Hodaka Days 2007 -- More of Friday's Doings

A perennial favorite event for participants and spectators alike is the trials school led by Jay Lael. This session was a chance to see Jay's latest trial bike build, the "Tree Frog" in all its orange and lime green glory!

Jay talks folks through the techniques and then demonstrates, followed by riders taking their chances--sometimes with great success, sometimes with tumbles. One youngster, James Bodkin of Deer Isle (near St. Helen's), Oregon, made each of the practice runs look darned easy (look for the kid on bike #3). Ed Chesnut was seen giving some special tutoring to Rick Mott before his hill climb attempt on the Hodaka Spyder.

Jay was particularly impressed with Mike Kraft from Fort Worth, Texas, who has only been riding dirt bikes for a couple of weeks (a Dirt Squirt), and yet managed to hang in well on several of the trials course segments. (Mike's fashion statement was a black T-shirt with a tuxedo imprint!) Mike's fiancee reported that Mike is a real Hodaka convert, having just bought a Wombat. And that when he's fixed that one up, he's turning the Dirt Squirt over to her; she says she intends to be a rider at Hodaka Days 2008.

Among the kernels of advice this year: "No stiff arming." Ride with arms loose enough to let the bike carry you. "No European style motorcross." Asked about this, Jay explains he's referring to a tendency of European riders to hug the gas tank with their knees, something he doesn't recommend for trials riding. "When doing a hill climb, take a flying ass run at it, hit it hard, then throttle back and coast up and over." As Jay explains, this technique should avoid the worst case scenario of steeply graded hill climbs, which is to wheelie over backwards.

Ice Cream and History

The evening turned breezy, but Athena was showing off well in the sunset department. A sizeable crowd turned up at the Swanson's for ice cream sundaes, cookies, and Chuck's musings and slides of Hodaka history.

These folks from Rochester, Minnesota, figure it's probably warmer back home!
Chuck needed help holding the screen in the breezy evening. At right is a banner handcrafted by Dyann Swanson.

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