volume 5 – issue 1, 2015 1

Transcription

VOLUME 5 – ISSUE 1, 2015
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AMX News • Arizona’s Motorcycle Off-Road News!
EDITOR
Sigrid K. Powell
graphix/layout
• SKiP Productions •
320 N. Arizona Ave., Ste 500 • Prescott, AZ 86301
(928) 776-0291 • FAX: (928) 442-1411
E-mail: sigridpowell@yahoo.com
Contributing editorial
Writers & photographers
Gary Bohannon, Tom Frantz,
Pynne Johnson, Amber Starnes
Dan Matthews, Hal Sanguinetti,
Ron Swangler, Roberta Davis, Kara Lonati,
Gregg Conroy, Mike Crawford
AMX CONTACT INFORMATION
www.AMXracing.com
SCORING, CLASS LEVEL . . . Pynne Johnson
E-mail: kppj@MSN.com
RULES AND MOVE-UPS . . . Tom Frantz
E-mail: amxnewspaper@gmail.com
ADVERTISING/PROMOTIONS
Dan Matthews
Phone: 602.332.7361
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
AMX News accepts written contributions, but
accepts no responsiblity for unsolicited material.
By mailing in material the author guarantees that
the matierial is original and in no way infringes
upon others or their rights. AMX News assumes no
liability for errors, ommissions, paper cuts, or any
other claims. We promise to read your submission,
but we may respectfully decline it and not publish
it, or save it and publish it in a future issue. We also
reserve the right to edit, shorten, or revise your
article. When possible, we will provide a proof to
the author for corrections, etc. When submitting
pictures, make sure they are in large or high
dpi format and please provide captions when
possible and proper credit. All ads may be subject
to editing as well.
Distribution
AMX News will be distributed at AMX racing events,
related businesses, and advertisers in and outside
of our coverage area, and at no charge to the
readers. Your advertising makes this possible.
Advertising Policy
AMX News accepts advertisements that are
noteworthy and beneficial to our readers. We
will not knowingly accept advertising with any
false, misleading, or derogatory advertisements,
and encourage our readers to report any such
advertising.
To place your advertising order or to get additional
information, please call us at 928-639-1709. Our
fax number is 928-634-9336. Our e-mail address is
AMXnewspaper@gmail.com.
Please send submissions to:
AMX Newspaper
320 N. Arizona Ave., Suite 500
Prescott, AZ 86301.
Submissions can also be e-mailed to
sigridpowell@yahoo.com
Volume 5 – Issue 1, 2015
Special Features
Daniel Spendlove #525 by Stephanie Spendlove
AMX Open Pro Winner of The Arizona State Championship Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
AMX Arizona State Chamionship &
Grand Canyon Series’ Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Awards Banquet by Kara Lonati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Canyon Super Saturdays by Kara Lonati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Johnny Miller #24 by Amber Starnes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
AZOP Post Race Reports by Richie Rees
Gila Bend Grand Prix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
2014 Christmas Grand Prix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Searchlight 17th Annual Grand Prix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Phoenix Light Rail & Supercross by Dan Matthews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Also in this Issue
Arizona State Championship Series Rules and Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . 4
WORCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Canyon Motocross . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Off The Mic by Gary Bohannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Ocotillo Raceway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
How the Dream Started, Part 1by Dan Matthews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Whips & Chains . . . Well at Least Chains by Hal Sanguinetti . . . . . . . 20
Ask the Ref by Tom Frantz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Vendor’s Row by Mike Crawford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
AMX AZ State Championship 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-27
AZOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
What the Pros Know & You Don’t Part 1 by Destry Abbott . . . . . . . . 37
Vintage Motocross by Rick Sibley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
American Vintage Dirt Rider’s Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
AMX Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
AMX News ©2015
On the cover: Daniel Spendlove #525, Photo Courtesy of Roberta Davis
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2015 Arizona State
Championship Series Rules
2015 Schedule - 1st Half
February 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ocotillo Raceway
Welcome to Arizona State Championship Racing! This year
the AMX State Championship Series will be divided into two
separate series. The first half will run from January to May, with
the second half running from September to December.
March 29. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Canyon Motocross
1) Can miss no more than 1 race in each half-year series.
April 26. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ocotillo Raceway
2) Beginner classes receive trophies in State Championship
Series, but do not receive free racing, free practice,
bicycles, or other awards
3) Top 3 eligible racers in each eligible class receive series
awards. (There are no average # of racer requirements.)
March 14-15 . . . . . . . . . MC Motorsports Park
2015 Schedule - 2nd half
September 20. . . . . . . . . . . Canyon Motocross
October 10-11. . . . . . . . MC Motosports Park
4) State Championship Series awards first place in each half:
Six months free practice and racing at all three participating
tracks.
October 25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ocotillo Raceway
5) State Championship Series awards second and third place:
Six months free practice at all three participating tracks
November 22. . . . . . . . . . . Canyon Motocross
6) Racers that win both series halves win free practice and
racing through the end of 2015 (18 months!).
7) Racers subject to AMX rules as defined in 2015 AMX Rule
Book.
November 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ocotillo Raceway
Be sure to check out our website for all the latest details!
www.AMXracing.com
Eligible
State Championship Classes:
50cc 4-6
50cc 7-8 50cc Open
60cc 4-8 60cc 9-11
60cc Open
80cc 7-11
80cc 12-13
80cc 14-16
Supermini
Mini Open
125cc Novice
125cc Intermediate
125cc Open
150cc Open
Schoolboy
250 Novice
250 Intermediate
250 Pro
Open Novice
Open Intermediate
Open Pro
Women Mini (65-85cc)
Women Amateur
Vet Amateur
Vet Novice
Vet Intermediate
Vet Master
Vet Pro
Vet Open
Please Note:
BEGINNER CLASSES ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR TROPHIES IN STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES!!!!!
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1630 Adams St. • Prescott, AZ 86305
928.778.9693
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M
y mom will tell you I bought
Daniel’s first dirt bike when
he was five year old with the
money I earned from one of my 4H
lambs. I like to think of myself not
only as his big sister, but a sponsor.
I remember that Christmas morning
when he walked out into the living
room and saw his first bike, an XR50.
He was smiling from ear to ear, he was
so ecstatic. We didn’t have a garage.
We lived in a double-wide trailer and
that XR50 lived in our kitchen. Coming
from a small town that didn’t offer
much of a racing community, Daniel
just rode for fun at first with friends in
the beautiful back yard we grew up in . .
. Lake Powell, AZ. Our mom was raised
in a racing family, so you could say she
passed the racing gene onto Daniel. I
am honored to be given this opportunity
to share with you a little history on
Daniel’s racing career thus far.
Daniel had raced a few desert races,
but had his first actual race in 2002. He
took 3rd place. After that he didn’t do
much more racing until 2007, when he
came across AMX. He started racing
in thier 85cc Beginner Class. After lots
of wins, he got a visit from Tom Franz
welcoming him into the age group
class which is a much faster class. His
determination and desire to improve
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by Stephanie Spendlove
lead him through. After racing and
driving hundreds of miles each month
to attend every AMX race, it was time
for Daniel and Mom to get closer to the
tracks.
Uprooting from the small town life
Daniel and our mother, Amber, took
the leap of faith and moved to Valley
of the Sun in 2010. Being able to have
tracks to practice on and a coach to
teach him gave Daniel the opportunity
to become the rider he is now. Racing
his way through 250 Novice, 250/450
Intermediate and 250/450 Pro. This will
now be Daniel’s 9th year racing with
AMX in pursuit of his dreams. Daniel
will tell you that Kyle Killebrew has
been his main coach throughout all the
years he’s been racing. Kyle has given
Daniel the mental mind set of what it
takes to be a great rider and the skills to
accomplish the goals he sets. In 2011,
Daniel raced 250 Novice at the Amateur
Open. This was the race to remember.
