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75th Annual GVMC Piston Run Hare Scrambles Saturday May 31st, 2025 and Sunday June 1st 2025
History of the Piston Run
In 1948, Trev Deeley seized his Harley 45 racing the National at Daytona Beach. The damaged piston and rod were mounted on a shield to form the perpetual Piston Run trophy. There is, on the clubhouse wall, a small Piston Run trophy, engraved “1942”. This suggests the event has an even longer history, but in any case, the perpetual trophy dates consecutively from 1949.
The event was originally an enduro, where riders had to average given speeds to arrive at checkpoints by a certain time. There were no dirt bikes before the 1960’s, and riders often took the saddlebags and lights off their daily transportation (few riders were rich enough to afford a car), rode the event, then washed the bike and bolted the lights and bags back on for the ride home. The course was traditionally challenging, with riders on 400 to 600 pound bikes charging into mudholes, logs and streambeds. Many riders of heavier bikes took a passenger along to help push.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s the Piston Run was one of the toughest enduros in the Province. The courses were mostly rocky hillsides and undeveloped land that we could access. The riders were supposed to ride two laps, but many would make it through one lap and call it quits. The diehards really had to work to finish the course.
By the early 1980’s, timekeeping had fallen out of favour, so the format was changed to a hare scrambles race. It was one of the original five events when the PNWMA started the Off-Road Series in 1984. In 1985, the first of the souvenir beer mugs was given out to finishers. This started a new tradition of collecting beer mugs, which continues today.
Current Information On The Piston Run
75th Annual Piston Run Hare Scrambles presented by the GVMC
Mark these dates Saturday May 31st & Sunday June 1st, 2025 on your calendar for a great off road adventure.
BCORCS Off Road Championship Event
2025 is a two day event:
Saturday, May 31st, 2025 Events are for Kid's Intermediate - Women's Beginner - Kid's Junior - Kid's Beginner - Kid's Peewee Signup Fee - $40.00 Sign Up 8:00am Rider's Meting - 10:30am Race - 11:00am For all classes Engine Sizes and Race Length Information please check the PNWMA Website www.pmwma.com
Sunday, June 1st. 2025 is for Adults. "The 75th Annual Piston Run Hare Scrambles Sponsored by Daytona Motorsports
The First 175 Sign-ups receive a Souvenir Beer Mug
SIGN UP: 7:30 AM RIDERS MEETING: 10:30 AM RACE: 11:00 AM
ENTRY FEES:
Pre-Entry on line PNWMA Website until 6:00PM Thursday prior to the race With Trail Pass $65.00 (Must show current year membership.) Without Trail Pass $75.00 PNWMA License Required – Individual Year $75.00 – Weekend $40.00 – Includes 1 transponder - Family - Year $100.00 – $20.00 for added family member – Includes 2 transponders – Extra transponders $5.00 BCORMA Trail Pass (optional) $45.00 - (youth 17 & under Free)
Concession - Open Both Days (Saturday and Sunday) Cash Only
Menu: Sausage and Pancake Breakfast Burgers, Hot Dogs, Sandwiches Beverages, cookies, Muffins
Directions…..Take Vedder Rd exit (#119) off Hwy 1 at Chilliwack. Drive south through Sardis and turn left at the steel bridge towards Chilliwack Lake. After 25km, turn left on gravel road. Follow arrows to Rapids Staging Area & Campsite, 6km off the blacktop.
For Camping Reservations at Rapids Camp Site - visit www.campchilliwackvalley.ca
For More Information: Dwight 604-466-8812 Ray 604-612-1036
Sponsors: BCORMA Daytona Motorsports Greater Vancouver Motorcycle Club
Check in the Photo Gallery and Past Events to see the great fun had at this event in the past.
Event Comments: Piston Run 2025
This year was the 75th running of the Piston Run, the only run from the original PNWMA Hare and Hound series which started in 1985 (it ran 40 years as a PNWMA Hare and Hound race). The weather was the usual with it raining hard at times on Saturday and nicer on Sunday; the rain always adds another element to the race.
On Saturday the small wheel motorcycles ran on the Bear Cub Loop on a 5-kilometer loop with approximately 40 children participating. The C loop also ran on Saturday which had a more challenging course of 10 kilometers with most of the approximately 50 riders finishing the challenging course.
On Sunday the skies cleared and more than 200 riders showed up for the A and B loops running 1.5 hours and 2.5 hours. The top rider got in 3 laps; laps were 30 km long. The winner Bobby Prochnau was presented with a special 75-year replica trophy. The course was very challenging due to the rain on Saturday; everyone had fun.
The canteen once again was very appreciated by the riders, workers and other campers especially the Pancake breakfast served up by Rob. Thumbs up to Wes, Debbie, Julie and June who worked hard on both days cooking and serving everyone the tasty burgers, hotdogs and other goodies – great job!
Thanks to the 20 plus club members who turned up on the weekend to help in various jobs. Thanks to those that helped out on the course ensuring safe road crossing, checking, helping in the bottlenecks and sweepers. Special thanks to Phil, Tracy, Al, Jim, Jon, Mat C, Garth, Mat H, and many more.
None of this would have happened without Andrew DeJong and Ray Keller who showed dedication to making the Piston Run a great success once again.
