40 + years of HPV racing in Michigan

Information about 40th annual Michigan HPV Rally is below,  dated Feb. 7.

By Mike Eliasohn 

June 7-8, 2025, will be (or was, depending on when you read this) the 40th annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally, but HPV racing / gatherings in Michigan go back more than 40 years.

It started on July 11, 1982, when Monroe County Cycling conducted its first annual River Raisin Tour.  The author of this article, then living in Cass City, and Terry Gerweck of Monroe, who was one of the organizers of the RRT, had both built recumbent bicycles, so decided to invite other recumbent riders.  (I had previously lived in Monroe, where Terry and I bonded over a mutual interest in non-usual bicycles.)

The result was six recumbent riders participating in the RRT that day, riding 31 or 62 miles. Terry on his Dragonwind, the second recumbent he built; Mike on his first homebuilt; Doug Kelly of Farmington on his homebuilt Tiara; and three riders on production Avatars (long wheelbase with under-seat steering), Reuben Chapman of Ann Arbor; Bob Cook of Lapeer; and Don Beacher of Toledo.

Participating in the Monroe area River Raisin Tour July 11, 1982, were, from left, Bob Cook, Don Beecher and Reuben Chapman (hidden), all on production Avatars; Doug Kelly, homebuilt Tiara (prototype for what was intended to become a production bike), and Mike Eliasohn, homebuilt.  The sixth recumbent rider was Terry Gerweck, who presumably took the photo.

Here's Terry Gerweck on Dragonwind, the second recumbent he built, prior to (or maybe after?) the River Raisin Tour in 1982.  He was one of six recumbent riders at the event. 

The first gathering inspired Terry and Mike to organize the first Midwest HPV Rally on July 9, 1983, the evening before the second RRT.  The rally was held in the Monroe County Community College parking lot, where Terry set up a maneuverability course.  About 15 HPVs were there. The 23 people attending decided to form a Michigan - western Ohio HPV group, with Terry elected president and Garrie Hill of Granville, Ohio, treasurer. The next morning, nine HPVS (seven of which were at the rally) were ridden in the RRT.

The second Midwest HPV Rally was July 7, 1984, again in the MCCC parking lot and the evening before the RRT. The rally included a 3-mile time trial in the parking lot, won at an average speed of 22.6 mph by Jon Stinson of Plymouth on his homebuilt long wheelbase recumbent with two 27-inch wheels and a small Zzipper fairing. At the meeting following the rally, it was decided to form a chapter of the International Human Powered Vehicle  Association, with Mike E. as president and newsletter editor and Doug Kelly as treasurer.

Jon Stinson on his homebuilt recumbent won the 3-mile time trial in the Monroe County Community College parking lot that was part of the second annual Midwest HPV Rally July 7, 1984. His time was 7 minutes, 58 seconds, for an average speed of 22.6 mph.

There were at least 16 HPVS at the rally, but unlike 1983, not enough riders returned Sunday for a mass start in the RRT. 

The third rally was July 20, 1985, in conjunction with the World Hot Air Balloon Championships in Battle Creek. Others had organized races for regular bicycles at Kellogg Regional Airport, so we organized two 5-mile races for HPVs. Rick Dregne of Kenosha, Wisconsin., won the race for streamliners in Terry Hreno's Moby. In the other, Brian Bartter of Bedford, Ohio,  finished first on his prone position homebuilt two-wheeler, while Bill Frey of Grosse Pointe Farms was first in the semi-faired class on his production Tour Easy with a Super Zzipper fairing.

                                

Brian Bartter of Bedford, Ohio, won the 5-mile race for unfaired vehicles at the third annual Midwest HPV Rally July 20, 1985 in Battle Creek. To get used to the prone position, he rode his homebuilt Super B to work daily. 

