Rider penalized for actions at Salt Lake City round of the 2009 AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Officials with AMA Racing and the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) have penalized Supercross-licensed rider Kyle Chisholm for his on-track actions at the Salt Lake City round of the 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship.

In on-track altercations between himself and fellow Supercross competitor Chad Reed, Chisholm violated Appendix A2.3, paragraph “i,” of the AMA Supercross an FIM World Championship rulebook, which prohibits “engaging in any unfair practice, misbehavior, or action detrimental to the sport of motorcycling in general…” Chisholm also violated Appendix A.2.3 paragraph “o” which prohibits “failing to immediately respect and comply with the operational or warning flags/lights or other signals from Racing officials” when he remained on track after being shown the black flag.

In consideration of these violations of the AMA Supercross an FIM World Championship rulebook, the following penalties were assessed:

Disqualification from the Salt Lake City round.
Suspension from all forms of AMA- and/or FIM-sanctioned competition until May 3, 2009.
$5,000 fine.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a hearing on May 5 to consider a bill that would designate more than 24 million acres of public lands in western states as Wilderness or Wilderness Preservation System land. If approved by the full Congress, the measure would close off more than 24 million acres in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming to off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

This is equivalent to a land grab the size of the state of Indiana.

Even though H.R. 980 — The Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act — only affects western states, Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York City introduced it.

“This is one of the biggest OHV land grabs in our nation’s history,” said AMA Vice President of Government Relations Ed Moreland. “Even more disconcerting than the fact that the bill is being proposed by a representative from a densely populated urban area, New York City, is that the bill is being considered without the support of a single member of Congress who represents the affected districts. Shouldn’t the people who live in these areas have some say in whether or not they should be banned from riding in it?

“To keep OHV riders from being shut out of even more public land, we have to act immediately,” he said. “Concerned motorcyclists, ATV riders and others must let their lawmakers know that they enjoy motorized recreation, and that we have a right to do so responsibly on America’s public lands.”

Additionally, Moreland said, there are other bills on the legislative horizon on Capitol Hill that would close even more public land to responsible riding. They include:

Senate Bill 799 — America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act — and its companion measure, H. R. 1925, would designate some 9.4 million acres of Bureau of Land Management land in Utah as Wilderness.

Senate Bill 721 and H.R. 1769 would add 22,000 acres to the 394,000-acre Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area in Washington State.

Riders and AMA members can contact their federal lawmakers and tell them what they think by going to the “Rights” and then “Issues and Legislation” section of the AMA website at www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com. There, the names, addresses and telephone numbers for members of each congressional delegation appear. There is even a pre-written letter that can be sent via email.

The AMA also encourages individuals to sign up for the AMA Government Relations Department’s Action E-list so that they can be notified by e-mail when their support is needed to make a difference on important issues.

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has promoted and protected the motorcycling lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycle organization with nearly 300,000 members, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition events than any other organization in the world. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, visit www.AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

-AMA Release

A short history of the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque of the Year

Humble beginnings led to seven decades of motorcycle excellence

What do the Crimean War, the manufacturing of rifles, and the building of bicycles have in common?

They’re all events that led up to the British Birmingham Small Arms Co. — better known to the world as BSA — producing motorcycles that ultimately became among the most iconic in the world. The legendary brand will be honored this year as the Marque of the Year at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, set for July 24-26 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

“Despite its rather unorthodox beginning, BSA endured and carved out an impressive place in motorcycling history,” said Tigra Tsujikawa, marketing and special events manager for the AMA. “BSA Gold Stars, Shooting Stars and other models rightfully earned a reputation for performance on the track, and played a large role in the brand remaining popular long after the factory shuttered its doors in the 1970s. I’m personally looking forward to showcasing the marque at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, and highlighting the machines and people who made BSA famous.”

The Birmingham Small Arms Co. was formed in 1861 by a group of gun makers to supply weapons to the British government during the Crimean War. As the war declined, the company branched out into making bicycles, and by 1903 produced its first experimental motorcycle, along with automobiles. Its first in-house motorcycle appeared in 1910, and a subsidiary, BSA Motorcycles Ltd., was created after the first World War saw the company move back into arms manufacturing for the duration.

