Club News

Hoping for the best, but prepared for anything

The Hodaka Club board and other key organizers met (virtually, of course) on November 19^th to discuss options for Hodaka Days 2021.

Obviously the current pandemic situation makes it difficult to anticipate what the future might bring.  But if we’re going to have an event this year, then we need to set some things in motion.  Many options were discussed varying from moving ahead with our full traditional event, to changing the date, to running a scaled down event, to cancelling Hodaka Days altogether as we were forced to do in 2020.

In the end, the decision was made to continue forward with planning for a full event on the traditional last full weekend in June (June 24 through June 27) in Athena and Weston, Oregon.  The group will reconvene again in late February to make a final “go / no go” decision.

In the interim, stay safe and Keep on Hodakin’.  We have our fingers crossed that we’ll see you all soon at Hodaka Days this June.

"I’m betting that a quite large majority of Hodaka Club Members and Hodaka Fans can close their eyes and “see” (and maybe even “hear”) William Bendix as Riley exclaiming “What a revoltin’ development dis is!”  Am I right?  You know I am.

A virtual (internet) discussion by the intrepid, dirt bike ridin’, um, “mature” folks who put together Hodaka Days has resulted in the tough decision to cancel Hodaka Days 2020.  None of us like the idea of not having Hodaka Days in 2020, but it seems clear to all of us that proceeding to attempt to have the event would be foolhardy.  When a group of “mature” dirt bike riders make a decision that attempting to do a thing is just too risky – well, you can be sure there are some very serious risks which simply should not be taken.

We are continuing to talk about ways in which we might still be able to “do” Hodaka Days 2020 by “virtual” means (internet/social media/etc.) – perhaps you have some ideas on that sort of topic?

We will start planning for a joyous reunion of the Hodaka faithful in 2021.  In the meantime, do your social distancing, wash your hands often – stay safe and healthy!  Did I mention wash your hands often?  (Yeah, I know – I did.  But I’m talking to two-stroke dirt bikers with decades of experience, so sometimes I need to repeat things – right?)

. . . and keep the rubber side down!

- Ed Chesnut, Hodaka Club President

As usual, the Bike Show at Hodaka Days attracted a great variety of vintage Hodakas, in full restoration, custom, and riders. The great weather added even more good times! Here are the results!

DATE:  June 23, 2018

Total bikes in show:   76

Total ballots submitted:  114

Class	1st Place Entry	2nd place Entry
Harry Taylor Award/Best Custom MX	32  Lee Fabry 1973 C/W custom MX
Trials	55  Danny Messmore 1977 250
Best Hodaka powered (Other brand)	32  Lee Fabry 1972 Challenger
Custom	74  Lee Fabry 1968 Ace 100
Ace 90	17  Dale Dvorak 1967 Ace 90
Ace 100 (all)	50  Tom Jakoski 1968 Ace 100
Chrome Tank Super Rat	3  Mike Murray   1969 Super Rat
Wombat (all)	2  Robert Swift 1972 Wombat	11 Dave Chappel  1977 Wombat & 66 Rex Anderson  1973 Wombat
Combat Wombat	47  Nate Ewer  1973 Combat Wombat
97 Super Combat & 89 Super Rat	13  Grant Warren 1974 Super Combat
Road Toad (all)	31  Rick Burk  1976 02 Road Toad
Dirt Squirt (all	44  Bud Schmidtgall  1975 Dirt Squirt
175 SL	75  Greg Houchin  1978 175 SL
250 SL & ED	72 Erv Robinson 1977 250 SL
Bad Rock Ride	56  Aiden McKeirnan  1973 Dirt Squirt
Henry Koepke Award/Best Technical Innovation	32  Lee Fabry 1973 C/W Custom MX
Best Original	24  Joyce Dunning  1975 Dirt Squirt
Best of Show	32  Lee Fabry 1973 C/W  Custom MX

If you are a winner and have a good photo of your bike we can post up here and on our Facebook Page, shoot a copy to : mailto:hodakawebmaster@makotosun.com

Due to construction in Weston, the starting point of the 2018 Bad Rock Reunion Trail Ride at Hodaka Days 2018 has changed. Pass the word!!

