Trail Rider Magazine

CONTENTS Volume 43 Number 8 Kevin Novello Editor Jim Senecal Richard Seymour Art Pepin NETRA Contributors Zack Huberty ECEA Contributor Keith Novello Richard Seymour Test Riders Anna Svagzdys Columnist Editorial and Subscription Address PO Box 516 North Reading, MA 01864 (Web Site www.trailrider.com Email address Kevin@trailrider.com Published in the USA by: Wheel Spin Productions LLC The advertising deadline for the Ocober Issue is September 25th, 2013. Trail Rider Magazine (ISSN 08923922) is published monthly at 387 Linebrook Road, Ipswich Massachusetts, 01938 Subscriptions are available from Trail Rider Magazine at the above address at $25 U.S. per 12 issues (one year). Canadian subscriptions are $53 U.S. yearly. Copyright © 2012 by Wheel Spin Productions, LLC. All rights reserved. No advertising or editorial matter in this magazine can be reproduced for distribution without written permission by the publisher. Contributors: Articles and event photos are welcome, although we assume no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Unless special arrangements are made in advance, all published materials become the sole property of Trail Rider. Periodicals postage paid at Ipswich, Massachusetts, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: USPS 850-200. Send address changes to Trail Rider Magazine, PO Box 516, North Reading, MA, 01864. On the Cover: Brooks Hamilton fresh off his 17th OA at the Rattlesnake National Enduro launches the new XCF-W 250 into 2014. Photo By Kevin Novello DEpARTmENTS 4 WHEEl SpIn Back to the Berkshires 36 guESt ColuMn Anna Svagzdys FEATURES  Business Info Subscriptions: Subscriptions are available from Trail Rider Magazine, 387 Linebrook Road, Ipswich, Massachusetts, 01938 at $25 U.S. per 12 issues (one year). Canadian subscriptions are $53 yearly, in U.S. funds. We're not selling overseas subscriptions any more. To pay by credit card or Paypal log onto www.trailrider.com or call 800-426-4214. At the online address you can pay with an E-check as well as credit cards or Paypal. You can also renew your subscription online. Back Issues: A limited number of back issues are available from various years of Trail Rider. Learn about back issues from www.trailrider.com or call 800-426-4214, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays. 6 2014 ktM XC-W lInE Speed Dating the 2014 XC-W's 12 SHErCo X rIdE Go Anywhere,Anytime 18 ktM XC-W 200 Racing Test 20 tHE 48tH ISdt Recapping the events in Dalton 32 1973: A good YEAr to BE A kId RACING  28 ECEA SHotgun Enduro 30 rAtttlESnAkE nAtIonAl Advertising Retail advertisers are strongly encouraged to get in touch with us if you want to advertise in the Northeastern market, because we've got a dedicated, faithful readership of about 5,000 hardy souls, and the number is growing steadily every month. Besides that we like to eat, as we explained above. Advertising is what keeps this rag alive, and we appreciate your business. Contributors: We pay $50 a page for copy, and $10 each for photos on assigned race reports. We don't pay anything for fiction or travel pieces, but we'll probably spell your name right. Call us and we'll talk about it. Better yet, send an e-mail. . Thanks! WARNING: The most important part of riding is having fun. And getting hurt isn't fun. In fact, it sucks. To that end, we recommend wearing all the protective gear you can. Just don't overdo it on a hot summer day and become a heat casualty. Do you know how the paramedics determine your core temperature? Let's just say it's an unpleasant experience, unless you're into that kind of thing. So be smart and keep it cool on two wheels. August 2013 3

• Cover