American Motorcyclist July 2021 by American Motorcyclist Association

July 2021

50 YEARS OF

ON ANY SUNDAY The Journal Of The

SPECIAL COLLECTORS’ EDITION

2021 AMA MEMBER SWEEPSTAKES

MONTHLY DRAWINGS

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MONTHLY DRAWINGS • Liberty Sport Eyewear • Nelson Rigg Choice: Cover, Luggage • Mimi & Moto Children’s Books • Powercases Jump Starter • Motion Pro: Pro Fill Airchuck • Warm & Safe 12V USB Adapter • Bohn Armor Skull Cap • AMA T-Shirt

QUARTERLY DRAWINGS •Bohn Armor Pant & Shirt Set •Motool Slacker & Street Kit

ANNUAL DRAWINGS

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CONTE NTS PERSPECTIVES

Editorial Director Mitch Boehm

FROM THE AMA PRESIDENT & CEO 8 AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman

AMA INSIDER

Managing Editor Joy Burgess

BACKFIRES

Membership feedback on the May issue’s female focus

SALT IN PERIL

The legendary Bonneville Salt Flats racing surface is wasting away

OAS BACK IN THEATERS

Look for a revamped digital version in a theater near you this fall

MOAB SOUNDCHECK

New ordinance targets motorcycles in Utah

COVER: 50 YEARS OF ON ANY SUNDAY 26

Five decades after its release, Bruce Brown’s epic continues to thrill

MANN AND MACHINE THE WAY WE WERE

ON THE COVER: ON ANY SUNDAY, THE POSTER While the 50th Anniversary version of the On Any Sunday poster from the Bruce Brown Films folks hasn’t changed much, the goosebumps this orange and red image generates are epic. The coolest part? Look for a re-mastered version of the movie at major theaters nationwide this fall. See page 16. Yes, we are serious!

July 2021 Volume 75, Number 7 Published by the American Motorcyclist Association americanmotorcyclist.com 4

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Hector Cademartori paints Hall of Famer and On Any Sunday alum Dick Mann

The AMA’s editors were impressed with On Any Sunday way back in Sept. 1971

HALL OF FAMERS AND HEAVY HITTERS 56

…weigh in on how On Any Sunday changed their lives

EVENT CALENDAR

FLASHBACK: OAS’ EPIC ENDING

AMA-sanctioned rides, races and events you just can’t miss

Over my shoulder through the dust I’m calling, “Run wild and catch me if you can…”

COMMUNICATIONS

AMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mitch Boehm Editorial Director

Contact any member of the AMA Board of Directors at americanmotorcyclist.com/ama-board-of-directors

Joy Burgess Managing Editor Dustin Goebel Senior Designer Gina Gaston Web Developer Kali Kotoski Editor-at-Large submissions@ama-cycle.org Steve Gotoski Director of Industry Relations and Business Memberships (951) 491-1910, sgotoski@ama-cycle.org Forrest Hayashi Advertising Manager (562) 766-9061, fhayashi@ama-cycle.org Lynette Cox Marketing Manager (614) 856-1900, ext. 1223, lcox@ama-cycle.org All trademarks used herein (unless otherwise noted) are owned by the AMA and may only be used with the express, written permission of the AMA.

Russ Ehnes Chair Great Falls, Mont. Gary Pontius Vice Chair Westfield, Ind. Byron Snider Assistant Treasurer Newbury Park, Calif. Jerry Abboud Executive Committee Member Thornton, Colo. Paul Vitrano Executive Committee Member Medina, Minn. Brad Baumert Louisville, Ky. Robert Pearce Hub Brennan Amherst, Ohio E. Greenwhich, R.I. Tom Umphress Christopher Cox Jordan, Minn. Florence, S.C. Faisel Zaman Mark Hosbach Franklin, Tenn. Dallas, Texas

American Motorcyclist is the monthly publication of the American Motorcyclist Association, which represents motorcyclists nationwide. For information on AMA membership benefits, call (800) AMA-JOIN or visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com. Manuscripts, photos, drawings and other editorial contributions must be accompanied by return postage. No responsibility is assumed for loss or damage to unsolicited material. Copyright© American Motorcyclist Association, 2021.

(800) AMA-JOIN (262-5646) (614) 856-1900 AmericanMotorcyclist.com @AmericanMotorcyclist @ama_riding

AMA STAFF EXECUTIVE

ACCOUNTING

Rob Dingman President/Chief Executive Officer

Karen Esposito Accounting Manager Deb D’Andrea Data Entry Representative

James Holter Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wolens Chief Financial Officer Donna Perry Executive Assistant to President/CEO Danielle Smith Human Resources Manager/Assistant to COO

RACING AND ORGANIZER SERVICES Mike Pelletier Director of Racing Bill Cumbow Director of International Competition Michael Burkeen Deputy Director of Racing

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS Michael Sayre Director of Government Relations Nick Haris Western States Representative Tiffany Cipoletti Government Relations Manager, On-Highway Peter Stockus Government Relations Manager, Off-Highway Erin Reda Grassroots Coordinator

Erek Kudla Off-Road Racing Manager

MUSEUM

Ken Saillant Track Racing Manager

Daniel Clepper Collections Manager Paula Schremser Program Specialist Ricky Shultz Clerk

Joe Bromley Program Development Manager Alexandria Kovacs Program Manager Connie Fleming Supercross/FIM Coordinator Lakota Ashworth Racing Coordinator Olivia Davis Racing Coordinator Serena Van Dyke Recreational Riding Coordinator

OPERATIONS Steve Austin Director of Operations John Bricker Mailroom Manager Rob Baughman Operations Specialist Ed Madden System Support Specialist

MARKETING AND MEMBER SERVICES Amanda Donchess Director of Membership Marketing and Services Jennifer Finn Member Activity Coordinator Lauren Snyder Marketing and Advertising Coordinator Tiffany Pound Member Services Manager Stephanie McCormick Member Services Representative Vickie Park Member Services Representative Ellen Wenning Member Services Representative Charles Moore Member Services Representative

American Motorcyclist magazine (ISSN 0277-9358) is published monthly (12 issues) by the American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147. Copyright by the American Motorcyclist Association/American Motorcyclist 2021. Printed in USA. Subscription rate: Magazine subscription fee of $19.95 covered in membership dues. Postmaster: Mail form 3579 to 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147. Periodical postage paid at Pickerington, Ohio, and at additional mailing offices.

PERSPECTIVES

OF RED SL70s AND SUNDAYS By Mitch Boehm

t doesn’t seem possible when I think of it, and it’s even harder to comprehend when I watch myself type it. But my very first motorcycle — and my first substantial motorcycle experiences, really — happened 50 years ago, just about the time On Any Sunday was turning people on to the thrills of our sport. For me, those first motorcycling hooks were the minibikes and trail bikes I saw ripping up the fields and trails behind our northern Ohio suburban home, which butted up against a large tract of open land upon which, about 150 yards back, was a line of high-tension wires that stretched for miles. The wires had a dirt service road — a two-track, really — running alongside them, and I’ll always remember my Dad telling me they were a big part of why he and my Mom bought that particular home. “They’re never gonna build behind us,” he’d say, “and I knew you would always have a place to play.” And boy was he right. The bikes being ridden back there were all over the map…a few Tecumseh and Briggs & Stratton minibikes, a Benelli, a couple of Z50 Hondas, a Bridgestone and even a Jawa. I’d pedal my Schwinn Sting Ray back there just about every day to watch them zip around, and within a few weeks I could literally think of nothing else. Mom and Dad noticed, of course, and for Christmas blessed me with what’s easily the best gift of my life aside from the birth of my son Alex…a blood red 1971

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Honda SL70. That Motosport 70 was basically a minibike, but it sure didn’t look like it. Unlike Honda’s other minis such as the Z50, QA50 and CT70, the littlest SL looked just like its larger siblings, the SL100, 125 and 175 — only scaled down a bit. It was quiet, too, which meant I could ride it just about anywhere… on those trails, in the fields surrounding the local elementary school, up and down the street, and even down to Polly’s deli for penny candy. I don’t remember a soul complaining about us riding in the neighborhood, we never had a run-in with the police, and when we did see a cruiser we jumped off and pushed (or pretended to) — and they smiled and drove on by. It was a very simple and innocent time. Bruce Brown captured that simplicity and innocence wonderfully in On Any Sunday. Southern California, Daytona Beach and El Escorial, Spain were worlds away from little ol’ North Ridgeville, Ohio. But the common threads of freedom, excitement, speed and camaraderie inherent in motorcycling and in OAS connected them all, and made motorcycling seem very special, something to aspire to, something to cherish. I still own a red SL70. It’s not the machine I rode back in the day, and it needs a carb clean and some tank rust dealt with. But it puts a smile on my face every time I see it — just like On Any Sunday. So thanks, Mom and Dad. And thank you, Bruce.

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FROM THE AMA PRESIDENT & CEO

A TALE OF TWO MOVIES By Rob Dingman

Whether leaping stacked cars, Mack trucks or Greyhound buses, [Knievel’s] next jump always promised to be bigger and more dangerous than the last. 8

t never ceases to amaze me how many hundreds of motorcyclists I have met over the years who attribute their interest and passion for motorcycling to Bruce Brown’s On Any Sunday documentary. Having been only 5 years old when On Any Sunday hit theaters in 1971, the movie wasn’t the motorcycling hook for me that it was for riders slightly older than me. Although I discovered Brown’s production roughly twenty years later, the two-wheeled hook for me had been set by motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel at roughly the same time as the debut of OAS in the summer of ’71. Although too young at the time to now be able to recall a specific jump that led to my fascination with Knievel, I remember all the hype leading up to his jumps, televised on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Whether leaping stacked cars, Mack trucks or Greyhound buses, the next jump always promised to be bigger and more dangerous than the last. I can still recall the disappointment when he failed to cross Idaho’s Snake River Canyon in his rocket-powered Sky Cycle. Like many of you, I’m sure, I also had the greatest motorcycle toy of all time — the Evel Knievel stunt cycle and launcher. I mention the influence of Knievel because in researching what was published by the AMA about On Any Sunday in 1971 (see page 54 for the entire writeup) I discovered a movie review that compared the film with another that came out at the same time, which starred George Hamilton in a movie called Evel Knievel. The OAS review, which appeared in the September 1971 issue of American Motorcyclist’s predecessor AMA News,

said this: “On Any Sunday possesses such impact, those who know motorcycling well are apt to find themselves disarmed and speechless, emerging from the theater repeating superlatives such as ‘great’ and ‘fantastic’ in an effort to verbalize their awe.” The piece conveyed that On Any Sunday was likely to make viewers see motorcycling and motorcyclists in a positive light. “Thousands of these viewers will be turned on by On Any Sunday,” it continued, “introduced to the world of motorcycling in a way that will make it impossible for their fear or distrust to remain. Many will continue from the theater to their first Sunday outing, to witness the sport first hand. And even if they don’t, they will come away from the film with a different regard for motorcycling that you will see revealed in their faces the next time they see you astride your road machine or towing your dirt bikes.” The reviewer told readers they would find it intensely self-gratifying to take someone who does not understand motorcycling to see On Any Sunday. By comparison, the review of Evel Knievel was not as flattering. I guess that’s why we are still talking and writing about On Any Sunday today while few probably even remember that Hamilton once played the world's best-known motorcycle daredevil on the silver screen. On Any Sunday continues to inspire and entertain today. Get one of your non-motorcyclist friends or family members to watch it with you. You will be glad you did. Rob Dingman, a Charter Life Member, is president and CEO of the AMA.

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LIFE-SAVING SUNDAY By Joy Burgess

I’ve often said that motorcycles and On Any Sunday saved my life. Motorcycles, and the people who ride them, helped me find my way again. 10

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

ust a few months into my job here at the AMA, an industry friend asked me, “How do you like working there?” My reply? “It’s the dream job I never knew I needed.” And it’s true! A handful of years ago I never dreamed I’d work in the motorcycle industry. And I’m pretty sure no one who knew me figured I’d work in the industry, either, as motorcycles had not been on my radar at all. But here I am. And it’s all because I watched a movie. You guessed it… On Any Sunday. Rewind back to 2015, and I was stuck in the middle of one of the darkest times of my life. My husband had just passed away, and I was suddenly a 35-year-old widow and single mom. Everything in my life had been turned upside down; I didn’t know where I belonged anymore. Then, one Tuesday afternoon I received a book about Malcolm Smith (who I’d never heard of), started reading it, and it was in those pages I first saw a mention of On Any Sunday. “What’s On Any Sunday?” I asked a friend, who I’m pretty sure was horrified at my question. A few minutes later, I was watching the movie that would change my life. “A motorcycle is whatever you want to make it,” Bruce Brown narrated. “Turn it on and you can give yourself a real thrill.” As I watched men, women, kids, grandparents, racers and weekend warriors twisting the throttle, I was hooked — and I hadn’t even ridden yet. For an hour and twenty-eight minutes I was transported to a place where anyone could jump on a motorcycle, leave their troubles

behind and find freedom. Freedom! That grabbed my attention. Watching Malcolm Smith, Steve McQueen and Mert Lawwill in the cowtrailing and beach scenes absolutely took my breath away. All I could think was that I had to do this. I needed to have that feeling. I’d never been on a motorcycle before, but I felt like I’d found that thing that’d been missing all my life. I must have watched that movie 50 or 100 times before I finally found my way onto a motorcycle. “Brake, clutch, shift, throttle,” Bruce says at the beginning of the film, “Just simple coordination.” Those words were echoing in my head the first time I jumped on a little Honda and finally tried two wheels for myself. My first ride wasn’t nearly as dramatic as the one portrayed in the film, but it was life-changing. When I got on a motorcycle, it felt like nothing could catch me. The darkness fell away, and there was indescribable joy. I still feel it every time I throw a leg over my bike and twist the throttle. I’ve often said that motorcycles and On Any Sunday saved my life. Motorcycles, and the people who ride them, helped me find my way again. And I found freedom, joy and, maybe most importantly, a family where I belong. I’m so grateful that 50 years ago Bruce Brown had the idea to “do a movie about motorcycles.” My life has been forever changed. And I hope this issue of American Motorcyclist provides him and his family the thanks that mere words can’t. Joy Burgess is the Managing Editor of the AMA

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BACKFIRES

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Girls On Fire!

our May issue was Grrrreat! Especially seeing Emmi Cupp on the cover. See, her basket-case Tiger Cub was purchased from yours truly. At AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days in about 2011 I was looking around the swap meet and spotted a forlorn little Tiger Cub looking for a new home. Day after day it remained unsold. It was well worn but mostly complete. On the last day when everyone was packing up, the little Cub meowed a plea for me to take it home. I made an end-of-the-show deal, packed it in my Tahoe and home to Virginia we went. I parked it next to five other English project bikes, and years passed. My pal Jeremy Cupp has his shop about five miles from my house, and in late fall of 2018 he came over to buy my 441 BSA. We started looking at the Cub, and Jeremy thought it might make a good Christmas present for his daughter Emmi. It sounded good to me, and the little Cub agreed. After Christmas I’d stop by his shop every few weeks and watch the Tiger Cub get reborn. Emmi’s vision of what the Cub could be was awesome! I suggested they take lots of pictures and send them to the AMA. To see the finished bike and the joy it provided Emmi and her Dad was gratifying. To see her on the cover with the great article by Joy Burgess made my day. Thanks! “Big Al” Mattichak | Virginia

More on May

Nice Knowin’ Ya, Gene!

