OMRA President

OMRA Vice-President, Referee

Billy Toman

Home: (503)656-5801

About me: I am now 71 years old and thank God I am still in good physical shape compared to most of my fellow men my age. I try to ride as much as time allows to keep in shape, so when I lay out those easy races I don't get tired out too soon.

My favorite riding area: Tillamook forest is high on the list, but so is the China Hat area and Ukiah, with Prospect also being high on the list. The areas are top of the list depending on what the trail and weather conditions are like, for example China Hat and Prospect need to be moist enough to hold down the dust, and the Tillamook area needs to dry out to keep the mud bogs to a minimum. The days of push and pack don't meet my standards of a good days ride anymore. If I wanted to push and pack, I would take the motor out and just push the frame around the trails till it felt good.

My first bike: I started on a Harley with a suicide clutch, 45 cubic inch in the 1952 era and in El Paso while in the Air force.

When I first started riding: After the Harley, I traded that in for a 40-inch ridge frame BSA and started trail riding with the Mt. Scott club in the 1960s, I even rode with Bob Lanphere when he was still a poor man. I crashed with a lot of style and Bob would laugh himself silly while I pulled myself out of the brush.

My riding experience: Since then I have had many bikes and even got into Class C racing with a Bonneville Triumph. I tried hill climbing, but that got old quick, so got into enduros and cross-country racing. One of my most honored wins was the Devils Head Enduro when only 30% finished.

My favorite saying: "When you're over the hill - your speed picks up." I don't know who came out with that, but he must have been an old turkey also, for I just cant seem to find enough hours in the day to get every thing done that I need to.

Why I became an OMRA Officer: I became an OMRA officer when the OMRA first was put together, and the need for the clubs needed to organize as a group to fight current legislative problems in the early 70's. I served as President for 6 years, Treasurer for 8 years and a Referee ever since. I can still go through my old storage of papers and it seems we still have the same problems, just different people to face.

I'd also like to say: I would like to say to one and all -- we better stay together as a group, so we can fight our battles as a force to deal with -- for a one-voice, bad-ass biker won't be heard by the many that are out to get us put away. The saying "Less sound equals more ground" is making reference to your exhaust not your voice.

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