Starting in 1986, the rally has been every year at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track on the grounds of the Oakland County Sportsmen's Club in Clarkston, with two exceptions: In September1989, we hosted the 15th annual International Human Powered Speed Championships, with most events at Michigan International Speedway, and about 75 competitors from the U.S., Canada and France. And in July 2009, we conducted the Michigan Human Powered International Speed Challenge at the Ford Motor Co. proving grounds near Romeo, with 54 competitors from the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, France and Slovenia.

In the early years, before creation of classes (streamliners, unfaired, etc.), trophies were awarded for first, second and third overall.  At the fourth annual rally in August 1986 – the first at Waterford Hills – were, from left, 2nd) Jon Stinson, homebuilt streamliner; Bill Frey; 1st) Byron Adams, Potterville, Cannondale upright bike; and 3rd) Jef Mallet, Grand Rapids, custom built racing bike with Breeze-Eeze fairing manufactured by his father, Gordon Mallet, of Big Rapids.  Results were based on finishing position in five events. Jon and Bill were the rally organizers.

And for those doing the math, the 2020 Michigan HPV Rally was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. If not for that, the 40th annual rally would have been in 2024.

Through 1999, the Michigan rally was on Saturday only. Starting in 1990, Mark Bannen and others organized on the next day what originally was the Delta College Challenge, then the Saginaw Valley Challenge  on the Saginaw Valley State University campus.  The Michigan rally has been on Saturday and Sunday since 2000.

The top three at the 1987 rally were, from left: 1) Roger Nelson,Dansville, Cannondale; 2) Karl Liskow, Ypsilanti, and 3) Charles Brown, Ann Arbor.  Karl made the main frame for Bad News from 20-gauge sheet steel. Charles' made his frame from pine wood, with fiberglass reinforcement around the head tube and solid fiberglass rear dropouts.

In 1995, we changed the name from Midwest Human Powered Vehicle Rally to Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally, likely because other HPV events were springing up in the Midwest. (I don't remember the specific reason.)

The record turnout was 50 entries in 2001, with entries coming from Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida and Ontario.

I (Mike E.) am pretty sure I am the only person who has attended all rallies so far, plus the two international events, though I missed Saturday's events in 2012 because of a conflict and one year when the rally was one day, I missed the morning events because of car troubles.

The Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Association, formed in 1984, officially came to an end in 2016 due to a lack of people willing to serve as officers, but there were enough willing to keep running the rally.

Since 2021, I and Mike Mowett have been co-organizers.  Mike M. first competed at the Michigan rally in 1988. In 1996, he was there as part of the Wayne State University HPV team. 

The start of the practical vehicle race at the 1991 rally. Riders had to run across the track to their vehicles while carrying a water-filled balloon, put the balloon in their vehicle, climb aboard (shown here) and ride almost one lap, enter the pits, exit their vehicle, then remount and ride one lap. From left, Jon Stinson, Leonard Brunkalla (in rear), Gaylord Hill, Karl Kugler and Randy Lindley. The other events at the one-day 1991 rally continue today: Sprint (top speed); one-hour time trial, and hill climb / coast down.

Erik Laurin was only 16 when he came from Lake Zurich, Ill., to race his homebuilt streamliner at the 1987 rally. The main component of the frame was a 2-1/4 inch .065 wall chromoly tube. He made the fairing from plastic foam panels, glued and taped together Minus the fairing, weight was 31 pounds.  Erik is now an M.D. and vice chairman for education and a clinical professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of California - Davis.

Monroe bicycle show / swap meet - April 27, 2025

By Mike Eliasohn 

Officially it is, or was, the 43rd annual Monroe Classic Bicycle and Minibike Show, Swap Meet and Auction, on Sunday, April 27, but the fourth at the Monroe County fairgrounds, just west of Monroe. 

Before then, the event, under different operators, was held at the Washtenaw County fairgrounds between Ann Arbor and Saline.

Most bicycles sold at the show are in the collectible category, though I'm sure there were some great bargains there for people looking simply for something to ride. I did encounter someone who bought a bare carbon fiber road bike frame. He let me hold it; it was lighter than some books I own.