I just wanted to congratulate you and everyone else responsible for your May issue. It’s the first time in decades that I’ve read every article and page of this publication. It’s about time our community not only recognized but welcomed women riders. Thanks much!

PAY ATTENTION! Or not, as “you” see fit. It would be smart to forward this to someone that matters. But, I have no doubt that won’t happen. Also, this will be on record somewhere unless YOU delete it. I’ve been Biker for over 60 years, an assistant coordinator for Texas A.B.A.T.E. I always advocated for the AMA WITH push back! I’ve seen the decline in

John Marshall | Barrington, NH

“real” ones. Your May 2021 issue was the LAST STRAW for me. My membership (of many years) WILL be cancelled. My pins will be trashed and I will no longer advocate or EVER return. GOT THAT? You lost a real one! Gene Bevil | Somewhere in TX

Bugsy Dick Mann’s recent passing was a sad thing for the entire motorcycling world, and while thinking about him I remembered a story his late wife Susie once related about one of Bugsy’s experiences at the Daytona 200. This was back when qualifying was done via a flying lap on the Tri-Oval on Wednesday or Thursday. It was the same day that the Alligator Enduro was contested nearby. The day started with heavy rain, which was forecasted to continue throughout the day. Seeing that qualifying would certainly be delayed, Mann took his BSA thumper and entered the enduro. Sure enough, by midday, the rain stopped and the track began to dry. BSA sent people to try to find Mann and get him back to the Speedway, because if you didn’t qualify on that day, you couldn’t start in the first wave. Time was running out to qualify, and there was no sign of Mann. BSA was desperate. They finally managed to squeeze Mann’s teammate Ralph White into Mann’s leathers. This was no mean feat, as White was significantly taller than Mann. They sent him out to qualify for Mann. What really annoyed White was that he qualified better as Mann than as himself! Perhaps the compressed version offered less wind resistance? As far as I know, Dick Mann was the only rider ever to qualify for the Daytona 200 without having actually been there. Art Friedman | Santa Paula, CA

Letters to the editor are the opinions of the AMA members who write them. Inclusion here does not imply they reflect the positions of the AMA, its staff or board. Agree? Disagree? Let us know. Send letters to submissions@ama-cycle.org; or mail to American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity.

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UP TO SPEED

SALT IN The Restore Bonneville program has stalled, bureaucracy has failed, and the legendary Salt Flats are at risk…but you can help By Joy Burgess

“F

or motorcyclists,” Hall of Famer and former fastest man on two wheels Chris Carr told American Motorcyclist, “the Bonneville Salt Flats is one of our seven wonders of the world. If you want to go really fast, Bonneville is the most famous place in the world to do that.” But according to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), while racers were once able to push velocity limits on 13 miles of racetrack at Bonneville, today there are only 8 miles of straightaway available for those attempting to set land-speed records. For over half a century, the land-speed racing community has continued to sound the alarm that government neglect and mismanagement are destroying the beloved Salt Flats. Since 1946, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been the custodian of the land. Their response to racers’ concerns? A long line of studies. “Frankly, Bonneville has been studied to death,” notes SEMA. Over 60 miles long, the Bonneville Salt Flats are divided in half by highways and railroad tracks, with racetracks on the north side and a potash processing plant on the south side. Racing and mining survived side-by-side until BLM started issuing leases in the 1960s that allowed salt to be transferred south through miles of ditches without any proof that there’d

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

be no damage to the racing portion of the Salt Flats. It’s estimated that 50 to 75 million tons of salt were removed from Bonneville, with much of that salt currently located in large evaporative potash processing ponds. The potash mine’s owner and the racing community created a salt brine return system in the 1990s, which was implemented with BLM approval. For some time, pumping in an average of 1.2 million tons per year stabilized Bonneville’s crust and even led to some small increases, but the pumping volumes have been more limited in recent years. In 1989 the Save the Salt Coalition (STS) was formed by a group of racers, community members and businesses with the mission to protect the Bonneville Salt Flats — which has been designated an “Area of Critical Environmental Concern” — and to promote its history and motorsports legacy. “In 2015,” Stuart Gosswein, Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs at SEMA, told American Motorcyclist, “we had a summit bringing all the stakeholders together— including the BLM, Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Intrepid potash mining operation, the land-speed racing community, and State and Federal legislators — and what we called the Restore Bonneville program was conceptualized.”

Highlights of the program include: The Utah DNR and BLM will oversee the salt brine pumping program, and the program will be funded via annual appropriations from the BLM and the State of Utah; Intrepid will increase pumping volumes via infrastructure upgrades; the overall cost of the program will be approximately $50 million across 10 years, with most money coming from federal and state appropriations, with Intrepid donating the value of the salt, and contributions from the racing community. “In April 2020,” Gosswein continued, “the Utah Department of Natural Resources and the BLM signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the Restore Bonneville program.” While this initially seemed like a huge win for the Salt Flats, bureaucratic inefficiency has the program at a standstill. Paperwork outlining the project’s scope and requirements is incomplete, and funding has been withheld as a consequence. “We had an unspecified amount of money available,” Gosswein mentioned, “in the 2020 Federal Appropriations — likely around $1 to $4 million — that we could have tapped to start the program. And that money has gone by the wayside. We potentially have a similar amount of monies available for 2021, but right now we’re still trying to get that money released so we can start funding the

Scooter Grubb

N PERIL The Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials, the AMA Land Speed Grand Championship — an AMA- and FIMsanctioned event — will take place Aug. 28 through Sept. 2, 2021.

project.” Gosswein added that there’s an additional $1 million in Utah matching funds available once federal monies are released. In May 2021, the Department of the Interior briefed Congressional appropriators on the status of the program. BLM and Utah DNR officials are still outlining program specifics and measurables that are required to allow a release of federal funds. They want to review previous studies to quantify the effects of an increased salt laydown and confirm the program’s ultimate success, while also outlining the infrastructure upgrades needed to dramatically expand the pumping. So while there’s some positive news on the bureaucratic front,

the project is spinning wheels until more salt is pumped. Meanwhile, the racing community continues to move ahead. “Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials supports the responsible stewardship of the historic racing surface on the Bonneville Salt Flats, and the Restore Bonneville program,” says Delvene Reber, owner and operator of Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials. “As history continues to be made every year by motorcyclists vying for FIM World and AMA National Land Speed Records, these restoration efforts are essential to ensure that future generations can continue to race.” “There are very few places in the world where you can flat out go as fast

as you want,” Carr said, “and racers down the road might not get a chance to experience this if something isn’t done soon. People have been racing there longer than I’ve been alive; knowing future generations might not be able to enjoy that is a scary feeling.” Until the Restore Bonneville agreement is implemented, Bonneville remains critically endangered. Still, there’s the potential for a happy ending. You can send a message to the Bureau of Land Management and Utah’s Dept. of Natural Resources to let them know you support saving the historic Bonneville Salt Flats. Check americanmotorcyclist. com for the latest news on Bonneville or visit savethesalt.org to get involved. July 2021

UP TO SPEED

Todd Huffman, interviewing Bruce Brown for Huffman’s The Motocross Files series, in 2007.

ON ANY SUNDAY HEADED BACK TO THEATERS! Limited nationwide engagements this fall… just what Bruce Brown would have wanted By Mitch Boehm Editor’s Note: Aside from a couple of small anniversary showings over the years, it’s been 50 years since On Any Sunday has been seen in bigscreen movie theaters as it was during 1971. Fortunately, thanks to producer Todd Huffman (The Motocross Files, The John Penton Story, etc.), Bruce Brown Films, Gathr Films and Bayview Entertainment, you’ll be able to see motorcycling’s favorite movie the way OAS creator Bruce Brown intended — on the big screen. And not only that, the movie you’ll see will be better than ever, having undergone a digital remastering process that’ll make the images and scenes cleaner and more colorful than ever. We recently sat down with filmmaker Todd Huffman to get the scoop.

merican Motorcyclist: You’ve produced a lot of motorcycleand racing-oriented movies and videos over the years. How influential was On Any Sunday to your own career path?

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Todd Huffman: Well, like most of the millions of kids and adults affected by the film when it came out in 1971 — I watched it twice, back-to-back as an 8or 9-year-old at the Empire Theatre in Placerville, California — we were inspired

to ride BMX because motorcycles were out of reach financially and racing was frowned upon for safety reasons. I did get to race motocross a handful of times, but BMX became my “thing,” and I became a professional BMX racer in 1980 and

worked for the “Godfather of BMX” Scot Breithaupt of SE Racing. Fast-forward 40 years and we’re doing films, videos and TV shows about motorcycles. Even had the honor and privilege to interview Bruce Brown in 2007 for our TV series The Motocross Files. AM: So, what’s the story with this new version of the movie? What’s different about it? TH: From what I’ve heard from Alex Mecl at Bruce Brown Films, he and his team had been thinking about the 50th anniversary and what would be the best way to celebrate and honor Bruce’s wonderful work. They decided last year to have the film completely re-color-graded, fixing scratches and other blemishes, and then remixed the audio and soundtrack in 5.1 surround sound, to remaster everything in HD. They didn’t change or add anything, just made what was there better. I’ve seen about five minutes in side-by-side comparison and it’s very noticeable and improved. I can’t wait to experience seeing it on a big screen this fall! AM: How did the idea to re-launch On Any Sunday in movie theaters, just as it happened back in 1971, come about? TH: We had some success with our movie PENTON: The John Penton Story in 2014 with Gathr Films’ Theatrical On Demand system, with about 100 screenings. We learned how it works for a passionate, niche market and how to tie it in to retailers, clubs, etc. I started thinking about the On Any Sunday anniversary well over a year ago and how the Gathr Films system would work even better with this movie. Little did I know that Bruce Brown Films was working on an enhanced version for streaming and DVD/Blu-ray. So, I got the right folks to have a conversation about this, and that took a while. But once they understood what I wanted to do with Gathr Films it was a no-brainer for the simple fact they understood that this is what Bruce would have wanted — for folks to see the film again on the big screen. We did the licensing agreement with Bayview Entertainment, which owns the theatrical

and public screening rights, and with Bruce Brown Films for sponsorship and merchandising rights. AM: So how will this all work? Which theaters, which cities, etc? TH: Through Gathr Films’ website, motorcycle dealers, clubs, racers and regular enthusiasts will be able to sign up beginning July 1, 2021, to be an On Any Sunday Movie Captain and host a screening in their town this fall beginning in October. This program will be available in almost all the major theater chains nationwide, like AMC, Cinemark and others, plus independents. The Movie Captains will be able to

“We’re excited and honored to bring On Any Sunday to the big screen once again this fall. We’ll encourage older fans to take younger people who have never seen the film on the big screen, or never at all.” — Todd Huffman select a theater based on their zip code and then a date, which will be a Monday or Wednesday because those are slow days for theaters showing regular Hollywood fare. With this, they’ll get a link to their screening and their “tipping point” of ticket reservations before the screening will be “booked.” Usually the tipping point will be a small amount, like 50-75 tickets depending on the theater and the market. It’ll be lower in smaller markets compared to LA or Manhattan. With this link the Movie Captain can then start

rallying their friends and friends of friends on social media, email blasts, etc. to have folks reserve tickets. No money is taken by Gathr until the screening “tips” and the minimum is reached. Once the screening has tipped then the sky’s the limit on how many tickets can be sold, and the theater will keep bumping up the screening to bigger theaters. We had many screenings for PENTON that started off in a hundredseater and ended up in the biggest 500+ seat theater in the complex. It’s really neat how it works. Movie Captains can even make money on the screenings through Gathr Films. AM: Will there be events surrounding the limited showings? Bike shows, dealer involvement, legends sightings, etc. TH: Yeah, that’s the idea. We want motorcycle dealers to have open houses, BBQs, ride-to-the-theater meet-ups, etc. We already have commitments from guys that were in the film and other legends to be available for appearances at dealers and screenings. Guys like Mert Lawwill, Dave Aldana, Keith Mashburn, Jeff Ward, Ricky Johnson and Bruce’s son, the Dust to Glory Director Dana Brown have all said they will make themselves available if people want them to come to their screening for autographs, pictures, Q&A session after the film, etc. It will be cool for those fans that get to experience this, too! Overall, we’re excited and honored to bring On Any Sunday to the big screen once again this fall. We’ll encourage older fans to take younger people who have never seen the film on the big screen or never at all. If you think about it, most motorcycle enthusiasts under the age of 55 have never seen the film on the big screen in a modern theater environment. Crappy VHS copies, DVDs or YouTube versions are all they have seen. We have opportunities for companies to associate themselves with the film and brand through sponsorships. Interested parties can contact me at todd@pdmtv.com. For more information visit OnAnySundayat50.com, or find them on Facebook, Instagram and more.

July 2021

UP TO SPEED

MOAB, UTAH’S NOISE ORDINANCE TARGETS MOTORCYCLISTS The City Council aims to cool tensions between residents, but motorcycle advocates argue the measure misses the mark By Kali Kotoski

strict new noise ordinance passed by Moab’s City Council in late April — if fully enforced — would unfairly target local motorcyclists in the area, claim advocates that see the ordinance as heavy-handed, predatory and potentially devastating to riding opportunities in eastern Utah. They also say that the ordinance does not address the root causes of the problems, nor works to find a fair solution based on real-world sound testing. After years of surging recreational tourism largely fueled by the growing popularity of UTVs, noise pollution has become one of the most controversial issues in Moab, dividing the community with some residents casting blame on all

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

OHVs while motorcycle riders insist that practical regulations can cool temperatures without infringing on motorcyclist’s rights, explained Clif Koontz, executive director of the nonprofit Ride with Respect. Meanwhile, tourism-related OHV businesses worry that harsh restrictions could cap growth potential. “Noise has been a legitimate concern in Moab for decades, but the issue became critical in 2015 with the influx of UTVs on the streets,” Koontz said. “We need pragmatic and enforceable solutions like stationary sound testing, but that needs to account for differences in vehicle types because UTVs operate at consistently higher RPMs and generate more sound.”