Between wars, the company focused on refining its motorcycles into well-regarded, reliable transportation that sold well in England, where BSA boasted that one in four motorcycles on the road was made by their company. From the beginning and throughout its history, BSA made a splash with the evocative names it chose for its motorcycles: Blue Star, Empire Star, Golden Flash, Road Rocket, Spitfire, Thunderbolt and Lightning are among the most well known.

Perhaps its most famous model was the Gold Star, “born” in 1938 but refined after WWII. It was named after the Gold Star pins awarded to motorcycles that lapped the famed Brooklands track at more than 100 mph, and would ultimately become the bike of choice among England’s young rockers, who stripped them of unnecessary parts and hot-rodded them into café racers.

During the 1950s the company turned to racing, fielding teams in the Junior Clubman class at the Isle of Man TT. By 1956, BSAs made up 53 of 55 entries in the class.

Looking to replicate its sales success with racing in the United States, the factory entered a team of racers in 1954 in the Daytona 200, which, at the time, was held on the beach course. Aboard a mixture of single-cylinder Gold Stars and twin-cylinder Shooting Stars, BSA riders swept the top five places in the race, cementing the brand’s image in the U.S. as a performance machine.

By the 1960s, small, reliable, oil-tight Japanese machines were gaining momentum. To strengthen its position, BSA merged with Triumph, and had mild success with its Rocket 3, a three-cylinder bike that shared its engine and drivetrain with the Triumph Trident. Nevertheless, by the 1970s, performance Japanese motorcycles had displaced BSAs in the minds of many motorcyclists.

Following a merger with the Norton Villiers Triumph Group, the combined company stopped producing BSA-branded machines in 1973.

Still, BSAs endure today as both competitive vintage racers and, along with other British brands such as Triumph, staples of the modern café racer culture.

To learn more about BSA history, see numerous machines in person — both on display and on the track — and maybe even add one to your own collection, there’s no better place than the country’s largest celebration of motorcycling heritage: 2009 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

The weekend will include highlights such as vintage racing and North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet. Also on tap are demo rides of current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, stunt shows, the new product Manufacturers’ Midway, club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs, and guided rides through the rolling Ohio countryside. The Classic Clubs this year will be the Sandcast Only Owner’s Club (SOOC), and the International CBX Owners Association.

This year will be particularly special because it commemorates the 85th anniversary of the AMA, and will feature a parade of classic motorcycles representing each year of the AMA’s 85 years. Museum staff has compiled a list of significant models produced since 1924 for the parade. Volunteers with bikes on that list are encouraged to contact the Museum for information about participating. Information is at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefits the AMA’s Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The goal of the Museum, located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling.

For more information about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, visit www.AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com. Tickets can be purchased at the website for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course: www.midohio.com.

Nichole Cheza to serve as honoree at AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships

Trailblazing female racer will welcome amateurs from around the country to championship event

Every summer, the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships, set for June 27-July 4 in Du Quoin, Ill., invites an active or retired star from the pro ranks to greet amateur racers at the event.

This year the honoree is an up-and-coming rider who has already made a significant impact on the sport, even though her career is still young: Nichole Cheza. Cheza, from Clio, Mich., joins riders such as Chris Carr, Kenny Coolbeth and JR Schnabel in holding the special honor.

The presence of the honoree is a highlight for the amateur competitors, who get to shake hands, take pictures, ask questions and just hang out with one of their heroes. Director of AMA Racing Joe Bromley said that selecting Cheza was easy.

“Nichole is one of the bright rising stars of American dirt track, and we’re proud to have her come out and support the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships,” Bromley said. “I’ve known Nichole for many years and raced against her father. Her dirt-track roots run deep, and she’ll be a great example for both the youth riders and the vet racers as they battle for national titles in Du Quoin.”

Cheza, whose sponsors include Global Products, Lancaster Harley-Davidson, National Cycle, KK Motorcycle Supply, Honda East Toledo and Bill’s Machining Service, said that the appeal of working with kids attracted her to the role.

“I really like kids, and I think that its great that more kids are getting involved in the sport of dirt track,” Cheza said. “I see a lot more young girls getting involved these days, and I think it’s really cool that they have someone to look up to.”

Cheza has a long history with the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships.

“I started when I was about six, and I rode the event all the way until I was 16,” she said. “It was always a great week of fun. You get to be there with all your buddies, not only from the state that you’re from, but you meet so many new people. There’s so much to do. We’d go swimming and hang out in the pits and by the campfires at night. Of course, there’s a lot of great competition there, too. There are so many great racers who you only get to race once all year, and it really proves who’s number one.”

