2001 North American Trials Series Points

Organized by a loosely formed committee led by Trialsin USA’s Tim Williamson, the leadership of the North American Trials Series (NATS) developed a series of biketrials for the 3rd year. Originally organized as an alternative to the dwindling interest in the sport by NORBA, the group consisted of Joey Hayes of Observed Trials Magazine; Trialsin USA owner Tim Williamson; California promoter Jon Maeda; Pennsylvania bigwig Large Ed Gregorowicz; Canadian Robin Coope; Ohioan Randy Vancil; with input from Cosmo Motors Matt Weiber, EFTA organizer Peter Wilk, and several others. The schedule was determined in early 2001 that the championship points-paying events would consist of:

  • Motorama Speed Show – Harrisburg, PA
  • Sea Otter Classic – Monterey, CA
  • Squamish Test of Metal – Squamish, B.C.
  • 24 Hours of Snowshoe – Snowshoe, W.V.
  • Lake Placid Classic – Lake Placid, N.Y.

The points accrued by competitors in the best 4 of the 5 events went towards determining championship rankings in all classes, covering both Modified and Stock bike formats, in Sport, Expert and Pro categories. Series championships were won by:

Monica Thompson Womens Palos Verdes, CA
Casey Holm Sport Mod Pescadero, CA
Jonathan Pool Sport Stock Birmingham, Michigan
Zak Maeda Expert Mod Temple City, CA
Andrew Dole Expert Stock Wellesley, MA
JJ Gregorowicz Pro Mod & Stock Benton, PA

The class champions rode a variety of terrain on their way to series title championships. The indoor opener, Motorama, is a very industrial, urban series of sections, built on a base of old cars, trailers, and various platforms constructed of pallets, logs and oil drums. Coordinated by Large Ed Gregorowicz, Motorama is the most highly anticipated event on the NATS calendar. It has become much more than a trials, it is a real social happening and a source of many shenanigans among the riders.

In a real shift, the Sea Otter Classic featured a controversial format of speed or dual trials, a departure from the traditional observed trials program run for many years. The difficulty of building challenging OT sections prompted organizer Joey Hayes to resort to the much easier-to-set-up speed trials format.

The Squamish Test of Metal is held in conjunction with a gnarly North Shore-style cross country race, held in the heavily wooded logging country just North of Vancouver, on the shores of the beautiful Howe Sound. Howe Sound has been featured in many major motion pictures like Free Willy and Double Jeopardy. Promoter, Robin Coope, and his band of merry builders construct a well-received series of man-made obstacles with enormous logs, a huge logging trailer, old cars, float buoys and the famous water hazard. Robin and company do a superb job of showing how a man-made event can be pulled off with style and panache.

The 24 Hours of Snowshoe featured the first real natural sections of the entire NATS calendar, with organizer Tim Williamson and section chief Randy Vancil creating a well balance event set in the picturesque ski area known as Snowshoe, WV. This event is in addition to the great 24 hour mountain bike race. Tim worked a nice cooperative relationship with Granny Gear Productions chief Laird Knight, who organizes the 24 hour race.

The final event saw Tim again work his magic, with Peter Wilk helping to string sections, at the gorgeous Whiteface Ski resort in upstate New York. Efforts were spearheaded by Lake Placid local Sam Perkins and his dad Marty. Good relations with the ski area folk resulted in a real showcase event. The day prior to the trials, saw a new event, dubbed BIKEMOVE. Located in two areas of the village of Lake Placid, BM featured several different trials-oriented events ridden by the top 8 pro riders, in a race for the cash being presented for winner of each individual event. Featured were the big up contest, a bunnyhop contest, a balancing act show and a big gap contest. This was an exciting new format that should be able to capture the attention of large audiences wherever it is presented. Tim, Sam & Marty are to be commended for their hard work in making the experimental BIKEMOVE a huge hit. Adding to the festivities were the vocal stylings of D.J. Kevin Brody, who was masterful in his announcing.