By lumping all vehicle types to a single stationary standard, the ordinance winds up being stricter toward motorcycles and automobiles than they are toward UTVs, he added. The Moab City Council on April 27 voted to adopt a noise ordinance for all vehicles stricter than nationally-recognized standards, with additional restrictions during the nighttime and on weekends. The council agreed to a 92-decibel limit following an adoption of the same level by Grand County officials a week prior. While the Moab 92 dBa limit is in effect between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, the window is shortened to 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Nighttime limits drop drastically to 85 dBa with no seasonal changes. Street-legal OHVs, including motorcycles, would be tested for compliance using a stationary test with the engine revved to 50 percent of its maximum RPM, according to the ordinance. The ordinance also sets other specific decibel limits for tests from 25 and 50 feet away. The Moab City Council argues that the 92 dBa limit is achievable because most stock OHVs can meet this standard, or can be modified to meet it with aftermarket parts. “I do feel like if this noise ordinance can reinstate confidence in our relationship between residents and the

motorized recreation community, then it’s a good thing,” said Mayor Emily Niehaus during the April 27 meeting. In practice, Koontz explained, the nighttime limit of 85 dBa would give law enforcement officers license to pull over any motorcycle rider to perform a sound test, which would be a strain on resources and act as an arbitrary “curfew.” Additionally, Koontz thinks the 92 dBa limit for UTVs is “reasonable” using aftermarket modifications, but when applied to motorcycles it is too stringent. “In reality, the 92 dBa limit using a stationary test at half of the maximum RPM doesn’t make sense because riders can practically idle through town,” he said. “Of course, there are bad apples who we want to help reform, and the most effective strategy would be to follow recognized standards and similar policies in neighboring states.” Ride with Respect, like the American Motorcyclist Association, endorses a limit of 96 dBA identified by Society of

Automotive Engineers for on-highway motorcycles under SAE J2825 and under SAE J1287 for off-highway motorcycles as a reasonable standard for sound measurement and as a way to ensure economic growth for local, tourismoriented businesses. Those standards are the industry-accepted benchmark and are nationally accepted. The Moab ordinance sets a standard even lower than states such as California, Washington and New Hampshire. “Numerous states follow J2825 or J1287 and they have proven to work. Those states also reduce confusion, as the 96 dBa limit is met by all stock motorcycle mufflers and many aftermarket ones,” Koontz said. Ahead of the April 27 vote, the AMA put out an Action Alert on April 26 calling on concerned motorcyclists to contact Moab officials in opposition of the local ordinance. Hundreds of motorcyclists followed through to voice their concerns. However, according to

an Op-Ed by Samantha Bonsack, a local motorcycle safety advocate and owner of a motorcycle tourism company, published in the Moab Times-Independent, concerns went ignored. “[The AMA] provided a well-written letter for riders to add personal comments to and send in to be counted in the public comments. I was one of over 300 riders who did so, only to see them discounted by city and county officials, not included in the public record, and even characterized as ‘spam,’” Bonsack wrote. “When laws are made overly strict, especially when they’re specific to profiled groups like motorcyclists, it creates a perfect storm for a profile-prone officer to enforce an ordinance as written for all riders, rather than as intended for only blatant violators,” she added. Look for updates and more information at americanmotorcyclist.com and ridewithrespect.org.

UP TO SPEED

The author (No. 187) and Hall of Famer David Aldana (No. 13), blasting away from the Mid-Ohio starting gate in 2007.

AMA VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE DAYS IS ON! Racing with a legend is just one of the epic things you can do at Mid-Ohio this July By Mitch Boehm

nyone who’s been to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days held annually at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio (it’s July 23-25) knows there’s a lot going on there, and chances are good you’ll get to rub

elbows with some of our sport’s legends while you’re at it. And that’s certainly the case this year, with AMA Hall of Famer — and On Any Sunday alum — David Aldana scheduled to be in attendance. Of course, whenever I hear Aldana’s

name I’m reminded of a special event that took place back in 2007 at VMD. It was dubbed the Legends MX race, and included an array of 1960s, ’70s and ’80s motocross and racing legends, including Aldana (No. 13, pictured to my right), Tommy Croft, John DeSoto, Donnie Hansen, Ricky Johnson, Gary Jones, Ron Lechien, Gary Semics, Jeff Smith, Jimmy Weinert and a host of others. Being a magazine editor at the time I was invited to compete (and write about it), and ended up lining up between Aldana and Hansen on my buddy Bill Orazio’s 1973 Honda CR250. It was a sketchy situation for me (and probably for Aldana and Hansen, too), as I’d been up at the roadrace course all weekend doing the MOMBA story (more on that later) and hadn’t ridden the motocross track at all during the weekend. I’d also never ridden Orazio’s Elsinore, and as I got ready for the start I remember wondering, as I squinted toward turn one, whether it went right or left. I literally had no clue. But it was a total gas, and an honor, as

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well, as these were the guys I’d idolized as a young motocrosser growing up in Northern Ohio during the 1970s. I finished toward the back, of course, and ended up dicing with two-time 500cc world motocross champion Jeff Smith. Smith was 72 at the time, and rode the wheels off his motorcycle that day, and riding behind him — after he’d passed me — was a thrill I will never forget. I’ll also never forget how tuckered I was after the race; I could barely stand after handing Orazio his motorcycle back! Of course, on top of all the road and off-road racing there’s a whole range of cool stuff to do, including bike shows, spectacular Wall of Death performances, plenty of camping fun and the alwaysinteresting Swap Meet, which you can literally get lost in. So whether you’re racing or just checking out the scene on your Honda Trail 70 or Suzuki Trail Hopper, you’re sure to generate some thrills of your own at the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days event July 23-25 at Mid-Ohio.

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UP TO SPEED

L to R: Scott Bright, Stockton Powersports GM Tim Coons, winner Bill Powell and the AMA’s Steve Gotoski.

AMA SWEEPSTAKES BRINGS BRIGHT SPOT DURING A TRYING TIME William “Bill” Powell got the family together to receive the 2020 Yamaha XSR900 Grand Prize By Kali Kotoski

t had been a tough year for Bill Powell, who lost his wife Judy to the coronavirus in October after nearly 56 years of marriage. The two had spent nearly their entire lives together, meeting in the early 1960s when Bill was just a 17-year-old dirt bike rider in the San Francisco Bay area. “Judy and I were on bikes for many, many years,” Bill said with a chuckle. “For her first Christmas present after we got married I gave her a little Hodaka Ace 90, and she loved it. Losing her had really put me in a deep depression. She was the love of my life.” During their years together, motorcycles had always been the glue that kept the family close, from Bill helping run the family-owned business Powell Enterprises in Almeda — a motorcycle dealership that carried Honda, Kawasaki, Bultaco and Suzuki— to helping raise a thoroughly devoted race family, as well as being lifelong AMA members.

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Bill’s daughter Cindy and son-in-law Scott Bright are avid racers. Scott is an ISDE veteran Enduro racer and Cindy also races enduros. Their 17-year-old son, Chase Ryder Bright, is a Husqvarna factory rider. While the loss of Judy has been devasting, winning the 2020 AMA Member Sweepstakes gave the Powells a chance to come together and celebrate their riding legacy over the 2020 Yamaha XRS900 Grand Prize. “When I was first told that I won the bike I didn’t believe it, because I have never won anything. I didn’t think it was real until the bike was delivered to me in Stockton, California,” Bill said, adding that despite pandemic-related travel restrictions his family made sure to fly out from Colorado to greet the Yamaha as it arrived at Stockton Powersports, which carries Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki. “It was like the biggest birthday party I have ever had” he added, “and it was a bright spot after everything we

had gone through.” Bill, who is 76, took his first ride in eight years on that Yamaha, but doesn’t plan to keep it. He’ll eventually decide which family member to give it to, though it’s bound to be a tough choice as everyone is clamoring to get the bike, he explained. For now, the Yamaha is being safely stored in Bill’s garage at his ranch in Sonora, Calif. The AMA Member Sweepstakes is an annual program that gives joining and renewing members as well as Life members a chance to win prizes throughout the year. Members who join or renew their membership from Jan. 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2021, are automatically entered into the AMA Member Sweepstakes and could win annual, quarterly and monthly prizes. For more information go to https:// americanmotorcyclist.com/2021-amamember-sweepstakes/.

NORTHWEST, NORTH CENTRAL REGIONS TO HOLD AMA BOARD ELECTIONS Individual Members Can Apply to Run

MA members in the Northwest and North Central regions of the United States may apply to run in an election for the AMA Board of Directors. The Northwest seat is currently held by AMA Board Chair, Russ Ehnes. The North Central seat is currently held by AMA Board Vice Chair, Gary Pontius. AMA members who live in Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Montana and Idaho are eligible to apply to run for the Northwest Region. AMA members who live in North

Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana are eligible to apply to run for the seat representing the North Central Region. The deadline for applications is Sept. 15, 2021. The election will be held Dec. 15 through Jan. 15. For application information, email elections@ama-cycle. org or call (614) 856-1900. The AMA Board of Directors includes 12 members — six elected by individual members, four elected by business members, and two at-large members appointed and ratified at the annual national AMA member meeting.

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UP TO SPEED

MOTOR MAID RETURNS TO BMW ROOTS

With a generous contribution to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, Karen Mahaffey nabs a 1973 R75/5 — with a sidecar! By Kali Kotoski

aren Mahaffey of Tulsa, Okla., has always been an avid BMW motorcycle fan, having first owned a 1976 BMW R90/6 when she was 30 years old. Over the years she put 92,000 miles on that bike and has ridden across all 48 states plus Hawaii, largely with her fellow Motor Maids. So when Mahaffey, now 78, received an email last year from AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Mary McGee as part of a donation drive for the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation — the nonprofit organization that raises money for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame — she was immediately struck by the restored 1973 BMW R75/5 and its matching sidecar that was on offer for a $20,000 financial commitment.

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“I have ridden BMWs my whole life until recently when I got a HarleyDavidson Trike,” Mahaffey said. “But I was looking to get a BMW with a sidecar, and because the ’73 BMW looks just like my first one, it was too hard to resist.” The BMW R75/5 just happened to be the 2020 Hall of Fame raffle bike

restored by Jay Medieros of Vintage Triumph Supply in Bedford, Mass., and Mary McGee luckily had the winning ticket. Instead of collecting the prize, the female motocross and road-racing pioneer thought the bike would be better served as a gift for donors while raising vital funds for Hall of Fame activities. And when Mahaffey called to inquire if the bike was still available, she was both thrilled and surprised that it was. “I worked my whole life and had some money set aside,” Mahaffey said, “and was happy to make the donation because I support what the AMA and the museum do.” Now, with the 1973 BMW R75/5 having been delivered to her home in Tulsa, Mahaffey is excited to learn to ride with a sidecar. “I put 92,000 miles on my first BMW,” Mahaffey said, “and this one only has 12,000 miles on it. Who knows how many I will put on!” You can make a tax-deductible contribution to the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the 501(c)(3) that raises money for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Call 614-856-2222 to learn more.

ON THE RADAR

Oregon Governor Vetoes Lane-Sharing Bill

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Lane sharing in Oregon was one step closer to becoming a reality after the Oregon House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 574 with a vote of 42 to 14 on May 17. The House vote occurred after the Oregon Senate passed the bill in early May with wide bipartisan support. The passage marks nearly seven www.mxbootrepair.com years of advocacy work by local Oregon motorcycle organizations and the AMA to educate lawmakers on the bill’s safety, BC_047460_DRI0416P.indd 1/11/16 Anthony's benefit logo.indd 1 1 7/28/16 traffic and environmental benefits. Despite bipartisan support, however, Gov. Kate Brown vetoed the bill on May 27, Proud sponsor of citing her concerns about safety. Although MotoAmerica ® the Legislature could still override that veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers, it’s highly unlikely. • Crash Damage Repair “The AMA is disappointed in Governor • Section & Zipper Replacement & Repair Brown for ignoring the will of the • Custom Lazer Engraving & Cutting Legislature, which passed this bill with Leather Drop Off • Alteration, Cleaning & Dyeing broad support,” said the AMA’s Director Locations at All MotoAmerica Races of Government Relations Michael Sayre. Authorized Repair Center for Dainese, Alpinestars, REV’IT, MITHOS, and SPIDI “Despite a veto, we’d like to congratulate advocates in the state who’ve lobbied for 949-486-9000 • anthonysleatherworks.com years to get this bill to the Governor’s desk, which is farther than lane-filtering legislation has ever gone in Oregon, and the AMA plans to continue to work with Oregon advocates to overcome this final hurdle in the future.”

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U.S. House Introduces Motorcyclist Profiling Resolution

The House of Representatives has formally introduced H.R. 366, which aims to address motorcyclist profiling by law enforcement officers by raising public awareness, encouraging communication with officials and urging states to adopt anti-profiling policies and training materials. The resolution is sponsored by Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI), Michael Burgess (RTX), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), and Mark Pocan (D-WI). In 2018, the Senate unanimously passed a similar resolution. July 2021

AN ENDLESS

SUMMER OF SU

Three amigos: Steve McQueen (left), Mert Lawwill and Malcolm Smith (right).

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

UNDAYS Five decades after its release, Bruce Brown’s epic On Any Sunday continues to change lives By Mitch Boehm Photos courtesy of Bruce Brown, Malcolm Smith and AMA archives

he first few minutes of On Any Sunday hit you like whoops on a wide-open desert trail…a staccato, whack whack burst of visual and visceral impact. It all starts quietly enough, with the big guy on the Mini Enduro bouncing away from the camera. But then the twangy banjo music starts and we’re treated to an array of two-wheeled visuals, from kids and adults trail riding, to Hall of Famer Jeff Ward wheelieing, to Hall of Famer Steve McQueen cruising by, to the little boy falling in front of Mom on his plastic push bike, and to the Harley touring couple crashing slo-mo in the mud.

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“Four million people ride motorcycles in the U.S.,” says narrator, filmmaker and Hall of Famer Bruce Brown, “and they come in all shapes, sizes and ages.” When the music shifts to the familiar Ba ba ba ba baaaa tune we all know and love, we hear Brown continue. “To some people, a motorcycle is work… or a way to get to work…or a way to get away from it all to the solitude

Bruce Brown (left) and cameraman Bob Bagley (right) filming the movie’s epic final scenes on the Cantamar sand dunes in Baja.

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of the open country,” as we watch a rider — probably Malcolm Smith — wheelying across a field. “A motorcycle is anything you wanna make it,” he adds as we see a rider launch skyward in slow motion… “Turn it on and you can give yourself a real thrill.” A real thrill. At this point the goosebumps are alive and kicking on your arms whether you know

what comes next or you’re an On Any Sunday rookie — and what comes next is pretty epic. It’s pro dirt tracker and Hall of Famer Mert Lawwill walking down a crowded San Francisco sidewalk. “A group of businessmen during the rush hour,” Brown chimes. “The young man with the garment bag over his shoulder is Mert Lawwill. 29 years old. Five foot six. 143 pounds.”

Only God knows why Mert’s dressed in a suit, but we don’t care because, as Mert gets to his van, we hear Brown utter the now-legendary line: “He’s not a banker, or an accountant, or a salesman, but he is a professional man, like the rest. His profession?” he asks, as Mert opens the back door of his van and we finally see the Harley-Davidson dirt tracker that’s inside, “Motorcycle racer!” And then all hell breaks loose, Mert pitching his Harley KR through a loamy Mile corner, the images and sounds making the hair on your neck stand on end.

