Press Release | May 26, 2021
The 24 Hour AHRMA Dream Team will compete in the Perry Mountain 24 Hour Challenge June 5 and 6 in Maplesville, Alabama.
The following is a press release from AHRMA…
Elora, TN (May 26, 2021) – A “dream team” of pro and amateur racers representing the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) will take on an off-road marathon aboard vintage machines. The 24 Hour AHRMA Dream Team will compete in the Perry Mountain 24 Hour Challenge June 5 and 6 in Maplesville, Alabama.
The event pits racers from across the country against each other and the clock. The format is based on a 24-hour-long relay race with teams of four riders each. Each racer competes on their own motorcycle. The course covers rough, hilly and sandy terrain common to southern Alabama.
While most teams will be racing on the latest modern off-road competition motorcycles, the AHRMA Dream Team will be aboard vintage motorcycles that are eligible for AHRMA events. This means the bikes will be at least 35 years old, have air-cooled engines, drum brakes and limited-travel suspension.
The Dream Team members represent an elite group of AHRMA members who regularly compete in AHRMA National Championship events. Not only will they be riding older motorcycles, but they will also be decades older than their fellow competitors: some of whom are professional racers with full factory support.
“The AHRMA 24 Hour Dream Team is not going to this event to just ride around and get their pictures taken,” said Anthony Paul, AHRMA’s off-road director. “They have been planning this event for months and will continue to plan and train for this event as the plan is to win.”
The Dream Team members include riders Fred Hoess, Trampas Parker, Tommy Veator and Terry Cunningham. Craig Hayes will serve as the team mechanic and Anthony Paul will serve as team manager.
Hoess, age 54 from Stanhope, New Jersey started his competition career in 1980 when he earned the New England Trail Rider Association Mini Grand Champion. During the next 40 years his accomplishments included championships in the National Hare Scrambles series, Junior World Trophy ISDE Team member (earning gold medals), and success in regional Enduro series. Hoess is a 27-time International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) Gold Medalist. Hoess is the winningest American ISDE competitor. He is also a multi-time AHRMA Post Vintage Open Expert Champion.
Parker, age 53 from Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was inducted into the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Hall of Fame in 2009. He is a two-time World Motocross Champion earning the 125cc Championship in 1991 and the 250cc Championship in 1991. He won six Italian Motocross Championships. Parker is the only American to win races in all three of the World Championship 125, 250, and 350cc motocross classes. Parker is also the only rider to win races in these classes during the same year.
Cunningham, age 62 from Greenback, TN. He has multiple wins in Grand National Cross Country, and National Hare Scrambles competition, earned four National Enduro Championships, two ISDE Silver Medals, five ISDE Gold Medals and was an inductee into the American Motorcycles Association (AMA) Hall of Fame in 2018. He has continued his race wins with multiple AHRMA Post-Vintage Open Expert National Championships
Veator, age 52 from Perry, Georgia is former Kawasaki Team Green member and KTM support team rider. He is a three-time FTR Enduro Champion, multi time SETRA Enduro and SETRA Hare Scramble Champion, the 2015 SORCS 4 Stroke A Champion, 2017 SORCS 30A Champion and two-time AHRMA Post-Vintage 200 Expert National Champion. He brings Perry Mountain 24 Hour Challenge experience to the AHRMA team as the 2001 and 2006 champion.
“We couldn’t even dream of doing this race, on these bikes and with these riders, without the help from all our AHRMA members that have stepped up to support us,” Paul said.
AHRMA Doubles Down, Fields Two Teams at 24 Hours of Perry Mountain
The following is a press release from AHRMA…
Elora, TN (May 25, 2021) – American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) introduces “the Vintage 6”, a team of AHRMA amateur racers, to take on the Perry Mountain off-road marathon aboard vintage machines.
The “AHRMA Vintage 6” will compete in the 6-Bike 45+ Class in the Perry Mountain 24 Hour Challenge June 5 and 6 in Maplesville, Alabama and will join the “AHRMA-Dream Team” of off-road superstars.
The event pits racers from across the country against each other and the clock. The format for the six-Bike classes is based on 24-hour-long relay race with teams of six riders each. Each racer competes on their own motorcycle. The course covers rough, hilly, and sandy terrain common to southern Alabama.
The AHRMA Vintage 6, like the AHRMA Dream Team, will be aboard vintage motorcycles which are eligible for AHRMA events. This means the bikes will be at least 35 years old, have air-cooled engines, drum brakes and limited-travel suspension. The AHRMA Vintage 6 members represent a premier group of AHRMA members who regularly compete in AHRMA National Championship events.