The 2001 season of NATS was a great hit with all who participated. A big thanks to all who lent help and leadership.

 

 

The 2001 series was best four out of five. A number in the event column denotes they attended and earned that many points. Ties at the top level were broken on who had more top place finishes.

Pro Stock                
  First Name Last Name Motorama Sea Otter Snowshoe Squamish Lake Placid Total Points
1 JJ Gregorowicz 15   15   15 45 (more 1sts)
2 Jeremy Vanschoonhoven 10 5 10 15 10 45
3 Lance Trappe 8 10 12 12 DNF 42
3 Jeff Lenosky   12 8 10 12 42
5 Chris Clark 4 10 5 8 8 35
6 Shaun Miller 12 8       20
7 Eddie Tongue   15       15
8 Mike Steidley 6 1 6     13
9 Andy Fulton 5 5       10
10 Vaughn Micchie     3   6 9
11 Nigel Kohring 3   4     7
12 Mike Bentham       6   6
13 Dylan Korba       5   5
14 Matthew Robinson       4   4
14 Dan Drain   4       4
16 Scott Thompson   3       3
17 Trevor Young 2 0       2
17 Ryan Leech   2       2
19 Matthew Anthon 1         1
20 Tom McNeal 0         0
20 Andrew Lea 0         0
                 
                 
Pro Mod                
  First Name Last Name Motorama Sea Otter Snowshoe Squamish Lake Placid Total Points
1 JJ Gregorowicz 12   15   15 42
2 Mike Steidley 6 1 12   12 31
3 Scott Thompson 3 3     10 16
3 Shaun Miller 8 8       16
5 Jason Baia       15   15
5 Keita Miyaoka 15         15
7 Chris McNutt       12   12
7 Nigel Kohring 2   10     12
9 Neilson Reis 10         10
9 Andy Fulton 5 5       10
10 Jason Mclane 4         4
11 Brian Maier 1         1
12 Tom McNeal 0         0
                 
                 
Expert Stock                
  First Name Last Name Motorama Sea Otter Snowshoe Squamish Lake Placid Total Points
1 Andy Dole 4   12 12 12 40
2 Tony Fernandez 15 10       25
3 Aaron Lutze 8   15     23
4 Zak Maeda         15 15
4 Joe McMahen       15   15
4 Garen Becker   15       15
7 Vaughn Micciche 12         12
8 Pete Wilk 3       8 11
8 Mike Melchior 0   5   6 11
10 Sam Perkins 0       10 10
10 David Adelman       10   10
10 Chris Pascucci     10     10
10 Tony Edgar 10         10
14 Sam Harrison 1   8     9
15 Keith Howitt       8   8
16 Phil Wheeler 0   4   2 6
16 Richard Belson       6   6
16 Mike Friddell     6     6
16 Ross McMaster 6         6
20 Duncan Kopp-Richardson 0       5 5
20 Dennis Goj       5   5
20 Kevin Drake 5         5
20 Josh Stevenson   5       5
24 Kevin Brody         4 4
24 Peter Hueber       4   4
26 Mike Umbargar DNS       3 3
26 Dave Herr       3   3
26 Gary Lessner III 0   3     3
29 Lucas Hamilton       2   2
29 Bill Ward 0   2     2
29 Mike Stusek 2         2
31 Travis Engel         1 1
31 Dylan Ponzi       1   1
31 Trae Leonard 0   1     1
34 Jason Nickels       0   0
34 Eric Bates       0   0
34 Morley Wilkins       0   0
34 Matt McNutt       DNF   0
34 Ben Smith     0     0
34 Dave Young     0     0
34 Adam Meyers 0         0
34 Brad Trowbridge 0         0
34 James Reisenleiter 0         0
34 Josh Melo 0         0
34 Kenishi Iwasa 0         0
                 