The feelings we get when we talk about
this moment are heartfelt. It was a tough
weekend of racing for Daniel. As he
lined up on the gate for his moto, Kyle
whispered in his ear “if you don’t win
this race, don’t come back to the truck.”
Of course he was only kidding, but this
gave Daniel the drive he needed to pull
off the win and claim his first national
title! It was an amazing moment seeing
him and Kyle standing on that podium
together, knowing all the hard work that
went into that win.
Over the years Daniel has claimed
five AMX championships which
include: 250 Novice and 250 Open
Novice in 2011, in 2012 both 250
Intermediate and Schoolboy, and
most recently in 2014 won the Open
Pro Class. AMX has been more than
just a series of races for Daniel. It’s a
community of family’s that have come
together to form lifelong friendships
and memories that will be carried on.
In 2013, Daniel started racing in the
AMX Pro Class. Although he was
nervous, a bet at dinner with Pynne
Johnson lead him straight to the Pro
gate the next morning for his first Pro
Moto. Thanks to her push he completed
his first year with AMX and decided
to pursue his AMA Pro points in 2014.
After traveling to California, Utah,
and locally here in Arizona, Daniel has
completed his points for his AMA Pro
License.
As we enter into 2015 Daniel
is striving towards the Lucas Oil
Promotocross Championships Series.
There are only a couple rounds that are
in reach for this year’s goal, but hoping
for the experiences ahead. You’ll catch
Daniel racing our local AMX series and
practicing at his home track Canyon
Motocross Park. You might even see
him on the tractor or in a water truck
making it “prime” as he would say! One
thing you might not know is how much
Daniel enjoys his job and making the
track fun for everyone.
There are so many amazing people
that have helped my brother get to
where he is today. Some fantastic
sponsors, such as Jeremy Scism the
Owner of AEO Powersports. He has
always made sure Daniel’s bike is
prime and ready to go and has also been
a great family friend. Destry Abbott
has been there to encourage and guide
Daniel with training tips, health, and
most of all a mentor/friend. Special
thanks to AMX’s Pynne Johnson and
Kenny Porter for all that they do not
just for Daniel, but for the AZ racing
community. Our dad has also been a
big support in chasing this dream, but
the main person of course being our
mother. If you were to look up the word
sacrifice in the dictionary her name
would be printed in fine letters. She
has been the foundation to his dream,
the one to make it happen. Daniel says
“Without her I would be nothing in this
sport.”
9
A
3600 / 7200 sq. ft. Zoned for Commercial Use
re you looking for a new home for your business or would like to expand to
beautiful Northern Arizona? Then this building is the perfect solution for you!
Sitting in a prime location close to downtown Prescott, you really have to see it to
believe it! This building has a wonderful front office/”show room” attached to a
massive shop space with multiple garage openings.
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11
I
by Gary Bohannon
have never considered myself a
writer by any means, so every time
I get the note telling me that my
article is due, I almost go into a
panic mode because I never know what
I’m going to write about. I watch all
these movies where the author or artist
gets a Muse that inspires them on to
great works of art and untold amounts
of fame. Well, if any of y’all know
where I can find me a Muse that works
for basically free, be sure and let me
know cuz I could surely use one right
about now.
It’s now a new year, 2015 already,
which means I have made the same
New Year’s Resolution that I make
every year. It also means that here in
about a week we’ll start the new season
of the AMX State Championship Series,
which is always exciting because I
get to see all the new gear, and new
bikes and the riders that have moved
onto different brands and changed
to different classes. The changes can
definitely be exciting and hopefully it’ll
be a great year of racing for all of us.
As far as my family goes, I’m not
sure how much racing we will be doing.
I personally told myself that I wanted
to ride more this year so we’ll see how
that goes. But as far as Sean goes, he is
working full time now and I fear that his
job is going to prohibit him making a lot
of the Sunday races. He started working
before the end of the last season and
has already experienced scheduling
difficulties. He is finishing his last
semester of High School so between
school and work he has had little or
no time to ride, not to mention that
his truck has been broken for the last
couple of months so it has been nearly
impossible to get him to the track for
any type of practice. Even if he is able
to make it to the gate for the opening
round I know his performance will be
far from what he desires but there is a
price to be paid for not training and that
price is high and noticeable once that
gate drops. I expect to have his truck
back here within the next few weeks
and that will be a welcome surprise
because even if he doesn’t make
practice like he wants to, at least we
won’t have to drive him back and forth
to his job which has been a real pain in
the butt.
I did find out what it’s like to be
semi-homeless around the Holidays.
The first week of December we had a
line/pipe on one of our water heaters
burst and it flooded out the South end of
our house which is the boys’ bedrooms
and bathroom and our office.
Servpro came out and tore
out carpet, walls, etc. and
had over 30 blower motors
running at a time throughout
the house and for several days
they had us set the thermostat
at 95 degrees!! Now anyone
that works in the announcers
tower with me knows that I
like it warm but 95 in the house is a
bit much. Needless to say, we couldn’t
stay here. Even if I could have dealt
with the heat and noise of the blower
motors, they spray some kind of anti
mildew spray and it stunk so bad that it
gave me a headache after being around
it for more than a minute. We had to
ship the kids off to their grandparents
and Teresa and I had to go stay in a
nearby Hotel. Now I like staying in
Hotels every now and then while on
vacation but trying to do it while having
it substitute for your home really sucks
and I hope I never have to go through
that again. We are for the most part,
back in our home now, but are still
trying to get things fixed properly. Still
no water to that end of the house and
no use of the dishwasher, and the boys
still have no carpet in their rooms and
have holes in their walls too but I’m
confident that we’ll get it taken care
of and back to normal before too long.
And even though it was a total drag and
definitely an inconvenience I have to
stay humble and realize just how really
blessed I am. When I caught myself
feeling sorry for myself and whining
about how it ruined Christmas (at our
house) I had to remind myself that at
least we would still have Christmas, just
over at the in-laws, but at least we had
one and with all the family togethersafe and healthy. So remember that
no matter how bad how it seems to us
sometimes, I’m sure there are people
in the world that would gladly trade us
their trials and tribulations for our mere
inconveniences. I’m not trying to preach
here I just want to convey how blessed
my life really is with a happy healthy
family, a decent job, Moto-x friends
and family, etc. etc. and that I can’t or
shouldn’t sit back and snivel when the
hand I’ve just been dealt really isn’t
all that bad just because it causes a
few hiccups in my schedule and isn’t
what I would like it to be . . . Things
can always be worse . . . except when
Alabama lost, but that’s another story
for another time !!!
Hope to see y’all at the races and
Roll Tide…GBoh#217
• Vinyl Graphics
• Apparell
• Decals & More!
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AMX 2015
Arizona State
Championship Series
1st Half
February 22 &
April 26
801 W. Milligan Rd. • Eloy, AZ 85231 Hotline: 928.978.4259
Hours: Sat: 6AM - 11AM • Sun: 7AM - 11AM • Fees: $20
Located in Eloy, Arizona, between Tucson and Phoenix, Ocotillo is a uniquely designed true-outdoor layout that stretches almost one full mile in length. Our
rider-oriented approach of importing the right kinds of sand and dirt-so there’s never any problem getting a grip promises full-throttle rides with no loss of
traction. GO HUGE riders appreciate Ocotillo’s supercross obstacles too. Including technical doubles, triples, fat berms, whoop sections, off cambers and a
150-foot-long tabletop, better known as GO HUGE. With this monster somewhere beneath you, you’re sure to rage. The facility also includes a mini-monster
track for the diminutive Jeffros out there (Pee-wees, you know?). Yes, Junior gets the same diverse layout as the big kids. This is no cheesy oval with a few rollers.