This year, the show was not for people looking for a recumbent. I saw only two, both tricycles and one of them intended for kids.

This was the second year that I got free space to try to sell my bicycle books and stuff, thanks to Brian Pikielek, owner of BikeTech bicycle shop in Detroit (biketechdetroit.com), who had indoor and outdoor vendor spaces and lots of bikes and parts to sell. So I stayed outside, and if anyone was interested in any of Brian's bikes, I found Brian.

Unlike last year, I did sell some books and magazines (bicycle and automotive) and some accessories, so happily drove home to just north of Port Huron with less than I brought.

I took some photos on set-up day on Saturday, hence few people around.

A mid-1980s Huffy Slingshot.  The cranks power the front wheel, while rear wheels, controlled by the two hand levers, do the steering.  Wheels are 14-inch. Asking price was $225.

A 1941 Firestone brand bike, made by Colson in Elyria, Ohio. Asking price was $700. The Colson Co. manufactured bicycles from 1917-53, with its two biggest customers Firestone and Goodyear. (Old-timers will remember when various tire brands operated stores selling automotive tires, of course, bicycles and bicycle tires and other merchandise.) Colson then sold its bike building business to Evans Products, which stopped making bikes in 1962.

An early 1960s Five Rams from China.  It doesn't fold; rather the front assembly via the rectangular top tube slides to the rear to drastically shorten the bike for transporting or storage.  16-inch wheels. I neglected to ask the price.

Replacing a banana seat can be expensive.  These weren't priced, but those on an adjacent table were priced from $75-$250.

A Puppy (or maybe Road Puppy) folding bike. Tires are 16x1.6 (40-305). From what I found online, these were made by Shimura Seiki Co. and were a civilian version of bikes used by Japanese paratroopers in World War II .

The bicycle show inside the Expo Center is a small part of the overall event. Judging takes place in several categories.  The red bike (above) with white tires is a 1966 Raleigh RSW 16.

As of May 5, photos of the winning bikes from the show had yet to be posted at monroebikeshow.com.  When they are, click on "show photos" for 2025.

This is a 1972 Staiger (German brand) Jumbo Jet with rear suspension. Saddle and handlebars are not original. 16-inch wheels.  The bike does not fold. Presumably the bike was intended for people, such as apartment dwellers, who did not much storage space.

An EZ Tadpole, which was the only other recumbent I saw. I neglected to write the price.

A product of J&B, the nation's largest distributor to bike shops of bikes and bike parts, its recumbent 2- and 3-wheelers now use the Sunseeker brand name. The current equivalent of this trike is the EZ-Tad SX, retail price $2,020.

A treadle drive tricycle from the 1890s. Rear wheels are 34 inch; front, 16-inch, with solid tires. Seat position is adjustable. Asking price was $500.

40th annual Michigan HPV Rally T-shirts - ordering deadline May 18

Here's the design of the T-shirt for the 40th annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally.

The artwork was done by Charles Brown and his computer (thank you, Charles), with the lettering added by Teresa at Parkside Printing Ink in Port Huron, which will be printing the shirts. Red is the only color available.

The deadline to order, originally May 14, has been extended to Sunday, May 18. Parkside will be ordering the blank shirts on May 19, to give it enough time to receive them and then print the image on the shirts.

Standard shirts are available in sizes S - XL. If you want larger than XL, or female specific shirts, ask and I will ask Parkside for the price.

Shirts will NOT be available to purchase at the rally, so that I (Mike Eliasohn) don't end up with unwanted shirts.  I will pay Parkside for the entire order, then at the rally, those who ordered by the deadline can pay me and get their shirt or shirts. I will take cash or a check, made out to Michael Eliasohn.

As of May 15, the price will be $22 per shirt, subject to change. So if you plan to pay by check, don't write the amount in until you get to the rally.

