By 1989 several clubs in the Mid-Atlantic area were hosting Vintage Trials events. Near the end of the season, four of five of the participating clubs met to organize a regional Vintage Trials series. The clubs represented were Corridor Trials Group, By Stan Jakubaszek, Ridge Riders M.C. also by Stan Jakubaszek, Susquehanna Vintage Trials Riders by Craig Klesh, and Western Maryland Motorcycle Assn. by Bowie Pearre. A representative from Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club was unable to attend.
Bylaws and rules were formed and seven AHRMA classes and a youth class were adopted. At this time classes were for pre-1975 bikes and radial tires were prohibited in the pre-1965 classes.
A second meeting was held the next day at a Vintage meet where officers were elected. Bowie Pearre was elected as Executive Secretary.
The 1990 season began with the announcement of seven meets by three clubs: Corridor Vintage Trials, Ohio Valley BSA Owners Club, and Western Maryland Motorcycle Assn. The first official MAVT meet was held on March 25, 1990 at Union Bridge, MD. This was to become a tradition for nearly ten years. WMMA would host the season's first event of the series in late March at Bowie Pearre's property, and year-end trophies for the previous season would be handed out here as well. March weather being what it is, the well attended event could be snowy, most of the time muddy, but as long as it was not cancelled, was always enjoyable. In time Bowie came to feel the sections were becoming too redundant and eventually this series' opener was dropped (and missed). Pennsylvania Trials Riders joined the series this year with a June event date.
The result of the first season was 212 entries in eight meets with 25 riders registered for year-end awards as members of MAVT. The Premier Champion for that first year was Dave Mankey on a 250 Ducati.
The series expanded in 1991 to twelve meets promoted by five clubs. The Youth class was dropped due to lack of interest. A new class was added; Modern Classic C. The Premier Champion for this second season was again Dave Mankey, this time on a 250 Royal Enfield.
In 1992 Twinshock classes were added to the existing Premier and Modern Classic classes, these classes now extending eligible bikes beyond 1975 to 1979. The Premier Champion was once again Dave Mankey, this time on a 350 Royal Enfield.
For 1993 full points were awarded regardless of class size. Checkers were awarded first place points, and MAVT became the official AHRMA Mid-Atlantic series. Dave Mankey was the Premier Champion, this time on a 350 BSA B-40.
1994 brought the creation of the BB class for riders not wishing to move from the two to the one line. Once moved from the B class, a rider now had the option to stay with the two line in the BB class. Promoters were encouraged to make the one line easier. Premier Champion was Dave Mankey on his BSA B-40.
1n 1995 AHRMA and MAVT expanded the Modern Classic classes to include bikes through 1979. Twinshock classes were changed to 1980 and later bikes. The rigid class was dropped from the series for lack of interest. AHRMA withdrew its support for the series in the Spring. At this time MAVT philosophy was moving away from that of AHRMA. There had been issues concerning legal bikes and class winners.
In 1996 radial tires were permitted in the pre-1965 classes. A CC class was created for riders promoted out of C class who did not want to ride the two line. The seventh season produced a record of 413 entries in eight meets.
In 1997 Dave Mankey was the Premier Champion for the seventh consecutive year. His last five campionships were won on a 350cc BSA B-40.
1998 brought the deletion of all references to AHRMA and AHMRA rules from MAVT rules. By this time MAVT was a prospering organization on its own with the series continually gaining in popularity. Pete Slesser was the Premier Champion on a BSA B-44 Victor.
In 1999 the classes were redefined as Vintage, Twinshock, and Sportsman. Vintage classes were for 4-speed Spanish and other bikes to 1972, Twinshock classes were for 5-speed Spanish bikes and other twinshock bikes built in 1973 and beyond. Sportsman classes were the previous BB and CC classes. Pete Slesser was once again Premier Champion on his BSA B-44.
At the annual MAVT representatives' meeting on November 14, 1999, Bowie Pearre declined the nomination for office after 10 years as Executive Secretary. Though the author cannot speak for Bowie, I had witnessed Bowie's constant battle to keep MAVT sections at various events in line with the Vintage tradition. In ten years, MAVT participation had evolved from mostly British four and two stroke machines to an overwhelming majority of Japanese bikes. Promoters of events constantly made sections more difficult to coincide with their and their bikes' abilities. MAVT had evolved and would continue to do so. After ten years of "running the show" Bowie was ready to just compete and take time to ride other types of events as well. It should be noted here that without Bowie, there would not have been an MAVT. It is mostly through his efforts that it has become a thriving series.