13
I
t’s been a couple of years since
Speedworld closed, and I’d like to
take this opportunity to talk a little
bit about my involvement with the sport
here in Arizona, along with thanking
everyone for their participation in the
track. It all started back in 1986, when
my son Jason and I started racing
motocross seriously. We had bought
a KX60 from Glendale Kawasaki on
Grand Avenue. I knew them because I
was running a catering truck then, and I
made them a stop in order to get in tight
with a Kawasaki dealership. My contact
was Steve Hollander (who now owns
CSA in Tucson), but every time the
shop owner came to get lunch, I’d buy
it for him. He asked me why, and I told
him because he was going to sponsor
my son on a KX 60. He said, yeah, right
. . . and two years later, when I was no
longer running the route, when Jason
began to get bigger, I’d take him to the
shop and see if he was big enough to
hold up a 60. We went back every now
and then for almost a year. Finally, he
could tippy-toe hold it up, I turned to
Steve and said I guess we wanted one.
He smiled and said I suppose you want
a deal, too, to which I replied ‘and also
a deal on parts.’ Well, we got both. Not
too bad for a kid that had never raced a
single event!
Jason and I raced together seriously
for nine years, achieving a number
of accomplishments, including state
championships with AMXA through
1991, and both CMC Trans-Cal and GFI
Fall Series titles along with being the
only Yamaha winner (besides PeeWee)
at the NMA World Mini Grand Prix in
1992. After then, Jason only raced once
in awhile, and I got into the promotion
end of the business with Dave Brosius
around 1994. We started by renting
Thrasherland: doing all the promotions
and running the CMC races there. Back
then, with our superior promoting, we
were getting 150 riders at a night race.
At that time, the other night races here
in AZ were long, dragged-out deals that
would usually end at around 2 in the
morning, with an 80-100 rider turnout.
Dave and I did some reorganization and
began finishing at 11pm. People were
coming up to us and asking if we were
done, and we said, yeah, if you’ve done
two motos, you’re all done.
Then a business opportunity came
along in early 1994 to run races in
Sierra Vista, at the Nomad’s track, and
we increased their turnout substantially
- the third race we did had over 300
entries, the largest moto turnout in over
ten years. This is the event that pissed
off all the other promoters in the state,
because of our turnouts versus theirs. So
they whined to CMC and they passed
two rules: we couldn’t run races at a
track that wasn’t ours, nor could we
promote and be the CMC reps at the
same time.
They say timing is everything, and
in this instance that was the case. Hal
Sanguinetti, who was working as an
announcer at the Phoenix Raceway
Park dragstrip at the time, mentioned
to me that the facility ownership was
changing hands and that there might
be an opportunity for me to get in and
run the motocross track. I looked into
it and worked out an agreement to run
motocross races there. As it turned out,
it was not a good situation: there was
not a sufficient supply of water, almost
all of the equipment had to be rented,
and there was no complete ready-torun track, and so on. Our first race was
a Grand Prix that was run because we
needed to have some working capital
to make improvements. We arrived
on Saturday to set up, and the guard
wouldn’t let us in because nobody had
told him we were going to be putting
on a race! After resolving that issue,
we ended up with a very successful
event, with almost 100 riders. Not bad,
considering the limited amount of prerace publicity and short amount of time
to prepare the track! Then we really
went to work.
To be continued.....
Geo-Thermal - IGSHPA Certified
Kenny Porter Jr., Owner
Licensed, Bonded, Insured
P.O. Box 2411
Cottonwood, AZ 86326
928.639.1709
FAX: 928.634.9336
Cell: 928.300.8082
kpvent@gmail.com
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15
The AMX 2014 Arizona State
Championship Series Winners
50cc 0-6
1st - Texas Lindsey
2nd - Austin Ashford
50cc 7-8
1st – Jeremy Carpenter
2nd – Hayden Gamble
3rd – Brandon Rodriguez
60cc 0-8
1st – Stockton Ringenbach
2nd – Noad Sorensen
3rd – Hayden Gamble
60cc 9-11
1st – Jake Carpenter
2nd – Stockton Ringenback
3rd – Cole Dilley
Women 65-85
1st – Catalina Springstroh
2nd – Juliea Brown
Mini Open
1st – Wyatt Wright
2nd – Lane Tebbs
3rd – Maison Davis
80cc 7-11
1st – Wyatt Wright
2nd – Catalina Springstroh
3rd – Jake Carpenter
80cc 12-13
1st – Billy Moran
2nd – Tanner Abeyta
3rd – Jeremy Fjeld
Open Pro
1st – Daniel Spendlove
450 4-Stroke Open Non-Pro
1st – Jeffery Schneider
Women Amateur
1st – Kathleen LaRosa
2nd – Sabrina Ritzler
25+ Vet Intermediate
1st – Greb Webb
25+ Vet Expert
1st – Tad Schei
30+ Vet Pro
1st – Justin Crawford
40+ Vet Novice
1st – Rodney Davis
2nd – John Miller
3rd – Kenny Porter
40+ Vet Master
1st – Bruce Sylvester
2nd – Scott Mooney
50+ Vet Novice
1st – John Miller
50+ Vet Master
50cc Beginner B
1st – Brandon Rodriguez
2nd – Kiersten Canales
125cc 2-Stroke Beginner
1st – Billy Moran
2nd – Joey Murphy
50cc 0-6
1st – Austin Ashford
125cc 2-Stroke Novice
1st – Branden Allen
2nd – Kyle Allen
50cc 7-8
1st – Jeremy Carpenter
60cc Beginner
1st – Zach Palermo
3rd – Matthew Cox
60cc 0-8
1st – Stockton Ringenbach
3rd – Jeremy Carpenter
60cc 9-11
1st – Cole Dilley
2nd – Jake Carpenter
3rd – Trey Abeyta
60cc Open
1st – Cole Dilley
2nd – Jake Carpenter
3rd – Stockton Ringenbach
Mini Open
1st – DJ Weber
2nd – Wyatt Wright
3rd – Tanner Abeyta
Vet Open
Women 65cc-85cc
1st – Catalina Springstroh
We would also like to
commend the following
Beginners for their
accomplishements
80cc Beginner B
1st – Ryan Stillwell
2nd – Matthew Gray
3rd – Maximus Pichler
125 2-Stroke Novice
1st – Braden Allen
2nd – Kyle Allen
50cc Beginner B
1st – Brandon Rodriguez
2nd – Aiden Saylor
80 Age 7-11
1st – DJ Weber
3rd – Catalina Springstroh
125cc Open
1st – James Allocco
2nd – Jeffrey Schneider
60cc Beginner
1st – Matthew Cox
Supermini
1st – Lane Tebbs
150cc Open
1st – Aidan McCune
2nd – Ben Brady
Schoolboy
2nd – Geno Lonati
250cc Novice
1st – Kobe Fisher
2nd – Jake Gholson
3rd – Teig Jewett
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Open Intermediate
1st – Raymond Chavez
The AMX 2014
Grand Canyon Series Winners
80cc Beginner B
1st – Ryan Stillwell
2nd – Maximus Pichler
3rd – Matthew Gray
150cc Beginner
1st – Ben Brady
250cc Beginner
1st – Marco Phillippe
80 Age 12-13
1st – Billy Moran
3rd – Jeremy Fjeld
Supermini
1st – Jeremy Fjeld
2nd – Lane Tebbs
150cc Open
1st – Aidan McCune
2nd – Ben Brady
125cc Open
2nd – Jeffrey Schneider
250cc Beginner
1st – Marco Phillippe
250cc Novice
1st – Cody Benacka
2nd – Trey Lewis
3rd – Chandler Russell
Schoolboy
1st – Geno Lonati
2nd – James Allocco
Open Novice
1st – Jake Gholson
2nd – Kobe Fisher
3rd – Chandler Russell
Open Intermediate
1st – Raymond Chavez
Open Pro
1st – Daniel Spendlove
450 4-Stroke Open Non-Pro
1st – Jeffrey Schneiderf
Women Amateur
1st – Kathleen LaRosa
Vet 30+ Pro
1st – Justin Crawford
Vet 40+ Novice
2nd – John Miller
Vet40+ Master
Vet 50+ Novice
1st – John Miller
Vet 50+ Master
Vet Open
2nd – Bruce Sylvester
3rd – John Miller
T
by Kara Lonati
he 2014 AMX racing season came to a close and the yearly banquet followed. It was fun as it has always been. Food and friends all met at Octane Raceway. Trophies,
bikes, race passes, and goodies were awarded to many. A select few even won free practice for the year. If you weren’t there you missed out. Here are a few pictures
and a list of the winners from the 2014 season. Are you ready for the 2015 season? Next years banquet is sure to be even better!! See you at the races! Thank you
AMX for all that you do each and every race and year!
