Hodaka Days News

Chest and back protection will be mandatory for Hodaka Days MX participants this year.

As insurance claims and costs continue to go up, two things are almost certain.  The first is many underwriters will fail or merge, and the second is those remaining will try to reduce their losses.

And that’s exactly what we’ve seen.  Fewer companies are willing to provide insurance coverage for motorsport events, particularly motorcycles, and there are more requirements for the policy holder to meet.

As much as we’d like to run our event just like we remember when many of us were (much) younger, it’s not realistic.  More structure, planning, reporting, documentation and rules are required to be issued a policy.  And, although there are minor differences in these requirements between insurance providers, most of them are common to the few remaining underwriters in the motorsport world.

Many of these requirements can and will be handled by the club board and Hodaka Days volunteers.  HOWEVER, meeting the requirements for personal safety equipment is the responsibility of the individual and will be enforced by the event officials.

Just a few years ago, a full-face helmet with safety shield or shatterproof goggles became a requirement for MX.  And now, new for 2026, is a requirement for chest and back protectors for MX riders.  It’s become the standard for most insurance policies this year.  The AMA as well as our insurance carrier have made it a point to be sure we are aware of the new requirement.  These chest and back protectors can be purchased online for as little as $60.  Or, if you start checking now, you may find one for even less on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, or you may be able to arrange to borrow one for Hodaka Days.  And if you have an extra, maybe you can bring it to loan to someone.

Yeah… a few more “Rules”, and maybe a little less fun.  But it’s what we have to do if we want to race this year and going forward.  And we do want to race, right?

So, if you are interested in racing (or even just riding practice laps) at the Hodaka Days MX, please familiarize yourself with the requirements below taken directly from the 2026 AMA rulebook.  We’re sorry, but we cannot make exceptions to any of the “mandatory” requirements and if you do not have the required safety equipment we cannot allow you on the track.

Please pass this information on to anyone you know that will be attending Hodaka Days and may not be a club member.

The Hodaka Club

From 2026 the AMA Rulebook

F.    Competition Apparel

1.   Protective pants made of leather or other durable material and long sleeve jerseys must be worn. 

2.   When a riding jersey or other apparel is used for rider identification, it is recommended that an 8-inch-high number be on the back, and the number be of contrasting colors. If an external back support is used, the number should be placed on the back of the protector.

3.   Boots must be worn in all meets. They must be at least 8- inches high with any combination of laces, buckles or zippers, or be specially designed and constructed for leg and foot protection.

4.   It is mandatory that chest and back protection be worn by all competitors. The protector may be worn under or over the jersey, and it should cover the sternum anterior ribs, posterior ribs, and spine from T1 to T12.

5.   It is recommended that riders use the available protective equipment (i.e. gloves, chest protector, neck brace and knee braces) to help protect against the possibility of injury.

6.   All riders must utilize a shatterproof face shield or shatterproof goggles.

7.   Wearing of Helmets: It is mandatory for all participants taking part in practice and competition to wear a full face protective helmet.

a. All helmets must be intact, and no modification may be made to their construction that alters the helmet from the condition it was tested and approved. The helmet is made to provide protection and is not a platform to attach foreign objects. For example, cameras or other accessories are NOT permitted to be attached to the rider’s helmet.

b. The helmet must have a chinstrap-type ‘retention system.

c. The helmet must be of proper fit, in good condition, and properly fastened.

The helmet must conform to one of the following recognized standards and have a label affixed certifying its approval:

USA:
Snell M2020/M2025, M2020R/M2025R, M2020D/M2025D or DOT FMVSS 218

Europe:
ECE 22-05/22-06 ‘P’

Japan:
JIST8133: 2015

FIM
FRHPhe-01 or FRHPhe-02

 All helmets must be intact, and no alteration must have been made to their construction. The rider may perform the following checks before taking part in practice or the race: That the helmet fits well on the rider’s head, that it is not possible to slip the retention system over the chin when fully fastened and, that it is not possible to pull the helmet over the rider’s head by pulling it from the back of the helmet.

