Trail Rider Magazine

Flashback! December 2025 5 It's a celebra on, my friends! What's the occasion, you ask? Well, as we close out the year of 2025, Trail Rider Magazine is celebra ng 55 years in business. The story is legendary, with Trail Rider founder Bob Hicks crea ng New England Trail Rider Magazine in the spring of 1970, at the me, a spin- off of Bob's other publica on, Cycle Sport, a scrambles, motocross mag, in order to cater to the fast-growing segment of motorcycling, trail riding, and Enduro racing. The concept was an instant hit, and we're proud of the fact that Trail Rider Magazine is the na on's oldest off-road motorcycle magazine. Yes, Trail Rider began one full year before Super Hunky created Dirt Bike in 1971. Another rela vely unknown fact is that during this first year of New England Trail Rider, Bob Hicks and a group of serious enthusiasts began plan ng the seeds for an organiza on to belong to and represent off-road motorcyclists and compe tors, so they would have a voice to collaborate with landowners, states, and governments. In the December 1970 issue, Hicks published a Call-to-Ac on story invi ng any and all off-road enthusiasts to meet in Holyoke, MA, on February 14th, 1971, for a conference to express the purpose of a proposed associa on to firmly establish our sport as an acceptable part of the New England off-road recrea onal scene. The concept was an instant hit, with a whopping 800 enthusiasts a ending the mee ng and an equally astonishing 700 people ponying up $5 each to join the newly formed New England Trail Rider Associ- a on. Yes, it was Bob Hicks, along with ISDT Gold Medalist/Astronomer Dave Latham, Ossa ISDT Team Manager Marcia MacDonald and former Bultaco Service Manager Bill Hass, who were the people who formed NETRA, the organiza on that so many New England off-road riders have belonged to, competed in, and respected. We're excited that NETRA will also be celebra ng their 55 th year this February! For several years, Trail Rider and NETRA were both headquartered at the Hicks residence in Wenham, MA, where Bob s ll lives today at 95 years old. We're happy to report that Bob is s ll sharp as a tack and passione e about the sport we all love so much. We hope to catch up with Bob soon at an event in January. As for your editor, Kurt, my introduc on to this fine magazine was in 1974 when I bought my first real motorcycle, a Hodaka 125 Wombat, and purchased my first copy of New England Trail Rider over the counter at Cape Ann Cycle in Beverly, MA. Having grown up only a few miles from the Hicks family, it didn't take long to meet Bob and his NESC Expert son, Rick. During this me, I spent a lot of me fol- lowing the Hicks men around our local trails and eventually NETRA events a er I became a member in 1975. Yes, 2025 marks my 50th year as a proud NETRA member! During the mid to late 70s, I was a bit of a wild kid, typical of the 70s, with long hair and a bit rebellious. It was my addic on to dirt bikes that kept me grounded. My mother would occasionally ask me what I wanted to do with my life, and I'd tell her I wanted to work with Bob at Trail Rider, and she'd roll her eyes and walk away. Sadly, Mom was taken only a few years later by cancer. Over the years, I've enjoyed many forms of motorsports, but the one constant has been woods rid- ing. It's in my blood; it's my passion and my escape. With this issue now completed and in print, I'm proud to celebrate my personal connec on with Trail Rider as 2025 marks my tenth year as owner and publisher, and I hope I've made my Mother proud. Thank you subscribers, adver sers, friends, family, contributors, and all involved in pu ng out an issue each and every month. I'm forever grateful for my posi on in life, and I feel my fate has had a lot to do with the people who've I've held in high regard over the years. I'm proud to be who I am because of you!

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