Cheza joined the pro ranks in 2004, becoming one of a few female racers to reach the top level of the sport.

“I didn’t really know I would move on to the next level until I was 14 or so,” Cheza said. “I just raced because I loved racing, and I had that drive to compete. After 2003, winning some amateur championships and the (AMA Racing) Female Athlete of the Year award gave me a new goal to work toward. I thought that maybe I can do this. Maybe I can go all the way. I kept with it and made my first main event in Joliet in 2007 — on ‘7-7-07′ — and it was then that I knew it was possible and that I could do it.”

Bromley said that it’s refreshing to have an AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championship Honoree who represents the gender neutrality of dirt-track racing.

“Motorcycle racing, particularly track racing, is a unique sport in that the top level welcomes all comers,” Bromley said. “While it’s undeniable that more men than women currently participate at that level, there is no artificial distinction. Women compete on the same racetrack as men, and Nichole is one who definitely has earned her spot on the grid.”

Cheza will be on hand to meet, greet and answer racers’ questions all week during the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships, but she did offer this early piece of advice: “Keep going. Anything’s possible. Always follow your dreams. If what you want to be is a professional racer, you can make it happen. Ride as much as you can. Train as much as you can. And have fun. You should not be racing if you’re not having fun.”

The AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships is the premier amateur dirt-track racing event in the country. The week of racing features competition in all four dirt-track disciplines — short track, TT, the half-mile and the Mile — and crowns national champions based on their accumulated points from each individual event. Racers from around the country will converge on Du Quoin, Ill., this summer to battle for national championship honors, as well as the AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award, which honors an amateur racer poised to make a statement on the pro level.

Rounds added to AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships Holeshot Series

AMA members who will be competing for national No. 1 plates at this summer’s AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships, set for June 27-July 4 in Du Quoin, Ill., now have three more opportunities to get a head start on the competition.

AMA Racing has added three rounds to the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships Holeshot Series, which awards bonus points for the national titles up for grabs at Du Quoin. The new events are in Brownstown, Ill.; Salinas, Calif.; and Sturgis, S.D. In addition, the event that rained out April 18-19 in Little Rock, Ark., has been rescheduled for May 2-3. The remaining schedule for the Holeshot Series is listed below.

Riders who compete in all races in their class at an AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships Holeshot Series event earn five bonus points toward that class’ national title.

“By adding these premier racing venues, the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships Holeshot Series truly has national appeal,” said Ken Saillant, track racing manager for AMA Racing. “Offering this opportunity to even more racers allows competitors from coast to coast to start chasing their national championship aspirations early. We now have an impressive schedule of events that includes racing in short track, TT and half-mile disciplines.”

To count toward a racer’s Grand Championships point total, the bonus points must be earned in the same class contested at the Grand Championships, where a rider can compete in up to three classes. A racer who competes in all of the races for his or her class at a Holeshot Series event will earn five bonus points toward that class championship regardless of finishing order. Full details of the Holeshot series bonus point program are available in the AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships Supplemental Regulations.

The AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships is the premier amateur dirt-track racing event in the country. The week of racing features competition in all four dirt-track disciplines — short track, TT, the half-mile and the Mile — and crowns national champions based on their accumulated points from each individual event. Racers from around the country will converge on Du Quoin, Ill., this summer to battle for national championship honors, as well as the AMA Racing Dirt Track Horizon Award, which honors the amateur racer poised to make a statement on the pro level.

AMA Racing Dirt Track Grand Championships Holeshot Series
For more detailed event schedule information, please contact the promoters

May 2: Short Track, TT
May 3: Short Track
Crooked Creek Raceway
Little Rock, Ark.
Steve Nace Racing
(270) 442-7532
snace@apex.net
www.stevenaceracing.com

May 9: Fayette County Fairgrounds, Brownstown, Ill., TT, Short Track
May 10: Bond County Fairgrounds, Greenville, Ill., Half-mile
Steve Nace Racing
(270) 442-7532
snace@apex.net
www.stevenaceracing.com

May 22: Half-mile
May 23: TT
May 24: Short Track
Eddieville Motorsports Park, Goldendale, Wash.
Mark Anderson
(509) 990-4854
mark@diamondamotorsports.com
www.diamondamotorsports.com