17
by Kara Lonati
I
f you haven’t been out for our Super Saturday
Racing you are missing out! Super Saturday
racing is a fast paced, laid back race. The
peeweew (50/60) race is held on the peewee
18
track. The bigger bikes and quads race on the Cactus
Track. Yes we have quads racing also!! It has been
fun watching the racers progress, grow, and have
fun! Super Saturday Racing is just that SUPER!
Come out and get some gate time and race with your
friends. Check out the fun we have! Trophies are also
awarded! Come enjoy your Super Saturday!
19
WHIPS & CHAINS . . . well, at least CHAINS! By Hal Sanguinetti
I
t’s amazing how related the
important components of your
motorcycle or quad are, especially
as related to the importance of
proper preventative maintenance are
concerned. Sure, we (usually) remember
to change the engine oil on a regular
basis, and we almost always do the air
filter service routine in a timely manner,
and we (once in awhile) do the right
stuff for our chain . . . wait a minute.
Once in awhile? Have you priced a
high-quality motocross chain lately?
Do you really take care of your drive
chain properly and regularly? Chances
are you really don’t do it CORRECTLY
and in a timely fashion. Remember too,
that it’s not just the chain that’s at risk
here; it’s those expensive sprockets plus
the possibility of a DNF and worse, a
serious injury. So let’s take a good look
at this vital link (pun intended) in our
bike’s power delivery systems.
Today’s high-quality (read:
expensive) rear drive roller chains
are state-of-the-art so far as quality of
materials and design are concerned, yet
they remain a very old design in that
the basic construction has not changed
since their creation. Today’s history
lesson: the first recorded mention of a
drive chain was in ancient Greece in the
Third Century BC, and in China during
the Song Dynasty (960–1279) . . . and
significant change to the basic design
didn’t occur until the advent of the
o-ring chain. Even that design change
didn’t alter the basic way a chain is put
together with two side plates, riveted
together with a solid pin around which
a cylinder/roller is free to move. Belts
have been used as a substitute for chains
but are pretty much limited to on-road
use. Thus endeth the lesson for today;
be prepared for the quiz.
The life of a chain is determined
by several things, not all of which we
can control. First is the quality of the
actual components and the accuracy
with which they are assembled. We can
only control this factor by choosing
higher-quality chains, which of course,
cost more. Secondly is the lubrication
of the chain, which includes frequency
of service, method of application and
quality of the lubricant itself. Finally,
the proper adjustment of the chain.
We’re not going to get into adjustments,
as there are as many setting for proper
chain adjustments as there are brands of
bikes & ATVs. Even different sizes of
bikes within a specific product line can
have different adjustments. It is vital to
know your machine’s chain adjustment
requirements, and to CHECK IT
FREQUENTLY! This is vital when
you’ve just installed a new chain, as
20
they stretch a bit (or a lot with a cheap
chain) when new. If you don’t do this,
all the best lubricants in the world won’t
help you. Take the time to read your
manual!
There are three factors involved in
lubrication: the quality of the chain
lube, the frequency of application
and most importantly, the method of
application. Let’s go over each one.
Quality: Back when I first got into
motorcycles (somewhere around the
turn of the century), chain lube was
just oil. There was only one aerosol
chain lube, Champion’s Choice,
which I think is still available today.
Back then it was oil in a spray can,
nothing more. As bikes became more
popular, chain lubes specifically for
motorcycle use appeared. By chance,
I was the person who first introduced
PJ1 Chain lube (black label) to the
industry, when P.J. Harvey chose the
company I was working for to be the
very first distributor of his new product.
Somewhere I still have my test/sample
can, with a typewritten label. It was
radically different from previous lubes
in that it had a ‘stickyness’ factor - it
stayed on the chain better than anything
previously sold. Man, did I ever sell
the heck out of that stuff, and it really
worked. Chain life increased, but at
the cost of a messy swing arm, fender
and shirt/jersey of the rider because
of the stickiness of the lube. Why?
Mostly because people were applying
it incorrectly, but more on that in a
minute. After the PJ1 breakthrough,
chain lubes significantly improved,
both in quality and availability. The
last 15 years or so, however, have
seen the most improvement in quality.
Most chain lubes now include all sorts
of ingredients besides the basic oil:
stickiness additives, foaming additives,
extreme pressure additives, etc.
Not all chain lubes have all of these
ingredients, of course, but all in all, the
products today are hugely better than
in the past. You just need to choose
a chain lube that works well for you,
and that includes using one designed
specifically for high-performance
motorcycle or ATV use. Don’t let price
be your guide - (generally) the better
the lube the higher the price. Which
would you rather buy? A $10 can of
good chain lube, or a $125 motocross
chain?
Duh . . .
Now, the most important part of this
article: proper application of chain
lube. It’s definitely not just an aim
and shoot deal! Like most deals in
the sport, a routine is vital. Here’s the
procedure.
WHEN: You want to lube a chain
when it’s hot, to increase the clearances
between the side plates, pin & roller.
Otherwise, the chain is not properly
lubricated. The right time to lube your
chain is RIGHT AFTER YOU COME
IN FROM A RIDE! Sure, you’re tired,
but you’ve already put your bike on the
stand, right? DO IT THEN! This is the
most overlooked part of a good chain
lube, because if you apply it just before
riding, most of the lube ends up on your
fender & jersey as you ride away. Why?
The carrier hasn’t yet evaporated, so
the mixture is still very thin and easily
flung off.
HOW: Clean the chain off as much
as possible; a wire brush is fast and
fairly effective. I see many riders power
washing their bikes after a moto, and
aiming the pressurized spray directly on
the chain - BAD idea! You’re driving
the biggest enemy of chain wear - water
- directly and powerfully into the pin &
rollers. Try to keep this forceful spray
off of the chain. If you do get too much
on it, use WD-40™ or some other
water-displacing spray to drive out that
water, then wipe off the excess. Then
spin the rear wheel and apply the lube
in two places: both side inner side plates
where the roller meets the side plate.
Simply spraying on the outside of the
side plates is pretty much useless: there
are no moving parts on the outside of
the sides of the chain. The lube needs
to get where it can flow INSIDE the
chain, between the roller and the pin. I
generally spin the wheel at a moderate
speed and lube till the chain has been
twice around, spraying down by the rear
sprocket. Then, let it sit. Go sit down,
have a cool drink, wipe your face, do all
the stuff you do between rounds. As you
do this, the solvent carrier evaporates
in/on your chain, leaving the good stuff
there to settle in where it belongs and
ready to protect it the next time you go
riding.
A couple of other points. Chains
& sprockets are a team. Check both
sprockets each time you finish riding
for the day/weekend. If either front or
rear is showing any signs of ‘hooking’
or the teeth are looking ‘sharp,’ replace
BOTH sprockets AND the chain.
