OMRA Referee at Large

Name: Rick "Gunny" Claypoole

About me:  Just a simple man with a passion for motorcycle riding - on and off-road.  Spent 29 years active duty with the Marine Corps while trying to pursue motorcycle riding too - wasn't always easy.  During the 70's and 80's rode for Husqvarna, Suzuki and Kawasaki sponsored teams.  Started doing ISDE in '76 as worker for Husky and rider for Suzuki.  Became ISDE team manager in '87, tried to retire from it in 2001 - didn't work.  Currently work for Beaverton Honda-Yamaha.

My favorite riding area:  Two really - District 37 (Mohave area in California) and the NW.  When I retired from the Marine Corps I specifically came to the NW because I fell in love with the area when I came here for the ISDE qualifiers at Trask and Mt. Baker, WA.

My first bike:  Shared a 1959 Triumph Cub with a friend - kept it hidden at another's house so the parents wouldn't find out - that was 1961.  Then, after being in the MC, had a 1967 Honda 305 Scrambler that I rode in the city parks of Cleveland (off-road).  First race bike was a 1969 CZ 250 - after I saw a demo ride when Edison Dye brought the Europeans over - I was hooked.

When I first started riding:  1961 - the Triumph.  Off-road - 1969 - MX with the CZ.  That is also when I met the Penton Clan.  After Vietnam I was stationed in Cleveland, OH and met John, Jeff, Jack and Tom there and was in awe.

My riding experience:  Too much to list - MX'd for 9 years, then changed to off-road - you can get a lot more riding in.  Good moments - Tennessee state Open class MX champ 1977, Mid-South Champ - Open 1977; rode ISDE 1979 (Germany), 1980 (France); been to every ISDE but 3 since 1978; District 37 in 1989 - Desert Senior Open #1, Desert Senior 250 #11, Enduro Senior #3, "Best of the Desert" Senior #1; and OMRA 2003 GP Series, 50 class #1.

My favorite saying:  The older I get, the faster I was.

Why I became an OMRA Officer:  I want to help the riders and, hopefully, the sport as much as I can.  I hope I can bring experience and knowledge of the different venues to the OMRA and its riders.  I want to see our sport expand and quit getting the bad publicity that we do and if I can change someone's attitude in our behalf, that can only help us.

I'd also like to say:  Please feel free to call me at work or look me up at any of the races if there are any questions about rules, formats, or motorcycles that you want to talk about; I am always open for discussion.

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