May 2008 South Central Regional Report

By: Albert Newmann

BIG. Well, the big event went off this past month. Diamond Don’s 6^th Annual Riverport National. An enormous amount of racers turned out for the event this past month and once again fun was the order of the day. With around 300 motocross entries each day you could actually say enormous. One would have never imagined just six short years ago this tiny Texas town’s event would triple in entries so fast.

To start the weekend off we were greeted by a good size spring shower. The trials and cross-country events did manage to get off but hey, these guys live for conditions like this. Saturday’s vintage motocross event was delayed in order to get some more prep time in for the track however with the good drenching received the previous days the infield section just never stood a chance to dry out. By mid-day a track modification was in order but that did not damper the quality racing on the track. Sunday’s post-vintage race had much better track conditions and by days end I could have sworn I was spotting dust! The Sunday wind down party was a blast so for those of you who stick around after the racing is done with then you were treated with the fireworks, food, band, and assortment of other activities. It was my first time to meet Chuck Sun, who filled in for an injured Steve Stackable as our motocross legend. What a cool guy! He took in a lot of the racing and again just a very approachable person like many of our other legends that show up to these events.

Our region was well represented over the course of the weekend with amazing rides from Mac Edmonston, Mark Brown, Mike Hance, Mark Andrews, Chad Gouteirez, Jimmy Ewing, Scott Anderson, Joe “Matt” Alexander, Stephen Smith, Bill Fleming, Lynda Synklar, Terri Gerber, Mike Parker, and Trey Jorski who all brought home some first place trophies. Just like last year though it was Elbert Simon who just blazed the track for a slough of wins in several expert classes. Travis Fiery, Richard Huffman, Darrick Newmann, Matt Mosley, Joe Alsop, Kerry Malone, Jim Vaughn, Brooks Blair, Larry Shope, Joe Busby, and Paula Waugh were all among some other top finishes and great rides over the weekend. Speaking of great rides, two of our guys brought home some show trophies for their bikes. Scott Anderson and his 1971 AJS 370 Stormer received the Kool Bike Award on Saturday. Sunday, we had Skip Miller and his 1979 KTM 250 receiving the Bad Bike Award. Both of these guys put a lot of time and effort into their bikes so we are proud to see them rewarded for those efforts. Our Houston area riders and Louisiana riders were in full support of the race and it is nice to see these guys out here.

Soap box time. Needless to say we witnessed a few issues that weren’t so pretty at the national this past month, Sign-Up and Scoring. There were a number of overwhelming issues at hand with sign-up and the large turn-out, along with large post-entry sign up numbers. I spoke with a lot of riders over the weekend and these two areas were the hot topics to be addressed. We need greater efficiency, so maybe a good hard look at utilizing racing software programs and re-vamping some of our manual efforts are in order.  Scoring in the mud really was a duty I wish upon no sane individual. I stood up at the scorer’s booth and wow, what a difficult quest. I would imagine these topics will be heavily discussed and improved upon in the near future. Participate and write up a thought out plan to submit to your trustee’s. Remember this is an association of members and we all want to make things as best as possible!

Regional events upcoming include a motocross event in Pine Bluff Arkansas on May 31rst. Watch the regional website from more information on that race and other upcoming events. We are looking into a possible location in Louisiana for another event later in the year so watch for that upcoming news also.

Until next month,

Albert Newmann # 399

April 2008 South Central Regional Report

By: Albert Newmann

(Thanks to Paul Zuniga for his Road Race Report)

 The 2008 racing season is underway and from the looks of it we should have a full dance card. As in the last issue Bobby Lucas reviewed the event schedule for the year in the region so hopefully you will all be planning out your calendar to attend. I know gas prices are shooting a hole in some plans, mine included, however a little extra thought into planning and some ride sharing it might all work out. 

Paul Zuniga, one of our regions Road Racers, recently attended the Roebling Road Raceway and Daytona Series events.  Paul described the Roebling Road event conditions as pretty challenging. Wet, windy, below freezing temperatures on a morning in Georgia usually don’t indicate things starting off on a good note, but it didn’t seem to damper the spirit of the racers. The track was excellent with Paul taking a 4^th in the Historic Production Heavyweight class. Ryan Ambrose, one of our other regional riders took first overall in the F3 Battle of Twins and the Sportsman 750 classes. Paul commented that many new women riders made their appearance at the race and his circle of friends is growing in the ARHMA community. Sounds like Paul did a little wrenching on BEARS rider, Alex Sohns, BSA clutch. There are never too many mechanics in the pits!

