We’re phasing out the UMTA email discussion list in favor of an online message board/web forum. It’s called

The Pit

and it’s now open for registration and discussion.

As of the end of December, 2003, the UMTA email discussion list (hosted by the good folks at northfield.org) will be dead.

My attempt to fix the Google search was successful. For now, anyway.

See the Dec. 14 update from Steve Ahlers on the June 5-6 World Round in Duluth.

New listings on the Used Bikes page, including those from Dan Warner, Mike O’Donnell, Brian Dotterwick, and Kevin Johansen.

Let me know if you’ve sold your bike so I can remove it from the listing.

Google evidently is ignoring our meta tags which includes the word “minnesota” so I’ve added this phrase to the weblog header:

Motorcycle Observed Trials in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.

I’ve also changed the name of the home page to:

Upper Midwest Trials Association – Motorcycle Observed Trials in Minnesota

So there. Let’s see how long it takes Google to adjust and bring up our site when searching for the words: minnesota trials motorcycle. We’re first when the word “midwest” is used instead of Minnesota: midwest trials motorcycle

I don’t feel too bad because the words wisconsin trials motorcycle don’t bring WOTA up top, either.

Who is this guy, what year is the photo from, and what’s the make, model, and year of bike?

Post your guesses to the UMTA discussion list or contact me.

Update 11/20:

Martin Belair’s winning guess:

The Man: Sir Stuart McLuckie

The Year: 1963

The bike is a BSA Bantam, either a 125cc model D1 or a 150cc Model D3 (with the competition sprung frame). BSA made the Bantam from mid 1950’s to mid 1960’s.

Original email from Stuart:

Here’s an old photo that was taken 37 years ago [1966] that might be good for a bit of mystery on the club’s web site. It is a 175 BSA Bantam that I rebuilt into this cafe racer. The bike was a standard street bike but had been in a fire — not much left of it till I got my hands on it.

Martin wins two hot dates with Fern Peterson.

There are changes to the Used Bikes page, including a Steve Ahler’s Beta.

Let me know if you’ve sold your bike so I can remove it from the listing.

The revised UMTA Member Handbook is now up.

Formats:

* Word Doc

* HTML (converted Word Doc)

* PDF

To download or save the Word or PDF document to your computer, right click on the link and select “Save Target As…”

Kudos to Paul Nesse for doing the bulk of the work on the handbook. He had marginally adequate help from Mike Hendrickson and Jim Winterer.

Steve Ahlers mailed out a letter to UMTA members, making his case for the UMTA to join ARMCA District 23.

Here’s the text of Steve’s letter.

WHO:

All current UMTA club members and their guests.

WHAT:

Season championship awards for all classes.

WHERE:

Joseph’s Grill (Mapquest link)

140 South Wabasha

St.Paul, MN 55107

651-222-2435

WHEN: Saturday, November 22, 2003

4:00-5:00 pm Business Meeting (Yes, I know I said “no business at the banquet”)

5:00-6:00 pm Social Hour

6:00 pm Dinner

Awards and door prizes follow dinner.

Business Meeting Agenda

-Elections: I feel as though we need to tighten our democratic process a bit. The club charter requires an annual election of club officers and it was pointed out this year that many club members may not know who are our current club officers. Here is a list of board positions and the people currently performing those duties:

President-Mike Hendrickson

Vice President-Heath Holste

Secretary/Treasurer-Gordie Boggie

Legislative Officer-Steve Anderson

Referee-Jim Winterer

Insurance Communications Officer-Brenda Peterson

Member at large (A position not required by the club charter but necessary for the AMA charter)

Al Gohlike

Martin Belair

Tom Elbert

Steve Ahlers

Brad Villand

Steve Kirshner (Who also performs the duty of keeping the season championship points in order)

We will need to elect / re-elect officers. Anybody interested in running for office should attend the business meeting to declare their intention. If we have two or more people interested in a position we will need to hold a vote during the banquet, if the positions are uncontested we can vote during the business meeting.

-DISTRICT 23 MEMBERSHIP:

We will discuss (not argue) the merits of joining D-23. I believe there will be adequate representation on both sides of the issue so we will be able to make an informed decision. I would like to keep the debate contained in the business meeting, so if you want to voice your opinion (constructively) please be at the meeting. Further individual discussion can occur during the social hour after which we will put the motion to a vote by all members in attendance.

FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN FUN

Social Hour: Cash Bar, Unlimited Free Soft Drinks, Lively Conversation.

Dinner: The we have selected a menu that includes Beef Kabobs, Chicken & Fettucini, Salad and bread. I have been assured that we will not experience the service SNAFU’s we encountered last year at meal time

Awards: What can I say, you worked hard and deserve to be recognized, admired, heckled and harassed before of a gathering of your peers.

Door prizes: We will have many door prizes generously provided by Montessa USA, The hop Shop, Sherco Rider, Sette Sports Center and The Bike Shed. Prizes include oil, chain lube, tires, grips, apparel and at least one gift certificate for $1500.00 of the purchase of a new trials motorcycle (you will need to attend to lean which brand).

SEE YOU THERE!!!!