AMA CLUB Spotlight

As the United States was in the midst of the New Deal under President Roosevelt in 1937, about a dozen motorcyclists in Binghamton, N.Y., were establishing the Square Deal Riders MC.

More than 80 years later, Square Deal Riders has grown to about 60 members and puts on a variety of recreational and competition events each year in New York’s Southern Tier region.

The club has its own grounds and clubhouse, has been a regular stop on the AMA Vintage Flat Track National Championship Series and has two AMA Club of the Year awards to its credit.

According to Mike Williams, Square Deal Rider’s vice president, the club was founded as a family-oriented road riding club and had 13 original members. They met at a restaurant in Binghamton and hosted TT races in the 1950s at a track in nearby Port Crane, N.Y.

Square Deal Riders acquired its current grounds near Harpursville, N.Y., in the 1960s. Initially, it built a TT track on the grounds and converted it to a quarter-mile short track in the 1980s. The club also put on flat track races at the Afton Fair Grounds through the 1990s.

“Many of today’s nationally ranked riders have ridden at one of these facilities,” Williams said. “AMA Grand National Champion Kenny Coolbeth honed his skills as an amateur at our ultra-fast quarter-mile cushion track. Many riders racing in the American Flat Track National Series race regularly at Square Deal.”

In 2019, the Square Deal Riders organized flat track races, sprint enduro events and a charity road riding fundraiser, as well as a winter scramble series. Williams said the winter series first took place in 1971 and is a mini-hare-scrambles competition that challenges competitors to race through the winter elements.

Most of the events take place on the club grounds, with the sprint enduro being the exception. That event—which is part of the AMA District 4 Enduro Series—takes place about 5 miles from the grounds.

In addition to hosting competition events, the club works to benefit its local community.

Williams said the Square Deal Riders have supported several local charities and causes, including sponsoring a scholarship for students at Harpursville High School and helping a local fire department buy a new ambulance.

“We hosted a road ride last year to raise money for a local church to help with the maintenance costs of their church,” Williams said. “This ride started at their church and ended at our club grounds. We had live music, food and door prizes.”

The club has won the AMA Club of the Year Award twice, most recently in 2019. Williams said the club’s plans call for it to focus on what it does best, “To continue to host quality events.”

“Every year we try to improve our facility for everyone to come and enjoy the races,” Williams said.