If you want to order a shirt, but won't be at the rally, the cost will be $10 additional, for postage and envelope.

TO ORDER A SHIRT, email mikethebike2325@comcast.net and give me the size needed (or number and sizes, if more than one shirt).

If you are at the rally, but did not order a shirt, then decide you want one, I will ask Parkside if an extra shirt or shirts can be made, but can't guarantee.

Mike Eliasohn

40th annual Michigan HPV Rally - June 7-8, 2025

The 40th annual Michigan Human Powered Vehicle Rally will take place June 7-8 at the Waterford Hills sports car racing track in Clarkston, on the grounds of the Oakland County Sportsmen's Club, the location since 1986.

Come see some unusual – and fast – 2- and 3-wheel cycles.  Spectators admitted free.

 

Classes for streamlined, unstreamlined cycles, tandems, women, youth and tricycles. 

Free camping available at track Friday after 5 p.m. ( a car event is scheduled to run until 5) and Saturday nights. (OCSC clubhouse open for dinner until 9 p.m.)

The rally is conducted using Human Powered Race America rules (go to www.recumbents.com, then under “recumbent racing,” click on “Human Powered Race America,” then on “racing rules,” which includes definition of classes – stock, streetliner, streamliner, tricycle, multi rider, women, junior. Note:  HPRA rules require all vehicles to have a mirror or mirrors enabling rear  vision to both sides. 

The track, on the grounds of the Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club, is  1.4 miles around, with nine turns and one hill. Sunday races use a shorter  course without the hill.

Entry fees (same as in 2024):  $30 for one day, $45 for two days. High  school & college teams, $40 for first vehicle and rider; $10 for each additional vehicle or rider.

40th anniversary T-shirts can be ordered until Sunday, May 18, with delivery and payment made at rally. Ordering information and prices are in the posting above this one. DEADLINE IS PAST

To register in advance, which saves time Saturday or Sunday morning, click here: 

Pre-registration for the 40th annual Michigan HPV Rally June 7-8th, 2025

Payment still made when checking in. Registration can be done at rally.

NOTE: We are NOT equipped to accept payment by credit or debit card, so please pay with cash or check. Checks will have to be made out to individual or individuals who paid for track rental, insurance, etc., up front, so please don't make out check prior to arrival.

 

Saturday, June 7:  Registration starts at 8.

ONE-HOUR TIME TRIALS: Separate races for faster & slower vehicles, starting at 9:30 (streamliners, street liners, other fast vehicles) & 11. 

Concession stand open for lunch, 11:30-1. NOTE: Every year we have to convince the concession stand operators  – Waterford Hills Road Racing and OCSC – there will be enough customers to make it worthwhile to operate the concession stand, so please plan to buy your lunch there, rather than bringing it or eating off site.

After lunch: HILL CLIMB / COAST-DOWN; riders start at bottom of hill and race up it one at a time. At top, they start coasting until they stop.

Then, standing start KILOMETER.

After kilometer event, we will have a one-lap memorial ride of silence to honor David "Doc" Pearson and Bill Frey, who died in the past year and did so much for HPV racing. 

If time and enough interest in afternoon, we might also conduct the urban transportation contest or tricycle  race or old-timers race.  

Trackside dinner Saturday evening, catered by Mark Berend, who has catered many of our Saturday evening dinners in the past. Cost will be $15.

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 approximately.  SPRINT (top speed) EVENT:  Racers start at top

of hill, pedal down it one at time, then timed over 200-foot stretch.  Then, ROAD RACES on short course, not including hill, usually faired classes in first race, 12 miles, then unfaired classes, 9 miles.

Then, awards ceremony.

Concession stand will NOT be open, however, OCSC clubhouse opens for lunch at noon.

