SOUR GRAPES
Posted by Tony Down at 11/22/2008 7:35 AM 
Categories: ISDT, AHRMA, Rocky Mountain Trials, The Falklands on a CAN AM, Building Vintage Motorcycles, Skiing, SSDT, Cat, RV'ing
Categories: ISDT, AHRMA, Rocky Mountain Trials, The Falklands on a CAN AM, Building Vintage Motorcycles, Skiing, SSDT, Cat, RV'ing
SOUR GRAPES
Nice Bunch? ..... bit like some people.....bitter, and SOUR!
Well what can I say???? Some people need to get a life! After an exceedingly busy and
satisfying season on the AHRMA circuit with 14 wins in 2 different classes some people just
couldn't let it be and had to find a way to screw it up.
First there was the question "How can HE ride in 2 classes on the same day?"
Very simple the rules clearly state you can ride in 2 classes if you ride different lines and
as my AHRMA card is "currently" stamped Intermediate I can therefore ride the pigging heavy
Royal Enfield on the PI line, which is exactly what I chose to do. The rules also state that at
your own discretion you may also ride in a class higher than your AHRMA card which again is
exactly what I did riding the Tiger Cub in Classic Expert
It seems this has been too much for some people (in different classes I might add) and they
have gone behind my back like school kids and taken their whining sniveling complaints up to
board level where their "in favor" masters have decided, without even consulting ME that under
some obscure ruling "Championship points can only be awarded to the class stamped on your
AHRMA card." This of course now voids my Classic Expert Title..........THANKS!
Well if you have to resort to cheap crappy obscure rules like that to win a
championship, then good luck to you, I really hope you enjoy your prize!
No worries boys and girls, IF, and that's becoming a BIG if, I renew my membership I will have
it rated "EXPERT" and of course, I too, can start looking at other rules too. Maybe some
checks on machine eligibility??? Better make sure those forks and frame are pre 74? and of
course for those who may not have noticed perhaps you should check your own card for class
eligibility as it seems some of our "friends" are not actually who or what they appear.
So, if I choose to ride again I will ride Expert and just maybe in 3 different classes. Perhaps I'll
have a new logo on my bikes with a lemon and a corkscrew going through it
"BITTER & TWISTED"
Very Bitter
Twisted
Once again, if you can't compete fairly and squarely and accept an arse kicking when you get
one don't go complaining to the powers that be, who now, once again seem to have gone single
channel for their own elitist group of followers. I can't adequately express my disgust with those
individuals and whilst I have been totally supportive of some of the all time greats I'm afraid my
views are now changing to the other group who have become disencharted with the organization,
it's motives and their reluctance to move with the times.
We have recently seen the shabby and disgraceful treatment of two staunch AHRMA volunteers
in the dismissal of Woody Graves and Alice Sexton and it seems this attitude is now gathering
strength in the removal of anyone who ACTUALLY WANTS TO IMPROVE THE SPORT. I'm not
sure at this stage whether I would do Trialsmaster duties AGAIN or help with layout or checker
briefings.....lest we upset some one ! I also note that the same organization was QUITE HAPPY
to accept the ENTRY FEES without actually saying "You realize you can't score points in this
event?"
However, all that said, Karma is a wonderfull thing and "as you sow,so shall yea reap!" Or where I
come from "Don't get mad get even!"
Yes, like a lot of this,...... GOATS .......... A Classic (GF!)
TONY DOWN - 1 Championship!! (you miserable ****ers, and you know WHO you are!)
.....and now the RUB...... if I don't get the Points, then presumably whoever finished SECOND
to me in the SEVEN events that I won should now get first place points?...... by my calculations
this will change the results yet AGAIN...... and for all those that complained IT DOESN"T
LOOK GOOD FOR YOU!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS..... I hope that is "Politically Correct"
Welcome to the reality of AHRMA.....I personally will not be renewing my membership in AHRMA........ and while I decided not to renew before reading this post, it is just one more reason I will be riding ITSA, STRA or NETA events only from now on.....I have been an AHRMA member since 1993, but never again.....PS, who ever gets your championship, most of us will know who the real class champ is.
I hope everyone has a great holiday season.
Reply to this
Tony - I share your disgust at "Pot hunters" who go around with the rule book in their back pocket - Trials is supposed to be Fun - especially Vintage Trials - the idea that some people would alienate any top rider just because they can't beat him fair and square leaves a very bad taste in the mouth of any true sportsman.
Outlaw Dave
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Tony congrats on winning the worlds most expensive jacket.Even if you had gotten the second championship the coats would still been very expensive.Ahrma politics can be frustrating but they own the sandbox everybody wants to play in.The loss of your interest in ahrma would be a great loss to the organization as it wasfun to listen to your stories around the fire and to look at whatever creation you've built lately.Before you do anything rash know that you would be missed.John Bodkin modern classic int James Bodkin modern classic exp
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Hi Tony ; That is just not right ! But Karma points add up ... Is there any place close to your new local that you could orginize a ITSA Southwest series/event ? I'd hate not to have the opportunity to ride with you again ...
As stated above , spending time with you and seeing your creations is always a treat , and I'll never forget my 5 minutes on the R.E.earthmover ,most likley the most comfortable trials bike I've ever got to swing a leg over ...
Cheers !
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Ah groups,there's always some clown who wants to shat on others simply because they are having too much fun.I think that it's important to see the big picture and all of the fine folks that we get to share our sport with.A middle finger salute to those G. F.'ers,let them reap what they sow,whilst the rest of us go and play on our trials toys!
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