Ted Gansberger and I have been working on a plan to bring back the indoor trials national championships and we have come up with something that is really going to be spectacular. A formal press release is below. The exciting part is that we'll have this event in conjunction with the summer camp activities, on the Saturday night during the Youth Nationals next summer. With the teenager camp the week following, many trials enthusiasts from all over North America will be here and it should make for an exciting couple of weeks in Tennessee. If you needed any more reason to come down for summer camp, here it is!

The Trials Training Center (TTC) is pleased to announce that the 2007 AMA Indoor Trials National Championship will be held on Saturday night, July 7, 2007 at the Camp Jordan Indoor Arena in East Ridge, TN. Camp Jordan is conveniently located at exit 1 off I-75 south of Chattanooga at the GA/TN line, about 1.5 hours drive north of Atlanta.

The Indoor Trials National Championship is a spectacular test of rider skill over a series of man-made obstacles set in the comfort of a spectator-friendly indoor arena. The course will be designed and constructed by Ted Gansberger, promoter of previous indoor events at the Cow Palace in California. Entry will be by invitation to the top 6 trials riders in North America.

The 2007 Indoor Trials National will be held in conjunction with the ongoing Youth Trials Nationals and U.S. Women's Open, scheduled for July 6-8, 2007 at the nearby TTC facility west of Chattanooga. The TTC is a 650 acre motorcycle mountain resort specializing in motorcycle trials riding and instruction, and host of the 2006 U.S. round of the Trials World Championship.

We've updated the Bikes For Sale photo album.

We sell quality used trials bikes and accept trade-ins and consignments. We can arrange shipping of any used bike.

Prices shown do not include shipping.

Andy, head honcho at Trials Central, has graciously given us permission to display this video of Marc Freixa, Adam Raga and Toni Bou in an informal back wheel hopping competition. He took the video at the TTC's campsite practice area back in May at the World Round.



Click play to watch. See the original article, all his reports from the 2006 Outdoor events, and his multimedia page.

TTC will host the STRA championship rounds 7 and 8 on Oct. 21 & 22. Spectators are welcome and admission is free.

Helmets are required for anyone on a motorcycle. AMA and STRA (or other Trials Organization) membership required to compete. AMA and STRA applications will be available on site. Riders are welcome to come early or stay after for practice or training classes on our 670 acres of mountain terrain.

See the PDF flyer for complete details.

We've added these two new testimonials to the Testimonials page:

Thanks so much for your hospitality. That was the most enlightening experience I have ever had in my 30 plus-years of riding a motorcycle. Hope to see you guys again soon. - Joey Lenn

and

Hi Catherine, I wanted to say thanks for an awesome class. We had a great time. The class, people, lodging, food, etc. was excellent. It was good meeting everyone. You, Charlie, Jim, Bruce, Dan, Alex, and Dan's daughter (forget her name) all made us feel very welcome. Thanks again. - Tim Gafford

Fred Belair, father of US Montesa importer Martin Belair, died Monday in California. Fred was the founder of the El Trial de Espana.

"Created by Fred Belair, the ETdE event has helped promote trials in the United States and has even managed to draw international recognition. Belair's dream was to 'provide the basis for an American to become World Trials Champion,' and that hope was realized at the hands of American Bernie Schreiber in 1979. To this day, Schreiber remains the only American to have ever reached the sport's pinnacle. But the El Trial de Espana event continues to live on."

I spoke to Martin this afternoon. People can contact him via email. Here's the info sent out by the Belair family.

"Fred Belair, known as the "Father of El Trial de Espana," passed away in his sleep Monday morning. He was 83 years old.

A racer in his early years, Fred became a supporter of Observed Trials back in the 70's and founded El Trial de España, an annual event that raised funds to send the top American riders to compete in the FIM World Trials Championship against the world's best, the Europeans.

El Trial de Espana, now in its 36th year, today continues to support the U.S. Team's annual effort at the Trials des Nations, the trials equivalent to the Motocross of Nations.

Earlier this year, Fred was inducted into the the North American Trials Council (NATC) Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Rose, as well as sons Fernando and Martin, and daughter Christina.

A rosary will be held at Custer-Christiansen Mortuary in West Covina, CA, Thursday, October 5th at 7:30PM. Services will be at 10AM Friday morning at St. Christopher's Church, 629 S. Glendora Ave. in West Covina."