NORTH AMERICAN HILLCLIMBERS ASSOCIATION 2008
Dear N.A.H.A. members, promoters and fans,
2007 was another exceptional year in the growth of motorcycle Hillclimbing around the world. The N.A.H.A. is extremely proud of its direct involvement in this growth, and most of all, the awareness and exposure our association, promoters, and competitors have created for our sport throughout the motorsports industry. This awareness has given a new credibility to professional Hillclimbing that has never been seen in the history of the sport. Our race series and our athletes are now looked upon as equal to others in professional motorsports, as they so deserve. Like it or not, Hillclimbing has been considered a hillbilly sideshow for decades. Silencing the critics has been a very rewarding experience the last few years as America’s original extreme sport has came out from under its ugly cloud. Everything is not perfect in all we do, but rest assured, there is no greater dedication and commitment to motorcycle Hillclimbing than within the Board members and Promoters of this association. Our only regrets are that we didn’t move in our current direction much sooner, as the results speak for themselves.
2007 HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Suzuki and RacerX back on board as series sponsors with additional marketing support and an RMZ250 given to our Open Class Champion Harold Waddell.
2. Exciting new venues in Sturgis and Southern California with incredible future potential.
3. Extremely successful new 450 Pro class with manufacturer endorsements and KTM Factory Off Road participation.
4. Successful defense of the Hillclimb World Trophy by a combined N.A.H.A and A.M.A. team and Robie Peterson capturing the individual World Championship.
5. Television, video, magazine and newspaper coverage of our events by Racer X, Dirt Rider, Dirt Bike, Cycle News, Speed Channel and Nor Cal Riderz as well as live television at our Glen Helen event by KTLA Los Angeles.
6. Official submittal to X Games for future event consideration.
7. Cross over competitors between the N.A.H.A. and A.M.A. Pro Hillclimb series utilizing the newly adopted common rules and class displacements, including the 450 Pro class.
8. Communication with members greatly improved with regular King Of The Hill updates on events, promotion and just a few of the many things the N.A.H.A. and its members are doing to promote our sport.
9. Many marketing and promotional packages sent out through Troy Scott and Ken Faught for future potential event and series sponsorship.
2008 PROGRAM
1. Our schedule of 6 events was out in November, a great sign of confidence by our promoters with their venues, their sponsors and the N.A.H.A.
2. Racer X and Suzuki back again with our series, despite a down economy and slumping sales. Racer X will be increasing their marketing support and Suzuki will be generously giving away to our 3 class champions an RMZ450 and 2 DRZ125 motorcycles.
3. N.A.H.A. yearly membership dues lowered to $50. Our association is not in the business to make money, but rather the business of promoting our sport and providing the greatest recognition possible to our exceptional riders. This program and these athletes will in turn provide the show that will fill the venues and provide the necessary income for our promoters through fan attendance. This has always been the correct method of promoting professional motorsports and long term, all will benefit.
4. After adopting the A.M.A.” percentage of gate” program in 2007 the N.A.H.A. promoters have agreed to increase the minimum purse to $15,000 in 2008. The program allowed the newer venues some breathing room and now with an enormous upside potential in all locations the riders will begin reaping the benefits in time, as in events such as Poags Hole and Devil’s Staircase.
5. Cycle News will be covering all N.A.H.A events with their A.M.A. Pro Hillclimb journalist David Patten and Nor Cal Riderz will be providing video coverage.
6. An N.A.H.A. year end awards presentation and banquet will be held at Pole Position Raceway in Las Vegas. This event will be held in conjunction with the A.M.A awards banquet and the Las Vegas Endurocross happening on the same weekend. Speed Channel will be in town and some kart racing between the Pro Hillclimbers and the Endurocross stars has been staged for filming!!!!
7. The N.A.H.A. has provided all its promoters with common boilerplate marketing material for flyers, posters and mailers. This, in an effort to provide professional consistency between venues and reduce costs to all.
8. Skip’s Promotions and Ron Dillon of The Big Nasty have moved their Amateur Hillclimb programs to other weekends or other days in an effort to shorten the races and provide an action packed Pro show for the fans and riders. The Horne family is a great example of understanding the value in separating the Amateurs and Pros. They have an extremely successful Amateur Series and an exceptional Pro Hillclimb.
So what does all this mean to our current and future members??
You are a member, or can be a member,of the most pro-active Hillclimb organization in the world. For this,you should be very proud, as your Board members are, for the dedication they provide. It is so easy to see why there is so much excitement within this association as is so often relayed on King of the Hill by long term members. It is also disheartening to hear from the many critics that are so short sighted to see that what we do benefits all. I am grateful for the ones that decided to boldly go where no one has went before, it’s a great ride that keeps picking up steam and we will continue to be their feeding the boiler.
A final thought: We are not the association for everyone, the N.A.H.A. is the most competitive Pro Hillclimb series in the world. There is a reason, the most decorated champions of our sport come to race here. If you think you are a professional Hillclimber, this is the place to find out how good you are, as well as the honor to compete and learn from the best.. We welcome all to share in our enthusiasm and excitement, and we can sincerely promise you as members, that you will receive the greatest exposure possible in our rapidly growing extreme sport series. Our athletes have earned and deserve this recognition that has been a long time coming. SEE YOU AT THE RACES!!!!!!!!!!!!
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED
YOUR 2008 N.A.H.A. BOARD
Kerry Peterson
Don Beer
Jeff Smith
Troy Scott
Ken Faught
Mike Ortiz
Anette Long
North American Hillclimbers Association 2008
North American Hillclimbers Association 2008
Last edited by rpeterson on February 22nd, 2008, 12:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