May 22: Short Track
May 23: Half-mile
May 24: TT
Lenawee County Fairgrounds, Adrian, Mich.
Boulis Racing
Ethel Boulis
(810) 686-7083

May 24: Shippensburg Speedway, Shippensburg, Pa., TT, Short Track
May 25: York Fairgrounds, York, Pa., Half-mile
Shippensburg MC
Darryl Baer
(717) 796-0294
candybaer@comcast.net

May 29: Short Track
May 30: TT
Salinas Sports Complex, Salinas, Calif.
California Motorsport Promotions
Jim Beck
(831) 970-3055
jimbeck72@yahoo.com
www.californiamotorsportpromotions.com

May 30: Short Track
May 31: TT
Jackpine Gypsies Short Track, Sturgis, S.D.
Jackpine Gypsies MC
Pat Schieffer
(605) 347-6374 or (605) 490-3222
racerboy62y@hotmail.com
www.jackpinegypsies.com

June 6: Half-mile
June 7: Half-mile
Pickaway County Fairgrounds, Circleville, Ohio
Keene Racing LLC
Thomas Keene
(937) 432-9515
pquik@aol.com

http://keeneracing.blogspot.com

Official Results – Monster Energy – AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship

Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida – April 4, 2009

Jacksonville Supercross Results 2009

AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman discusses vintage racing at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

In the following interview with AmericanMotorcyclist.com, the website of the American Motorcyclist Association, AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman speaks out about the dispute that has arisen with the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) and the future of that organization’s role at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

AmericanMotorcyclist.com (AM): AHRMA has been posting on its website statements regarding a vaguely defined “dispute” over its sanctioning agreement with the AMA, the most recent being on April 15. These statements have led to a number of rumors that AHRMA will not be involved with this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Day at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Can you tell AMA members and our readers what the fuss is all about?

Rob Dingman: The dispute is not between the AMA and AHMRA, though readers of the AHMRA website are being led to believe that it is. We were drawn into a lawsuit between AHRMA’s founder, Rob Iannucci, and its existing leadership back in 2001 and have defended the AMA for seven years. This past February, the AMA settled with Mr. Iannucci. There remains an ongoing dispute between Mr. Iannucci and AHMRA.

AHRMA’s most recent public statement says that the AMA’s leadership has agreed to join AHRMA and meet with Mr. Iannucci in an attempt to resolve their dispute. No meeting has been scheduled with Mr. Iannucci, and we are certainly not a party to the dispute. We have only said that we would attend if both parties agreed that we could help them work out their differences. I am very disappointed that AHMRA is choosing to negotiate this issue publicly, because it does a disservice to their members, many of whom are also AMA members.

AM: Can you explain what is at issue, and how it arose?

RD: First, I want to acknowledge the role that AHMRA has played over the years in the growing popularity of historic motorcycle racing. Many racers participate in vintage racing, and these individuals are the reason why so many people are enthused about the sport today.

Mr. Iannucci’s lawsuit was filed against AHMRA on behalf of himself and his team, Team Obsolete, in 2001. The AMA was named in the suit because we sanction AHRMA racing. The nature of the dispute has been written about extensively elsewhere. Sadly, the suit cast a shadow over the very future of AHRMA, which subsequently filed for bankruptcy.

In 2007, the bankruptcy court in Tennessee settled the financial claims between Mr. Iannucci and AHRMA. However, the AMA was left holding the bag for a dispute between the two parties that had nothing to do with us. This suit has cost AMA members three-quarters of a million dollars and, ironically, it was not even about money. That’s just outrageous.

The current management of the AMA was not involved in the actions that led to the lawsuit or its ongoing prosecution, and I have never believed that the AMA and its members were being served by continuing it. After eight years, the AMA said, “Enough.” AMA Board of Directors Chairman Stan Simpson and I met with Mr. Iannucci last year to settle the matter. On Feb. 19, 2009, the AMA announced that we had entered into a Settlement Agreement, which resulted in the case being dismissed. I understand that AHRMA believes that the AMA should continue to fight with Mr. Iannucci and spend AMA members’ money, but that would be foolish for the AMA.

AM: If the case against the AMA is now settled, what exactly is the problem?

RD: The terms of our Settlement Agreement are confidential; however, Mr. Iannucci has agreed to allow us to discuss them for the purpose of this interview.