Like great magazine stories, great movies and documentaries need a good hook, and Brown wrist-yanks several into our open mouths in the opening minutes of On Any Sunday. We see all that fun trail-riding action in those opening minutes and we wanna go do that right now. We see Mert ripping up that Mile corner sideways at 75 mph and we wanna know more…Who is that guy, and holy smokes…what is this crazy sport? Just before the movie hit theaters in the summer of 1971, Brown released a short movie promo narrated by McQueen. “This is Steve

McQueen,” Steve says in it. “A few years ago, Bruce Brown made the classic film on surfing The Endless Summer. Now he’s made a new film about my favorite sport, motorcycle racing. It’s called On Any Sunday. It shows for the first time what the sport is really like. And I’m proud to have a little ride in the film. It wasn’t much, but it gave me a chance to work with some real stars. Whether you ride or not, I think you’ll enjoy On Any Sunday.” Fifty years later, it seems ol’ Steve was right, and then some. On Any Sunday is not only far and away the

July 2021

best example of motorcycle-themed moviemaking…it’s become a bonified cultural phenomenon, a vivid and powerfully emotional link to the past, and a surefire inspiration to younger folks — or OAS newbies — for the future of our favorite sport.

“ [John] Severson [founder of Surfer magazine] did the magazine, [Gordon] Clarke did the [surfboard] foam, Hobie [Alter, of Hobie Cat fame] the boards, and I did movies. We did it just to stay at the beach.”

Bruce’s Roots Bruce Brown was a Southern

California kid who started surfing (and taking photos) at age 11. He attended high school in Long Beach, majoring in (his words) “not going to school.” After scoring well in the Navy’s submarine school he was sent to Hawaii in 1955 (the horror!), where he continued surfing and began taking 8mm movies of the scene in his off hours. Five early surf films followed his Navy discharge in 1957, culminating in 1966’s The Endless Summer, which cemented his legacy as the premier chronicler of surf culture. “In the 1950s,” he told an interviewer, “we just tried to figure out something to do to stay at the beach. [John] Severson [founder of Surfer magazine] did the magazine, [Gordon] Clarke did the [surfboard] foam, Hobie [Alter, of Hobie Cat fame] the boards, and I did movies. We did it just to stay at the beach.” After the release of The Endless Summer, Brown began focusing on his other passion — dirt bikes. “I’d been riding on and off,” Brown told me years

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Bruce Brown, shown here filming at So Cal’s Saddleback Park (the Jeff Ward wheelie? The trials guy wheelie?) sometime in 1970.

July 2021

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

ago, “and really enjoyed it. I thought, ‘this is really fun. Maybe I’ll do a movie about motorcycles.’ I figured I’d cover a wide range…motocross, desert, road racing, the flat track circuit. I wasn’t sure where I’d go with it, but I figured I’d see what developed.” Brown had befriended Hall of Famer Malcolm Smith after buying a motorcycle from him, and after seeing what a well-rounded rider he was, figured ol’ Malcolm would be part of his film. To finance it he approached movie icon Steve McQueen, who was at first a bit miffed that Brown wanted money and didn’t seem all that interested in having him star in the film. McQueen said he acted in movies, not financed them. “Fine,” Bruce told him goodnaturedly, “you can’t be in the film!” McQueen thought better of it and called Brown the following day, telling him to get going on the project. Getting Malcolm to commit was tougher. Malcolm wanted to be involved and figured the exposure could be good for his business, but was underwater trying to make a go of his newly purchased K&N Yamaha store (which he’d just bought outright from Kenny Johnson and Hall of Famer Norm McDonald, who were just launching K&N Air Filters), and told Bruce to go on without him. Fortunately, Brown asked again a few weeks later and, having gotten things a bit more buttoned up at work, Malcolm agreed to be involved, but only if Brown would pay him $100 for every day he was out of the office. Brown agreed, and it would be one of the better investments he’d make.

Part of the cache of original film canisters for On Any Sunday at Brown’s Santa Barbara ranch. Look closely and see how many events and locations you recognize…

July 2021

Despite his many mini-crashes during filming (“he was bruised everywhere after those final few days of riding,” Malcolm Smith told this author), Steve McQueen was a skilled off-road rider and racer — fast in the desert or on a motocross track, and his auto-racing exploits are well-documented. On Any Sunday helped make motorcycling mainstream in the 1970s, but this Sports Illustrated cover (right) didn’t hurt, either.

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Grand National champ Lawwill had a different experience meeting Brown. “I didn’t know Bruce from Adam when he walked up to me at the Sacramento Mile and told me he was gonna make a motorcycle movie,” Mert told me recently for this story. “I figured he was just another wannabe Hollywood filmmaker, though once my wife June told me who he was and what he’d done, I was impressed.” “Like Malcolm,” Lawwill continued, “I didn’t have any clue at all what Bruce was planning for the film. But as we did some of those early shoots, like the one downtown, we became friends. I’m pretty sure Bruce was planning to feature Hall of Famer Mark Brelsford in the film instead of me; Mark was flashy and had that big grin, you know? But eventually, I guess my struggle trying to retain the number-one plate became a better story.” “I had met Malcolm years before, at Ascot Park, when Malcolm was doing some TT racing. When we reconnected during the movie we traded stories, and both of us thought what the other did was crazy. I thought desert racing was crazy, and he thought dirt track was way too intense! I told him once, ‘at least I can see where I’m going… when you fly over those hills you can’t see what’s on the other side!’ We had a good laugh.” “Meeting Steve was pretty neat,” Mert told me. “It was when we were doing the beach-riding stuff along the California and Baja coastlines. We all met at Bruce’s Dana Point home, and I remember Steve looking at all the photos of me and [Hall of Famer] Dick Mann on the walls and saying something like, ‘don’t any of you go to the movies?’ We all got a kick out of that. It was friendly, and Steve definitely had appreciation for the racing myself and Malcolm and our peers were doing. He knew his stuff.”

The Elsinore Grand Prix One of the first events Brown

filmed was the Elsinore Grand Prix, a then-annual around-town street and dirt race that attracted huge crowds and hundreds of riders. As Brown voices in the movie, “If there’s one event you ride each year, it’s the Elsinore Grand Prix. People of all ages…Girls, the pig farmer from Murietta...” Elsinore was a big deal. Heck, Honda even named its early motocross bikes after it a couple of years later. Malcolm and Steve took part, of course, with McQueen entered as Harvey Mushman to avoid attracting

too much attention. As we all know, Malcolm won going away, with “Harvey” grabbing tenth overall, a superb result given the number of local fast guys entered. Brown mentions McQueen breaking his foot and still finishing eighth in the following day’s race, which had him catching hell from his Hollywood handlers. Of course, broken foot and all (broken in six places, actually), McQueen would team with Peter Revson two weeks later to finish second in the 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race in a Porsche 902 Spyder. Of his racing career, McQueen once said this: “I’m not sure

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whether I’m an actor who races or a racer who acts,” and it’s hard to know given his natural abilities and substantial racing accomplishments. What the film doesn’t cover is the controversy that swirled around Malcolm’s 250-class win in the weeks after the event — or the ugly crash he was involved in the following day in the Open Class race. First, the controversy, which had everything to do with the movie’s famous mudhole. That mud obscured a lot of number plates, and the video the sanctioning body shot on Saturday (for the 250 race) was mistakenly overwritten with

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Sunday’s Open Class event — which meant there was no visual backup to the scoring sheets, which had a lot of holes thanks to the obscured number plates. Everyone there knew Malcolm had won, and even the sanctioning body had him listed as finishing six minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. But they had Malcolm a lap down, which denied him the “official” overall win. There was a large outcry, and a group of Malcolm’s friends even ran a fullpage ad in Cycle News, which read: “Hey World! Malcolm Smith won Elsinore! Riders know it! What’s

your problem, Gripsters? -Signed, a rider and truth lover!” That didn’t bother Malcolm a bit, as he knew, as everyone else did, that he’d won — though what happened the following day shook him up pretty badly. Riding a very fast 360cc Husky in the Open division, Malcolm hit a woman crossing the track with her two kids in tow. She’d basically stepped off the curb and walked right out in front of him. “I was headed straight for the smallest child,” Malcolm told me. “I swerved, and the handlebar went over the child’s head, but it struck

The Elsinore Grand Prix was a wild and wooly affair, with big crowds and very little in the way of crowd control. The 1970 event was the third-ever happening, with the race having a bit of music-festival look and feel. Right: Malcolm gets a goggle (and probably a number plate) wipe off during Saturday’s 250 race.

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the mother in the chest, tossing her violently into the crowd and fracturing several of her ribs. The impact flipped me over the high side and I tumbled down the pavement. I was skinned and bruised, and really upset. I kept flashing back to how close I had come to hitting and maybe killing a child. I was very shaken.” The woman recovered, fortunately, though she later tried to sue the race promoter, the city

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of Elsinore and Malcolm. She failed, but according to Malcolm, it wasn’t much fun.

The Widowmaker Hillclimb Most folks don’t know this,

but Malcolm has pretty strong roots in the Salt Lake City area. Malcolm’s mother Elizabeth was born and grew up in Provo, just 30

miles south of Salt Lake City (she graduated from the University of Utah), and Malcolm spent several summers in Utah working for his uncles. All of which made Malcolm’s and Bruce’s trip to Salt Lake City for the annual Widowmaker Hillclimb an easy

one, though he didn’t stay long. “I came up the night before and went back the evening of the next day,” Malcolm told me with a laugh. “Hey, I had to work!” The old Widowmaker hill lies at the southern edge of the Salt Lake valley (you can still see tire grooves in the hillside 50 years later) and was so steep that no one had gotten to the top, though that would change the year Bruce and Malcolm visited. Mike

Gibbon from Grants Pass, Ore., rode a modified 750 Triumph hillclimber with chains on the rear tire and nitro-methane in the tank into the history books with his stirring afternoon run to the top — which Bruce was there to record. Malcolm’s day was memorable for several reasons…getting farther up the hill than any other production bike, riding his Husky down the hill when everyone else

dragged theirs down and, most famously, for forgetting to turn the petcock on for his first run, and running out of gas a couple hundred feet up the hill. “That wasn’t Bruce telling me to do it for drama,” Malcolm told me. “I really did forget!” Expensive homes now sit at the base of that famous hill, but for anyone in the know, driving or riding past it on I-15 is a for-sure whoa! moment.

A real-deal Malcolm Smith Husqvarna, one of the bikes Ol’ Malcolm rode in the movie, now resides permanently in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. Photo by Preston Ray (prestonray.com)

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Dirt Track Racing Dirt track racing figures

prominently in On Any Sunday, with Bruce following Mert — the 1969 Grand National Champion — throughout the 1970 season as Lawwill defended his title from fellow competitors Hall of Famers David Aldana, Dick Mann, Jim Rice and eventual 1970 champion Gene Romero. Every inch of film of Mert and his fellow competitors is simply stunning — especially the helmet-

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cam stuff Bruce worked up by building two bracket-laden helmets to carry the cameras. Bruce and Mert traveled to several races in Mert’s van, with the film crew usually flying to meet them. Mert was the odds-on favorite to repeat as Grand National Champion, but mechanicals took him out of the running late in the season. “Dick [Mann] and I would normally double up in a single room back in those days to save money, because we didn’t really have any,” Mert told me. “When Bruce traveled

“Dick [Mann] and I would normally double up in a single room back in those days to save money, because we didn’t really have any.”

Mert Lawwill rode three different H-D racebikes during the 1970 season: the then-brand-new XR750 (left), which broke and overheated a lot, and arguably cost him the championship; the reliable-but-slower KR750 dirt tracker (following pages); and an XRTT-750 roadracer, shown here in a subsequent season.

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with us that year he’d pay for extra rooms, which was nice. He knew how to spend Steve’s money!”

Spanish ISDT Bruce and Malcolm traveled

together to the 1970 International Six Days Trial in El Escorial, Spain — Malcolm’s fourth ISDT. There was no camera crew this time, just Bruce’s simple, hand-held unit.

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“Bruce and I had fun on the Spain trip,” Malcolm told me during prep for the autobiography he and I released in 2015. “We pretty much went our separate ways during the day, as I had my riding and prep work to do, and he had his shooting, and I only remember seeing him once during the riding portion of the event, on a rocky downhill with switchbacks. We waved, and that

was it.” Things in the afternoon pretty much shut down for siesta, so after Malcolm was done riding he and Bruce would grab a nap at the hotel and wake up at 9:00 or 9:30 for supper. “During those meals Bruce would talk about all the good spots he’d found to shoot,” Malcolm told me, “one of which was a shot of a local Spaniard eating grapes while watching

the race…and of course it made the movie. Spain was a big deal for me, [largely due to] Bruce’s presence. He had such a great sense of humor; we had a great time together.”

Husky On Fire One of the scenes folks

remember best is the lost rider in the desert who “accidentally” torches his Husky while trying to light a signal fire. According to Malcolm, that guy was John Creed, a surfer and friend of Bruce’s who’d go on to run the Chart House restaurant chain for 20 years. “Bruce

came up with the idea for the scene,” Malcolm told me, “and I had the perfect bike for it; a repossessed Husqvarna with a blown engine.” The scene is obviously staged, but the fire was 100% real. Most viewers probably figured the bike was a total loss, but it wasn’t, as Malcolm repainted the fuel tank, replaced the cables, tires and seat, rebuilt the engine, and ended up

Mert Lawwill’s Harley-Davidson KR750, which he rode in several events during the 1970 season, is permanently enshrined in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. Photo by Preston Ray (prestonray.com)

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Malcolm Smith (242) at a checkpoint during the 45th ISDT in El Escorial, Spain. Malcolm remembers it being quite cold, and said his fingers went numb on several occasions.

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selling it. “I often wonder who has that bike now,” he says, “though I doubt there’d ever be any way to confirm its history. But it’s out there somewhere, and worth a lot of money.”

