David

Letter from Dr. Hub Brennan

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Stu Preston
President
New England Trials Association
72 Mountain Road
South Berwick, ME 03908

Dear Stu,

Thanks for your query regarding the anticipated course of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic as you deliberate a return to NETA activities.

As you and the membership are aware, this global viral pandemic is unprecedented. To date, the virus has infected 112 million people worldwide and has claimed 2.5 million lives. Here in the United States, over 500,000 lives have been lost.

Unfortunately, there has been considerable misinformation and general misunderstanding of the facts about COVID which could frustrate decisions such as yours. Having devoted my professional time in recent months to the fight against COVID, I wish to reinforce the absolute fact that this is a highly contagions and deadly virus.

We have three things that help us avoid transmitting, becoming ill and dying from the virus. They include social distancing, proper masks and vaccinations. Any social activity that doesn’t include these elements will contribute to ongoing illness and death.

Your concern regarding when a safe return to NETA events might be expected is to be applauded. You make no assumptions and that is the only safe and responsible approach to take. There are any number of observations and opinions both for and against resuming events. As NETA President, you are undoubtedly hearing many of them.

We will invite risk by gathering for large scale social and leisure events too soon. It would be wise to wait until a majority of the population is immunized. At our projected rate of vaccine production and administration, barring any setbacks, we anticipate having enough vaccine out to reach heard immunity by mid summer ’21.

Hence, I suggest that you might look at the first week of July as a possibility for safely resuming an event schedule.

Stay safe,

Dr. Hub Brennan
NETA# 33
AMA Board of Directors, Medical Commission and Trials Commission Member
AMA Safe to Race Taskforce contributing author
FIM Medical Commission Member and Chief Medical Officer

2020 – Harry Grant

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Harry Grant of Smithfield, RI was inducted into the New England Trials Association Hall of Fame on Thursday, October 22, 2020, during a ceremony at his home.

Grant, 68, began competing in off-road Observed Trials motorcycle competition in the early 1970s, quickly rising to the Top Ten Riders and achieving Expert ranking. He went on to become one of the top riders in New England for several decades.

In addition to competing in New England events, Harry participated in many National competitions in the 1970s. In 1975, Harry was one of just a handful of US riders to compete in the first World Championship Observed Trials Competition held in the United States. The event was held in the Exeter/West Greenwich area of Rhode Island. 

“Harry is a one of a kind person and competitor”, said Bruce Adler, Harry’s long time friend and training partner. “He would practice well into the evening at lighted areas alongside the interstate highway. There are extremely few people with Harry’s degree of determination “ said Adler. Stu Preston, President of the New England Trials Association added “Harry is indeed a legend and his name will live on forever by way of this prestigious award”. 

During his many years of competition, Harry was a spectacular athlete and sportsman willing to assist and mentor new riders and competitors. As late as 2019 Harry was still competing in the Senior classes of Observed Trials in various New England locations.

Pictured during the award presentation are (L-R) NETA officer Bill Bonneau, Hub Brennan, Harry Grant and R.I. Trials Club President Carl “Coach” Swanson 

2020 Membership Application

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It’s time to signup for the upcoming NETA season. The 2020 NETA Membership Application has been updated to reflect recent rule changes:

  • Three classes have changed names and two classes have been eliminated. Click for details.
  • Starting in 2021, a rider’s number plate background must match the color of the line ridden (red for “A”, blue for “B” and green for “C”).
  • To assist bringing everyone’s plate in sync with the class changes for 2020 and the background color requirement for 2021, NETA is including with your membership a number plate decal with a colored background and improved legibility.

Please print, complete the application and mail it along with a check made out to NETA to the address at the bottom. Check the appropriate box and include the decal request if you want an updated decal for your number plate. Contact David Scarbro if you are unable to print the application and would like to have one mailed to you.

As in past years, the membership fee is $30.00 for individual renewals mailed before April 15th and $50.00 for those mailed after April 15th.

Rule Changes for 2020

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The 2020 NETA Rule Book is under revision and will be published soon. The 2019 Rule Book is on the Documents page.

Rule change proposals and voting results from the annual NETA meeting are below.

Change Naming of Novice Sections to SportsmanPassed
Name Plate Letter  2″ Minimum (already in rule book)
Number plate background color to match gate color  (effective 2021)Passed
Reduce # of Riding ClassesPassed
NETA riders  #  to stay on plate  (minimum # size of 1 “)Passed
NETA to supply conforming vinyl decals to members for platePassed
Eliminate Double sectionsPassed
Limit to 3 gates per class per sectionWithdrawn
Eliminate Vintage “V” gates from eventsPassed
Issue Awards per Line ridden eliminate awards per Class riddenFail
Change Senior C line from 4 loops to 3 at eventsFail
Five mile loop requirementFail
Combine Senior Expert line with Advanced line Fail

Congratulations Joe & Dan

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Congratulations to Joe Antonelli and Dan Williams on their induction to the 2019 NETA Hall of Fame.