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Competition Riders of America reflect on success
racing organization reflects on success
By Bruce Walton
SALEM
Off-road riding, just a hobby to some, is more than a sport for members of the Competition Riders of America.
It’s a community and a lifestyle, and these riders constantly put time, energy and love into it.
Rich Yaslik, the CRA marketing director, said when he gets on a racetrack, he can’t help but feel addicted to the amount of freedom he has in the open air.
“I just get out there, and I ride as fast as I can, and I try to be as competitive as I can. And I think that’s the way everybody shows it,” Yaslik said. “It gives everybody an opportunity to go out and compete against one another but at the same time, meet good people, make good friends and after the race, sit around and have a beer, talk about what happened, reflect on the day and everybody really enjoys it.”
The Salem-based organization offers a nine-month season of off-road racing in Northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania for bikes and quads. There are three types of races: motocross, hare scramble and flat track.
The organization recently celebrated the memory of its founder and first president with the Willy Miller Classic. His memory and goals live on in his son, Yog Miller, president of the CRA.
Willy Miller was remembered for founding the CRA in 1984 as well as for being a passionate man who wanted everyone, including children, to experience the fun of competitive off-road racing.
“He meant a whole lot to the younger generations of riders,” Yog Miller said, “He liked watching the kids, he was always helping with whatever was need for the kids.”
CRA received more than 10,000 entries for the 2015 season, from a diverse age group of riders from youth classes for children as young as 4 to riders in the senior classes in their 60s. At every race, Yaslik said the community is like a big family and accepting of newcomers.
What makes CRA successful, Yaslik said, is the long-running season it has and the amount of wide open rural terrain in the Ohio and Pennsylvania area. It has also raised some off-road racers into the professional leagues, such as Walker Fowler, 22, who has been one of the top-placing competitors in the Grand National Cross Country circuit.
Fowler said competing in the CRA from childhood to adulthood prepared him to become an accomplished racer. But if competition is not right for people, Yaslik said the organization still provides good, clean fun in the mud and dirt.
Yaslik also said CRA has sometimes gotten a negative reputation grouped with off-road riders who disregard property. Yaslik said CRA always makes sure to protect the land it uses. Yaslik said the riders are always looking for new members and invites those interested to visit www.racecra.org for more information.