One of the key provisions of the settlement is that, in order to receive future AMA sanctioning, AHRMA must resolve its differences with Mr. Iannucci and Team Obsolete on or before April 30, 2009. We arrived at this date because AHRMA had pending sanction requests with AMA at that time, and to be completely fair to AHRMA, we approved all of them, which took us out to the end of April. We continue to believe that it is in the best interest of vintage motorcycle racing to end the litigation and disagreements and move forward.

On Wednesday, March 4, Stan Simpson and I met with the AHRMA board and its officers to explain our reasoning, answer questions and reiterate the need for them to reach a resolution. Despite what they wrote on their website subsequently, we provided them with a full understanding of the issues. So they’ve known for six weeks that they needed to work out their differences with Mr. Iannucci.

Unfortunately, AHMRA has chosen to air the dispute publicly, and has left the impression that the AMA is responsible for the very problems that AHRMA created. This is not our dispute. We cannot resolve it. Only AHRMA and Mr. Iannucci can settle this matter.

AM: What does this all mean for fans of vintage racing and AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days?

RD: Make no mistake, there will be racing at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. We can’t stop the process because AHRMA hasn’t decided what they are going to do. So come May 1, we are going forward with our planning, one way or the other. We have advised AMA Organizers that if this issue is not resolved on or before April 30, the AMA will no longer sanction AHRMA events or activities, or otherwise engage in business with AHRMA.

AM: Can you comment on the rumor that AMA is telling AHRMA what to do?

RD: That is totally untrue. The AMA is not telling AHRMA what action it must take. That is up to AHRMA and Mr. Iannucci to work out to their mutual satisfaction. There is no reason why AHRMA cannot work this out. We met with Rob Iannucci and worked this out, and they need to do the same thing.

AM: On April 7, the AMA announced that AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days would feature the inaugural AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships. Some people have interpreted this to mean that AHRMA is already “out” this year at VMD. Why was the announcement was made at this time?

RD: The timing of our announcement was forced upon us by a statement that AHRMA posted on its website, which essentially says that AHRMA is working on a replacement venue for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, in case the dispute is not settled. We also learned that AHMRA tried to secure one of AMA’s Vintage Motorcycle Days venues out from under us. We were flooded with e-mails from members asking us if AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days was cancelled, and we took this as a direct threat to our event. So we had an obligation to tell AMA members and vintage racing fans that there will be vintage racing at Mid-Ohio this year.

Frankly, we were shocked that AHRMA would put themselves in competition with us. Why would they jeopardize our 20-year relationship in this way?

AM: Can you tell us more about the AMA’s vintage racing program?

RD: The reason for the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships is simple. Vintage motorcycle racing has become very popular in recent years in all its forms, including road racing, motocross, dirt track, hare scrambles and trials. The AMA believes it is only fitting that we elevate this genre to the same level as our other amateur championships, and that we do so at the granddaddy of all vintage racing events, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. The creation of the vintage grand championship is the next step for us to grow AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days and also increase the visibility of our AMA brand.

We are doing this by honoring the top rider in each vintage discipline with a championship title, and premier class winners will receive an AMA Racing No. 1 plate. In addition, the rider who excels across multiple disciplines will be named the AMA Racing Vintage Grand National Champion. The class champions and the Grand National Champion will be invited to attend our AMA Racing annual awards banquet, where they’ll be recognized before all of our AMA Racing national champions.

AM: If AHRMA and AMA go their own ways, what will become of vintage racing at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days in the future?

RD: I want to emphasize that the AMA sincerely hopes there will be an amicable resolution between AHRMA and Mr. Iannucci, and that we can continue to sanction AHRMA racing.

That said, the AMA is committed to sustaining and growing this exciting form of amateur competition for the teams, the racers and their fans. That is why we created the AMA Racing Vintage Grand Championships. If AHRMA cannot work out its differences with Mr. Iannucci by April 30, then the AMA is fully prepared to conduct quality vintage racing in each of the disciplines at Mid Ohio this year — and in the future.

AM: Do you have a message for AHRMA’s leaders and Mr. Iannucci?

RD: Don’t try to settle this in the court of public opinion, because that is not working. Both parties need to meet in a room, face-to-face, and work this out. It can be done. We did it, and so can they. If they both agree that it would help for the AMA to attend while they work out their differences, we will do so.