We will need volunteers to help set up and run events, so please be prepared to help.

if you have questions, suggestions or comments, contact rally organizers Mike Mowett, mowett@aol.com, or Mike Eliasohn, mikethebike2325@comcast.net TO GET TO THE RALLY:  From I-75, get off at exit 91. Take M-15 south  to Dixie Hwy. (US-24). Turn left, continuing south about 1 mile and turn left  onto Waterford Road, then proceed to track. If coming from the west, take  U.S. 23 north (or south) to M-59 (Highland Road). Go east on M-59 to  Airport Road, then left (north) to US-24. Turn left, then immediately right onto Waterford Road. Go about a half-mile to track. CAMPING Free camping available overnight Friday and Saturday in the infield of the Waterford Hills track, starting at 6 p.m. Friday. Restrooms, showers and electrical hookups.  Oakland County Sportsmen's Club clubhouse open for dinner Friday until 9 p.m. STATE CAMPGROUNDS (www.michigan.gov/dnr, then click on "make a reservation. Highland Recreation Area, 5200 E. Highland Road (M-59), White Lake, 248-889-3750. Two miles east of Highland. Holly Recreation Area, 8100 Grange Road, Holly, 248-634-8811. Five miles east of Holly. Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, 7800 Gale Road, Waterford, 248-666-1020. Closest to Waterford Hills track, about 4 miles west. OAKLAND COUNTY:  Groveland Oaks County Park, 5990 Grange Hall  Road, Holly, northeast of Holly, 248-634-9811. HOTELS / MOTELS (with approximate distances/direction from Waterford  Hills track) Clarkston - Olde Mill Inn of Clarkston, 5835 Dixie Hwy., 248-623-0300. Across  Dixie Highway from Waterford Road leading to track. This is the closest motel  to the track. Hartland - Best Western of Hartland, 10087 Highland Road (M-59) at US-23,  810-632-7177, 61 rooms. About 18 miles west. Waterford – American Inn and Suites, 7076 Highland Road (M-59),  248-666-8555, 111 rooms. About 3 miles southwest. Waterford – Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 4350 Pontiac Lake Road,  248-674-3434, 83 rooms. About 7 miles southwest. Whitmore Lake - Days Inn, 9897 Main St. (off US-23, exit 53), 734-550-0105, 60 rooms. About 33 miles southwest.

Bicycle books for sale, most with HPV content (updated)

 Your editor has the following books for sale, most with HPV / recumbent content.

Cost of postage is in addition to listed prices for books, magazines, etc. 

        Contact Mike Eliasohn, mikethebike2325@comcast.net, 810-990-8919. I live just north of Port Huron, Mich., so if you live nearby, "come and get it."

The Best of Bicycling, edited by Harley M. Leete, hardcover, 415 pages, 1970 (Trident Press), $18. Articles from Bicycling magazine  – touring, competitive cycling, cycling for health, equipment and techniques, etc. Includes articles by Dan Henry about his homebuilt LWB recumbent with front & rear suspension (1968) and upright bike with front & rear suspension and unique saddle design (1967).

Complete Bicycle Book, including 1972 Buyers Guide (“All makes, all models),” paperback, 240 pages (Petersen Publishing Co.), $10. Also repair and maintenance, accessories, camping, tours and routes, clubs, “bikes of the future.” I

The Fantastic Bicycles Book, by Steven Lindblom, pb, 100 pages, 1979 (Houghton Mifflin Co.), $12.  Starting with existing bikes, how to build racing bike, BMX bike, ski bike, exercise bike, tandem, 3-wheel ice cream cart, sidecar rig, water bicycle, klunker.

Human Power: Cars, Planes and Boats with Muscles for Motors, by Roger Yepsen, hardcover, 96 pages, 1992, $7.

Richard’s New Bicycle Book (4th edition), by Richard Ballantine, pb, 350 pages, 1987 (Ballantine Books), $15. Topics include special bikes and trikes, urban commuting, racing, touring, old bikes, maintenance and repair, components.

Richards' Ultimate Bicycle Book, by Richard Ballantine and Richard Grant, hardcover, 192 pages, 1992, $20.