Next on his schedule was Daytona. Awesome! It was his first time to the legendary track. The east bank looks like a wall on the first approach so his warm-up lap he played it safe on the apron to feel it out. For the 2-day race the ambulance was only called out once, and the red flags could be counted on one hand with fingers left over! He could not believe how fast some of the old bikes were flying, way up on top of the banking…very impressive. Race 1 he ran 4th place until the last lap and moved to 5^th and in race 2 it was a 6^th place finish for 5^th overall. Ryan Ambrose took 1rst overalls in the Sportsman 750 and F3 classes again. Inclimate weather greeted day 2 for an abbreviated practice session and a full 2^nd race schedule. The skies eventually opened up and drenched the place. He can’t wait to go back and from the sounds of things our guys are representing well.

On the dirt side of things we opened up with the race at Arizona Cycle Park. Reports back from our attendee’s said the motocross track was really nice and the dirt was good. A few tweaks for next year and it sounds like a winner. Doug Gagnon, Joe “Matt” Alexander, Bobby Lucas, Diamond Don Rainey, Steve Fox, and  Brooks Blair made the trip for the opening round.  Bringing home some wood it was Scott “Hotshoe” Andersen gained a 1rst in the Sportsman 500 Intermediate and also the Ultima 250 Intermediate group.  Joe “Matt” Alexander took a 3^rd overall in the Sportsman 250 Intermediate and Trey Jorski banging out a 1rst in the 50 Plus Expert Sportsman and PV +50 Expert class. Don Rainey took first in the hotly contested (just had to bust on you Don) PV 60+ Expert.

Local racing action had the Texas Vintage Racing Club kicking off their 20^th year with racing action at River Valley with a very good turnout for the Jerry Nelson memorial race. Other good news is that new members are coming on to the scene and signing up with the club. The North Forty recently concluded “Bike Week” with the Jim Pomeroy Memorial vintage motocross race. Again, beautiful weather and a strong turnout. The flat-track racing at the North Forty brought out a record number of racers for the week’s events.  Check out the regional website www.ahrmasc.com for some great pictures provided by Bryan Speed or his website www.bryanspeedphotography.com  . Bryan is a local vintage motocross enthusiast as well a great photographer.

From the infirmary we have Walter Parks on the mend from a stroke and Gary Davis is still out with his slow healing injury. Bobby Lucas made it back on his bike for the ACP National and local Pomeroy memorial as well as Steve Williams. As for me, I should not handle a chainsaw again. One of these days my back might let me on the bike again! Next month we should have some great stories from the Riverport National.

Albert Newmann #399

March 2008 South Central Regional Report

By Bobby Lucas

The 2008 season promises to be the biggest and hopefully the best ever in our seven year history. Some really cool events await us, so let’s all get ready for the big ’08!

Check your calendar, cross over the event schedule and you will find many quality events in our region this year. Diamond Don’s Riverport National in April, an ISDT warm-up in Combs AR the 20^th of April, a regional event in late May, a regional MX at the revamped Rio Bravo motocross park in Houston, Pine Bluff AR will get a regional motocross event the last Saturday in June, and an event alongside the AMA outdoor national in Freestone, which details are being sorted out currently.

After the summer break we start off with an ISDT/Cross-Country event on September 7^th, then off to Sandia on the 14^th of September, on the 28^th of September it’s back to Moberly MO. On into October we have the Barbers event on the 19^th. November kicks into gear on the 1rst and 2^nd of the month with the Two Day Reunion Ride at the John Zink Ranch outside Tulsa, OK then back to Texas November 15^th and 16^th the North Forty MX Park is hosting the Texas Shootout II National with a vintage and post-vintage race this year. To close out the year we will be back to Rio Bravo to participate with the Old School MX’ers annual reunion.

Short and sweet. Keep checking our South Central website www.ahrmasc.com for up to date information on the regional races at Rio Bravo and Pine Bluff, AR. The Texas Vintage Racing Club turns 20 years old this year and I would really like to support a vintage/post-vintage event with them. Again, watch the website for date information regarding these events.

It’s great to be back. Thanks to Albert Newmann and Brooks Blair for input in Vintage Views.

Lastly, I would like to welcome the new Southwest Regional Coordinator Tami Rice!

See ya at the starting line!

Bobby Lucas 50X