We will NOT be starting at the downtown tennis courts as planned. The new starting point is approximately 1/4 mile south of Weston at the Perrine Farm - 78573 McLean Road.

WARNING: Don't use Google maps to find this address. The reported location is wrong. The location from MapQuest is more accurate.

Take Water Avenue south out of Weston and follow the signs (and the Hodakas!)

Thanks for registering and we are looking forward to seeing you!

Best regards,

Hodaka Club

As is often the case with Web Technologies, merging several different existing web properties which all use different tech has resulted in a much larger project than we originally expected. Since we have Hodaka Days coming up soon, and we need function over form for event registration, we have decided to maintain the exiting sites for the time being.

The plan to merge all sites is in process in the background, and our plan is to make the switchover as painless as possible for members, and with as few technical glitches as we can.

In the meantime, the Hodaka Chat Group (www.HodakaForum.com) is being maintained by the club.

Thanks for your patience. We suspect you will be very happy with the final product!

Our club web team has been feverishly working on a new website for club members. We are integrating the club membership features, as well as the famous Hodaka Chat Group, and many more cool things of interest to the Hodaka World!

If you are a member of the Club, the Hodaka Chat Group, or even the Hodaka Fan Club on Facebook you will hear more as we vector in on going live. Tentative target is Early Feb, 2018, but please be patient . . . No Wine before it's Time!

Hodaka Days 2018 is scheduled for June 21-24, 2018
More details will be coming soon!

The planning committee has met, and details are being worked out behind the scenes, but get this on your calendar NOW!

Hodaka Days in Athena, OR will be held from June 23-25 next year. In the HD planning meeting held recently in Milton Freewater, OR the Club decided that the most popular events will be continued in 2017:

• Hodaka Parade through downtown Athena
• Vintage Poker Run Road ride
  
• Badrock Trail Ride in Weston, OR
• Hodaka Observed Trials Event
  
• Swap Meet/Vendor Booths
  
• Hodaka Bike Show
  
• Barbeque, Live Auction, Silent Auction
  

Two long time Club members were recently elected to the Hodaka Club Board of Directors. New members on the board include Erv Robison of Spokane, Washington and Ed Chesnut of Milton Freewater, Oregon.

Shortly after the election, Paul Stannard submitted his resignation as Club president. As Paul wrote in his recent Hodaka Resonator article, he had some tough choices to make and wanted to find some balance in his life.

Paul will be carrying on promoting the "Preston Petty Products" line on behalf of Preston and overseeing his Strictly Hodaka online parts business. We all wish him well and thank him for a long and successful tenure as our President.

The board wasted little time in selecting Ed Chesnut as the new Hodaka Club president. We are are all excited to have “The Captain” at the helm and we would surmise that Ed will share his thoughts as President in one of his Resonator columns soon.

Last month the Club met in Athena, OR some braving the inclement weather and seriously cold temperatures on the mountain pass to begin planning for the 2016 Hodaka Days! Good Hodaka folks with lots of "Hodakability", positive energy and ideas.

This years event will be June 23-26, 2016. If you plan on attending and camping, plan on getting there on Wednesday the 22nd or even earlier. The Swap Meet starts on Friday as usual (Bring your Hodaka rollers and parts!!) and there'll be tent camping in Athena City Park with an all-night security patrol again.

There will be the usual Umatilla TT road ride on Thursday which any vintage bike, 250cc and under, street legal can participate in. There may be a longer route planned this year. Another Badrock Ride is definitely planned for Friday, so keep coming back here to find out when sign-ups for this year's event open up.

Finally, there was a decision made about having the Observed Trial earlier in the day on Saturday after the Bike Show opens to avoid the very hot afternoon weather at the grain elevator Trials layout. The Parade is always Saturday at High Noon. See ya'll there!! "Where it all began".. "Happy Hodaka Days" - (quote from the late great Jim Pomeroy)