Worn sprockets, in addition to being
dangerous, drastically increase chain
wear . . . and vice-versa – a worn
chain kills sprockets. If you go to the
sand dunes or have a ride in muddy
conditions, your chain & sprocket wear
will be rapidly increased, so check more
frequently. A little care & maintenance
go a long way when it comes to chains
& sprockets...and your pocketbook!
21
T
hroughout the history of
Motocross, almost every
facet of our beloved sport
has evolved, been tweeked
or just plain changed. Back in the day,
everyone raced three motos. Those guys
were the true iron men of motocross.
If their bikes made made it the whole
day, the best score won. Now the race
is only two motos. Heck, some in the
pro-motocross community want to
make a main event type thing out of it.
In my opinion, things just need to be
left alone.
The early motorcycles that were raced
were beastly four-strokes that had no
suspension, were bad tempered, and
leaked everything. Then came the big
change, the lighter, faster, cheaper twostroke. They were ill handling,cheaply
made bikes that broke a lot and siezed a
lot. All the four banger guys laughed at
them and thought them a fad that would
not last,that is until the two-strokes got
better and started to wax their leatherclad behinds.
The change to two-strokes in the
moto world was a good one. Over time,
the bikes got much better, the forks
grew longer, and the shocks(2 of them)
got laid down for more travel. Then
more change. The forks got turned
upside down, one shock disappeared
and we had radiators. Change is good,
we were going faster and jumping
farther than ever before, and the bikes
were reliable and controllable in a
freakish, scary kind of way. Can you
remember the CR500?
Just when you figure everything
is fine and dandy, someone comes
along and changes our whole world
by building a four-stroke that kicked
the two strokes butt. Everybody had to
have one. The forks now have three air
chamber thingies instead of springs, and
22
Changes . . . by Tom Frantz
fuel injection instead of carbs. You have
to have a lap top and special programs
just to tune the darn thing. Nobody in
their right mind should shell out ten
grand for a dirt bike that you can’t work
on, but sometimes that’s what change
does.
The changes that you will see
in the AMX this year are not as
groundbreaking. They are more of the
“going back to basics” level of change.
The AMX State Championships
will now consist of two separate State
Championships: a spring championship
and a fall championship, each with
their own banquets and trophies. I think
(notice the I), that a lot of the racers will
appreciate a shorter series and not be
locked into a year-long championship
run, and still get some pretty good
prizes for their effort.
If you win a championship in the
spring, you will receive a six-month
pass for free racing and practice; second
and third receive six months of free
practice. If you already have 2015
covered with free passes, then you are
good to go for the first six months of
2016. Now if you win the spring and the
fall championships, you will get a full
year pass and the six foot trophy, and
the little guys will get the BMX bikes
too. But you only get the bikes and the
big trophies if you win both series.
The next change is not so radical.
There will not be an 80 beginner A and
B, but only an 80 Beginner. All one
class allows for better competition. No
need to go any farther on this one.
This final change is kind of big, and
will probably be a little confusing for
the first couple of rounds.
All Vet racers must be at least thirty
years old; there is no more 25+. Masters
are still over forty. There is no other age
separation of the classes.
The classes are Amateur (formally
Beginner), Novice, Intermediate,
Master, and Pro.
Here’s where it may get tricky. You
should sign up in the class that you
think best fits your skill level. If you
were a 30+ Intermediate, you will sign
up for Intermediate. It’s the 40+ and
50+ intermediates that may want to look
at going into the Novice class, and some
of the Novice riders will think about the
Amateur class.
Be forewarned that whatever class
you sign up in, you may not be there
long. We will be adjusting the classes
under the promoters’ discretion rule
right out of the gate, first Moto, first
round, and yes that includes moving
Masters to Pro.
The changes we are making are
designed to make the competition
better, the series a little fresher and
the program a little more streamlined.
These ideas may be the greatest thing
since soft dirt and knobby tires, or they
may go the way of the “Thork front”
forks; only time will tell.
As always, I will be available at
all the races to try and answer any
questions you may have.
The first round at Canyon MX Park
is now on the books. It was a very good
turnout of racers and spectators. The
racing was very close and, as always, as
good as it gets. The track was prepped
to perfection and it was a chamber
of commerce day with temps in the
seventies.
The day went by quickly, pounding
out twenty-eight motos by three-thirty.
Everyone wanted to catch the football
games. The Vet classes went off without
any confusion, and there were quite
a few of us. There are going to be a
couple of move ups and maybe a move
down or two for the next round at
Ocotillo.
I got some good feedback on the
new format for the series, and the vets
seemed happy (well maybe one was
not). Let me know what you think about
the series at the next race.
See you at the races Tom.
23
by Mike Crawford
“Y
ear-end figures for new motorcycle registrations show sales for
2014 were up 10% compared to 2013, with an increase every
single month throughout the year - the highest for five years.”
~Motorcycle Industry Association
P
rime riding weather is Here!
Sales are UP everywhere, Offroad Bike sales top the charts
for four straight months and are setting
records nationally for sales and service.
It’s no surprise that the UTV market is
blazing trails in every direction. Polaris
continues to dominate and their stock
is compounding as you read this! (see
NYSE they trade under PII trading @
$146 per share) Polaris is on a mission
and continues to be a major player
in the Power Sports industry. Polaris
seems to be in Acquisition mode and
recently acquired Brammo, which is a
major/successful electric technology
company. So if this isn’t enough to get
you as a Dealer or parts company to
seek out Polaris products in some way,
shape or fashion, your leaving money
on the table.
The reason to follow companies
such as Polaris or Harley Davidson (or
your industry specific) is that they are
making their own trail and are gaining
strides on the competition. This time in
history, companies leading trends are
getting so far ahead, it will be decades
“T
before anyone catches up. This is what I
want for the Arizona Businesses–motor
sport related or not. Now is the time
to blaze a new trail, study the trends,
take chances on starting your new trend
and take charge of your economy. We
have seen the bottom now its time to
look up and get back on top. The phrase
“The Internet is killing us” is way
over-used and not an excuse anymore.
The Internet can’t do oil changes, valve
jobs or suspension, or tune a race bike
at the track. If your primarily a service
type company, create a sales campaign
here is also an upward trend for the number of
powered two wheelers (PTWs) being used on
the road. Government statistics show the number
of motorcycles licensed for the road has
increased to 1,326,500 – the highest
figure registered for five years, and
nearly double the number on
the road in 1994.”
~Steve Kenward, MCIA CEO
24
that show-cases exactly that. It doesn’t
have to be “everything is priced crazy
cheap here.” Promoting a few focused
products or services will be more
effective than trying to be everything
to everyone. Take the price match out
of the equation and offer other hands
on services that on-line under ware
shoppers can’t get from clicking the
“buy now” button. History does repeat
itself in similar fashion so NOW is the
time to roll up your sleeves and gain
strides on your competition!
25
9777 W. Carefree Hwy
Peoria, AZ 85383
480.294.4467
11700 S. Harrison Rd • Tucso
Check Out the Exciting New Changes
to the 2015 Series
• The AMX 2015 Arizona State Championship
Series will be divided into 2 separate halves.
• The First Half will run January through May, and
the Second Half will run September through
December.
• Winner of each eligible class (each half) will
get free race and practice pass for 6 months.
• Second and third place will get free practice
pass for 6 months.
• If a racer wins both halves, that racer will get
a free practice and race pass until the end of
2016. (18 months) Plus 6 ft. trophy or upscale
award, plus youth class gets bicycle.
26
In the spirit of better competition, we have
restructured our class offerings.
Class Structure Changes:
• 80 Beginner Classes will be combined.
Advancement will be to appropriate 80 age
classes.