DVD:  The Flying Scotsman (Graeme Obree), starring Jonny Lee Miller, 103 minutes, $5.

Royal Oak bicycle swap meet

 

By Mike Eliasohn

Having moved in October 2023 from St. Joseph in the southwest corner of Michigan to just north of Port Huron, how could I not go for what would be my first time to the 8th annual Royal Oak Classic Bicycle Swap Meet on Sunday. Sept. 15, 2024?

So at 9 a.m. I was in my car and about an hour and 61 miles later, I was there. (For any non-Michiganians reading this, Port Huron and Royal Oak are in southeast Michigan, north of Detroit.)

One of the more interesting bikes to me was this 1970 Schwinn Sting-Ray Run-A-Bout, supposedly never ridden, and priced at $1,250. Price back in 1970 was $69.95. Three speeds, 16x1-3/4 tires and 31.5 inch wheelbase. Rather than engineer and then manufacture a complete new folding bike, better sized for adults, Schwinn apparently took a kid-sized bike and fitted it with an extra long seat post and handlebars / stem and adult saddle. (Mike E. photo) 

Owner Bob Ashton took it home unsold, so if interested, email the writer (mikethebike2325@comcast.net) and I'll give you his contact information.

      Vintage Schwinn catalogs can be found online, so here's the photo and description from the 1970 catalog:b

Schwinn Run-A-Bout

The novel compact-size bike that's an ideal fold-up bike for campers, sportsmen, pilots yachtsmen, and hunters.

.....It Packs!

Sets up fast without tools. Trigger 3-speed control. Lightweight mattress saddle, extra-long seat post. Fast and easy adjustments. Front and rear caliper brakes. Gripper Slik rear tire. 
Colors: Campus green, Sierra brown.

The Royal Oak event is organized by Paul and Anne Kleppert, who ran what was then the Ann Arbor-Saline Classic Bicycle Show and Swap Meet through 2019. It resumed under new management at the Monroe County fairgrounds in 2022.  (The newly renamed Monroe Classic Bicycle and Minibike Show, Swap Meet and Auction will be April 27, 2025).

The event took place at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market, mostly occupying the east half of the building and outside, on the east side. (Farmers sell their goods there on Fridays during the growing/harvest season and on Saturdays year-round.  On Sundays, the building becomes a flea market, with vendors selling such things as antiques and clothing, which continued on Sept. 15, in addition to bicycles.)

Paul posted numerous photos of his event on thecabe.com (Classic & Antique Bicycle Exchange).  Here's three of them, which give an overall view of the event: 

I only saw two recumbents for sale, this Vision (above) for $300 and this Giant Revive with 7-speed hub gear and rear suspension for $150. Advanced Transportation Products in Seattle made various Vision recumbents from 1991-2003. Giant is still very much in business, but the Revive is no longer part of the lineup. (Mike E. photos)

Two views of this Alex Moulton APB-7, with its take-apart frame, front and rear suspension and 7-speed hub gear. Gilbert Anderson, proprietor of North Road Bicycle (northroadbicycle.com) had it for sale for $1,800. ($2,000+ is a more typical price, according to what was written on the price tag.) Alex Moulton died in 2012, but the Moulton Bicycle Co. (moultonbicycles.co.uk) is still in business in the United Kingdom, though the APB-7 is no longer in the lineup.  After the swap meet was over, Anderson and his wife had a long drive home to Yanceyville, N.C. They and many vendors came to Royal Oak after participating in the Memory Lane Classics Antique and Classic Bicycle Swap Meet Sept. 12-14 in Bowling Green, Ohio. (Mike E. photos)

The swap meet started at 8 a.m. and I arrived about an hour later and took this photo before I got inside the Farmer's Market building.  So presumably this belonged to a vendor who still had lots of merchandise left to unload. The date of the 2025 event hasn't been announced yet. (Mike E. photo)