Hall of Famer Don Emde to serve as Grand Marshal for 2009 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

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

Don Emde was one of those riders. Although the Americans didn’t win, Emde had a solid pro rookie year when he returned to the States. With third-place finishes at the Daytona 200, the Talladega 200 and at the Kent, Wash., Mile, Emde scored the third most road-racing points in the AMA Grand National Championship that season behind Dick Mann and Kel Carruthers.

That’s just one story that attendees can look forward to hearing from Emde, now an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and the Grand Marshal at 2009 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, set for July 24-26 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

“I consider it a real honor to be asked to be the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Grand Marshal,” Emde said. “There’s so much of motorcycling represented at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, from the road-race course to the swap meet to the motocross track to the half-mile at the fair grounds in Ashland. The range of interest is considerable. You say ‘vintage’ to one person, and it might mean a bike from the ’70s, and to someone else it might be an old Indian from the ’40s.

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

With BSA serving as Marque of the Year at 2009 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, Emde was a natural choice for the honor of Grand Marshal. The Southern Californian’s history with BSA runs deep. Emde grew up at his father’s BSA dealership in the San Diego area, and when Emde’s dirt-track status advanced in 1970 from novice to amateur, he graduated to a BSA A65.

“BSA helped a lot that year,” Emde remembered. “I won a lot of main events at Ascot. I won the California State TT Championship. Then, in 1971, BSA put together its biggest race team ever, which contested the first year of the Trans-Atlantic Match Races.”

Emde’s greatest competitive achievement came the following year at the 1972 Daytona 200, when he was competing for Team Motorcycle Weekly with backing from Yamaha. He raced a Mel Dinesen-tuned Yamaha 350cc two-stroke. Emde won, making it the first Daytona 200 victory for Yamaha and the first time a two-stroke won the race. Emde also was the first son of a Daytona 200 winner to repeat the feat, and he did it on the smallest displacement bike to ever win the event.

After his racing career ended, Emde continued to work in the motorcycle industry. He became publisher of Motorcycle Dealernews in the mid-1980s, and launched a magazine called Motorcycle Collector. That publication was short-lived, however, but the Parts Magazine title he started soon after continues today. An avid collector himself, Emde owns a large compilation of memorabilia and historic racing photographs. He also authored the definitive book on the history of the Daytona 200.

In the early 1990s, Emde joined the board of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation (AMHF), and became a leading voice in the preservation of motorcycling history, especially pertaining to racing. Emde served on the AMHF board for 12 years, much of that as chairman.

In honor of his accomplishments and influence on motorcycling, Emde was inducted into the AMA’s Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is the country’s largest celebration of motorcycling heritage, including highlights such as vintage racing and North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet. Also on tap are demo rides of current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, stunt shows, the new product Manufacturers’ Midway, club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs, and guided rides through the rolling Ohio countryside. The Classic Clubs this year will be the Sandcast Only Owner’s Club (SOOC), and the International CBX Owners Association.

This year will be particularly special because it commemorates the 85th anniversary of the AMA, and will feature a parade of classic motorcycles representing each year of the AMA’s 85 years. Museum staff has compiled a list of significant models produced since 1924 for the parade. Volunteers with bikes on that list are encouraged to contact the Museum for information about participating. Information is at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefits the AMA’s Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The goal of the Museum, located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio, is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling.

For more information about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, visit www.AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com. Tickets can be purchased at the website for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course: www.midohio.com.

Due to excessive rains, the U.S. Forest Service has ordered the postponement of the fourth round of the AMA Racing Rekluse National Enduro Championship Series, presented by Moose Racing. The round, promoted by the Acadiana Dirt Riders, was originally scheduled for this Sunday, March 29, in Louisiana’s Kisatchie National Forest.

The event will now be held the weekend of April 4-5.

The full schedule for the AMA Racing Rekluse National Enduro Championship Series can be found in the National Championship Series section of www.amaracing.com. More information about the series can be found on the website of the National Enduro Promotions Group at www.nationalenduro.com.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce the riders who will contest the 84th International Six Days Enduro for the U.S. World Trophy Team. Returning to take on the world this Oct. 12-17 in Figueira da Foz, Portugal, are the riders who rode to a third-place team finish on Team USA at last year’s event: Destry Abbott, Kurt Caselli, Ricky Dietrich, Jimmy Jarrett, Nathan Kanney and Nathan Woods.