Practical Jokes To me, the last ten minutes of On Any

Sunday are the movie’s pinnacle moments. Motorcycling, for all its wonderful physical and visceral thrills, the speed, the G forces, the wind in your face and the feeling of flying through the air, is fundamentally an emotional exercise. “There’s something about going riding with your friends,” Bruce voices in the movie’s final scenes, “a feeling of freedom, a feeling of joy…that really can’t be put into words. It can only be shared by someone who’s done it…” There’s big truth there, and a lot of that feeling is captured in those last ten minutes. It all starts with the cowtrailing scene on Bruce’s ranch above Dana Point, obviously staged but funny nonetheless. Not so with the watercrossing bit, however, which the riders knew about, but which Steve wasn’t quite ready for on the first pass. McQueen thought they were gonna all ride through slowly, but Malcolm and Mert had other ideas, blasting him good and hoping Bruce got the shot. He did. They did more takes, changing into dry clothes each time, but Bruce ended up using the first one. “Steve had been had, and good!” Malcolm told me. The sand dune footage everyone likes so much was filmed on the Cantamar sand dunes in Baja, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with Malcolm, Mert and Steve just basically ripping around for fun. Mert, by the way, was aboard a Greeves two-stroke with an enlarged fuel tank (the stock tank was too small, according to Mert) and a Harley-Davidson sticker on the tank “as a joke,” he says. “There were some crazy crashes that day,” Malcolm told me. “One was Steve’s loop-out; he hit the ground pretty hard but bounced right up, faking the heart attack! Mert fell hard, too, high-siding after landing from a jump,

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his hip smacking the engine case and front wheel.” For the final day of filming, Bruce wanted more of this goofing off/fun riding stuff, and contacted the Marine base commander at nearby Camp Pendleton, explaining what he had in mind. “No way, no how,” came the reply. Bruce mentioned this to Steve, who called the commander, introduced himself, told him about the motorcycle movie he was doing, and asked again to use the beach for a few hours. “Anything you want, Mr. McQueen,” came the reply. “Can we send some Marines to help?” Malcolm told me the riding that afternoon was insanely fun, especially the power-sliding on the sand during low tide. “That sort of sand is usually pretty smooth,” he said, “with lots of consistent traction, and I loved doing big

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donuts in it. With the throttle on it’s a power slide, and crashing on the low side isn’t too bad. But if you chop the throttle too much you get high-sided, which can hurt. Steve did it several times that afternoon.” Malcolm says Steve was always very competitive and worked very hard at leading whenever they rode together, but crashed a lot during those final days. “At the end of the third day we all jumped into Bruce’s hot tub,” Malcolm says. “Steve was a mess; what wasn’t black and blue was skinned up! Still, Steve was

a very competent rider and loved motorcycles.” “You expect movie stars to be magnets,” Malcolm added, “but Steve was in another league. People — women especially — noticed him everywhere he went, but he was usually quite good

Bruce’s “boys” during filming of the movie’s final scenes. Left to right, Mert Lawwill, Steve McQueen, cameraman Bob Bagley, Malcolm Smith and Brown.

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about the attention and autograph seeking unless they were rude. He also had a heck of a sense of humor. I remember riding with him to Mexico in his hopped-up Ford pickup to do the sand dune filming, and at the border toll booth he just

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blasted through, knowing that Bruce — who was right behind us — would pay for both of us. He was very funny at times.” “I figured [Mert] and Steve would be main attractions, and throughout filming I had no idea my parts would figure so prominently. Bruce never let on, and I’m not sure he actually knew how it would all shake out until he got into the editing booth.” “Mert was a very good rider in all conditions, and also quite technically proficient. He built and maintained his own race bikes, and in later years built and patented trick suspension systems for downhill bicycles [Lawwill is in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame -Ed.], and these days builds highend prosthetic arms and hands for amputee motorcycle, snowmobile, bicycle and ATV riders.” [See mertshands.org] Steve McQueen was nothing if not a gracious friend, and especially so to Mert after Mert suffered two terrible injuries to the same hand, first at Daytona when a tire exploded

at 150 mph and sent him sliding into the wall, and then again some time later when he crashed into Jim Rice at Castle Rock, smashing that same hand between the frame and fork tube. “That’s pain I never want to experience again,” Mert told me for this story. “All the bones in my wrist and hand were broken; it was just a mess. A local doctor said there was no way to fix it; he told me, ‘Just let me fuse it all together from your thumb to your elbow…it will be like a club’ and gave me overnight to think about the shape I wanted to have it fused in. I was delirious, so it was good that my wife June was there to think clearly. She and Hall of Famer Cal Rayborn and his wife checked me out of the hospital that evening and we drove back down to San Francisco before that doctor could do anything to me!” “By that point Steve had heard about it and had me see his doc in San Francisco, who advised me to see his friend in LA who was a hand specialist, Dr. Stark. I didn’t have any money and told Steve I couldn’t

The late, great Gary Nixon (9) and Scott Brelsford (87) helped Brown with movie’s all-important helmet-cam filming. Below: Bruce Brown accepting movie industry accolades with Steve McQueen in tow.

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go, but he wasn’t hearing it. He bought me a ticket and had a driver pick me up, and when I got to LA they said it was good that I brought my toothbrush!” “They did five surgeries, put a bunch of pins in it, and basically reconstructed my whole hand — and even wrote about the then-new procedure in a medical journal. I went from having a club hand to having a hand that works pretty much as normal, and it’s thanks to Steve — and his doctors — that it panned out like that. I never even got a bill! I’m so very thankful to them.”

The Release After shooting wrapped up, Bruce began doing editing and narration, which ended up being a year-long deal, working twelve hours a day,

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six days a week, all with help from cameraman Don Shoemaker. The first-ever showing was at a theater in Los Angeles, just a few miles from Beverly Hills. Admission was only a dollar, but for that moviegoers were asked for a verbal review after the showing. It was Bruce’s way of gauging reaction, seeing what did and didn’t work. Folks generally liked the movie, but felt it was a bit long. The least-liked part was the Speedway section, which Bruce eventually deleted. Malcolm and crew all attended, of course, and both Malcolm and Mert were stunned they were featured so heavily. “Both Malcolm and I were in shock,” Mert told me. “We had no idea we’d be featured like that. Bruce never let on!” “A year had gone by since we’d finished shooting,” Malcolm told

me, “and the movie had faded from my radar with everything I had going on. But it was amazing! Bruce had done a masterful job. His sense of timing, humor and wording added a highly personal dimension to the many stories in the film.” Nominated for Best Documentary in 1972’s Academy Awards, On Any Sunday was edged out by the Hellstrom Chronicle — a movie few remember today. Not long after, Hollywood moguls came knocking on Bruce’s door, offering him Big Money to continue his work — for them. “Thank you, but no,” he told them, as he remembered the advice McQueen had sent him in a letter, which said something like, “Never get involved with studio!” “The only boss I’ve ever had or wanted is me,” he told them, and walked away.

Bruce, Malcolm and Mert on a casual ride (left) near Brown’s Santa Barbara rancho back in about 2012, and reminiscing afterward.

Final Thoughts Those closing scenes, shot on the

beach at Camp Pendleton in the twilight, are wonderfully captured, especially when combined with the Dominic Frontiere Orchestra soundtrack’s title cut — sung superbly by Sally Stevens — floating in the background. The lateafternoon sun and shadows, the slow-motion donuts and wheelies on the beach, and that oh-somemorable melody…it’s become a legendary and much-loved scene, a sad-but-hopeful visual that makes you glad you’re a motorcyclist and happy you’re alive. “I can’t believe that after all these years people who see it for the very first time are completely blown away,” Mert told journalist Shawn McDonald years ago. “It could have been made yesterday instead of 34 years ago. I’ve met a lot of good people I would not have

met because of the film. It was one of the two highlights of my whole career, the other being winning the National Championship.” “Steve said something really interesting to me one day when we were at his home in Brentwood,” Mert told me recently. “He said, ‘Mert, you are the luckiest guy I know. You are Number One in your field. You won the title. You get to be you. Me? I’m just an actor. I play other people. I never get to be me!’ Afterward, I wondered if riding and racing motorcycles helped Steve feel a little more normal, and maybe not on that Hollywood-actor pedestal quite so much…” “I often wonder how things would have turned out for me had I not been in the film,” Malcolm told me. “But what’s clear is that Bruce gave me millions of dollars of free publicity, and the movie today is more popular than ever. We sell copies of the DVD like crazy from

our store to this very day.” “I watched the movie a year or two ago,” Bruce said in an interview before passing away in late 2017. “I’m not a fan of watching my movies. But I thought, ‘It’s not that bad!’ I’m proud of it. Proud of what it did for the motorcycle community.” “You make a movie to make it, and maybe get your money back,” says Bruce’s son — and successful moviemaker — Dana Brown, “and all these years later, all these lives are changed. The spirt of [On Any Sunday]…every generation gets it! It’s my favorite. It’s amazing the influence it’s had; the genuine fondness folks have for that film.” Dana Brown is spot-on about the “spirit” and “fondness” bits. But he’s even more right about the many thousands of lives that have been changed. And that’s probably the best legacy Bruce Brown — and On Any Sunday — could leave behind.

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MANN AND MACHINE AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Dick “Bugsy” Mann, who passed away on April 26, didn’t have a huge role in On Any Sunday, but was always a contender for the Grand National Championship and will always be considered a giant of that very special era. Special thanks to good friend and legendary motorsports artist Hector Cademartori for this stirring image of Mann at Daytona (hectorcademartori.com). Godspeed, Bugsy.

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Sept. 1971

THE WAY WE WERE The editors at AMA News were impressed with OAS when it debuted; “A picture surreal,” they wrote, “larger and more detailed than life.” On Any Sunday, Bruce Brown Productions’ feature-length film on motorcycling in the United States, finally has entered the theaters. Motorcycle enthusiasts and fans of the American Motorcycle Association national championship circuit have known of its coming for nearly two years. Throughout the 1970 season they watched Brown’s crew shoot miles of film at nearly every major race on the circuit, and now that the picture has arrived, motorcyclists are finding it very hard to comment intelligently.

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On Any Sunday possesses such impact, those who know motorcycling well are apt to find themselves disarmed and speechless, emerging from the theater repeating superlatives such as “great” and “fantastic” in an effort to verbalize their awe. Their reaction is charged by a picture surreal, larger and more detailed than life. They are responding to sights they have never seen before, nor will ever see with the naked eye. Large portions of On Any Sunday are in extreme slow motion, revealing mechanical and physical abuse

that spectators have not seen when it was telescoped in time into the frantic action of mile and half-mile racing. From the end of the straight to the apex of the first turn, motorcycles brutally bottom their shocks dozens of times, and the hard thighs and biceps of the riders shake like flab under the force of each impact. Yet in split-second reality we will never see it happen. And those who have caught fleeting moments of the grace of road racing have never seen it the way Brown sees it. From behind his camera the tightest turn of Laconia is a timeless ballet, with heat waves from the pavement softening the scene and turning the streamlined machines into softly vibrating lighterthan-air machines, field flowers providing the setting on the stage. For the uninitiated, On Any Sunday is an overture, an introduction to all aspects of the growing, exciting sport of motorcycling. Practically no aspect

of its endless variety goes untouched by Brown. From one extreme in agony to the other he ranges from the bone-freezing spectacle of ice racing in Quebec City to the choking hell of desert racing in the Mojave. And in between he touches upon all the happy scenes that lend the sport versatility, from the smiling fantasy of observed trials to the hilarity of amateur hill climbing. Thousands of these viewers will be turned on by On Any Sunday, introduced to the world of motorcycling in a way that will make it impossible for their fear or distrust to remain. Many will continue from the theater to their first Sunday outing, to witness the sport firsthand. And even if they don’t, they will come away from the film with a different regard for motorcycling that you will see in their faces the next time they see you astride your road machine, or towing your dirt bikes. Like The Endless Summer, the surfing

film that made Bruce Brown a landmark in the history of film making, On Any Sunday is about as far away from Hollywood as you can get. It is filmed as it happens, where it happens, and narrated by Brown in a casual way that serves to fill in where the pictures leave questions. And in places the result is more spectacular and sensational than Hollywood could ever contrive with a ton of tinsel and an endless budget. For example, skill with cameras, careful editing and a minimum of special effects turns Jim Rice’s 1970 Sacramento Mile crash into the kind of spectacle of violence that repeated car smashing failed to do for Le Mans. The camera seems almost to be planted as Jim blasts toward it through the fence and hay bales just feet away, then stops in a blinding blur of red BSA and yellow straw. Then a split second later, in the same exploding action, his girl screams to her feet, her blonde hair whirling like the straw, then too is transfixed by the camera in a moment of frozen terror. The footage must be studied, demanding repeated viewing as do many portions of the film. The only vestige of a plot is the progression of Mert Lawwill through the year of his Grand National Championship, one of the most disheartening and unlucky seasons of his career. What emerges is not a sob story, but a sympathetic tale of one professional racer’s iron character and infinite patience. A similar subplot follows the exploits of desert racer Malcolm Smith, only by way of counterpoint to Mert this story is a happy tale. Smith’s amateur racing seems never to be darkened by the misfortunes that plague Mert the professional. Smith smiles his way from one victory to another. And in between is the motorcyclist everyman, played, incredibly enough, by Steve McQueen. He is the parttime competitor who works with the determination of a Lawwill, but comes up smiling like Smith, because he has nothing to lose.

Again taunting Hollywood with his hand-held camera, Brown produces a McQueen that you have never seen before. The plaster statue of Le Mans or The Thomas Crown Affair is replaced by a smiling, mud-dodging, easy riding McQueen who serves well to represent the average motorcyclist. This alone renders On Any Sunday fascinating. It reveals the McQueen that columnists keep telling us is there, but who has not stepped out from behind the mask before this film. The final scenes are some of the finest. After Brown takes the viewer through a draining hour and a half of laughter and seat-gripping action, he lets him down easy. Lawwill, Smith and McQueen, the three very different types of motorcyclists who compete on any Sunday, come together in a final act about the joy of motorcycling. Brown puts them on dirt bikes and turns them loose on a sandy beach. They slide, turn, do wheelies and jump the dunes. The long lens moves in from far away to capture the tickled pleasure on Mert’s face that was hidden on the championship trail. Smith cavorts with casual abandon and McQueen vacillates between laughter and tight-lipped determination as he strains to stay with the superior riders. Brown reveals the truth of his attraction to motorcycling in these final moments. The last scenes are not about motorcycles, but rather about the people who ride them. The kindness Brown feels toward the Smiths and the Lawwills of motorcycling is displayed in these smiling close-ups, and suddenly the viewer realizes what On Any Sunday has been all about. Certainly, it has been about motorcycling, but more so it has been about the people who ride motorcycles. And as motorcyclists, you and I will be forever indebted to Bruce Brown for his vision of us and his skill in portraying it. Go see On Any Sunday. You will find it gratifying. But if possible, take a person who does not understand motorcycling. That you will find intensely self-gratifying.

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HALL OF FAMERS AND HEAVY HITTERS …weigh in on the impact of On Any Sunday

Scot Harden

Hall of Fame Off-Road Racer I was 15 years old and living with my grandparents in the rural outskirts of Las Vegas, Nev., when On Any Sunday hit theaters in the summer of 1971. My grandparents were blue-collar, working-class folk, survivors of the Great Depression and WW2, and some of the earliest settlers of the Las Vegas valley. Motorcycles were a complete mystery to them, yet they bought me a minibike when I was 11 and my first full-sized bike, a 1970 Suzuki TS125 Duster, when I turned 14. So my love affair with motorcycles was already well underway when OAS debuted. I read all the enthusiast publications of the day, followed racing, spent every waking hour thinking about motorcycles. The Mint 400, Barstow to Vegas and the like were familiar local races. In ’71 I watched Malcolm Smith, J.N. Roberts, Whitey Martino, John Desoto, Rich Thorwaldson, Mike Patrick, Phil Bowers, local heroes Casey Folks, Max Switzer and many other stars of that era compete in those iconic events. They were instant heroes to me!

