A PREVIEW OF THE 2010 SEASON

Happy New Year


 

A Trials Rider's delight......... mud & rivers


 Only 6 weeks away and it all starts again so time to preview the season and see where I would like to
ride and then depending on finances SEE where we can actually afford to go. On a personal side my
rides will all be of the "2 Day" event type as basic economics mean that 1000 mile journeys for a 1 day
event are out of the question, plus I always enjoy a 2 day event more with the evening social side.

 Ed and Evelyn have been hard at it behind the scenes building another potentially great season of
events while trying to accommodate everyones wishes, well those that bothered to reply! Now if you
don't have an INPUT don't complain because YOU were asked.


 

Ed needs a little help from Evelyn until his new glasses arrive

 The season cracks off with a 2 Day at Buckeye, AZ Cycle park, over Valentine's Weekend 13/14 Feb, 
where we have been for the last two years. Although primarily a "sand" venue we surprised ourselves
last year by finding quite a few rocky sections and I'm sure as I'm the Trialsmaster for this event we will
be looking to build in, and find a lot of new sections for your delight. Like it or not, I might be using a
Graded Climb again for nostalgia. For those that haven't been its a good venue with plenty of hard core
level parking, the weather will be mild around the 60-70 point on the thermometer and the evenings
around the 45 mark. If there is sufficient interest I will run a Trials School for Beginners on the Friday.
This could be an all day affair starting at 1000 and finishing around 4'ish as normally not much is
achieved in the standard 2 hour lesson. Please let Ed Peacock or myself know WELL in advance if
you wish to attend.


 

More rock sections this year at Buckeye

 Later in the month on 26 Feb the circus moves to Gatorback Florida for their event. I know Ed enjoyed
it last year but too far for me to travel ...... maybe one year.

 Having whetted the appetite a month off to get all the last minute mods done in time for a new venue
at Jordan Valley Ranch, Terlton, OK on 4th April. Not sure what to expect here but I'm sure it will be
good as Ed has been negotiating this one for quite a while. The following weekend is Diamond Don's
in the Texas Bayou. A very good social event with Crawdads and brisket and Texan hospitality. Being
a multi discipline event weekend there can be clashes of interest here as from my experiences trials
always comes off worst at this venue. Never really understood why as there is a ton of trials acreage to
use but it seems we tend to use past sections and invariably clash with the cross country loop. If you
are doing this one remember it is usually WET so be prepared and take some rain gear! Again as its a
single day and RV parking is getting expensive I will be leaving this one off my personal calendar.


 

The Pre 65 Silver Jubilee Scottish 2009

 Moving into May my mind is normally full of Scottish memories from the distant past and the 8 rides
and finishes of the 70's. Of course last year I was lucky enough to get a ride in the Pre 65 Silver Jubilee
so those memories are still fresh in my mind as are having a "properly" prepared bike and the
knowledge that I will never own a bloody BSA as long as I live!!! Apart from that the month offers a 2
day at  Jeep Skool Windham, OH on 22/23 for those on that side of the country while a week later I will
be at Tucker Ranch Cotopaxi in Colorado for their 2 Day on 29/30 May. I like Cotopaxi with the wide
variety of sections and the good fun loop rides around the ranch. The drive-in always makes a good
section especially if you are driving a big rig!



Great variety of terrain at Cotopaxi 



 

The old favorite "Falls" section at Tucker Ranch

 Into June and another new trials venue at the road race circuit of Elkhart Lake WI, or Road America as
we see it if you watch Superbikes. Again too far for me so it will be interesting to hear how this one went
and how many turned up.

 I also suspect that Steamboat will be on again in June and I'll be trying to make this one in 2010 as we
were unable to do it after Brenda broke her foot last year. I also want to see the sections where 6/7
Premier Heavyweight Experts sailed round on a clean card... and if Derek Belvoir isn't there I must be in
with a chance on the Enfield if it gets decided on age! Not an Ahrma National but still a trial I've always
wanted to do.


 

 July starts the second half of the season with another personal favorite at Donner Ski ranch on the
California/Nevada border. A truly fantastic setting at around 6000-7000 feet with a perfect climate for
summer trials riding. I have always had good rides here and was very sorry to miss it last year when
spouse was injured and couldn't come out to play. Normally a 50 strong entry and some great vintage
style sections with a spot of everything including a little water and mud. As always scheduled for the
second weekend of the month, on 10/11 this year. Well worth the trip and a great social event but bring
a jacket as the evening temps can dip down in the 40's. 


 

The near "Perfect Trial" at Donner

 Also on the July menu is another new venue for Mountainfest at Morgantown WV again too far to travel
for a one day event but should appeal to the Eastern members.

 Into August and Chehalis again on the 14th. Always a good trial with the biggest turnout at any event
on the calendar and one that perhaps should be a 2 day in view of the numbers. The terrain and
sections are well suited to vintage events although I find the lack of practice, or the ability to ride round
and view the sections to be very annoying and from a personal point of view I will be missing this one.
With the amount of Vintage entries I am always surprised we don't have more events in the North West
to cater for this large section of the Ahrma community.

 A non Ahrma event that might just see an attendance this year is the Ute Cup in mid August. All
accounts from last year say that the severity of the sections was much reduced taking it back to its
solid Intermediate roots. 40 miles a day at around the 10,000' mark sounds like fun to me and a real
possibility to test "that" SWM Jumbo if I can persuade Richard.


 
 
Casper in September.... it has it all !


 September and once again the showcase of the year with 6 events in 14 days! you can certainly qualify
for your class in just 2 weeks of superb trials. The Casper event is another 3 day following it's success
of the last two years and is without doubt  an exceedingly well organized affair with a great selection
and variety of sections ranging from the rivers and banks by the start to some muddy spots where cattle
and mountain springs converge. Dry banks and huge boulders on the other side of the valley are
included with lots of roots and fallen trees and if all that wasn't enough there is always the man made
obstacles of "Lego Land" by the start to entertain riders and spectators alike. Don't miss it on
4/5/6 Sept.


 

Hard to beat the variety as Casper


 

My favorite section of 2009....... Casper Day 2, section 1

 5 days later and a 400 mile jaunt down I80 its back to Tooele just south of Salt Lake in Utah. A long
rubble filled uphill drive to the start but well worth the 30 mins at 5-10 mph to get there. On a personal
note I'm very pleased to see this one back on the program this year as I really enjoyed the sections two
years ago. A very good variety and quite a few Scottish rocky river beds but also some mud holes and
loose rubble hillsides. As I said last time this place has a ton of potential and I'm looking forward to
11/12 September.


 

A lot of potential at Tooele


 Last one in September is at Milliken on Saturday 18th and I rather suspect will be another technical
trial with a lot of tight turns and delicate throttle control on the grass banks, and that pipe maze. 




The Pipes they are a'calling

 Into October and a first time 2 Day at the TTC, Sequatchie TN. I've seen the terrain there so as the
name implies a great woodland venue, with roots, rocks and slippery climbs await the entry. Too far
for me but on paper looks like regular for future seasons. One week later and Barber has its trial for
the Southern and Eastern contingent if there is not a clash with some of the ITSA events. Last event
of the month is back in California at Hollister Hills, again a long way to go unless Brenda gets her
wine tasting in Napa Valley.

 The year wraps up with the normal Aonia Pass event in GA on 16th November. 


TONY DOWN