As a member of Western MD M.A. I knew that Bowie wished to step down from running MAVT. Without an MAVT representative our Vintage event would not be a part of the series, so I came to the meeting to take over as WMMA's representative. At the meeting it was evident that no one really wished to take over as effective head of MAVT. Not wishing to see the end of our Vintage Trials series, I reluctantly accepted the position of Executive Secretary. I had recently been dragged into the computer age and realized the Access database program I had been learning would be perfect for keeping scores and points for the series. My initial acceptance of the position was to do that part and to share other reponsibilities with Pete Slesser and Buz Brining who were "Directors" of MAVT at the time. Of course, once in office, the power went completely to my head, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Our website was started in 2000. Homestead was offering free web space and it was something new for me to dabble in. It seemed a good way to get current series information to our members as well as promote MAVT.
I don't know if the early web site contributed to MAVT's growth, but in 2000 membership jumped from 125 to 154, over twice the average yearly gain. There were no changes in the rules this year. Stan Bollinger became the Vintage A champion, and we had 410 participants in twelve events. This was down a little from the eight events of 1996, but that was about to change.
2001 again brought no changes in the rules, but the "rumblings" had begun again about the jump between the 2 and the 1 lines. The better 2 line riders were not being challenged enough, but most did not want to jump to the 1 line. A few members were not happy about being moved into Sportsman class, though they were still competing on the same line. I was beginning to get a "feel" for what members wanted or did not want but was not certain what changes would be agreeable to all. In 14 events our participation had a record number of 527 (Vintage only).
Stan Bollinger was again the Vintage A champion.
2002 brought the addition of a fourth line to MAVT events to lessen the jump from one line to another, This year also saw the elimination of the Sportsman classes. We had decided that our series should put the fun first and not force riders into a class, but rather let them decide for themselves what line and class they wished to ride. Participation reached over 600 this year with Stan Bollinger as the Vintage A champion on his Hodaka powered GRM 125/
2003 saw no real changes in rules or classes. Participation dropped a little to 550. Bill Caron was Vintage A champion on his 4 speed Bultaco powered GRM.
2004 participation reached an all time high with over 635 participants. We still had only the Twinshock and Vintage classes. Bill Caron again was Vintage A Champion on his Bultaco powered GRM.
2005 brought the addition of air-cooled monoshock classes to MAVT. These bikes were now twenty years old and we hoped to begin to pull them out of sheds and basements and into use again. All trials bikes up to 1972 of 250cc were now included in Vintage as Vintage class actually became "pre-Japanese" class. Exhibition classes were created since many of our members did not want to move up a line, but wanted to give other riders a chance to trophy. Some of the better riders not interested in trophies moved to Exhibition classes. Bill Caron was Vintage Champ for the third year in a row on his GRM.
2006 There were no changes implemented this year. Participation dropped to 450 for reasons unknown. Stan Bollinger was Vintage Champ on his GRM.
2007 No real changes here again. Participation rose to 500. Bill Caron regained Vintage Championship again on his GRM.
2008 saw a restructuring of classes due to the loss of many of the pre '65 bikes and an increase in early '80's twinshock machines. The evolution of bikes and riders, as expected, was changing the face of Vintage trials. The Vintage and Twinshock classes were combined, and Air-cooled monoshock machines were grouped with Modern machines. This class became Modern. Over the previous seasons we had begun to see riders on new bikes, especially young people. Realizing that most young people would not be interested in old bikes, in the name of spreading trials in general and not just Vintage, we made all monoshock bikes eligible for event trophies as well as year-end awards. This was the beginning of a new MAVT philosophy of trying to give everyone interested in trials an opportunity to compete. Part of the realization was that old bikes and old riders would give way to newer and younger. It is the soul of Vintage that we want to see continue, whether riders are on old bikes or the latest machine available. With the combination of the Vintage and Twinshock classes the top riders were now on the last of the twinshock machines. Jason Mankey became Vintage champion on a 1984 Honda 250 RS. Jason had previously been "top dog" in Twinshock A class. Premier Champion had moved a generation from father (Dave Mankey) to son (Jason Mankey). Participation for 2008 was over 550.
