Motorcycle Trials

I started Motorcycle Trials after showing up to help with a NATC National trials meet the WMTA was hosting in 1994 at Mosteller Ranch here in Casper. I helped score a section and decided I'd like to try my hand at that. My first bike was a well used 1987 Beta TR34. The first trial I ever rode was at Limestone Road near Lander, WY. I had a painful kidney stone with a fever and remember taking a lot of dabs, but I had so much fun! Since then I've had Beta, Aprila and Gas Gas trials bikes and the last modern bike I had was a 2005 Montesa 4RT. Riding these bikes I worked my way up to Intermediate class but never got past that.

Sometime in there I was enticed into riding AHRMA vintage trials by my friends Fred and Bob, so I picked-up a 1974 Honda TL125 and started going on road trips with them riding the AHRMA Nationals circuit. I've been hooked on riding the old iron ever since. I got interested in the really old iron too, picked-up a Triumph Tiger Cub from good friend Rob in Steamboat, then another one built specifically for Trials from Ray in CA. I rode the bike from Rob for one year and the one from Ray for four years in the AHRMA Rocky Mountain Region which was going strong at the time due to the direction of Ed and Evelyn and rode the Nationals too. I was fortunate to win 3 National Titles while riding the AHRMA National series, one in Intermediate and two in the Expert class.

AHRMA in the Rocky Mountain Region dwindled after Ed and Evelyn became discouraged with AHRMA and quit their volunteer position as trials coordinators. Missing the vintage trials scene in the area we formed a new charter of ITSA that's called the Mountain West Vintage Trials Association. I rode my Triumph Cub one year in the MWVTA then traded my 71 OSSA MAR for a 77 Yamaha TY250. The 250 turned out to be an awesome bike for the historic twinshock class. I became interested in the smaller Yamaha, the TY175 and picked one up in Denver. I've got three of them currently. Though not as powerful as the 250, they feel lighter (and are by at least 20 lbs) and seem to turn better and larger obstacles are doable with a little momentum. I've modified all my Yamaha's here and there. Yamaha MX triple clamps take the rake out providing a little more modern geometry, Sammy Miller footrests improve handling, lots of little things but not really any engine mods. The 175 engine works pretty darn good just the way it is.