Three AMA members earn 2022 AMA Volunteer of the Year Award in respective rights, riding and racing categories
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (April 12, 2023) — The American Motorcyclist Association congratulates the three recipients of the 2022 AMA Volunteer of the Year Award: John Newton, Glenn Sarver and Bradley Smith.
The AMA Volunteer of the Year Award was created in 2019 to recognize the hard work of AMA volunteers. With the award covering three areas of service, Newton received the award in the rights category, and Sarver earned his honor helping with riding-related activities. Smith rounds out the recipients for his work around racing events.
Newton is the founder of the Wisconsin Dual Sport Riders and winner of the 2018 AMA Recreational Off-Road Riding Organizer of the Year Award.
“[Newton] deserves recognition for his dedication to the sport of motorcycling,” Julie Vandre said in her nomination of Newton. “Many club members don’t know what they would do without him.”
Founder of the Georgia Dual Sport Riders, Sarver previously hosted AMA National Dual Sport and AMA National Adventure Ride Series events.
“[Sarver] has helped the off-road community immensely with his time and effort through the years promoting and helping promote numerous rides throughout the Southeast, such as the Skull Shoals Dual Sport, Broxton Bridge Dual Sport and Armenia Dual Sport, working to hang arrows, helping at registration and generally doing anything asked of him,” AMA member Marvin Grant said.
Smith, a former board member for both the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition and Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit, was crucial in getting the forest service to approve the Shady Burro Enduro in South Fork, Colo., following heavy rains.
“[Smith] always steps up and ensures that we are in good shape to run events, and also returns to the national forest on a regular basis post event and helps us rehabilitate the trail system, takes the time to help other riders and teaches the younger generations how to ride and recreate responsibly,” said Jud Barlow, who nominated Smith. “He is the one guy who we know will be there every time!”
“While he is almost never in the limelight and does almost all of his work behind the scenes and unnoticed, he is noticed by our community and local series,” Barlow continued. “It is time for him to be recognized for what he is — a true hero of our sport!”
The AMA and many charters rely heavily on the work of volunteers to help achieve its mission of promoting the motorcycle lifestyle and protecting the future of motorcycling, so the work of Newton, Sarver, Smith and the countless other AMA volunteers is vital.
If you are interested in serving as an AMA volunteer, visit https://americanmotorcyclist.com/serve-as-a-volunteer/.