“In 2008, Team USA had its best performance at the ISDE in years, and it was only appropriate to reunite the riders who brought us so close to victory,” said AMA Off-Road Racing Manager Chuck Weir. “We are reloaded. We are ready. We are looking forward to showing the best off-roaders in the world that Team USA is not just a threat to place, but a threat to win at this storied international competition.”

Returning to represent the U.S. Trophy team for the third time is Team Captain Caselli. The 25-year-old Caselli, who races the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series for Shock Doctor/KTM, battled for the overall lead at the 2008 ISDE before crashing out on day three. In 2007, Caselli also led a significant portion of the event en route to winning the E3 class. In 2006, Caselli was a member of the championship Junior Trophy Team.

“We’re going with the same team we had last year, and we’re just as motivated and excited to ride this year’s ISDE and just as motivated to win,” said Caselli, who likely will ride a KTM 300XC in the E3 class. “We like the location this year. Portugal is dry, rocky and dusty — kind of like what we have out west, where the majority of our team is from.”

Caselli said the team is confident for the ‘09 event.

“As long as we stay healthy and the bikes hold together, I really like our chances of getting on the podium this year,” Caselli said. “It’s not going to be easy, though. I know Finland is going to have a strong team. The Europeans bring a lot of talent. It’s not going to be any easier than it has in the past, but I think we have a good shot.”

Another Team USA veteran will be Abbott, who is contesting the AMA Racing National Hare & Hound Championship Series and the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS) for Monster Energy Kawasaki. The 36-year-old five-time AMA National Hare & Hound Champion is a three-time ISDE Gold Medalist and will represent the U.S. on the Trophy Team for the fifth time. Last year, Abbott finished ninth in the E2 class.

“I was pretty excited to hear that we were bringing back all the same guys,” said Abbott, who will ride a KXF450, most likely in the E3 class. “I think the team’s better this year. It looks like we picked up more speed, we know we can do it, and we have the experience. From everything I see, the location is going to suit us West Coast guys, and Nate and Jimmy adapt well to whatever conditions the race presents.”

Abbott added that a real team environment surrounds the ISDE effort.

“We are all committed to doing what’s best for the team. It’s not an individual thing,” Abbott said. “We’re all about team, and that’s what you need to do when you race something like this. The manufacturers are behind it. Last year, we went in hoping for top five and we got third, and that was with Kurt getting hurt and some other guys having bike trouble. Now we know we can podium, and we believe we have a shot at first or second.”

Dietrich, 21, was the top-finishing American at the 2008 ISDE, where he took second to Spain’s Ivan Cervantes in both the overall and in the E1 class. Dietrich also joined Caselli on the championship 2006 Junior Trophy Team and currently races off-road events for Monster Energy Kawasaki. This will be Dietrich’s second time representing the U.S. on the Trophy Team and his third time representing the U.S. in the ISDE.

Jarrett, 32, also brings several years of experience to the team. Jarrett races the GNCC Series for GEICO Monster Kawasaki. This will be the Ohioan’s sixth year representing the U.S. on the Trophy Team. Jarrett finished 13th in the E2 class in 2008.

This will be second trip to the ISDE for the 31-year-old Woods, who races WORCS for Team FMF Suzuki and competes in the AMA Endurocross series. Woods finished 29th in the E2 class at last year’s ISDE.

Kanney, 26, is currently contesting the AMA GNCC Series for Shock Doctor/KTM. Kanney is an experienced ISDE and World Enduro Championship rider. Last year, he finished eighth in the E3 class.

The World Trophy Team is one of three premier teams that represent the U.S. at the ISDE. The Trophy Team features six riders who compete in all three displacement classes that contest the ISDE: the E1 class, which features 100cc to 125cc two-stroke and 175cc to 250cc four-stroke motorcycles; the E2 class, which features 175cc to 250cc two-stroke and 290cc to 450cc four-stroke motorcycles; and the E3 class, which features 290cc to 500cc two-stroke and 475cc to 650cc four-stroke motorcycles.

The other premier teams are the Junior Trophy Team, which fields four riders younger than 23 years old, competing in a minimum of two classes, and the Women’s Trophy Team, which fields three riders.

Also part of Team USA are members on various club teams made up of riders from all over the country. These teams are determined by qualifier events held this year on April 18-19 in Park Hills, Mo., and on May 30-31 in Idaho City, Idaho.

More information on the ISDE, Team USA and the ISDE qualifiers can be found in the Featured Series & Events section of www.amaracing.com.