News John Harriman July 2015 CONNECT The NETRA News is a monthly publicaon of the New England Trail Rider Associaon. This publicaon is emailed to more than 3000 acve trail riders and rac- ers: your customers. It’s also posted to Facebook, Twier and Instagram increasing the readership be- yond NETRA members. Ad rates are based on adverser provided digital art- work. Ads in Adobe PDF format are preferred but other image types may be accepted. Annual Rate in- cludes 11 issues, February-December. John Harriman—Ride in Peace, Herm. Deadline for ads is the 20th of the month prior to Photo Credit: Off‐road Paparazzi publicaon. Adversement Annual Rate FOLLOW US! Full Page $500 Facebook 1/2 Page $300 Twitter 1/4 Page $200 Instagram Aenon NETRA members! Got a road trip you want to share? Do you have a legislave commentary you‘d like to post? Is there a picture you just have to show off? The content quality of this newsleer is up to you! THIS IS YOUR NETRA NEWS! Drop us a line via email [email protected] President’s Message In this month's message, I'd like to discuss a troubling phenomenon from some of our recent NETRA events. In one case at a hare scramble earlier this year, we had several riders blatantly disregard yellow flags and the instrucons of track workers at the scoring barrels. On another occasion, a non-parcipang NETRA member chose to harass the Trail Boss at an event, cricizing how he had orga- nized the event. At last year's Classic Trail Ride, a few parcipants decided they had the right to ride their bikes wherever they wanted on the New Hampshire Speedway property, and when confronted by track personnel unleashed a tor- rent of foul language and obscene gestures. I recognize that in today's society there is a tendency towards instant graficaon and a "my needs come first" mentality, but this trend of entled behavior has several negave implicaons for NETRA and the sport of off-road riding. First, whether we choose to recognize it our not, we have lots of powerful enemies. The environmental extremists spend every waking minute (and every dollar) trying to remove off-road vehicles from the planet. They are well- funded by well-meaning but naïve donors, and have a string of successes closing riding areas coast to coast. Most policians cater to the loud opponents of off-roading and pass legislaon that either limits, eliminates, or more heavily regulates our sport. We rely on the good will of a poron of the general public who support our right to ride. We absolutely need the support of landowners willing to host our events. We stay alive through the efforts of those enlightened policians that put a stop to even more restricve legislaon. Those of us who spend me meeng with legislators and land managers see firsthand how precarious our posion is. As NETRA President I am oen asked "What can I do to help?". My answer is simple - be a good ambassador for the sport. Thank the landowners (and follow their rules), buy the sponsors' products, wave and slow down when you come upon another trail user. Recognize that your acons when on your bike have a direct effect on how the sport is viewed by others - others that have the ability to shut all of us down. Second, NETRA (and a vast majority of off-road organizaons) is volunteer-based. Our trail bosses, checkers, sweep- ers, etc. work for mulple days in the hot sun/pouring rain/windy cold all for a jacket or a t-shirt, but mostly for the love of the sport. While you have every right to respecully ask quesons, file protests, or otherwise exercise your rights under the NETRA rulebook, your entry fee (which for the most part barely covers insurance, course markings, and trophies) does not entle you to be catered to or do as you please no maer what the rules (or common sense) say. Nor does it entle you to verbally abuse our volunteers. For you racers who may feel your skill and speed puts you in a class deserving of special treatment, wake up from your dream! In NETRA's 43 year history only a handful of racers have been able to graduate and actually make a living racing. That means we're prey much all amateurs, so shrink your ego. The top riders who have lasng legacies are guys like Malcolm Smith, Dick Burleson, Mike Laffer- ty, Kurt Caselli etc. who compete fiercely but honorably and treat everyone with respect. NETRA has a long history of these type of champions, and that is part of NETRA's proud heritage that needs to be connued. To summarize, when you encounter and interact with event personnel - smile, thank them, BE NICE. They are donang the most precious resource any of us have - me. I will wrap up this month on a somber note, recognizing the passing of John 'Herm' Harriman from a heart aack at the Remsen Hare Scramble. I didn't know John well, he briefly served on the NETRA Board before work responsibili- es required him to step down. Those who knew him well described him as a rider's rider. He had raced motocross and off-road for many years, racking up race wins and championships. He showed up at EVERY race, and his family was involved as well. The Harrimans are well-known and well-liked in the pits. In short, he will be missed. See you on the trails! RIDER PROFILE: Brian Dussault: Where are you from? I'm from Feeding Hills, MA Age? 19 years old First Bike? 2006 crf250x First ever race & year? 2013 Winter Scramble in NH Favorite Track? Hard Knox last season. It was like no other harescramble I’ve raced, it was a lot of fun riding grassy slopes and no rocks. Favorite Pro rider? Steward Baylor because he rips and is the only GNCC pro I know that if I text him right now he would reply. Favorite non-moto activity? Definitely would be bass fishing with my dad or anything that involves my whole family. Pre race ritual? I don't really have a ritual I normally eat some fruit snacks before the race and make sure I am hydrated. I see you race the enduro and harescramble series, which do you prefer and why? I definitely prefer enduros because the trails are a lot nicer and there is a lot more single track. I Summis: also get to ride my dad's County Cycle Beta 250rr, which is an Nullam aliquet neque nec ante. unbelievable bike. I don't mind harescrambles but if I had to Donec fermentum libero. choose I would pick the enduro series. Suspendisse rutrum nunc vel What do you like most about the NETRA series? I like that velit. Sed id libero sit amet odio everyone is so friendly and will go out of their way to help you eleifend malesuada. Quisque even if you’re competing against them. Also it is very family erat. Mauris lacinia, odio a orientated where a lot of people camp before the races and I really enjoy that. laoreet lobortis, leo nisi ultrices quam, adipiscing ultricies mi Season goal? I would like to make AA but most importantly is lorem at leo. to have fun hanging out and racing with my dad, mom, and sister!! Visit the all new NETRA Forum! http://forum.netra.org Get the latest on up-coming events Connect with riding buddies Keep apprised of legislave issues Browse and post to the Classifieds … and so much more! BIG BIKE / ADVENTURE RIDING BY J. BRAUN It all started years ago with a small 50cc Honda. My dad That was my first Adventure Bike. And what adventures I wouldn't let me have a car but he finally relented and let me had on it. It was a magic carpet that took me far and wide. It spend my paper route money on a lile bike. My sister's showed me that there were other people and other neigh- boyfriend knew a guy who had one for sale and gave me borhoods beyond the ones I could walk to. It had a high pipe “lessons” on how to ride it on the way over to look at it. that, to my inexperienced mind, called out for dirt roads. It wasn't a 441 Victor or a BMW GS but it took me to every hill We met in a large parking lot and once I saw it I had to have and valley where I wanted to go. it. I stalled the engine a couple of mes before wobbling off around the lot. I was geng the hang of it when it dawned The 1,000+ mile trip from Oakland CA down Hwy 1 through on me the engine was revving to the moon and I should Big Sur and on to Los Angeles was my first adventure trip. shi. Remembering Larry's instrucons, I pulled in the From LA I went up the Grapevine (Rt 99) to Merced and clutch, toed the shier, and released the clutch. Suddenly I then up to Yosemite. Slowly! was poinng at the moon - I'd forgoen the part about I camped out in the hills away from crowds. I learned about shung the throle and had pulled a wheelie! Luckily I high altude carb adjustment. I learned about skid plates, managed to get the front wheel back down without dump- and why you should have one, the hard way.