Tom Clark interim Chairman

The Michigan-Ontario Trials Association was conversation over beer on February 19, 1967, in Barner’s Bar, 12501 Gratiot, Detroit. The clubs that drew together are all but gone now with only Detroit M/C and Windsor M/C remaining. But now we are getting ahead in the story. The other clubs at the discussion were Red Wings M/C, Chatham Archons’ M/C, Sarnia Competition Team, Huron Trial Blazers, and Petrolia Road Knights.

M.O.T.A., also referred to as the Association, was formally agreed upon on April 2, 1967, by all but the Red Wings M/C and the Petrolia Road Knights. Tom Clark volunteered and was accepted as interim Chairman. The spring was filled with many long evenings hammering and molding the Rules and Procedures, By-Laws, and Constitution into a workable and agreeable set of guides. (Shades of 1776.) Trials were held in 1967 and the guides tested, changed, and modified. One item of debate that year was the scoring system. Footing was counted to five; out of bounds, stops, dismounting, and restarting engine counted five each with an accumulative maximum total of fifteen if the section was attempted. Twenty- five points were given if the section was not attempted. It’s a wonder we don’t have a few adding machines.

Blue Water M/C joined M.O.T.A. on June 25, which raised the member clubs to six. More trials were held and more guides were modified. Ah, the structure proved to be workable! A practical means for distributing the administrative and functional responsibilities of the Association was discussed at an August meeting. Funny how getting work done in a volunteer organization quickly gets to be a problem. However, the Association’s existence today is proof that those early trialers must have found a way.

The Trial Blazers of Mt. Clemens were admitted as members, November 12. The club list grows to seven. Thus, the first year draws to a close with much work and a trials season complete. Merriment and top ten rider presentation filled out the year with Tom Clark still interim Chairman.