) stops you. Which is where you are now. Everyone is right - you have a lifetime of competition ahead, as long as you stay healthy enough to do it. Good luck! You have given all of us something to be very proud of, and lot's to look forward to. You do know that (seceretly) we all try to live vicariously thru our heros??? Good luck! KA

Here is a link to a US supplier with the guy on the rock (not a trials bike) but the trophy is not a bad looking unit. Best price I found by a stretch. We just gave these out at our Enduro-Cross race over the the June 7/8 weekend. People loved em. Mostly moto guys though. The actual trophy is well done, it's just that wacky exhaust that looks funny. It's as close to an affordable mass produced trophy as I have found. By the way- Our A class was won by a trials guy, and not just by a little bit. He lapped the entire A class the first 6 lap heat race. It was very muddy and I am sure the moto guys are thinking differently about us trials guys now! http://www.gameballtrophies.com/premotor1.htm

LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE TRIALS "GUY" WHO SHOWED THE MOTO GUYS HOW IT'S DONE! It was a mudfest for sure. but Joe Kutchey hammered the A class. He was able to lap 5 other riders in the first 6 lap heat race. In his second heat he also won by a solid margin. One of the few riders to double the jumps. He was the ONLY guy on a trials bike! Photos coming soon. Congrats JOE!

Pat and Craig represented us proudly! You guys are great. Pat- we have not met-yet, but I am completely impressed by your performance under pressure. The world is at your feet. Don't worry so much, and let it roll out. Sometimes if you push too hard things get a bit out of focus. YOU ARE THE MAN! Hey Craig (and company) are ya up for a little break yet....can you say Michigan......

I was just thinking as I read this previous post from Scott- Joey and Biff were up last week as we worked on the Endurocross course and they rode in a few segments...Looking at Joe's bike and how hard he rides- You can hurt your bike- but at Joe's level I'm not too worried about the rest of us. Joe is gonna ride A- and he stands a good chance of winning. There are two small double jumps at each end of the "Goodyear Highway". Most everyone rolls them (except A class) They are not a big thing on a moto bike, espescially for better riders, but it was very cool watching Joe whip it just a little sideways and land all the way thru the second double .... on his Sherco.

After all that- guess who needs a set of bars for his Sherco??? It really wasn't my fault (isn't that what I'm supposed to say right now?) Hey Scott, hope you can get them before next Wed. I'll come and pick em up, or we can meet. I won't be at Windsor- Good luck guys. Hope to see you at Rose City next Sat.

HERE HERE!!! To Joining forces with groups such as the BRC and others. We (trials and off road riders) as a group tend to be independent and sometimes non-conformist. (No problem there), but in order to counter the "attack of the greens" we need to do so with more organization and a louder, clearer voice. That's where the organizations such as the BRC, AMA, CCC and others come in. Motomickey is right- "WE HAVE TO TAKE THE TIME TO FIGHT BACK" This problem is so much bigger than California Global Warming.... It's just that California seems to be the hotbed for much of the "save the planet- hug a tree people" . Wow....just a thought maybe they come from a special breeding farm. Does anybody remember the movie Cocoon?

Sounds like Joe may go as well, hope you can too... Heading up this weekend to work on the course as well as preliminary work for the two day trials in Aug. The trials will be great this year- we are using all of the property- thats over 160 acres. Great big steel cylinder to be added to the E-Cross , it's about 12' long and 5 or 6' in diameter. Let's see a DRZ 400 go over that! (A DRZ400 won the C class last year) C'mon Zip you can show em' how! I'm ordering the trophies today, they are way cool castings with a bike climbing over a rock! I might just put your name on one of em......

Good Luck, Scott, Jim, Aaron, Sam, Paul and everyone else making the trip! Maybe some day I will too...ha in my mind I'm still all that. Take Care.. KA

The Greens (and every other person with a personal agenda that is in conflict with ours) will continue to use every means at their disposal to micro manage our sport (and lives) If they speak louder and more efectively than you and I do, they will be the ones who are heard, and thereby will most likely get their way. Our conversations here are a good start, but please don't stop there. If it's a trail, or a local law that stops you from riding in your backyard or?????? We are alwyas fighting with locals about our trials events- kind of like running in secret. Do something about it, stand up, be heard, write letter, show up at a meeting. It does work. I have attached some dialog and a link about a recent sitiuation we had here in MI. MI has lots of ORV trails throughout the state, some of which are for trucks, some are for quads and some are for motorcycles only (real single track) Many of those single track only trails (although marked that way) are being abused by Bille Bob and his brother Bille Bobbb on their quads, (you know these guys with a cooler of beer, tennis shoes, and bicycle helmet) The attached letter is the final decesion by the MI DNR on the matter of enforcement of "two wheeled" only trail use. We do have a voice and it worked! In addition we have recently had good luck getting legislation moving about allowing unlicensed ORVs on secondary roads in MI as well. Five conutines in MI have passed laws that allow it and now the state is considering a state wide approval that would pave the way for each county to do this more easily. We run our trials and off road races in one of those counties- how cool to ride your bike to and from the corner store or back to your motel room! Join the AMA, local AMA District, Blue Ribbon Coalition and in our case the Cycle Conservation Club of MI and be heard! begin quote( SUCCESS! Yesterday evening, the Director signed an Order which will protect Michigans Single Track trails! Here is a copy of the actual Order: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/07lu...ON_232186_7.pdf Thanks to YOU for your comments in support of this! Your voice was heard AND counted! Please continue to be involved, and help to keep the fantastic ORV recreation opportunities we enjoy in Michigan. Ride safe, ride responsibly, and Tread Lightly!" ) End quote