 It is recommended that all helmets used in competition be equipped with a commercially manufactured emergency helmet removal device and that all competitors display the following information on the base of the helmet: name, drug allergies and blood type. It is also advisable to carry this information on a small card and add any pertinent information such as epilepsy, diabetes, current medications and past medical problems.

Registration is now open to the general public for the Hodaka Days Bad Rock Reunion Trail Ride June 26 in Weston Oregon.

Open to any and all vintage bikes (twin chock, drum brake, air cooled).

There are a limited number of signups available, so don't wait.

For more information or to sign up, go to:
https://hodakaclub.org/event-6624209

And keep up with all the current Hodaka Days information at:
https://hodakaclub.org/Hodaka_Days_News

Registration for the 2026 Bad Rock Reunion Trail Ride opens to the general public next Saturday, April 17.   But, as a Hodaka Club member, you have early access to the limited number of entries available.

Take advantage of your club membership and reserve spots for yourself and your guests before they're gone.

Or if you're already signed up, remind your fellow club members.

For more information or to sign up, go to:
    :https://hodakaclub.org/event-6624209

You must sign in to the club web site to get early access and the club member price.

Registration is open to club members and their guests for:

Bad Rock Reunion Trail Ride 2026
Weston, OR
Date: 26 Jun 2026 9:00 AM PDT

YOU MUST LOGIN TO REGISTER AS A CLUB MEMBER!

Registration for non-club member opens April 18th.

More information and online registration:

https://hodakaclub.org/event-6624209

Hot of the (electronic) press!

The new poster for Hodaka Days and Bad Rock 2026 is available for download.

Trade 'em with your friends or hang it in you man cave, she shed, or living room.

Download at https://hodakaclub.org/resources/Posters/2026%20Hodaka%20Days%20Poster.jpg

Note:  Best results will be achieved printing on Tabloid (11 x 17) paper.

The annual Hodaka Days celebration will be held once again on the customary last FULL weekend in June - June 25 -28 in Weston and Athena, Oregon.

The planning committee met in Pendleton January 31st to work through details and address rising costs, particularly insurance.

The usual activities are all planned including the poker run, trail ride, swap meet, parade, bike show, auction, trials, and MX.

Once again, we have partnered with the Red Lion Hotel in Pendleton for a limited number of rooms at special group rates, starting at $99 a night excluding taxes.  New for 2026, room rates will include a breakfast buffet.  Be sure to talk to the local Pendleton Red Lion front desk (not national Red Lion corporate) and ask for the "Special Hodaka Days Rates".

Make your reservations early.  Hodaka Days is the same weekend as the Jackalope Jamboree country music festival in the area, and rooms can get expensive and be hard to come by.

See you  in June.

The results have been posted for the 2025 Hodaka Days Bullfrog Cup observed trail, the MX, and the bike show.

You'll find the links on the home page, toward the top, under "2025 Hodaka Days Results".

It's getting down to the wire and we still need help!  Hodaka Days is less than a week away and we're on the verge of panic!

We urgently need three spectator managers ("crowd control") for he trials, one gate keeper for the trail ride, and three MX flaggers.

The full list of tasks we need volunteer help with can be found at:

https://hodakaclub.org/resources/Documents/2025-Volunteers-Needed.pdf.

If you can help us, please send an email to volunteer@hodakadays.org or text 971-246-0687.

Thank you.

Friday, June 20th is the last day to preregister for the 2025 Bad Rock Reunion Trail Ride at Hodaka Days.

And when you do, don't forget to request a commemorative ball cap!

You still may be able to register at the event if there is space, but you must preregister to include the commemorative cap.

You can preregister at: https://www.hodakaclub.org/event-6138264

Be sure to login first to register as a club member and get your Hodaka Club discount