• A few classes will be eliminated: College
Boy, Big Boy, 250 4-Stroke Open, 450 4-Stroke
Open, Women Pro and Women PeeWee.
• Vet Classes will be re-structured: Vets must be
at least 30 years old by Jan. 1 of 2015.
• Vet offering will be Vet Amateur, Vet Novice,
Vet Intermediate, Vet Master, Vet Pro, Vet
Open.
on, AZ 85747 • 520.240.3420
801 W. Milligan Rd.
Eloy, AZ 85231
928.978.4259
27
28
by Amber Starnes
Photos Courtesy Kara Lonati
J
ohnny Miller, aka Johnny MX Miller, is one of
AMX’s Vet class riders. Johnny is an Electrical
Engineer for a semiconductor company, but has a
love for motorcycles and racing. He is supported
by his team: Miller Motorsports which has been together as
a team effort since mid-season 2011. Rob Guenrich, who is
the crew chief, riding coach, and best friend, is the key to
their success. Rob has been with Johnny since his first race
and will continue to support him in the years to come.
Johnny has been going to races since he was about ten
years old (1971) in Ohio. His family was too poor to ever
afford a motorcycle coming from a family of twelve. He
spent his time just hanging out at the local motorcycle
shop and bummed rides to the races. He used to sneak into
the track by hiding in the racer’s smelly gear bag. Later
he ended up working at the tracks flagging, running the
starting line gates and as a pit boy for the racers. He won
his first bike in a contest. It was a QA50.
While his love for the sport took him to lots of races to
watch great riders, one of the best moments was in 1974 at
Honda Hills in Ohio. A Trans AM Race where he watched
Rodger DeCoster, Hiki Michola, and all the best guys in
the sport. Brad Lacky was even there. He tells me this was
BIG!! He watched with his mouth open the whole time.
Years later, he started racing in 1987 here in Arizona on
a ten year old Honda 125cc bike in the Beginner Class.
After a best friend of his had a bad accident, he gave his
new 1987 Honda 125 to Johnny. Not only did he give
him the bike, but he was there for rider support as well.
Johnny raced five races with ten starts all being hole shots!
It ended after the fifth race when he broke his tibia and
dislocated an ankle. He then stopped racing and moved on
to raise a family with his wife of 30 years now. They have
two wonderful daughters, which they enjoy hiking and
traveling with together. “They are not fans of MX, but bear
with me as I ride out my dream!”
Moving forward to 2009, he bought a bike and started
racing again. He is slowly but surely learning all that was
forgotten and moving on to learn a lot more. Now at age
53, he is racing in the 50+ Novice and 40+ Novice. He
won the 2014 Arizona State Championship Title in the
50+Novice class on his 2013 Suzuki RMZ 450. Enjoying
every lap, he tries to get to the track once a week. Although
his favorite track (Speedworld) is no longer open, he has
found a new home away from home in Canyon MX Track.
He says he loves the place and the elevation changes. Cool
AZ Track.
29
by Richie Rees
Gila Bend, AZ (01/11/2015) – Arizona Off Road Promotions held
their opening round and team race in Gila Bend, AZ.
T
he day started with bike and ATV Pee-Wees racing at 8:15am. Zabrina Ortiz
won the 50cc 4-6 year old class and her brother Canyon Ortiz won the 50cc
7-8 year old class. The 65cc C class was won by Brodie Salazar. Wyatt
Rock took the win in the 80cc ATV class followed by Dakota Hibler in second.
Jared Badilla won the 50-79cc ATV class.
The big bikes were next on the line. The overall went to David Broderick in the
pro class with second place over two minutes behind him. Other big bike class
winners were, Cameron Hakes in open A, Chad Mchugh in open B, Samantha
Mcneilly in women’s class, Mark Liles in 125-250 A, Tyler Brown in 125-250 B,
Blaze Lee in 125-250 C, Brian Perry in open C, Colter Van Wagenen in Vet A,
Josh Moser in Vet B, Nick Elliot in Vet C, Kyle Fondurolia in 40 B, Royal Mann in
40 C, Gary Peterson in 50 A, and Mike Hotchkiss in 50 B.
Next up in the day’s events were the bike/quad minis and beginner women.
Debbra Woodruff took the win in the womens class. Jacob Berryman won the 80150cc C bike class. Big bad Gunner Deatherage won his first race out of the pee
wee’s in the 65cc B class. Zak Haroldson won the 91-300cc ATV class.
The big ATV’s took the line for the next race. The overall win went to Chandler
Waxman with first place in the pro class. Robert Beecroft won the sportsman class
with Justin Stepherson hot on heels in second. Only seven seconds separated the
two. Eric Bergstresser took the win in the expert class and it looked like he was
fighting a prior wrist injury. We had three trikes join us for some racing and it was
David Ham with the win.
Twelve UTVs took the line next to battle it out on a course that let them hang
it all out. Tyler Avelar was the overall winner with Robert Vanbeekum in second
place, both in the 1000 class. Cameron Courtright won the 700 class.
The final race of the day was the two-hour team race. We had five teams and one
Ironman take to the line. Team Weevle Kaneeveles won the team class and Robert
Beecroft won the Ironman.
The next race for the 2015 AZOP series is scheduled for Sunday, February 22nd
in Wickenburg, AZ near the Vulture Mine. This is a historic race course that we are
happy to be bringing back with some great new sections.
30
31
*Winter Specials on All Suspension Services*
32
33
by Dan Matthews
W
ell, now that I’ve become an old guy and
don’t need to wander the pits and get there
early, my wife and I have found a more
enjoyable way to experience downtown Phoenix at an
event such as Supercross.
In the beginning, I was never a proponent of mass
transit or light rail - it’s Phoenix, you need a car, it’s
our way of life, period. But I’ve found that if you
can park at your favorite restaurant or watering hole
further up on say, Central, or out in Mesa, and then
hop on the light rail directly to Chase Field, it makes
for a much nicer overall experience. Face it, parking
near the stadium is not generally regarded as the
highlight of the Supercross Experience, especially
after the event is over. It can be a long, slow exit from
the parking garages and on surface streets back to the
freeway. Plus, it’s another $20 added to your already
significant expenditure for the evening.
least from the West side of town; from the East side
you have to walk a block or so - big deal.) It’s fun,
it’s cheap, it’s fast and it makes for a whole new
experience - the commuter train and downtown, which
is a whole different way of life that is very interesting
and rewarding in itself.
There are many downtown/Chase Field/Convention
Center/Talking Stick Resort Arena events coming
When my wife and I got married, we had our
rehearsal dinner at the The Old Spaghetti Factory
on Central, so we park in their lot, eat there and
reminisce about old times. Then, we stroll out to the
center of the street and get on the Light Rail - for $4
each for all day (even less for Seniors - only $2 each).
If you have small kids who have never experienced
a train ride, here’s your chance. It’s also a gas saver
- and it drops you right in front of Chase Field (at
34
up, including the Monster Jam, sporting events like
Diamondback & Suns games, concerts & tradeshows
that you can use the light rail for. Why the heck I’m
plugging this I don’t know, because I’m not getting
any sponsorship money for it, but my wife and I have
had many enjoyable experiences at Supercross in the
past, and the light rail will only serves to enable us to
continue to do so. Give it a try!
35
by Richie Rees
Peoria, AZ (12/13/2014) – Arizona OffRoad Promotions held their
annual Christmas GP and team race at Canyon Motocross.
The AZOP crew laid out a 6 mile course for this year’s race. The course
received some rain the night before the race and stopped just in time for the
racing to start.
The bike and ATV Pee-Wees started the racing at 8:15am. Carson Millikan
won the 50cc 7-8 year old class. Keep an eye out for Carson at Supercross this
year in the junior SX challenge. Action Jackson Bluth won the 65cc C class with
Gunner Deatherage in second just seconds behind; it was an epic battle in the
muddy conditions. Elijah Manygoats was first in the 80cc ATV class followed by
the lovely lady Dakota Hibler in second.