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The closest movie theater was 12 miles from where I lived, but my trusty Duster and I knew the desert route well and were regulars at the Boulevard Theater that summer, taking in multiple showings of On Any Sunday each week. Sometimes I hid in the bathroom between showings and, if undiscovered, would watch it again. My record was three showings in one day. The ride home was magical, a time of unfettered joy, an incredible feeling of being a free spirit, alive and in motion on a motorcycle, the theme song from OAS ringing in my ears. For an adolescent teen searching for direction, struggling to discover what it means to be a man, OAS was a life-changing gift. It became my pole star for what motorcycling could offer, a glimpse into just how big the world was, and the kind of adventures that potentially awaited. It synthesized and crystalized my twowheeled aspirations, hopes and dreams. OAS wasn’t a big budget, slicked up production. No contrived plot, fake characters, or special effects to make it enjoyable. Just an honest film told with heart, something only Bruce Brown could do. He was a genius, certainly one of the best storytellers of his, or

any, generation. I didn’t know it then, but he provided a blueprint for how my life would unfold. “The lone dust cloud across Dry Lake Chapala,” the highly personal experience of competing at Six Days, winning desert races overall, winning the Elsinore Grand Prix, experiences that became a part of my life story thanks to Malcolm’s fine example. On Any Sunday had a massive impact on my life, one that reverberates to this day. Thanks, Bruce, Malcolm, Mert and Steve! Thanks for just being yourselves. You opened the eyes and the imagination of a confused, insecure but hopeful 15-year-old boy at a time when he was desperately searching for meaning, inspiration and direction. More importantly, thanks for casting motorcycling and motorcyclists in such a positive light! I am so blessed to have been exposed to this movie at such a critical time in my life. If only we could capture the spirit of that moment again. Think of what it would mean for motorcycling.

Hall of Famer and Four-Time World Champion

I lucked out and somehow got to attend the opening in Hollywood with my buddy Jack, and of course we were blown away just like everyone else. The images, the narration, the music, the various events, the way the guys were featured…it was awesome, and it cemented my love for the sport. I turned my nephew — who’s in his late 20s now — onto the movie years ago, and we still watch it when he comes by. It never gets old. You’d think it would, but no. Bruce Brown created something really special.

Brad Wenner

Kevin Wing

Eddie Lawson

Craig Vetter Hall of Fame Designer

Bruce Brown’s movie showed us what was really happening! 50 years ago I was living in Illinois, surrounded by farmers and corn. I liked motorcycles so much that I was already designing and making things for them, but I did not really know all the things they could do. In the few motorcycle magazines I had I could see little black-and-white photos of “racing motorcycles” that racers used to ride up mountainsides, through the mud, around dirty, oval mile tracks and on the pavement at Daytona. But I had never seen these things. How could these guys really be doing all that? On Any Sunday showed us how. The riders were mostly in their 20s, having fun and doing things that didn’t seem possible! The Baby Boomer generation was finding another thing that was making us different. Thank you, Bruce! You inspired our lives.

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Derek Montgomery

Mark Blackwell

Andy Goldfine

Hall of Fame Racer and CEO

Former AMA Board Member and Founder of Aerostich

On Any Sunday had a profound impact on my life. The timing was crucial for me personally as I was finishing high school and debating my direction. As I look back, I am sure it was one of the key catalysts that helped me decide to make motorcycling a career. First, as a racer, and later, to get into the business. As I sit here 50 years later I am grateful to Bruce Brown and his artistry. Thank you, Bruce. May God Speed.

The cool thing about documentaries in general is how whenever they are viewed many decades later they nearly always tell an inferential story about the era when they were made that in some ways transcends the subject itself. This probably will also be true of Ken Burns’ popular documentaries when viewed in fifty years’ time. Artwork in general works this way. On Any Sunday will probably forever be

Art Friedman Legendary Motorsports Editor The first time I saw On Any Sunday was on New Year’s Eve 1971. Dave Schoonmaker and I were driving my van to Los Angeles, hoping to find fame and/ or fortune in the motorcycle business. I had read about the movie months before in Cycle magazine but even though I had been crisscrossing the country that year racing, it was never showing near me. But that evening, driving out of Albuquerque just before dusk, we saw it was playing at a drive-in. We got off the interstate and

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watched. I’m pretty sure we were still pumped up when 1972 dawned over the California desert the next morning. The second time I saw it was a few months later with some of the staff of Cycle News, where I’d been working for a while. By that point I’d met many of the stars of the movie as an editor for the paper, and within another year I had met the rest, including McQueen, who got involved in our exclusive test of the first Honda Elsinore. I knew that anything Bruce Brown (who I never met) created was going to be good, but it’s kind of amazing that, 50 years later, On Any Sunday

the definitive documentary record of the explosive popularity of recreational off-road motorcycling in America during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Looked at today it also tells the viewer an important part of a broader story about post-WW2 America. Historically I do think of it in some ways as a bookend to the fictional story Easy Rider, which was widely seen at around the same time.

still remains head and shoulders above any other motorcycle movie. Before it, we had mostly been subjected to a series of trashy outlaw-biker movies. (The plot of one was, “You want a new headlight? Follow me.”) Little Fauss and Big Halsy was a slight improvement but failed to capture the fun and adrenaline rush of motorcycling. Since then, a few films, notably Faster and its sequels, have better cinematography and give a taste of living on the edge at 180 mph, but their scope is much narrower. No one has been able to capture the simple fun of motorcycling the way Bruce Brown did.

Chris Carr Hall of Fame Racer Growing up, having a VHS copy of On Any Sunday was the easiest and most influential way of getting my motorcycle fix on a daily basis. During an era when motorcycle content made its way into our homes on a limited basis, On Any Sunday could be — and was! — enjoyed every day of the week. Over the last 50 years in this industry I can think of no other film that has influenced me more than this one, and I don’t expect another to come close to that, ever.

Jeff Karr Legendary Motorsports Editor Just as it did for a lot of 14-year-old boys, in a short 96 minutes, On Any Sunday completely changed the trajectory of my life. But more importantly, that one movie also rewired the thinking of the parents in the audience (mine included). Suddenly, motorcycles became a wholesome part of suburban living.

Joe Timmons Owner, Intermountain Harley-Davidson

Terry Vance Hall of Fame Racer, Team Owner and CEO The first time I saw On Any Sunday I thought, ‘I’m gonna get a new bike.’ It was kind of a spiritual moment.

I remember seeing the movie and thinking I now had a new list of heroes. I enjoyed seeing Malcolm and Mert and thinking they were nice guys that loved motorcycles. That show captured for me what a great time could be had on two wheels. I still feel the same way!

July 2021

MAKE IT YOURS The AMA offers a variety of card types and designs for members. In addition to our standard card, we offer a number of themed cards that identify you as belonging to a specific group or speak to your passion as a motorcyclist. Call (800) AMA-JOIN (2625646) to request an affinity card at any time, at no additional cost.

DEALS AND DISCOUNTS

Watch this space for updates about your valuable benefits as an AMA member.

THE ESSENTIALS Lodging

Motorcycle Shipping

AMA Roadside Assistance

Save 15% at participating Choice Hotels Properties.

Call Federal Companies at (877) 518-7376 for at least $60 off standard rates.

Roadside assistance coverage for eligible members.

Up to 10% off at Motel 6. Use code: M64AMA

Rider Accident Medical Plan For details visitjonesbirdsong. com/ramp

Car Rentals

Up to 25% off at any Avis or Budget. Avis Code: D388100 Budget Code: Z942000

20% discount off available rates, call (800) REDROOF and use the code VP+ 503343. To make reservations online use code: VP+ 503343 in the field labeled “VP+/ID#”

Motorcycle Shippers AMA members receive $25 off each bike one way or $100 off round trip or $50 each, multiple bikes, same addresses.

AMA Gear

Find patches, pins, T-shirts, hats and more.

Cycle Trader

10% discount on the BEST package. Use code AMA10

PRODUCT DISCOUNTS EagleRider

ADVMoto

For Club EagleRider AMA members receive 2 free rental credits

20% discount. Use code AMADV20

AMA Motorcycle Hall Of Fame

Evans Cooling System 25% discount on Evans Coolants and Prep Fluid. Use code AMAFUN at evanscoolant.com.

Free admission to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio.

EVS Sports

AMA Supercross Tickets

10% discount and free shipping on all orders. Use code AMAEVS20

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Save an additional 15% on all Haynes & Clymer print and online repair manuals. Use code AMA15

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AMA members get 15% off every order at helitemoto.com. Use code HELITEAMA

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International Motorcycle Shows

Butler Maps

AMA members receive a 20% discount at butlermaps.com. Use code AMAMEMBER

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15% discount on Legacy Track Dayz events. Use code AMARideLTD

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Save on advanced adult oneday general admission. Use code AMA20

30% discount on all “motorcycle collection” frames. Discount code AMA30.

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Save 15%. Use code AMA15

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AMA members receive a 25% discount on most products for shop, garage & track necessities at matrixracingproducts.com Use code AMA25

Medjet ®

Air medical transport and travel security protection – visit Medjet.com/AMACycle or call 1.800.527.7478, referring to American Motorcyclist Association.Annual rates are reduced by 20% and start at $235.

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20% off 2-day and 3-day passes at select MotoAmerica events. See AMA website for more detail.

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Rider Magazine

AMA member exclusive discount: $19.99 for 2 years (24 issues) + 2 extra free issues.

For more information and the most recent listing of AMA Member Benefit Partners and discount codes visit americanmotorcyclist.com/deals-and-discounts

Exclusive service credit on SPOT Gen3, SPOT Trace or SPOT X device

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Be sure to check the event website or call the organizer for the latest information, including postponements or cancellations.

COMING EVENTS CALIFORNIA Enduro: July 10-11. Norden. Garrahan Off Road Training. (408) 857-5884 garrahanoffroadtraining.com Road Race: July 9-11. Salinas. MotoAmerica. motoamerica.com

COLORADO Dual Sport (599cc and below) School: July 3-9. Grand Junction. ADVWoman. (970) 726-6830 advwoman.com Dual Sport (599cc and below) School:July 24-30. Grand Junction. ADVWoman. (970) 726-6830 advwoman.com Road Race: July 17-18. Deer Trail. Motorcycle Roadracing Association. mra-racing.org

IOWA Motocross: July 10. Shell Rock. New Hartford Racing Association, Inc. (319) 885-6469 newhartfordracing.com Motocross: July 11. Shell Rock. New Hartford Racing Association, Inc. (319) 885-6469 newhartfordracing.com Hare Scrambles/Cross Country: July 11. Mt Pleasant. WFO Promotions. (309) 314-3343 wfopromotions.com Family Enduro: July 24. Hedrick. Turkey Scratch Enduro Riders. (641) 660-1326 Enduro: July 25. Hedrick. Turkey Scratch Enduro Riders. (641) 660-1326

ILLINOIS Hare Scrambles/Cross Country: July 4. Atkinson. WFO Promotions. (309) 314-3343 wfopromotions.com Hare Scrambles/Cross Country: July 11. Byron. Motosports Enterprises LTD. (815) 234-2271 motobyron.com Flat Track - Short Track: July 10. Macomb. Lamoine Ramblers. (309) 837-9436 lamoineramblers.net Grand Prix: July 10. Byron. Motosports Enterprises LTD. (815) 234-2271 motobyron.com Flat Track - Mile: July 15. Du Quon. Steve Nace Racing Promotions. (270) 442-7532 stevenaceracing.com Flat Track - TT: July 16. Du Quon. Steve Nace Racing Promotions. (270) 442-7532 stevenaceracing.com Flat Track - Short Track: July 18. Du Quon. Steve Nace Racing Promotions. (270) 442-7532 stevenaceracing.com Flat Track - Short Track: July 24. Macomb. Lamoine Ramblers. (309) 837-9436 lamoineramblers.net Flat Track - Half-Mile: July 19. Du Quon. Steve Nace Racing Promotions. (270) 442-7532 stevenaceracing.com Flat Track - Half-Mile: July 20. Du Quon. Steve Nace Racing Promotions. (270) 442-7532 stevenaceracing.com Flat Track - Half-Mile: July 28. Mattoon. Central Illinois M/C. facebook.com/groups/394136456334/ Motocross: July 25. Casey. Lincoln Trail Motosports. (217) 932-2041 lincolntrailmotosports.com

INDIANA Hare Scrambles/Cross Country: July 11. Columbus. Stoney Lonesome M/C. (812) 343-4411 stoneylonesomemc.com

MASSACHUSETTS Motocross: July 25. Southwick. Metropolitan Sports Committee. (845) 629-5513 thewick338.com

MARYLAND Flat Track - Half-Mile: July 4. Frederick. Steve Nace Racing Promotions. (270) 442-7532 stevenaceracing.com

MICHIGAN Flat Track - Short Track: July 9. Deford. Lucky Thumb Motorcycle Club, Inc. (810) 404-2895 luckythumbmotorcycleclub.com Flat Track - TT: July 10. Deford. Lucky Thumb Motorcycle Club, Inc. (810) 404-2895 luckythumbmotorcycleclub.com Hare Scrambles/Cross Country: July 11. Grant. Muskegon Motorcycle Club. (231) 736-6195 muskegonmotorcycleclub.com Motocross: July 18. Midland. Polka Dots M/C. (989) 832-8284 polkadotsmc.net

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Motocross: July 24. Belding. Grattan Raceway. grattanracewaypark-mx.com Motocross: July 25. Belding. Grattan Raceway. grattanracewaypark-mx.com

MINNESOTA Motocross: July 4. Browerville. MotoCity Raceway & Recreation Inc. (218) 894-2826 motocityraceway.com Motocross: July 5. Browerville. MotoCity Raceway & Recreation Inc. (218) 894-2826 motocityraceway.com Motocross: July 11. Cambridge. BCMX Adventure Park. (612) 280-8939 bcmxadventurepark.com Motocross: July 11. Brook Park. Berm Benders Raceway. (320) 980-2680 bermbendersraceway.com Motocross: July 11. Brookston. Echo Valley Motopark, LLC. (218) 391-8422 echovalleymotocross.com Motocross: July 16. Millville. Hi-Winders. (507) 753-2779 springcreekmx.com Motocross: July 18. Millville. Hi-Winders. (507) 753-2779 springcreekmx.com Motocross: July 25. Cambridge. BCMX Adventure Park. (612) 280-8939 bcmxadventurepark.com Motocross: July 25. Little Falls. MotoCity Raceway & Recreation Inc. (218) 894-2826 motocityraceway.com Road Race: July 9-11. Brainerd. Central Roadracing Association. (612) 332-4070 cra-mn.com Trail Ride: July 10-11. Twin Cities Trail Riders. (612) 965-8618 tctrailriders.org Observed Trials: July 17. Theilman. Upper Midwest Trials Association. (651) 261-5977 umta.org Observed Trials: July 18. Theilman. Upper Midwest Trials Association. (651) 261-5977 umta.org Road Ride/Run: July 18. Kato. Kato Cycle Club. (507) 340-7870 katoycycleclub.com

