District Six Trials Hall of Fame Inductees

 

2013

Jerry Young

Founding member of PTR club in Williamsport.  One of the first trials promoters in the country.  Organized National event in the first year of NATC.  Organized many World round events.  Long time participant in National events.  1972 National Champion, prior to the formation of the NATC.  Nine-time National Support Champion.  Scottish Six Day participant.

Ryan Young

Six time National champ in the Championship class.  Represented USA in the Trial Des Nations 8 times.  Started Ryan Young Products business to import trials specific parts and gear.  Became the sole US importer for Sherco trials machines in the first year of production as well as sole US importer for Scorpa trials bikes.  Produced trials training videos and trials training schools.  Organized youth events at the nationals.  Promoter for youth in trials.  Inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2025.

 

2014

John Stark

Oldest active District Six trials rider.  Introduced sons and many family members to trials.  Past Bultaco dealer.  Attends and often checks trials events for other District Six clubs.  Checker at many National trials events.

Dave Bardell

Started riding trials in the 1970’s.  Past dealer for many brands.  Held events on his and his father’s land.  Original organizer of the Tricky Tryalers club.

 

2015

Henrietta Steiner

District Six secretary.  Has always worked with trials clubs to help promote trials.  Long time supporter of District Six trials.

Pete Slesser

Started riding and organizing trials in 1968.  First “trials” bike was a Yamaha DT175.  Started trials events at Candytown MC.  Started vintage series in late 1980’s.  He would ride 50 events a year in the early days.

 

2016

Nils Mantzoros

Many time District Six and has 6 National Support Class Championships.  Founding member of Durty Dabbers Trials club.  Organizes District Six and National events.

Jim Fox

Long time PTR member.  District Six and National Support Class Champion.  Organized District Six and National events.  Current Sporting Stewart for National events.  Owner of Fox’s Trials Barn, dealer for Vertigo trials motorcycles.

 

2017

Sonny Deitz

Started riding trials in 1976. Past president of PaTRA and Candytown MC.  Has helped at many National trials events.  Organized vintage trials club. (SPOTR)  Organized trials events for White Rose MC since 2003.  Organizer for District 6 MotoTrials Hall of Fame.  Competed in District Six trials until his passing in February 2022.

Gary Sampsel

National Support Class Champion.  Past member of PTR trials club.  Original member of Durty Dabbers trials club.  Helped to organize many National events.  Introduced many new riders to the sport.

 

2018

Dave Diehl

Past District Six referee.  6-Time National Support Class Champion.  Began riding trials in early 1970’s.  Organized District Six and National events.  Current Beta USA Dealer.

 

Lewie Bolopue

Been riding Trials since early 1970’s.  Member of Durty Dabbers motorcycle club.  Organized District Six and National events.  National class rider and minder.  Mentor to many young riders.  Current Sherco Dealer.

 

2019

Henry Holman

Life member of AMA.  District Six trials and Tricky Tryalers member for 30 plus years.  Organized District Six events from early 1990’s until mid 2000’s on his father’s property.  In 2010 he purchased land outside Marysville, PA and graciously allows and organizes events there every year since.  Has helped at several National events.  Introduced new riders to the sport.

 

2021

Tom McKinney III

Competitive rider in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.  He was the rider to beat at that time.  Multi-time Expert class champion.

 

2022

Ted Newmarker

Discovered trials around 1970.  3 time D6 champ D13 champ and competed at national events.  Sponsor to many up and coming riders in the early 80’s.  Co-sponsored events at Oxford, PA and Elkton, MD in late 70’s and early 80’s.  Helped Jerry Young organize national events.  Ted, his wife, and 4 daughters would all attend the events together and a few of the girls would eventually compete.  Ted, unfortunately, passed away in an ultralight accident in 1984.

 

2023

Fred Greenawalt

Fred has been with the sport since the 70’s where he rode in the expert class with 2021 inductee Tom McKinney.  He was an active member with the Candytown Motorcycle Club in the 70’s and early 80’s.  In 1983 a new club was forming and he was a founding member.  Dave Bardell even credits him with coming up with the catchy name, Tricky Tryalers, in an effort to have a cool name like the Durty Dabbers.  He has helped set up and help out at many local and national events in the last 40 years.  He is a true class act in the world of trials.

 

 

2024

Ralph Wright

Ralph became interested in trials by witnessing some of the first White Rose trials events that were right next to his family’s summer cottage, which is where Ralph now lives.  He started playing in the woods on his Suzuki trail bike.  He then advanced to legitimate trials bikes, the first being a Suzuki RL250.  Ralph quickly made friends with Gaylord and Butch Bunnell as they were setting up the events at White Rose at the time roughly in the early 80’s.  Ralph soon took over setting up the events, mostly all on his own.  Sometimes, with his busy work schedule, he would fly in from out of town on Friday, flag the sections on Saturday, host the event on Sunday, then fly back to his work obligation in time for work on Monday morning.  Besides his 10 year absence when Sonny Deitz took over, Ralph has been a very important part of White Rose trials events.

He doesn’t compete much these days, but you could find him at most events in the 80’s and into the early 90’s.  Ralph competed in a few national events in the early 80’s on his SWM 240.  Most recently, he rode the Dabbers national where he earned several bruises and reminded himself that he doesn’t like wet rocks.

 

 

2025

Mike Pool

Mike was first introduced to trials bikes by his neighbor who had a TY 250 and suggested to Mike’s father that a TY 175 would be a good bike for Mike.  Mike competed in his first trials event at the Holman farm on a 1981 Montesa 349 sometime around 1984.  This is when he met Dave Bardell, who welcomed Mike to be a part of the Tricky Tryalers club.  Mike has been a very passionate part of the Tricky Tryalers club, helping to clean and layout sections since that time.  His event support doesn’t stop at just his local club as he’s been known to travel if there is a need for help to prepare an event.  He is always happy to help check for local, national and international events in the area.

Mike’s biggest influence, undoubtedly, on the D6 trials community is his passion for bringing in new riders and educating them in the sport and coaching them along the way.  He has been introducing new riders, and a lot of them, for decades.  Most of the time that I’ve seen Mike at events, he has been coaching and encouraging these new riders.  He is always there to cheer us all on when we have a good ride.

Mike is a passionate ambassador for our sport and the trials community here in PA has benefited from his presence.