huntmaster Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I just read through the recent "Trouble at AHRMA" thread on the USA forum. Yikes! Almost as bad as reading CMA/WEC politics for modern Canadian Trials! As for the former, all politics aside, the riding issues sound very familar to ones I have heard since starting to help organize and compete in vintage events here in Canada over 20 years ago. Ironically, some of the vintage bikes we see out in recent times were being used in modern events back when we started "vintage" trials in Eastern Canada! Much has changed and the old guard of BSA and Triumph riders are almost completely absent now, while the ubiquitous TY's , TLs, Sherpas, etc. are all over 30 years old. Turnouts of 40+ riders at one time have dwindled to a dozen or so at some venues. A changing of the guard may be occuring, except the new guard isn't showing up! Perhaps the future (of vintage?) trials may be as in the ITSA example of later model twin shocks or even old monos (as these bikes become increasingly uncompetitive in modern events ) encouraging new blood while offering a kinder, gentler trials then the often described "stunt riding" of modern events? As with street and roadrace bikes, the definition of "vintage" might have to move with the times. Other arguments of rider and machine eligability, section difficulty and lines offered will become moot without more riders. I have seen section difficulty get out of hand, and numbers suffer as older or inexperienced riders get worn out, banged up or break their bikes. I also realize you have to cater to the core regulars of experienced enthusiasts. Hopefully if any group can find "balance" here it will be trials riders! Like modern events, the vintage scene is spread among local pockets of activity that may or may not be CVMG sections, CVMG-associated, various local clubs, some CMA sanctioned and most totally unsanctioned. Except for roadracing we have no AHRMA equivalent in Canada...for better or worse. There is no meaninglful national ranking or standard class/rule structure. I wonder if (as per the ITSA example) that might need to change to raise the profile, help better promote and preserve the sport and provide "nationals/regionals" where the best riders from the different local series can complete with each other? Or is there a synergy with the new WEC initiative here in Canada? I also couldn't help but notice the the "I" in ITSA stands for "International"! Is there a possibility such an international series could operate in more then one country? Looking at their rules though I might personally be out of luck, as 1979 bikes are labelled "historic" and 1973 bikes are "pre-historic"...leaving my 56 Ariel "pre-pre-historic" I guess? Or maybe "pre-big bang" era? Regards, Doug Hunter Ottawa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swooshdave Posted January 20, 2009 Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 I would think the ITSA folks would be overjoyed to have a Canadian contingent. I'm not sure why they had the year cutoffs they did, but they sure seem to ignore the really old bikes. I'm sure it's because they expect so few of those bikes to show up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntmaster Posted January 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2009 (edited) Yeah, the ITSA cutoff dates for machines confuse me too, unless it was an effort to not directly compete with AHRMA classic classes? I'm not close enough to either organization to comment on any of the issues previously brought up, but interesting. I would love to have tried some AHRMA events but currently just too far for me. I too noticed how little there was in the northeast and am puzzled by the "chicken or the egg" argument there... with no one apparantly wanting to run one... but plenty of people interested in vintage trials? I rode a USCRA event in New Hampshire a few years back with a couple area riders and had a great time with the New England/eastern US crowd. My only US event ever. Like AHRMA, it was perhaps just a sideshow to the Laconia roadracing program that weekend...but with a big turnout, well run and well received. I remember thinking that with all that population and number of riders, why couldn't AHRMA have a trials presence in the Northeast? But again, I don't know all the politics. Sadly that event fell victim to financial bickering of some sort I understand. http://www.race-uscra.com/trialshunter03.html As for Canada, I think at least some of the regions we need to start doing some things differently. Doug Edited January 20, 2009 by huntmaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outlaw dave Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 Hey Doug - There may still be time to have a Vintage Class in the upcoming WEC Canadian Championship - I suggest you contact Dean Mayke - Either way, we always have ( for the last 22 years) a Vintage Class at the Outlaw Trial in The OK Valley. - This has now become a Series of three events - All it takes is enthusiasm and perseverance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntmaster Posted March 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 There's been some excellent feedback from the various regional CVMG groups in central Canada that have been organizing vintage trials events for the last 20 + years or so. At this time the hope for next year is to run a "Canadian Vintage Trials Championship" or similar in central Ontario that will be accessable for as many possble current riders from southwestern Ontario to Quebec...and hopefully beyond. There would be a "team" competition for the various particpating CVMG sections in Canada as well as the usual individual awards for the variouis rider skill and bike age classes. Piggy backing onto a modern CMA round might make the most sense and potentially let riders with old and new bikes ride both days in a "super trials" weekend. I remember at least one event a few years back where this was succesfully done. A bit to do regarding sanctioning, rules and eligibility but some good consensus already I think and it seems lots of anticipation as well. Regards, Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borus Posted March 30, 2009 Report Share Posted March 30, 2009 hi doug check out www.trialsontario.ca, there is about 32 vintage and modern events in 09 in ontario, most of which don't conflict. we do have a vintage class in the cma modern events and cma championships. any co-ordination or enhancement is great. cheers bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntmaster Posted March 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Yes, the Southwest Ontario vintage trials group have been involved in discussions on the inter-section event. Details will be provided as plans firm up for next years event. Should be fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borus Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 what is an inter-section event? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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