2003 « Upper Midwest Trials Association

Photo of the Week

By Griff Wigley, on October 12th, 2003

Kevin Johansen taking a break with… is it a Mikuni bong? Photo courtesy of son, Travis.

Faribault weekend, Oct 11 & 12

By Griff Wigley, on October 8th, 2003

There’s a vintage trial this Saturday at the Faribault grounds, and a club trial on Sunday.

Gregg Mellberg is the trialsmaster; scheduled helpers are Jim Blount Jr., Ben Winterer, and Steve Ahlers. Brad Villand, who just added two bikes to the Used Bikes page, is the mentor for Sunday.

Clarification of an earlier message

By Griff Wigley, on October 7th, 2003

From Jim Winterer:

I would like to add this clarification to a story I wrote that ran on this Website Monday, Sept. 16, 2002. It was titled, “Some Painful News From Spirit Mountain” and it was about David McLuckie and what happened to his leg the previous weekend.

This clarification is for those visiting this Website who might not be familiar with motorcycle riding, and especially with the activity we call observed trials riding.

When I used the expression, “he was testing a champ line,” (which appears in the first sentence of the third paragraph) I was using an expression that is familiar to motorcycle and observed trials enthusiasts. In layman’s terms, this essentially means he was “playing around” on his Montesa motorcycle and was recreationally riding, at a walking pace, on challenging, forested and rocky terrain. He was doing this with a group of friends, not far from a ledge that was used in Section 3 during the World Round trials event that was held in June 2002.

David McLuckie was riding recreationally and this was a non-competitive, non-timed and non-organized activity in which speed was not a factor. He was not on a motorcycle race track or course.

Sincerely, Jim Winterer

Theilman 2-Day

By Griff Wigley, on September 23rd, 2003

The Theilman 2-Day is coming up this weekend, Sept 27 and 28. It’s a points event for both UMTA and WOTA.

Al Gohlike and Brad Villand are trialsmasters, with help from Gregg Huggenvik and Rod Villand. Mentors for both days are still needed.

Need directions?

Reminder: Sunday’s event starts at 11 am.

Duluth results, standings, photos

By Griff Wigley, on September 23rd, 2003

Results and standings as of the Sept. Duluth two-day are are now up.

There’s also a photo gallery of the weekend, with pictures of the trials school, section school, and overal podium courtesy of Mike Savage and Jack Chermak.

(The first annual King of the Hill “no dab” follow the leader ride.)

See links to all photo galleries for year on the photos page.

Used Bikes page update

By Griff Wigley, on September 23rd, 2003

The Used Bikes page has been swept clean and all listings are fresh as of Sep. 15. See the offerings from Winterer, Trnka, Sette, Dittman, Belair, plus several listings from non-UMTA members.

UMTA BOARD MEETING

By Griff Wigley, on September 9th, 2003

WHO:

UMTA board members & any interested club members.

WHAT:

Topics will include 2004 event scheduling, Handbook completion, Discussion concerning 2004 UMTA board member candidates (elections at the end of year banquet), End of year banquet planning.

WHEN:

Wednesday, September 17th, 7:00 pm.

WHERE:

Mike & Mary Hendrickson’s Home

2206 Flag Ave. South, St. Louis Park, MN 55426

Home phone 952-542-9189

Mapquest link to Mike’s home

Anybody who is interested may attend this meeting. My only request is that you let me know you are coming so I may prepare for company. If you are unable to attend and have strong feelings about the topics on the agenda or another topic that you feel requires discussion please send me a well worded e-mail outlining your position. We will discuss as many issues as time allows. Meeting minutes will be published on this site.

Mike Hendrickson.

Observed Trials at Spirit Mountain, September 6 & 7, 2003

By Griff Wigley, on August 25th, 2003

From Steve Ahlers, Trialsmaster:

For those who were at last year’s Spirit Mountain Trial and were mercilessly pummeled, an enticement to tempt fate once again: We promise a kinder and gentler Trial.

Although, we cannot control the weather, we are determined to set a less punishing trial. The loop will be much shorter and not so rough. We will pit in the lower parking lot and all of the sections will be near the bottom of the hill. There will be a couple of toughies for each class, but the majority will be less threatening. Three loops of eight sections each day. We have some very nice creek sections for the more intelligent classes. We are using the format with groups of mixed classes so all sections will have all lines.

There is a team competition on Saturday. Teams consist of five riders representing at least four classes. Your team score is the difference between your score and the winning score in your class. If you are the class winner your team gets a zero. The worst score on your team gets thrown out and the team with the lowest total wins. We have a swell team trophy and we plan on making this an annual event, so get your teams together.

I’ve got a fun little game planned for post trial Saturday with a gosh awful nice prize. Bonfire Saturday nite, BYOB. Trials master and section marking seminar Sunday at 10:00 a.m. for those interested.

We will award medals both days and overall trophies for all of the classes.

12:00 noon start Saturday. 11:00 a.m. start Sunday. Do not be afraid. —- Steve

See the directions to the lower lot at Spirit Mountain.

For area camping/lodging, see the accommodations page on the World Round USA site. Browse some of the photo galleries (like this one) to a get an idea of the terrain.