Rider Files

(NEWS RELEASE)

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is moving AMA Vintage Motorcycle Day's popular dirt-track event at the Ashland Co. (Ohio) Fairgrounds from Friday, July 20, to Saturday, July 21. (Courtesy AMA)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is moving AMA Vintage Motorcycle Day’s popular dirt-track event at the Ashland Co. (Ohio) Fairgrounds from Friday, July 20, to Saturday, July 21.

“Our Friday night date was on top of a complementary event located just a couple hours away in Wauseon, Ohio,” said AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. “With the popularity of the Ashland location and considering our event is part of the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series, we didn’t want to pull riders or fans away from the Wauseon race. Considering the Ashland facility was available on Saturday and the move would still allow a Sunday rain date, the shift was logical and we hope will support the Wauseon event.

“The AMA supports more racing choices, not fewer, and we hope this move gives racers more opportunity to get out there and show the fans what classic dirt-track machinery can do,” Saillant added.

Pits will open at the half-mile event in Ashland at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 21. Sign up starts at noon and practice will begin at 4 p.m.

In addition to period-correct vintage classes for all eras of dirt-track motorcycles, the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series event will include modern classes to give amateur racers an opportunity to compete at one of the region’s classic half-mile facilities.

The Ashland round of the AMA Vintage Dirt Track Grand Championships runs as part of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 20-22 at the nearby Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is the country’s premier event for vintage motorcycle enthusiasts. It includes North America’s largest vintage motorcycle swap meet, seminars, vintage displays, bike shows, a Marque of the Year, and vintage and post-vintage competition in motocross, hare scrambles, trials, roadracing and dirt track.

More information about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days can be found at AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com.

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle 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 motorcycling rights organization, 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 and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its support of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Michael LaFollette sent me some photos I was very excited to get. Mike is in the process of restoring a J.B. Jones Harley-Davidson race machine.

J.B. Jones was one of the leading motorcycle racers of the 1930s and ‘40s. His accomplishments include winning the AMA National T.T. Championship a total of five times, 1936 and 1938-1941. He was runner up in the inaugural Peoria TT National in 1947. Many riders of the era called J.B. Jones the best T.T. racer of his time. His record on TT courses was the nation’s best of the late 1930s and early 40s. Jones was born in Dallas in 1906, lived Indiana in his prime racing years. After his racing career he worked for years in motorcycle dealerships in the St. Louis area, where he lived until his death.

Mike’s dad, Glen LaFollette, raced with J.B. and was very close to him in those days. Mike’s father bought both of J.B.’s bikes in the early 40 or 50’s. Mike ended up with the 45 cu. in. Harley.

“We were at a corn roast at my great uncle’s house and I was talking about the old bike and wished I could find them,” Mike said. ”My great uncle Ed told me my father sold one to his son Wil years ago. I called Wil and he said he still had it in the barn. That’s how I ended up with it 29 years ago. I’m currently working on putting it back in running condition, just like my father and JB had it. My Mother told me last week that she would find the original bill of sale from JB to my father. It’s so cool to have such a piece of history and I hope to take it to a vintage race when I complete it.”

Here are a couple of photos Mike sent of the historic racing bike before he began restoration.

(Click on photo for larger version)

An aerial view of Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In 2012 Homestead-Miami Speedway returns to the AMA Superbike schedule for the first time since 1996 and that’s a good thing. I haven’t been to the track since that ’96 Superbike event, but from what I remember about the facility is that it was state-of-the-art for the time and I’m sure holds up well even by today’s standards. The track itself was an excellent design for being inside an oval speedway. I know there were a few issue areas at that time, which I hope have been, or will be addressed.

Homestead was not a successful event in 1996. There was one big reason for that in my estimation and that was the tragic ValuJet Flight 592 crash that happened just a few days before the Superbike race.  I was working at communications manager for AMA Pro Racing at the time and all the advance media we had lined up understandably went away. So the event went on under the backdrop of the tragedy and with virtually no media buildup.

This year I believe the track has a much better opportunity to attract a big crowd. There should be good interest by the media in having the series back and the track itself is better known now (it was brand new in ’96). The other element is the Hispanic fan base in South Florida. The series now has a genuine star and championship contender in Martin Cardenas, who is from Columbia. Having a racer of Cardenas’ stature will almost certainly draw more fans to Homestead this year.

Does Homestead have the potential to be a long-term success? I believe with proper promotion and care to make the fan experience a memorable one; the event has solid long-term potential.

I haven’t been to the track in nearly 16 years, but one of the biggest issues for the fans then was visibility. There were fairly tall walls surrounding the road course and I went up in the stands to check it out and you couldn’t see most of the road course unless you were near the top of the grandstands. If those walls are still there they need to be addressed, either by removing them or at the least placing several mega-screens in places where fans can watch the action as it takes place.

In addition, for pro events promoters should work closely with riders to correct any safety issues they feel need to be addressed. Those walls were a little too close even 15 years ago and the bikes have gotten nothing but faster. Air barriers will help, but aren’t the ultimate answer.

If these steps are taken I think Homestead will be a welcomed addition to the series. It would be nice to get to visit South Beach once a year, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the race does well.

(NEWS RELEASE)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) invites racers to download the official 2012 AMA Amateur Competition Rulebook, available now at AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Racing > Rulebooks.

The 2012 rulebook covers amateur, Pro/Am, standard and youth competition in motocross, off-road racing, track racing and all-terrain vehicle racing. It details rider and motorcycle eligibility, equipment standards, meet rules, points, class advancement and more.

The 2012 AMA Amateur Competition Rulebook goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2012.

Written and updated by the elected member representatives of the AMA Congress, which meets annually, the 203-page rulebook is provided for the exclusive use of AMA members and AMA-chartered clubs and promoters.

“The AMA’s history is rooted in nearly nine decades of amateur motorcycle competition, and the collective wisdom of that experience is reflected only in the AMA Amateur Competition Rulebook,” said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. “The rulebook is available for the exclusive use at AMA-sanctioned events by AMA-chartered clubs and promoters. When you compete at these events, you can rest assured that the governing rules provide the gold standard of fair and orderly competition that is the hallmark of an AMA-sanctioned meet.”

The AMA Racing Amateur Competition Rulebook is complemented by a host of supplemental rules that cover National Championship Series and Grand Championship Events. Supplemental rules packages for 2011 will be published as they become available at AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle 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 motorcycling rights organization, 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 and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its support of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.