The big bikes were up next. The overall went to the man that was ripen Travis
Damon from Lake Havasu City followed by Scott Freymueler and Joe Bridges.
Other big bike class winners were, Deegan Newton, Joey Fauss, Dave Perry,
Mitch Mohler, Dustin Bluth, Tim Mattingly, Lee Donham, Samantha Mcneilly,
Steve Reiswig, Rod Terry, Ken Preston, and Gary Peterson. Only a few were able
to do five laps.
Next up in the day’s events were the bike and quad minis. Ryder Pietro took
the win in the 80-150cc A bike class. In the 80-150cc C class was won by Jacob
Berryman. Elijah Manygoats won the 71-125cc atv class and it was Deshawn
Tallsalt who won the 91-300cc atv class followed by Gabe Hutchison in second.
The big ATV’s took the line for next race. With a total of six ATV Pros, the
overall podium went to Ryan Waldo in first, Justin Rodgers in second, and Ryan
Hilt in third. Ryan made the trip from Las Vegas along with his brother. Another
great battle was Alex Allred who won the expert class followed by Tristan Jones
in second by a merely 20 seconds and it was Juan Martinez with the win in the
sportsman class with Travis Crawford in second.
The best race of the day was the fourteen UTV’s that lined up for the next
race all entered in the 1000 class. Chase Warren took the overall win and took
out the transponder scoring tower at the finish. Chase must have been a little too
excited to the checkers waiving. The AZOP crew scrambled to hold up the tower
so second place Noah Warren could cross the finish in second with the podium
being rounded out by Scott Clarey in third. It was the closest race of the day with
14 seconds separating first and second and only 3 seconds separating second and
third.
The final race of the day was the 2hr team race. After all the days racing
the course was looking perfect from the morning rain. A few clouds rolled
through, but everyone thought they would pass with no rain. As the 27 teams
and 7 ironmen took to the starting line it started pouring rain. This would be an
interesting race. Any low spots on the course instantly turned into lakes, small
washes started flowing and what would normally be silt beds on the south end of
the course were like riding on ice. It only rained for the first few laps but it was
enough to make the entire race a slippery mud fest. The expert team class was
won by Team Winded who also took the overall, followed by Team Berryman
and Team Perry Concepts. For the sportsman teams it was Team P and P Racing
followed by Team Mark in second and the Flannel Crue in third. The ironman
class was won by Jeremy Newton with Steven Strand in second and Richard
Pickett in third. The team race is one of the funnest races to compete in because
you must change riders every lap.
36
WHAT THE TOP PRO’S KNOW AND YOU DON’T! M
any of today’s racers, ranging
from amateurs to local pros, think
they have everything figured out! What
they don’t realize is that there are so
many key factors that go into making
yourself a better racer and hopefully
taking that next step towards reaching
your racing goals. It’s not all about
having the coolest looking bike, or the
trickest helmet and gear! Of course
sponsors love when you represent their
product and look good, but what good
does it do if you can’t get the results
you need to capture their attention!
Of course the average racer watching
Supercross or MX falls for the image,
but what you don’t realize is how many
hours, months and years of training
each top racer puts in to earn the right
to race at that level. It’s not all fun and
games and I guarantee there are days
they just want to sit at home or hang
out with their friends, but they also
know that if they don’t put in the work
they won’t grab that elusive podium
that everyone is working towards!
As a trainer and professional racer
myself, I’m always curious when I
meet up-and-coming mx kids. One of
the first things I ask them is “What do
you want to do for a living?” Without
pause almost all of them say they want
to race Supercross or MX. I love this
answer, because it’s the same response
I gave as a kid other than I wanted to
race professional MX or desert. The
next question I ask is “What are you
doing to make that happen?” Without
fail they all give me a somewhat
blank look and say, “Well we ride and
practice all the time!” This is a great
answer and a great start, but again it’s
just the start!
Over the next several issues I will
be breaking down the factors that both
affect your race performance, and will
help you progress to the next level. It’s
taken me years to figure it all out and
you have no idea how many times I
wished I knew then what I know now!
Hopefully, my twenty-four years of
professional racing experience will
help you focus and reach your own
racing goals!
HAVE A STRUCTURED
PROGRAM!!! (Your Results Are
Based On What You Put Into Them!)
• Race Prep: Every week you should
have a plan! What days you’re riding
to prepare for a specific race and what
you need to practice for that race. It
always amazes me that a racer can go
out to the track and know that they’ll
be racing a MX race with a ton of
sand, yet they practice the same way
they always do and don’t incorporate
any sand riding into the training. Train
smarter, not harder!
• Testing/Trainer: Which days you’re
using as test days for suspension, starts,
corners, line choice, working with your
riding coach, etc.
• Bike Prep: Set aside specific time
to make sure your bike is ready for
training and your race. There’s nothing
PART 1
worse than getting to the track and
spending more time working on your
bike than riding it!
• Fitness: Plan what days you’ll do
sport specific training that will increase
your endurance and strength, as well as
help prevent injuries. Fitness is a huge
factor and one of the reasons I’m still
able to ride at the level I do.
• Nutrition & Hydration: Hydration
and healthy eating are extremely
important for energy, recovery, and
performance. Make sure you’ve
planned ahead and are taking in enough
nutrients and water for your practice
days and race events. If you haven’t,
you’ll hit the wall pretty fast during
your race.
• Sleep: I know it’s hard to have a
set schedule when it comes to sleep,
but it’s such an important factor
in muscle recovery, muscle repair
and recharging the brain! Try to get
between 7 and 10 hours, especially the
week before a big race.
37
I
Vintage Motocross
was fortunate enough to be involved in
motocross racing in the early seventies
and eighties. Most of you will
remember that time when the sport we
all love started to catch on and grow to what
we see today. The movie, On Any Sunday,
brought motorcycle racing to the masses. To
this day, I still watch it again and again.
Then, as most of us do, we have to set
some things aside to pursue our lives, make
a family and build a career. We always
believe inside that someday, when things
settle down, I’ll get another bike and start
“riding” again. Some of us were fortunate to
do that sooner than others.
I heard about the AVDRA from the son of
a man I raced with when I was a kid. I did a
little research, visited the website and went
to a race last spring in Casa Grande. I saw
the bikes that were racing when I fell in love
with motocross. I brought back memories of
a very happy and formative time in my life.
And then the magic happened; for the first
time in 42 years I heard the sound of a big
bore two-stroke and smelled the scent of
unburned oil hanging in the air like a veil.
A curtain that once I walked through made
me fifteen again. I was completely and
totally transported to another time and place.
I went home that day and began my search
for an old bike. I located one in Phoenix that
needed some TLC. Next, I began to build a
case to my lovely wife of 36 years as to why
this needed to happen. Being the wonderul
person she is; it was not a long coversation.
Because, even though I had stopped racing
bikes, I never stopped racing. It is something
I have done since I learned to peddle a
bicycle.
38
Drag racing was my second love and
much safer than a motorcycle so I did that to
scratch the itch. Nonetheless, she is the one
that bought my safety equipment and once
again patted me on the butt and said, “Go
for it!” She understands that racing is not
something we do, it’s who we are. It’s not
in the blood. If that were true; you could get
a transfusion and be over it. It goes deeper
than that.
I know without a shadow of a doubt there
are countless others out there that are wired
the same way. That is what makes it great.
There is a common bond between people
I hve never met and don’t know. We still
connect and share the experience and honor
a time now gone by bringing history to life
again through an old motorcycle. We can
still be fifteen again even if it’s only for a
few minutes every third Sunday.