                 
Expert Mod                
  First Name Last Name Motorama Sea Otter Snowshoe Squamish Lake Placid Total Points
1 Zak Maeda 15 8   15 15 53
2 Brian Yezierski 12   15   8 35
3 Josh Stevenson 8 5       13
4 Rob Pfunder         12 12
4 Kamil Mielczarek       12   12
4 Chris Pascucci     12     12
4 Ty Hathaway   12       12
8 Joe Janicki 0       10 10
8 Tomer Zaskis       10   10
8 Ben Depp     10     10
8 Dave Bigelow 10         10
12 Mike Umbarger 2       6 8
12 Jared Jesperson       8   8
12 Bill Ward     8     8
15 Steve Young 5       2 7
15 Stevie Morgan 3 4       7
17 Matt Nathans       6   6
17 Joshua Gibson 6         6
17 Phil Lucero   6       6
20 Steve Leonforte         5 5
21 Brendan Cavanaugh 0       4 4
21 Rick Clasen Jr. 4         4
23 Kevin Brody         3 3
24 Gary Lessner III 1         1
25 Alex Ma 0         0
25 Andrew Styer 0         0
25 Ben Brinneman 0         0
25 Brad Kanner 0         0
25 Brad Taylor 0         0
25 Jesse Styer 0         0
25 Joshua Cummins 0         0
25 Rob Ponti 0         0
25 Sean Chaney 0         0
                 
                 
Sport Stock                
  First Name Last Name Motorama Sea Otter Snowshoe Squamish Lake Placid Total Points
1 Jonathan Pool 15 0 12   15 42
2 Craig Dionne 8   10   12 30
3 Jon Webster       15   15
3 Collin Wigfield-Gorka     15     15
3 Steve Young 0 15       15
6 Stephen Dickin       12   12
6 Jamie Kimberly 12         12
6 Scott Smith   12       12
9 Dan Bowhers         10 10
9 Jim Keck 5 5       10
9 Kevin Michel   10       10
9 Ian Moult       10   10
9 Brad Taylor 10         10
14 Michael O’Hara         8 8
14 Scott Estee     8     8
14 Nathan Frost 0 8       8
14 Jim Harris 2   6     8
14 Danny Urdahl       8   8
19 Ron Knaflic         6 6
19 Marc Eichinger 0 6       6
19 Anthony Paporo 6         6
19 Dovic Zaskis       6   6
23 Glenn Richardson     5     5
23 Darren Stace-Smith       5   5
25 David Brodowski   4       4
25 Keith Hemlovsky 4         4
25 Matthew Scott       4   4
25 Clayton Webb     4     4
29 Travis Enger 3         3
29 Michael Freidenberg 0   3     3
29 Ryan Lynne       3   3
29 Rocky Rapetti   3       3
33 Lath Carlson     2     2
33 Dieter Eckels   2       2
33 James Wessels       2   2
36 Anthony Spann       1   1
36 Dan Turcotte 1         1
36 Brian Wynn   1       1
39 Jeff Anderson       0   0
39 Evan Anderson 0 0       0
39 Brice Arnold 0         0
39 Paul Bray           0
39 Kevin Calzia           0
39 Larry Casey 0         0
39 Collin Cooper       0   0
39 Tristan Copp       0   0
39 George Day 0 0       0
39 Mark Feldkamp 0         0
39 Joe Gilbert       0   0
39 Lucas Hamilton           0
39 Jeff Kendall-Weed           0
39 James Knaver 0         0
39 Brian Long   0       0
39 Troy Neifeld 0         0
39 Torr Olson 0         0
39 David Pecorella 0         0
39 Casey Quinn   0       0
39 Jon Randall           0
39 Ed Rosser 0         0
39 Clare Shea       0   0
39 Dan Smith       0   0
39 Jordan Stace-Smith       0   0
39 Ezra Treu           0
39 Danny Tymofie 0         0
39 Paul Van Velzen       0   0
39 James Vreeland 0         0
39 Mike Wagner           0
39 Kris Wehage 0 0       0
39 John Wolford       0   0
39 Brian Yoon 0         0
                 