Hey Zippy, You are thinking way too extreme here. The worst that happened to anyone last year was Scott and that was a slice in his sidewall of his rear tire. It's not really such a bike bike thrasher. I rode B class at a steady pace, remember I'm the old guy who heals s l o w l e y. I think you should bring both bikes and ride the Sherco in practice. Then you will know how it feels. I am guessing it will be muddy, in which case the trials bikes will have a big advantage. Good example is the short way up over the rock pile ( a piece of cake for you) or a long way around for the all the other C class guys on their dirt bikes. We are a retty relaxed group, so if you signed up in C and saw your competition was really slow, you could step it up to B (as long as the the heat races had not yet begun) or you could sign as B and step down to C. I would say the you have a very relaistic chance of a top three in C class, maybe even in B, but I am guessing that will be a much bigger class this year. Of course I have no idea who might sign up, as it is on the honor system and sand baggers are out there at every event. I'll buy you Gatorade!

Thanks Scott! We will miss ya on June 7. We are having the other events on Wed July 9 (in conjunction with Ogemaw Bike Week) and Sat Aug 23. Hope you can make it to those. KA

Starting out can be a losing proposition, but I think you are correct when you said it can lead to more. I have been involved in the setup and promotion of many different motorcycle events over the years and it seems to me that you have the basic formula for success. Since the cost of travel is so high right now, your new "closer to home" idea should make it work. I think that doing lots of initial e-mails or calls might be the answer to having a good first event I do know that the reason our off road club (Bent Wheels CC) makes money is our sponsorships. We have sponsors that include members (their own companies) as well as numerous local shops who have become our anchor sponsors over the years. We have recently been able to step it up with bigger companies (Toyota, Planet Honda, etc) but that comes only with time and exposure. The other key ingredient in our club is member participation. You will most likley find that a few will work their tails off, while most will follow without really trying quite as much. The more the "few" do, the more the "followers" will do, it seem's that the ratio between the two is quite consistent. On insurance, I would go with AMA, most riders have membership already, and it makes financial sense for your new club. It really does take time. We lost over $3,000 last year on our first local Endurocross, but have high hopes for this years event on June 7. On the other hand, we had nearly 1000 riders and spectators for last years Color Tour and MOTA trials in October. The other club (trials) that I am part of runs on a much tighter budget, but once again is successful due to member involvement. We get 45-100 riders at most MOTA events (most average in the 50 range). We are trying a two day format this summer for our club as a gas saver. We'll see how that works. Budget for a potential loss on your first event, but once agian, the key in my opinion is communication within your current group of potential riders. If I can be of any help, feel free to ask. Good luck! Keith A. www.bentwheels.com www.motatrials.org

We are having Event #1 of our three part Magic Racing Enduro-X series on Saturday June 7 in Rose City MI. Format is Run What Ya Brung! Trials bikes, Harleys and off road bikes welcome. No Mini's or quads. Classes are divided into skill levels A-B-C. Practice begins at noon. First Heat race is at 2:00 pm Finals should end around 7:00pm. Here are two links for more info. Pre registration is allowed. AMA membership is required. Feel free to e-mail Keith for more info kja5705@hotmail.com http://www.bentwheels.com http://www.bentwheels.com/events/2008enduroxflyer.doc

Great event at Flint. Thanks to all for the work. I was glad to get out on my "hall pass" from work to ride for the first time since last November! I didn't know about Dick's crash? Is it really a cracked rib? Zippy I still think you had a hex on your section. I was riding better than I expected until your section! I think I dropped 9 points there! Should not have dropped any.... Getting to hook up with Gary W. was a big thing for me. Gary and I grew up as best friends (grade school) but have really lost touch over the years. He has been looking forward to his visit in Flint for long time actually. His back is so bad that trips like that are few and far between. He was really hurting after being on his feet all day. He really enjoyed seeing lots of old friends. Hope to get him to another one this year. I won't be able to make any more events until Whitmore Lake. The BWCC Enduro Cross and Hare Scrambles on JUne 7 and June 8 has me all tied up. Still working on track updates between now and then . Hope a few guys can make it to the Enduro X on Sat JUne 7. I know this is in conflict with Metamora on Sunday (June 8) . We are expecting a pretty good turn out actually. Still hoping the Craig Gernhardt and Noel Smage are gonna make the trip! If it's muddy (and it is now) trials bikes will be huge advantage. Event is in the afternoon, so it's an easy drive up in the morning. Remember A-B_C classes - anybody can ride- No need to be an expert!

Hi all, I have a surprise guest coming with me Sunday. Gary Wilkerson (former MOTA champ from the early 80's) is riding along. See ya all there. Keith

Thank you Craig for the work and time to keep us all up to date. Pat - You are making the US proud. Great job!

I just read your e-mail this morning- I guess you guys have already finished..... Thanks for the invite! No matter, as I have a garage full of half assembled (or unassembled) bikes and the Sherco is one of em. Still going thru the stable getting ready for the season. I thought a few of the guys were heaed to TN for the training days? KA

This is like having a front row seat...Thanks for the current updates Craig. Good luck pat!

You guys are making me jealous- I won't be there. I sure wish that work would not get in the way of having fun. Once spring is over then I can get a (fun) life again. Can't wait to hear how it goes. Post some pics and links...ok? The vintage idea is great Sam... I'm even more bummed now- I'd like to drag out the cota.