Well . . . that was just about the sappiest
thing I’ve written in a while . . . but I love
thin thing we call vintage motocross. I
would like to take a moment to express
my gratitude to Nancy, Dave and the rest
of the staff at AVDRA. Please do not ever
underestimate the importance of your
endeavor. There must be times you may
question whether it is worth the trouble
because you can get wrapped up in the
“business” of what you are doing. Speaking
for myself and all those other people out
there on any Sunday; saying thank you does
not even begin to express our appreciation
for what you all have provided for us to
enjoy. God bless you all!
by Rick Sibley
March 22, 2015
MC Motorsports Park • Tucson, Arizona
Husky Half-time Race ($10 Entry)
April 12, 2014
Motoland MX Park • Casa Grande, Arizona
Buddy Half-time Race (Free Entry)
39
by Richie Rees
Arizona Off Road Promotions teams up with SGPRA for the 17th
Annual Searchlight Grand Prix in Searchlight, NV
S
earchlight, NV (11/9/2014) – The Arizona Off Road Promotions series
headed out-of-state to co-promote the 17th Annual Searchlight Grand Prix
last weekend. The Searchlight Grand Prix is one of the last true GP’s left.
The race course is the most unique course most racers will ever see. The course
varies from motocross to desert hills to asphalt streets to backyards, garages and
even a house! Many locals come out to watch the racing along the streets and
neighborhoods. This year’s race had over 230 entries.
The course changes slightly each year and this year it consisted of ten amazing
miles of racing with great weather all weekend. Most races consisted of three laps
along the amazingly fun and varied course. Race number one on Saturday was
for all Vet motorcycles. The race was dominated by Robert Marshall winning the
overall and the Vet 30+ A class. The senior 40+ B class was separated by only
four seconds between winner Jerry Thompson and runner up Jameson Noorda.
Race number two consisted of 125 and 250cc motorcycles. Travis Damon took
the overall and A class victory while Tim Wilson and Mike Mate took the B and C
classes respectively.
ATV’s lined up for the third race of the day. Six pros left the line first with the
holeshot going to Ryan Waldo who led the race from beginning to end. Second
place went to Cody Mitchell from Nevada. Koby Dodson won the Sportsmen
class by nearly a minute while WORCS Pro Am racer Rick Ellsworth took home
the Expert class win over Ryan Marshall.
Race number 4 of Saturday consisted of the Pro and Open Motorcycle classes.
The Open Pro victory went to Blayne Thompson who beat Steve Gibson by about
90 seconds. Fourteen Open A class bikes battled it out with the win going to Cole
Nanney. The race of the day was in the Open B class where Colton Elliot won by
less than 1 second over Jesse Fossett. The final race of the day was the team race
where teams of 2 competed on a shortened course. The CMS team took home the
victory among the 13 teams entered. Sunday’s events focused on the youth classes
and the UTV race. At 8am thirteen UTV’s took the green flag. Riche Laatz took
the victory by over 2 minutes over Angela Olander in second and Codey Rowley
in third.
The youth and peewee classes raced for the remainder of Sunday. Class winners
were: Colin Elliott-150cc A, Noah Fowler- 150cc B, Destry Kruger- 150cc C,
Gordon Tarnow 125cc, Deshawn Tallsalt- 300c, Nathan Tyler- 65cc B, Gunner
Deatherage- 65cc C, and in the Mini Team Race the team of Dylan and Cole led
from beginning to end. The Searchlight GP is a truly special race that everyone
should see to believe. The desert loop by itself is amazing and the addition of the
town section, short motocross section and the endure section just make it very
unique and fun.
40
41
928.852.4577 • IN CAMP VERDE, 3 MILES WEST OF I-17 ON HIGHWAY 260 • BEHIND THE SCENES VIP TOURS AVAILABLE
For All the Latest:
• Race Results
• Track & Vendor Links
• AMX News and Race Information
• plus a whole lot more!
42
“With the vast array of
bikes we test here at
TWMX, the digital display
and easy-to-use nature
of the Slacker make it an
easy decision to add it to
our toolbox.”
-Transworld Motocross,
Sept. 2014
A
fter two years of intensive development, Motool has released their
revolutionary digital sag scale- Slacker. The Motool Slacker was developed
with input from industry leading companies like Factory Connection and Pro
Circuit and is now endorsed and used by MB1 Suspension.
“To have the Slacker and be able to make these changes so quickly in the
morning before I ride is absolutely huge for me!” –Jimmy Decotis (250 Pro SX/
MX)
Slacker is an easy to use system that allows a rider to quickly and easily
make precise adjustments to their suspension. It is the only tool based on taking
the measurement across the arc of the rear axle to consistently deliver the most
accurate measurement. This technique is aligned with how the bike manufacturers
as well as major suspension companies take the measurement. It also works
perfectly to setup new generation SFF and air forks.
This is the most accurate and versatile sag scale available. It normally takes
two people 5 minutes to set sag correctly. With Slacker one person can do it in 2
minutes! It also features a remote display that can be mounted on the bars for easily
taking measurements with no need for an assistant. It’s like having a factory
suspension tech in your tool box.
“The day I figured out that the key was to measure across the arc of the axle was
a major breakthrough. Once I set my sag to 105mm using this method the whole
bike just calmed down and hooked up in the chop like a beast! The bike just
did everything right with ease. It also brought the measurement directly in line with
the Factory Connection, Factory Suzuki and Pro Circuit methods, confirming the
systems integrity.” – John Casebeer, Inventor and Owner
Slacker is used and endorsed by many magazines, pro riders and teams
including TransWorld Motocross, Dirt Bike Magazine, Motocross Action,
GrindMX, ChronicMX, MB1 Suspension, MotoWhips, RC Suspension, AEO
Powersports, Trail Jesters Racing, Team PR-MX, The Pit, Team Faith, Kailub
Russell, Shaun Kalos, Jimmy Decotis, Chris Howell, Grant Baylor, Jessica
Patterson, Ben Kelley, John Kelley and Tyler McSwain to name a few.
About Motool: Motool is a startup company from Flagstaff, Arizona and was
founded in December of 2012. We are dedicated to making the best tools and
accessories by leveraging the most current and relevant technologies and
materials. We strive to make bike setup and maintenance easier and more precise.
For more information on the company and the Slacker digital sag scale please visit
http://motool.co
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44
ADC Motor Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
goAZmotorcycles.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Out of Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Addictive Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
goAZmotorcycles.com . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Peace of Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
AEO Power Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Helmet Center, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Pit Enterprises, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
AMXracing.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
HELP-U-MOVE, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
RC Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Apache Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
HitMeUp.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Ride Now Power Sports . . . . . . . . . . 52
Arizona Hydro Graphics & Coatings . . . 19
KP Ventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
RSAZ Photos & Video . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Atmostfear Apparel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Moto Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Scottsdale Cycle Center . . . . . . . . . 46
AVDRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Moto City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Southwest Motorsports . . . . . . . . . . . 48
AZOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
MotoCenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Steve’s Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
AZOP Habanero Hot Sauce . . . . . . . 45
Motool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
TBTRacing.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
AZOTMX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Motorcycle Accessories . . . . . . . . . . 15
The Picture Gal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
BloomTree Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
North Valley Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Toma Partners Real Estate . . . . . . . . 48
Burns Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Torco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
DA8TRAINING.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
United Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 23
Dry Gulch Steakhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Northland Motorsports . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Wick Chiropractic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
I don’t believe you should have to
spend a fortune for great memories.
I offer a fun, creative & affordable
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years to come.
I don’t have a ‘specialty’ per say . . . I do
it all. From newborns & family sessions
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with digital files and a print release.
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-Roberta
Arizona Offroad Promotions Habanero Hot Sauce
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51
52

volume 5 – issue 1, 2015 1

Transcription

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