Racing alongside his father at the International Six Days Trials in 1969, Billy Uhl won his first of five ISDT gold medals. At age 19, Uhl was one of the youngest riders ever to win a gold medal. In 1973, he was the top-performing American at the first-ever ISDT in the United States and won the Count Lurani Trophy, as the top performing U.S. rider at the event.

Uhl’s impact on motorcycling wasn’t limited to competition, however. After reinvigorating the Idaho State Trail System and beginning the Idaho State Parks Trail Ranger Program, Uhl became the senior instructor at OHV Training. He used his trials experience to educate motorcycle, ATV and snowmobile riders of all skill levels and teach trail design, building and maintenance.

Uhl was born in Wooster, Ohio, on April 22, 1950. The Uhls moved frequently in the 1950s. By the time Billy was in the first grade, he’d lived in 28 states. The family finally settled in Idaho. His father, Herb, became a motorcycle dealer in Boise in the mid-1950s.

Herb was a motorcycle racer. At an early age, Billy followed in his father’s footsteps. In his first cross-country race, Billy placed first in his class. Billy competed in motocross, trials, TT, hillclimb and dirt track events, turning pro at the age of 17.

Uhl scored well in Trans-AMA 250cc motocross races in 1971 and was a leading novice flat track racer. He was even offered the opportunity to race flat-track with backing from BSA in 1968. However, it was in off-road events that Uhl excelled and he decided to focus his attention there.

Uhl became member of the 1969 U.S. team for the ISDT (now known as the International Six Days Enduro) as a last-minute substitute. He and Malcolm Smith were the only U.S. riders to score gold medals that year in West Germany. Uhl was one of the youngest in the history of the competition to win gold.

Uhl returned to the ISDT in 1970 and earned a bronze. In 1971, Uhl had a good ride going at the Isle of Man ISDT when his Puch broke a motor late in the Six Days. It was the only time he didn’t finish the event.

Uhl was named to the U.S. ISDT Trophy team in 1972. That year in Czechoslovakia Uhl again earned gold riding a Penton. The American Trophy Team was given the Watling Trophy that year, awarded for the best effort or most improved at the event.

The zenith of Uhl’s participation in the ISDT competition came in 1973 when the U.S. hosted the prestigious international competition in Dalton, Mass. That year, riding a 125cc Penton for the Trophy team, Uhl once again earned a gold medal and was the top scoring American. However, the racing success was overshadowed by the death of his mother, who passed away while attending the event that year.

Uhl continued participating in the ISDT through 1977, only missing the 1975 event when Can-Am pulled its support at the last minute. By the 1977 season, carpal tunnel syndrome was hampering his ability to ride competitively and he retired for a time.

Uhl returned in the mid-1980s and became active in trail building, design and maintenance, as well as off-road riding advocacy. Over the years of building and maintaining hundreds of miles of trails, Uhl developed new trail specifications to design trails that were sustainable and resistant to erosion. Some of his trails remain in great condition decades after they were built. His building methods and designs served as model for other trail builders.

One of the most unusual trails Uhl was asked to build was for the blind to be able to hike and enjoy the outdoors. It is a 2.5-mile trail at the top of a mountain that was designed to stimulate the senses with smell, sound and touch. Uhl spent hours perfecting the trails by walking it with a blindfold to get a feel for what the experience would be like for blind hikers.

As a lifelong advocate for multi-use trails, Uhl also used his leadership status to ensure that the trails remain open for everyone to enjoy. Uhl planted the seed at Idaho State Parks and Recreation that started the successful State Trail Ranger program. In fact, he was the first Trail Ranger in the state. Uhl is also a Master Tread Trainer for the national Tread Lightly! program that teaches people how to recreate responsibly.

Uhl became a popular speaker for off-road enthusiast groups. He was a major advocate for responsible sound levels and less aggressive tire tread usage for off-road vehicles.

In 2002, Gas Gas invited Uhl to race in the Idaho ISDE qualifier and after years of not competing, and despite being out of ideal riding shape, he still showed some of the skills he’d had 25 years earlier.