2009 IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR



 

Looking back, end of Day 1, Pre 65 Scottish 2009 

 2009 has been a very strange year on many fronts with a lot less trials to whet the appetite. Not one
CAT event the whole year and major cut backs on the AHRMA circuit due to finances. However there have
been some excellent fun events and a lot of memories as we struggle through the tapestry of life.

 As the clock rolled over into New Year's Day it was very unsure as to what the program had to offer. My
main interest was the Pre 65 Scottish Silver Jubilee but I had to accept that this just might be a "pipe
dream" and although I, and some other influencial friends had secured an entry, it might have to be
given up as the costs for this adventure across the pond would be close on $5000. January rumbled on
with yet more snow and an appraisal on the Safari Motorhome was done to see if it could be
resurrected as the mode of transport for the coming season. Howard, my RV Guru, nursed the old girl
back to life and rebuilt, or replaced all the frozen pieces which we thought had been winterized and by
the end of the month she was running, plated and tagged and ready for her first outing after 4 years in
dry dock.

 February and we set off for Buckeye Arizona for the 2 Day AHRMA event which I will set up with the help
of Ed and Evelyn. An apprehensive drive across the reservation and down to Phoenix but the old girl takes
it in her stride and performs very well all things considered. A double nightstop at our old bar, Harolds
in Cave Creek, for some excellent food and a nice warm day watching the Superbowl. Another 50 miles
down the freeways and we are at Buckeye and ready to find a bunch of sections for 2 days of trials.

 Having set out Buckeye for 2 years its an easy enough task especially with good friends and dedicated
helpers. The event runs as planned and even the MX riders are all accommodated amongst all their
various rides. The saga on this one still remains ongoing as some seem to think that you should ride
MANY disciplines rather than concentrate on the one you really enjoy. Having ridden all forms of
motorcycling over my career I agree that it is fun to TRY them all but eventually you must decide on which
you like best and is more suited to your skills and budget. 


 

Buckeye Day 1



 

Trialsmaster Day 2


 The return to the frozen north was less than fun and decidedly unpleasant battling a 60' rig across the
reservation in the dark and blizzard conditions.



 

Never again!


 The Silver Jubilee comes ever closer and my decision has to be made at the end of March and just
when things are looking pretty bleak a breakthrough comes and it looks like we can do it. Diamond
Don's is sidelined again and all resources are applied to Scotland with yet more stuff going out the
door via ebay. 


 

Day 1 of the Very Wet  2009 Pre 65




 

A real PIG of a bike!


 With just 2 rides in 4 months and no practice due to the cold weather time to head for the homeland of
Blighty ! Even if I had not been riding the trip to the UK would still be up there after 14 years away and a
good "pint" and a Walls Pork Pie featured highly on the agenda. As for the Pre 65, well I rode it and
finished so to that end I'm happy to have been there despite the appalling conditions. I would have
preferred a different machine, or even one that had been properly prepared and tailored to my size and
style. It was true I got a real arse kicking as I wasn't expecting the sections to be anywhere near as hard
as they were. The cross country was exactly as I remembered it from the 70's even with all the extra
water and mud, but thats Scotland so I was ready for that but as I said the sections were difficult and
certainly 10 times harder than anything I rode back then apart from Pipeline, which was, and still is, a
great challenge to all.


 

All the cross country fun over Callert



 

The last 2 subs of Mamore Day 2


 Having been suitably humbled by the severity of Scotland time to try some more Ahrma events and the
first is Milliken at the end of May. Arrive a day early along with Ed and Evelyn but the home team have
everything under control and our services are not required so some gentle ride rounds looking at all the
hazards and trying to find a practice area to find something similar. The event rides easier than it looks
and with a new found concentration I slip round for a zero card.



 

A different sort of Pipeline at Milliken

 Still in May time to see the new venue at Turkey Rock which Ed and Evelyn have been working on for 2
years. Once again arrive a couple of days early to help out but the "Team" have it all in hand and the
sections all look pretty good. Another good ride on Day 1 for a zero card but Day 2 goes a little wonky on
the first loop picking up 2 "5's" through my own stupidity missing a split and stalling it in the next section
while still fuming about the first. However, I did get it back together cleaning loops 2 & 3 for what could
easily have been another zero card.



 

Another Zero card at Turkey Rock Day 1





Day 2 at Turkey Rock


 My planned rides would have been Steamboat in June and Donner for the 2 day in July, but Brenda fell
out of a guest's RV and broke her foot quite badly and that put an end to any trialing activities. Once again
I see that the same anti-dedicated trials fraternity ran Steamboat whereby anyone who had seen a
Premier Heavyweight trials machine was going to get a zero card and indeed that was what happened
with 5 out of the 6 riders all doing just that and the tie break going on age, so perhaps it was intended as
a parade rather than a competition!




Yes, its broken!


 So no rides until the end of August when there will be just enough events left to swap horses to the
Enfield and try for that Championship as well, but by now someone is bitching about my entering 2
classes at Milliken under the "dumb rule" which I had already protested about but got nowhere and only
entered that way to bring it to a head. Well it did that and I see our Trials Rules Committee, who in my
opinion need to be CHANGED, have seen the error of their ways and gone for "One event, one entry" for
2010.

 With AHRMA and the AMA at loggerheads over the proverbial 4/5ths of FA a couple of events get
canceled and with missing Donner I now can't offer a worthwhile challenge on the Enfield, especially
as Sandia gets the CNX with Jim and Sylvia pulling out of the organization. The rest of the season will
be ridden on the Cub and I now need 2 more wins from the last 5 events that I will ride.

 At last trials riding begins again with the 2 Day at Cotopaxi at the end of August. Day 1 was relatively
easy and I should have had a clean card, or a single dab but I dropped a 5 while not going through my
own mental checklist. Day 2 was a different matter and I rode fairly well again just losing a dab and a
stalling 5 on the first loop. At this point my No 1 opposition informs me he is only on 6 and on his third
loop! I'm forced to ride 2 loops without error just to tie, so I'm really up against it but pull it off in what I
consider my best, but hardest ride of the year.


 

Hardest ride of the year, Cotopaxi Day 2




Got to clean this one for the tie break


 Just in case there is any argument, or another surprise change in the rules I'll ride the Cub for fun at
Casper. With no real pressure I had 3 very enjoyable days riding with only 2 sections catching me out
and one other that I elected to go for the planned dab on all 3 loops. Overall maybe my best ride at
Casper so a great end to the year on the Cub which I still rate as one of the best bikes I have ever put
together. Perhaps if I could afford it, it would be nice as a 230, 250 or even a 280 in the future.



 

Dive, Dive, Dive...... Casper Day 1





Favorite section of the year, Day 2 at Casper Section 1


 So now its time to sit back and wait for the venues to come for 2010 when I would, finances permitting,
like to go for the double with the Enfield and Cub. 




C'mon 2010




TONY DOWN