Though more a loose collection of friends and fellow dirt-bike enthusiasts than an officially sanctioned club with bylaws, meeting minutes and the blessing of some official organizations, FAHQ Racing (a.k.a. the Good Team with the Bad Name) lacks nothing in its dedication to good times.
Founded in 1986 by Scott “Jerry” Bernardo (who remains its President for Life), the club remains a collection of guys and girls who, perhaps, might not fit in as members of a normal club. Not all societal outcasts, they’re drawn to the club’s reputation for taking few things seriously, exemplified by one of its mottos: “We do what we want.”
And so, when Bernardo summoned 100 of the club’s most active members for the FAHQ Racing 39th Anniversary Reunion at Travis Stopa’s property in Massachusetts (who’s not associated with the club but hosts events), 83 responded. Most were from the New England area, but some traveled from as far away as California, West Virginia, Texas, Missouri and beyond. The furthest-traveled award went to music teacher and saxophonist Steve “Bat” Mathewson, who flew in from Austria. FAHQ claims members in 42 states and around a dozen countries.
And for the reunion, that meant a whole day of celebrating with friends old and new, plenty of bench racing, a pig roast, live music and, of course, riding dirt bikes on the property’s “boney” trails.
Among the more notable attendees were multi-time GNCC race winner Nate Kanney, original Blackwater 100 winner Kevin LaVoie, 17-time Missouri State Hare Scrambles champ Steve Leivan and ISDE racer Ben Smith.
FMX legend Seth Enslow, who not only served as the honorary starter for the low-key hare scrambles races but also did a solo acoustic set as the opening act before The Gypsy Stretch Mark Orchestra took the stage. Yes, in addition to FMX tricks and record leaps, Enslow’s diverse talents include playing guitar and singing. And Bernardo added vocals to the Orchestra’s more hard-hitting numbers, pointing out the band hadn’t performed together in 30 years!
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