Feb. 14, 2016
For Immediate Release

Organization donates $230 to the Christian Motorcyclist Association
 
The Appalachian Championship Enduro Series hosted the 2015 season banquet on Jan. 30, 2016, at Prophets Park in Zanesville, Ohio. More than 70 competitors were recognized for their racing accomplishments. The 2015 season saw 11 rounds of competition throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana.
 
Former AMA Pro Motocrosser, Broc Hepler of Kittanning, Pa., was the Overall Champion for the series in 2015. He won nine rounds of the series.
 
“I just love how the clubs are so ambitious to put on such good trail for us,” Hepler said. “The main group of people I want to thank are all the club members that put on great events. If it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be in Ohio racing.”
 
Brian Melik of Bedford Heights, Ohio, captured the Overall A title. 
 
“I have been racing enduros since 2006, but this was my first year focusing solely on ACES,” Melik said. “I started the season with the goal of winning the Vet A class but consistent overall results allowed me to both meet and exceed that. I am obviously pleased with the way the season went.”
 
The Overall B champion was Kevin Basel of Butler, Pa. He collected five wins throughout the season.
 
“Winning the overall means a lot, and it gives me more confidence going into next season,” Basel said. “At the beginning of the season, I was having a rough time. The first race I went 10 feet into the woods and crashed out of the race. As I looked past that, the next few races began to come to me, and I started having more luck and won some races.” 
 
Following the awards presentations, the winner of the 50/50 raffle was drawn. The half that remained with ACES was then divided in half again and donated to the Christian Motorcyclist Association, a donation totaling $230. 
 
“The Christian Motorcyclist Association comes out to a lot of our races to help with scoring,” Kory Young, president of ACES said. “It’s the least we could do to thank them for their support.”
 
Jim Kannal from the Christian Motorcyclist Association accepted the donation during the banquet.
 
“We, Freedom Riders local chapter #381 of the Christian Motorcyclist Association, are delighted to receive the $230 donation from ACES,” Kannal said. “It was completely unexpected and we will put it to good use. This donation will expand the number of events that we can attend. We plan to use about half of the money for expenses to promote motorcycle safety. The other half will be used for bike blessing stickers, New Testaments, and other items to be given to motorcyclists at various events during the year.”
 
He says their local chapter has participated with ACES in various events over the last few years and the members have enjoyed working at the races and helping out. 
 
The 2016 season kicks off on March 13 in Chillicothe, Ohio. To view the full schedule and more information about the series, visit ACES-races.com.
 
Established in 2008, Appalachian Championship Enduro Series (ACES) is an American Motorcyclist Association-sanctioned off-road racing series. Majority of the events are held in Southern Ohio. However, in 2015, three new events/clubs were added to the series which expanded the race locations to include Pennsylvania and Indiana. The series now features 12 rounds hosted by 12 different clubs and boasts a mix of timekeeping races and restart format races.