MOAB SOUNDCHECK

By Kali Kotoski

Astrict 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 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.

By Mitch Boehm

Anyone 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

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.

By Kali Kotoski

It 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.

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/.

AMA 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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By Kali Kotoski

Karen 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.

“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.

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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 years of advocacy work by local Oregon motorcycle organizations and the AMA to educate lawmakers on the bill’s safety, traffic and environmental benefits.

Despite bipartisan support, however, Gov. Kate Brown vetoed the bill on May 27, citing her concerns about safety. Although the Legislature could still override that ® veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers, it’s highly unlikely.

“The AMA is disappointed in Governor Brown for ignoring the will of the Legislature, which passed this bill with broad support,” said the AMA’s Director of Government Relations Michael Sayre. “Despite a veto, we’d like to congratulate advocates in the state who’ve lobbied for 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.”

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.