The Vintage 6 team members include Curt Comer (Team Manager), Suzy Moody, Alan Drane, Kevin Hutchinson, Bob Bean, Steve Blakley and Heath Parker.
Curt Comer
Comer, age 63 from Elora, Tennessee, will be riding a 1985 Husqvarna 250 WR. Comer has been AHRMA’s Executive Director since 2019. A member of AHRMA since 1990, he has competed with AHRMA in all disciplines including Road Race, Trials, Motocross, Cross Country and Flat Track. Comer holds multiple motorcycle championship titles including 1981 USA National Trials Champion.
Internationally, Comer was 18th in the 1978 FIM World Trials Championships and a member of the 1984 USA Trial des Nations Team in Poland. He has earned senior class championships Observed Trials, Super Senior A National Enduro, +50 National ST & TT Championships and +40 Dirt Track Grand Champion. He has competed in previous Perry Mountain 24-hour Challenge races on teams in the early 2000’s, winning 2nd overall Duo Class in 2007 and +50 Ironman winner in 2008.
Suzy Moody
Moody, age 59 from Salida, Colorado will be riding a 1984 Yamaha IT200. Moody began competing in 1973 and won several off-road races in the women’s class and taken overall victories. In 2001 she represented the United States on the first AMA Women’s ISDE team in France. Moody raced the Perry Mountain 24 Hour Challenge several times in the Ironman Woman Class and Teams. She is a WERA Roadracing Novice and holds Expert Championships from 2004-2009. She currently competes in both the AHRMA National Motocross and Cross Country series. In addition to her many competition accomplishments, Moody has held officer positions in the NATRA, SERA, SE&TRA and AMA Organizations, and founded the Cumberland Mountain Riders Association (CMRA which owns one of the country’s largest privately owned riding areas in Winchester, Tennessee. Moody owned Madison Cycle Supply, a full-service Husqvarna, Aprilia and Beta dealership, with her late husband Paul Fann.
Alan Drane
Drane, age 59 from Houston, Texas will be aboard a 1985 Husqvarna 250 WR. Drane is a NETRA Class winner of Jr. Enduros. He is sponsored by Ron Grene Hercules. Drane holds the title for the 1992-93 Texas Championship Hare Scrambles Overall Champion in the Expert Class and was the 1994-95 ISDE Qualifier Series and Runner Up in the Texas Championship Hare Scrambles Championship. He has won various AHRMA Expert MX and Cross Country Championships.
Kevin Hutchinson
Hutchinson, age 53 from Ball, Louisiana will be riding a 1987 Husqvarna 430 XC. He is a two-time ISDE Vet, five-time 24 Hour team rider, and in 2007 he won 250A class 24 Hour. He is a multi-time SERA Enduro Class Champion.
Bob Bean
Bean, age 68 lives in Osceola, Indiana. He will be riding a 1985 Husqvarna 250 XC. Bean is a three-time ISDE medal winner. He also holds three Mini Olympics Championships, 34 AHRMA National Championships as well as nine AMA National Motocross Championships.
Steve Blakely
Blakely, age 57 from Washington, Missouri, will be riding a 1987 Yamaha YZ400. His first motorcycle competition was in 1971 at age 8. From there his racing accomplishments include 1987 Dade City MX 1st overall 250 class champion, 1998 Best in Desert Ironman overall class champion, 2000 first place 250 Sportsman team at the Glen Helen 24 Hour race, 2001 first overall Amateur Utah National Hare & Hound, 2001 second overall National Hare & Hound Four-Stroke Open “B” class, 2003 Ironman “Vegas to Reno” Expert class second place, 2004 Ironman Vegas-to-Reno Expert-class first place (23rd overall), 2020 AHRMA 250 GP/50 Plus Intermediate-class championships.
Heath Parker
Parker, age 52 from Stonewall, Louisiana will be on a 1984 Yamaha IT 200. Parker returned to motorcycle riding and racing in 2006 after a 24-year break. He is the 2010 Louisiana Cross Country +40 Amateur champion and won a couple of South-Central regional championships in 2018. He began racing with AHRMA in 2014.
“Fielding two AHRMA teams for Perry Mountain really puts a bright spotlight on vintage off road racing,” said Arthur Kowitz, Chairman of the AHRMA Board of Trustees. “Our Vintage 6 team is a great combo of former professional racers, world-level champs and some fast amateurs all on some really cool classic dirt bikes.”
For more information, visit www.ahrma.org or www.perrymountainmotorcycleclub.com