NEW JERSEY Motocross: July 10. Englishtown. Raceway Park. (732) 446-7800 etownraceway.com Motocross: July 11. Englishtown. Raceway Park. (732) 446-7800 etownraceway.com Motocross: July 18. Millville. Field of Dreams. (856) 765-3799 njmpfod.com

NEW YORK Motocross: July 4. East Durham. Metropolitan Sports Committee. (845) 554-8717 diamondback-mx.com Observed Trials: July 11. Cuba. District 4 Trials Committee. (716) 968-3025 district4trials.org Road Rally: July 13-15. Women on Wheels(R). (402) 477-1280 womenonwheels.org

OHIO Hillclimb: July 10-11. Waterford. Pioneer Motorcycle Club Inc. (740) 984-8831 pioneermotorcycleclub.com Flat Track - Half-Mile: July 10. Ashland. Steve Nace Racing Promotions. (270) 442-7532 stevenaceracing.com Motocross: July 24-25. Nashport. Briarcliff Motocross. (740) 763-0935 briarcliffmx.com Dual Sport: July 24-25. Logan. Hocking Valley Motorcycle Club. (614) 425-1943 hockingvalleymc.com

PENNSYLVANIA Adventure Ride: July 23-25 Port Matilda, Kissell Motorsports & BMW Motorcycles of Tyrone. (814)861-7890 kissellmotorsports.com Motocross: July 3-4. Seward. Pleasure Valley Raceway. (814) 317-6686 pvrmx.com Motocross: July 4. Birdsboro. Pagoda Motorcycle Club. (610) 582-3717 pagodamc.org

#AMADualSport

Motocross: July 11. Shippensburg. Doublin Gap Motocross, Inc. (717) 249-6036 doublingap.com Motocross: July 17-18. Three Springs. Middle Atlantic Motocross Association, Inc. (814) 448-9023 Motocross: July 18. Seward. Pleasure Valley Raceway. (814) 317-6686 pvrmx.com Extreme Off-Road: July 3-4. Tamaqua. Reading Off Road Riders. (844) 440-RORR rorr.org Observed Trials: July 10. Marysville. Tricky Tryalers MC. (717) 979-4691 Observed Trials: July 11. Marysville. Tricky Tryalers MC. (717) 979-4691 Observed Trials: July 25. Millertown. District 4 Trials Committee. (570) 549-2297 district4trials.org Dual Sport: July 23-25 Port Matilda. Kissell Motorsports & BMW Motorcycles of Tyrone. (814)861-7890 kissellmotorsports.com Enduro: July 11. Gillett. Southern Tier Enduro Riders. ecea.org/ecea/organizer/ ster-southern-tier-enduro-riders Enduro: July 25. Cross Fork. Brandywine Enduro Riders. (570) 923-2386 ber.us Flat Track - Short Track: July 17. Delta. Mason Dixon Fair M/C. (443) 553-0897

SOUTH DAKOTA Road Ride/Run: July 6-8. Rapid City. Motor Maids, Inc. (703) 200-5721 Dual Sport: July 12-15. Keystone. SD Trails Development Corporation. (605) 645-1756 dakota600.com

TENNESSEE Motocross: July 10. Blountville. Victory Sports Inc. (423) 323-5497 victory-sports.com Motocross: July 11. Blountville. Victory Sports Inc. (423) 323-5497 victory-sports.com

WISCONSIN Road Ride/Run: July 10. Soldiers Grove. Concours Owners Group. concours.org Motocross: July 10. Hillpoint. Sugar Maple MX Park LLC. (608) 425-8643 sugarmaplemx.com Motocross: July 11. Lake Mills. Aztalan Cycle Club Inc. (414) 265-1582 Aztalanmx.com Observed Trials: July 17. Baraboo. Wisconsin Observed Trials Association. (319) 330-8016 wisconsintrials.org Observed Trials: July 18. Baraboo. Wisconsin Observed Trials Association. (319) 330-8016 wisconsintrials.org Grand Prix: July 25. Hillpoint. Sugar Maple MX Park LLC. (608) 425-8643 sugarmaplemx.com

WEST VIRGINIA Motocross: July 10. Hedgesville. Tomahawk MX, LLC. (304) 582-8185 tomahawkmx.com

THE BETA AMA NATIONAL DUAL-SPORT SERIES FEATURES SOME OF THE COUNTRY’S BEST ORGANIZED DUAL-SPORT RIDES. EVENTS INCLUDE MILES OF WELL-MARKED, CHALLENGING TRAIL CONNECTED BY SCENIC BACKCOUNTRY ROADS. AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM/NATIONAL-DUAL-SPORT SUPPORTING SPONSOR

Be sure to check the event website or call the organizer for the latest information, including postponements or cancellations.

COMING EVENTS MOTOCROSS: 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. mxsportsproracing.com Round 5: July 3. Buchanan, Mich. RedBud MX Round 6: July 17. Millville, Minn. Spring Creek MX Park Round 7: July 24. Washougal, Wash. Washougal MX Park Round 8: Aug. 14. New Berlin, N.Y. Unadilla MX Round 9: Aug. 21. Mechanicsville, Md. Budds Creek Motocross Park Round 10: Aug. 28. Crawfordsville, Ind. Ironman Raceway Round 11: Sept. 4. Pala, Calif. Fox Raceway Round 12: Sept. 11. Rancho Cordova, Calif.. Prairie City SVRA National Championship: AMA ATV Motocross National Championship Series. atvmotocross.com Round 6: July 3-4. Seward, Pa. Pleasure Valley Raceway Round 7: July 17-18. New Berlin, N.Y. Unadilla MX Round 8: July 31-Aug. 1. Buchanan, Mich. RedBud MX Round 9: Aug. 14-15. Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Loretta Lynn Ranch Round 10: Sept. 4-5. Nashport, Ohio. Briarcliff MX National Championship. AMA Vintage Motocross Grand Championship. vintagemotorcycledays.com July 24-25. Lexington, Ohio. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. (614) 856-1900 National Championship. AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship. mxsports.com Aug. 2-7. Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Loretta Lynn’s Ranch FEATURED EVENTS: Racer X Maine Event: Aug. 28-29. Lyman, Maine. (781) 831-2207 mx207.com Baja Brawl: Sept. 4-6. Millingon, Mich. Baja Acres. (989) 871-3356 bajaacres.com Yamaha All-Star Pro-Am:Sept. 12. Shippensburg, Pa. Doublin Gap MX Park. (717) 249-6036 doublingap.com 45th Annual Kawasaki Race of Champions: Oct. 1-3. Englishtown, N.J. Raceway Park. (732) 446-7800 etownraceway.com Top Gun Showdown: Oct. 10. Blountville, Tenn. Muddy Creek Raceway. (423) 323-5497 victory-sports.com The Motoplayground Race: Oct. 15-17. Ponca City, Okla. Ponca City MX (816) 582-4113 poncamx.com California Classic: Oct. 28-31. Pala, Calif. Fox Raceway. (559) 500-2276 2xpromotions.com Cash for Class Scholarship Race: Nov. 13-14. Cairo, Ga. GPF. (810) 569-2606 gpfmx.com STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: AMA Tennessee State Championship July 11. Muddy Creek Raceway. Blountville, Tenn. (423) 323-5497 victory-sports.com AMA North Carolina State Championship: Aug. 8. Sanford, N.C. Devils Ridge Motocross. (919) 776-1767 devilsridgemotox.com AMA Georgia State Championship: Sept. 26. Dalton, Ga. Lazy River MX (706) 278-2868 lazyrivermx.com AMA South Carolina State Championship Nov. 14. South of the Border MX. Hamer, S.C. (423) 323-5497 victory-sports.com Pro-Am Motocross AMA Tennessee State Championship: July 11. Muddy Creek Raceway. Blountville, Tenn. (423) 323-5497 victory-sports.com Best of the Midwest Series: Aug. 8. Garwin, Iowa. Oak Ridge MX (641) 844-4849 oakridgemx.com AMA North Carolina State Championship: Aug. 8. Sanford, N.C. Devils Ridge Motocross. (919) 776-1767 devilsridgemotox.com Battle of Wisconsin: Aug. 21-22. Tigerton, Wis. Tigerton MX. (920) 419-2863 fantasymoto.com Best of the Midwest Series: Aug. 28-29. Garwin, Iowa. Oak Ridge MX. (641) 844-4849 oakridge.com

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

Racer X Maine Event:Aug. 28-29. Lyman, Maine. MX 207. (781) 831-2207 mx207.com Baja Brawl: Sept. 4-6. Millingon, Mich. Baja Acres. (989) 871-3356 bajaacres.com Hangtown Motocross Classic: Sept. 9-10. Rancho Cordova, Calif. Prairie City OHV Park. 1-800-Hangtown hangtownmx.com Yamaha Pro-Am: Sept. 12. Shippensburg, Pa. Doublin Gap MX Park. (717) 249-6036 doublingap.com Travis Pastrana Pro-Am Challenge: Sept. 25-26. Seward, Pa. Pleasure Valley Raceway. (814) 317-6686 pvrmx.com Fall Classic Rip and Grip: Sept. 25-26. Snelling, Calif. Oatfield Raceway. (559) 500-2276 2xpromotions.com AMA Georgia State Championship: Sept. 26. Dalton, Ga. Lazy River MX (706) 278-2868 lazyrivermx.com 45th Annual Kawasaki Race of Champions: Oct. 1-3. Englishtown, N.J. Raceway Park. (732) 446-7800 etownraceway.com Big Bucks Pro-Am: Oct. 10. Birdsboro, Pa. Pagoda Motorcycle Club. (610) 582-3717 pagodamc.org Top Gun Showdown: Oct. 10. Blountville, Tenn. Muddy Creek Raceway. (423) 323-5497 victory-sports.com The Motoplayground Race: Oct. 15-17. Ponca City, Okla. Ponca City MX. (816) 582-4113 poncamx.com MSC Championship Series: Oct. 17. Middletown, N.Y. Orange County Fair Motocross. (845) 554-8717 mscmotocross.com California Classic: Oct. 28-31. Pala, Calif. Fox Raceway (559) 500-2276 2xpromotions.com

TRACK RACING: FIM Grand Prix World Championship. motogp.com TBD. Austin, Texas. Circuit of The Americas (512) 301-6600 circuitoftheamericas.com National Championship: Motoamerica AMA/FIM North America Road Racing Championship. motoamerica.com Round 5: July 9-11. Monterey, Calif. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Round 6: July 30-Aug. 1. Brainerd, Minn. Brainerd International Raceway Round 7: Aug. 13-15. Wampum, Pa. Pittsburgh International Race Complex Round 8: Sept. 10-12. Millville, N.J. New Jersey Motorsports Park Round 9: Sept. 17-19. Birmingham, Ala. Barber Motorsports Park 2021 American Flat Track. americanflattrack.com Round 9: July 17. DuQuoin, Ill. DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Round 10; July 24. Port Royal, Pa. Port Royal Speedway Round 11: Aug. 14. Weedsport, N.Y. Weedsport Speedway Round 12: Aug. 21. Peoria, Ill. Peoria Motorcycle Club Round 13: Sept. 4. Springfield, Ill. Illinois State Fairgrounds Round 14: Sept. 5. Springfield, Ill. Illinois State Fairgrounds Round 15-16: Sept. 17&18. TBA, Calif. Round 17: Oct. 8. Charlotte, N.C. Charlotte Motor Speedway 2021 AMA Pro Hillclimb amaprohillclimb.com Round 4: Aug. 28. Scottsburg, Ind. High Fly MX Park Round 5: Sept. 18. Jefferson, Pa. White Rose Motorcycle Club Round 6: Sept. 26. Freemansburg, Pa. Bushkill Valley Motorcycle Club Round 7: Oct. 10. Oregonia, Ohio. Dayton MC Club/Devil’s Staircase National Championship: AMA Flat Track Grand Championship. stevenaceracing.com July 15-20. Du Quoin, Ill. Du Quoin Illinois State Fairgrounds. (270) 442-7532 National Championship. AMA Vintage Flat Track National Championship Series. americanmotorcyclist.com Round 10: July 24. Ashland, Ohio. Ashland County Fairgrounds (Half Mile). (270) 442-7532 stevenaceracing.com Round 11: Sept. 2. Springfield, Ill. Illinois State Fairgrounds Multi-Purpose Arena (Short Track). (270) 442-7532 stevenaceracing.com

#AMAADV

Round 12: Sept. 18. Cuddebackville, N.Y. Oakland Valley Race Park (Short Track). (845) 219-1193 tristateclub.net Round 13: Sept. 19. Cuddebackville, N.Y. Oakland Valley Race Park (Short Track). (845) 219-1193 tristateclub.net Round 14: Sept. 24. Schenectady, N.Y. Electric City Raceway (Short Track). (518) 727-0311 facebook.com/echo.valleymx Round 15: Sept. 25. Schenectady, N.Y. Electric City Raceway (Short Track). (518) 727-0311 facebook.com/echo.valleymx National Championship. AMA Vintage Road Race Grand Championship. vintagemotorcycledays.com July 24-25. Lexington, Ohio. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. (614) 856-1900 National Championship. AMA Land Speed Grand Championship: Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials. bonnevillespeedtrials.com Aug. 29-Sept. 2. Wendover, Utah. Bonneville Salt Flats. (530) 263-7276 FEATURED EVENTS: AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series. stevenaceracing.com Half Mile: July 4. Frederick, Md. The Great Frederick Fairgrounds Half Mile: July 10. Ashland, Ohio. Ashland County Fairgrounds Half Mile: July 31. Lore City, Ohio. Guernsey County Fairgrounds Half Mile: Aug. 28. Woodstock, Va. Shenandoah County Fairgrounds Short Track: Sept. 3. Springfield, Ill. Illinois State Fairgrounds

OFF-ROAD: FIM International Six Days Enduro. fim-live.com Aug. 30-Sept. 4. Rivanazzano Terme, Italy National Championship: AMA Grand National Cross Country Championship. gnccracing.com eMTB: Aug. 31. Hurricane Mills, Tenn. Loretta Lynn’s eMTB Round 10: Sept. 11-12. Beckley, W.Va. The Mountaineer Round 11: Sept. 25-26. Millfield, Ohio. Burr Oak Round 12: Oct. 9-10. Newburg, W.Va. Buckwheat 100 Round 13: Oct. 23-24. Crawfordsville, Ind. Ironman National Championship: AMA National Enduro Championship. nationalenduro.com Round 5: July 25. Cross Fork, Pa. Rattlesnake National Enduro. (610) 883-7607ber.us Round 6: Aug. 22. Burgholz, Ohio. Lumberjack National Enduro. (216) 513-1297 aces-races.com

SOME OF THE BEST ROUTES MAPPED BY LOCAL EXPERTS. A GREAT CHALLENGE WITH LIKE-MINDED RIDERS. A FULL WEEKEND OF ACTIVITIES, WITH CAMPING, FOOD AND PRIZES. AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM/NATIONAL-ADVENTURE-RIDING SUPPORTING SPONSORS

Be sure to check the event website or call the organizer for the latest information, including postponements or cancellations.