                 
Sport Mod                
  First Name Last Name Motorama Sea Otter Snowshoe Squamish Lake Placid Total Points
1 Casey Holm 15 10   15   40
2 Monica Thompson 8 8     15 31
3 Steve Leonforte 1   15     16
4 Brendan Dwan   15       15
5 Eric Prusijnowski         12 12
5 Steve Baia       12   12
5 Scott Estee 0   12     12
5 Robert Jacobson 12         12
5 Rocky Rapetti   12       12
10 Justin Finn         10 10
10 Chris Hii       10   10
10 James Knaver     10     10
10 Jeff West 10         10
14 Mitch Murdock         8 8
15 Matt Bushore 0       6 6
15 Elliot Frost 6         6
15 Mike Morris   6       6
18 Jacob Kirk 5         5
18 Todd Gandy   5       5
20 Scott Cannon 4         4
20 Andy Trickel   4       4
22 Ron Bennett 3         3
23 Paul Dessen 2         2
24 Andrew Ralph 0         0
24 John Liptak 0         0
24 Kevin Galvin 0         0
24 Morgan Styer 0         0
24 Paul South 0         0
24 Pete Heffernann 0         0
24 Rob Kastelic 0         0
24 Ryan Johnson 0         0
24 Travis Woodruff 0         0
                 
                 
Beginner Stock                
  First Name Last Name Motorama Sea Otter Snowshoe Squamish Lake Placid Total Points
1 Nick Jenson   15       15
1 Aaron Loomis 15         15
1 Marty Gulian     15     15
1 Shawn Van Diebitsch       15   15
5 Anthony Nelson     12     12
5 Nick Relampagos   12       12
5 Paul Wheeler 12         12
5 James McSkimming       12   12
9 Justin Abbott   10       10
9 Thorde John 10         10
9 Graham Oglend       10   10
13 Travis Dietle 8         8
13 Matt Fox       8   8
13 Sean Cassidy   8       8
16 Carl Diederichs       6   6
16 Justin Zehner   6       6
16 Marc Wallace 6         6
19 Hyland Fisher   5       5
19 Dean Osgood 5         5
19 Nick Tong       5   5
22 Todd Bowers   4       4
22 Jamison Unger 4         4
22 Rupert Walker       4   4
25 Kurstin Graham   3       3
25 Ben Jones 3         3
25 Clinton Moericke       3   3
28 Kevin Flaherty   2       2
28 Eric McCauslin 2         2
28 Andrew Belson       2   2
31 Tony Boreau   1       1
31 Eric Garber 1         1
31 Mike Morrison       1   1
34 Brian Dunlavey 0         0
34 Mark Davidson   0       0
34 Morgan Ryan 0         0
34 Randall Higa   0       0
34 Kevin Gorman       0   0
34 David Emmens       0   0
34 Ross Taylor       0   0
                 
                 
Beginner Mod                
  First Name Last Name Motorama Sea Otter Snowshoe Squamish Lake Placid Total Points
1 Joey Bongart 15         15
1 Tashan Battle   15       15
1 Dylan MacRae       15   15
4 Dane Jack 12         12
4 Ryan Borick   12       12
4 Kirk McDonald       12   12
7 Ryan Thompson 10         10
7 Robert Capaliso   10       10
7 Kelly Laurie       10   10
10 Chris McClellan 8         8
10 Tomonari Ichikawa   8       8
10 Tim McNutt       8   8
13 Michael Trauch 6         6
13 Erik Eriksen   6       6
15 Patrick O’Brien 5         5
16 Ian Poor 4         4
17 Lauren LeBlanc 3         3
18 Anthony Vatalaro 2         2
19 Chris Bushaw 1         1
                 
                 
Women                
  First Name Last Name Motorama Sea Otter Snowshoe Squamish Lake Placid Total Points
1 Monica Thompson   15       15
1 Caryn Tressel       15   15
3 Jennifer Klish   12       12
4 Jennifer Zehnes   10       10