COMING EVENTS Round 7: Oct. 3. Matthews, Ind. Muddobbers National Enduro. (765) 998-2236 muddobbermc.org Round 8: Oct. 17. Sand Springs, Okla. Zink Ranch National Enduro. tulsatrailriders.com Round 9: Nov. 7. Stanton, Ala. Gobbler Getter National Enduro. (205) 340-4298 perrymountainmotorcycleclub.com National Championship: AMA National Hare and Hound Championship. nationalhareandhound.com Round 6: Sept. 11. Panaca, Nev. Silver State Trail Blazers. google.com/site/silverstatetrailblazers Round 7: Sept. 25-26. Lucerne Valley, Calif. Round 8: Oct. 9-10. Lovelock, Nev. Rimbenders MC. (909) 953-1200 rimbendersmc.com Round 9: Oct. 23-24. Lucerne Valley, Calif. 100’s MC. (760) 573-3191 100smc.org National Championship: AMA National Grand Prix Championship. ngpcseries.com Round 7: Aug. 21-22. TBD, Idaho Round 8: Oct. 2-3. Ridgecrest, Calif. Round 9: Oct. 30-21. Blythe, Calif. Round 10: Nov. 12-14. Havasu, Ariz. National Championship. AMA EnduroCross National Championship Series. endurocross.com Round 1: Sept. 18. Tulsa, Okla. Round 2: Oct. 2. Amarillo, Texas Round 3: Oct. 9. Reno, Nev. Round 4: Oct. 23. Prescott Valley, Ariz. Round 5: Oct. 29. Denver, Colo. Round 6: Oct. 30. Denver, Colo. National Championship: AMA/NATC MotoTrials National Championship. mototrials.com Round 4: Oct. 2-3. Tillamook, Ore. Columbia Observed Trials Association. observedtrials.com National Championship: AMA/NATC Eastern Youth MotoTrials National Championship. mototrials.com July 2-4. Sequatchie, Tenn. Trials Training Center. (423) 942-8688 trialstrainingcenter.com National Championship: AMA/NATC Western Youth MotoTrials National Championship. mototrials.com Aug. 6-8. Turkey Rock, Colo. Rocky Mountain Trials Association. (719) 239-1234 rockymountaintrials.org National Championship: AMA Vintage Hare Scrambles Grand Championship. vintagemotorcycledays.com July 23. Lexington, Ohio. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. (614) 856-1900 National Championship: AMA Vintage Trials Grand Championship. vintagemotorcycledays.com July 25. Lexington, Ohio. Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. (614) 856-1900

Round 11: Sept. 18-19. Woodruff, S.C. Round 12: Oct. 2-3. TBA Round 13: Oct. 15-17. Shelby, N.C. Round 14: Oct. 30-31. Hickory, N.C. Kenda NY X-Country Championship. nyoa.net Round 6: July 11. Homer, N.Y. Knobby Acres Round 7: July 25. Newark Valley, N.Y. Victory Motorcycle Round 8: Aug. 1. TBA. Ditch Banger Round 9: Aug. 15. Harpursville, N.Y. Black Sky Round 10: Aug. 22. Lowman, N.Y. Baldwin Trail Riders Round 11: Sept. 5. Moravia, N.Y. Twisted Fence REGIONAL SERIES AMA East Hare Scramble Championship. amaeastharescrambles.com Round 6: Aug. 14. Harpursville, N.Y. Black Sky. (518) 598-4532 Round 7: Sept. 19. Westfield, Mass. Knox Trail Riders Association Inc. knoxtrailriders.com Rounds 8-9: Nov. 6-7. Stillwater , OK AMA West Hare Scramble Championship. westharescramble.com Round 5: Oct. 16-17. Boise, Idaho. OMC Round 6: Nov. 6. Stillwater, Okla. Round 7: Nov. 7. Stillwater, Okla. Round 8: Nov 20-21. Wilseyville, Calif. North Bay MC AMA East Extreme Off-Road Regional Championship. amaextremechampionship.com July 3-4. Tamaqua, Pa. Tough Like RORR. Reading Off-Road Riders. (570) 449-3973 rorr.org July 17-18. Little Hocking, Ohio. Bad Medicine at Fallen Timbers. Wildwood Lake Raceway. (740) 331-5163 wildwoodlakeraceway.com Enduro: Aug. 7-8. Taylorsville, N.C. Battle of the Goats Extreme. Brushy Mountain. Motor Sports Park. (828) 635-7766 bmmspark.com AMA West Extreme Off-Road Regional Championship. amaextremechampionship.com July 10-11. Donner, Calif. Donner Hard Enduro. Garrahan Off-Road Training. (408) 857-5884 garrahanoffroadtraining.com State Championship: AMA Arizona Off-Road Championship. amraracing.com Round 6: Oct. 9. Kirkland, Ariz.. Prescott Trail Riders. Hare Scramble Round 7: Oct. 23-24. Globe, Ariz. Rock Stars Motorcycle Club. Hare Scramble Round 8: Nov. 14. Oracle, Ariz. Xtreme Motorcycle Club. Hare Scramble Round 9: Dec. 12. Peoria, Ariz. Canyon Raceway MX Park in FAST’R Motorcycle Club. Hare Scramble State Championship: AMA Maryland State Off-Road Championship. sprintcrosscountryseries.com Round 2: July 4. Westernport, Md. Cross Country Round 3: July 18. Westernport, Md. Sprint Enduro

RECREATIONAL:

FEATURED EVENTS AMA US Sprint Enduro Championship. ussprintenduro.com Round 6: July 17 – 18. Westernport, Md. AMA Sprint Cross Country Championship. sprintcrosscountryseries.com Round 5: July 2-4 Round 6: July 17-18 Round 7: Oct. 16-17 Round 8: Oct. 30-31 Round 9: Nov. 20-21 AMA Mid East Racing Championship. mideastracing.com Round 9: Aug. 21-22. Yadkinville, N.C. Round 10: Sept. 4-5. Union, S.C.

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

AMA National Adventure Riding Series. americanmotorcyclist.com/national-adventure-riding Sept. 1-12. Blue Ridge. Pineola, N.C. Appalachian Trail Riders. (704) 309-3271 carolinadualsporters.com Sept. 18-19. Buffaloe 500. Columbus, Ind. Stoney Lonesome Motorcycle Club. (812) 342-4411, ext. 4. stoneylonesomemc.com

COMING EVENTS HALL OF FAME EVENTS AND EXHIBITS AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME

americanmotorcyclist.com/hall-of-fame The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio, and is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Main Hall: Now featuring the 2019 Hall of Fame inductees, the main floor celebrates the heroes of the track, road, trails and halls of government who have elevated the sport, business and lifestyle of motorcycling to new heights. Founder’s Hall: Honoring the Hall of Fame’s generous contributors. The Birth of a Hurricane: How Hall of Famer Craig Vetter reimagined BSA for an American market. Sam Swope: Motorcycles that represent the generous, charitable giving of motorcyclist and philanthropist Sam Swope.

Lords of the Board Track: Board-track racing was one of the earliest formal motorcycleracing disciplines. It featured man and machine speeding around a simple wooden track while huge crowds cheered them on.

Learn why this form of racing dropped from sight almost as quickly as it emerged. Learn about the racers who dared to compete in this exhilarating sport and watch a video of actual racing from 1921.

It’s about the journey and the destination

MotorcycleMuseum.org 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington, OH 43147 Facebook.com/AMAHallofFame • #AMAHoF

Be sure to check the event website or call the organizer for the latest information, including postponements or cancellations. Sept. 25-26. Show Me 500. Bixby, Mo. Midwest Trail Riders Association (314) 434-5095 ridemtra.com

Nov. 6-7. Hammer Run. Port Elizabeth, N.J. Tri-County Sportsmen MC. teamhammer.org

Sept. 25-26. Big Woods 200. Wabeno, Wis. Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders. (920) 3502030 widualsportriders.org

Nov. 6-7. Howlin’ at the Moon. Prescott Valley, Ariz. Arizona Trail Riders. (602) 692-9382 arizonatrailriders.com

Oct. 2-3. Perry Mountain Tower Run. Stanton, Ala.Perry Mountain Motorcycle Club. (334) 327-5086 perrymountainmotorcycleclub.com

Nov. 26-27. L.A. - Barstow to Vegas. Palmdale, Calif. AMA District 37 Dual Sport. (626) 446-7386 labarstowvegas.com

Oct. 2-3. Shenandoah 500. Natural Chimneys, Va. Washington Area Trail Riders. (703) 596-2675 watr.us

January 15 - November 30. California. California Adventure Series Southern California Motorcycle Association. (818) 397-5738 sc-ma.com

Oct. 15-17. Pine Barrens 500. Cookstown, N.J. Pine Barrens Adventures LLC. (732) 995-4343 pinebarrensadventures.com Oct. 23-24. Cross-Florida Adventure. Bartow, Fla. Dixie Dual Sport. (727) 919-8299 dixiedualsport.com Nov. 26-27. L.A. - Barstow to Vegas. Palmdale, Calif. District 37 Dual Sport. (626) 446-7386 labarstowvegas.com

AMA Grand Tours. americanmotorcyclist.com/grandtours March 15 - November 15. Texas. Motorcycle Grand Tour Of Texas. (210) 777-1434 mcgttx.com

AMA National Gypsy Tour. americanmotorcyclist.com/gypsytour Laconia Motorcycle Week. June 12-20. Laconia, N.H. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. July 23-25. Lexington, Ohio

January 15 - November 30. USA Four Corners Tour. Southern California Motorcycle Association. (805) 889-5220 sc-ma.com January 15 - November 30. USA Best 15 US Roads Challenge. Southern California Motorcycle Association. sc-ma.com

Beta AMA National Dual-Sport Series. americanmotorcyclist.com/ national-dual-sport July 24-25. Copperhead. Logan, Ohio. Hocking Valley Motorcycle Club (614) 385-7695 hockingvalleymc.com

RACHEL RING 1-888-600-8494 KINEKTDESIGN.COM

Aug. 28-29. Baby Burr. New Plymouth, Ohio. Enduro Riders of Ohio. (740) 9724214 enduroriders.com Sept. 11-12. LBL 200. Dover, Tenn. KT Riders. (270) 350-6324 lbl200.com Sept. 18-19. Yosemite Dual Sport Adventure. Buck Meadows, Calif. Family Off-Road Adventures. (209) 9937306 familyoffroadadventures.com Sept. 18-19. Buffaloe 500. Columbus, Ind. Stoney Lonesome Motorcycle Club. (812) 342-4411, ext. 4 stoneylonesomemc.com Sept. 25-26. Show Me 200. Bixby, Mo. Midwest Trail Riders Association (314) 434-5095 ridemtra.com Sept. 25-26. Big Woods 200. Wabeno, Wis. Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders. (920) 3502030 widualsportriders.org

Buying or selling residential or commercial real estate ANYWHERE in the United States? Learn how it can benefit the AMA Hall of Fame at NO COST to you!

Oct. 2-3. Perry Mountain Tower Run. Stanton, Ala. Perry Mountain Motorcycle Club. (334) 327-5086 perrymountainmotorcycleclub.com Oct. 2-3. Shenandoah 500. Natural Chimneys, Va. Washington Area Trail Riders. (703) 596-2675

Info: Kristi at (951) 704-6370.

AMA Trademarks The following represents active, registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks of American Motorcyclist Association, Inc. (AMA). Usage of any AMA trademark or registered trademark without our permission is prohibited. Please contact jholter@ ama-cycle.org for more information or assistance. (800) AMA-JOIN® • AMA Dragbike® • AMA Endurocross® AMA Motorhead® • AMA Pro Grand National Championship® AMA Pro Racing® • AMA Race Center™ • AMA Racer® AMA Racing® • AMA Racing Land Speed Grand Championships® AMA Supermoto® • AMA Supercross® • AMA SX Lites® AMA U.S. ISDE Team™ • AMA U.S. Jr. Motocross Team™ AMA U.S. Motocross Team™ • Amateur National Motocross Championships® • American Motorcyclist Association® Arenacross® • ATV Hare Scrambles National Championship Series® • ATV Motocross National Championship Series® Flat Track Grand Championships™ • Grand National Enduro Championship® • Gypsy Tour® Hare & Hound National Championship Series® • Hare Scrambles Championship Series® Hare Scrambles National Championship Series® • Kids Just Want To Ride® • Motorcycle Hall of Fame® • Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum® • Motorcyclist of the Year® • Motostars® • National Adventure Riding Series® • National Dual-Sport Series® National Enduro Championship Series® • Protect Your Right to Ride® • Protecting Your Right to Ride® • Ride Straight® Rights. Riding. Racing.® • Road Race Grand Championships® Vintage Grand Championships® • Vintage Motorcycle Days® Vote Like A Motorcyclist®

July 2021

FLASHBACK

Not much in motorcycling is more emotionally stirring than the final few minutes of On Any Sunday. Bruce Brown’s awesome film work, combined with the Dominic Frontiere Orchestra’s music (and Sally Stevens’ supple voice), is simply wonderful. Go enjoy it again!

ON ANY SUNDAY

“Run wild and catch me if you can” On any Sunday I’m a flyin’ man

On Any Sunday, chasing echos of dreams I touch the yesterday anew Something inside of me goes back through the years.... And I’m a kid I used to know I’m Flying...

Free as the wind, faster than time, reason and rhyme are running behind. Tasting the sun Feeling the Earth, Knowing my worth and freeing my mind...

Over my shoulder through the dust I’m calling “Run wild and catch me if you can” On Any Sunday I’m a flyin’ man On Any Sunday looking back on the crowd From the far out place I found Screaming inside of me, and laughing out loud I’m losing contact with the ground, I’m flyin’ Over my shoulder through the dust I’m calling 70

AmericanMotorcyclist.com

On Any Sunday, like the tail of a kite Flying and dancing in the wind I’d like to break the string and drift out of sight I may not pass this way again... I’m Flyin’ Over my shoulder through the dust I’m calling “Run wild and catch me if you can” On Any Sunday I’m a Flyin’ Man

AMAGear.com New designs. Made in the U.S.A.

Switch to GEICO and see how easy it could be to save money on motorcycle insurance. Simply visit geico.com/cycle to get started.

geico.com/cycle | 1-800-442-9253 | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or in all situations. Motorcycle and ATV coverages are underwritten by GEICO Indemnity Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2021 GEICO 21_ 550729928

American Motorcyclist July 2021

Articles inside

FLASHBACK: OAS’ EPIC ENDING

EVENT CALENDAR

THE WAY WE WERE

OF ON ANY SUNDAY

MOAB SOUNDCHECK

AMA INSIDER

BACKFIRES

OAS BACK IN THEATERS

SALT IN PERIL

PERSPECTIVES

FROM THE AMA PRESIDENT & CEO