RTRA Management Committee

The current Management Committee was formally elected at the Association's Annual General Meeting held on October 2012.

The committee is: 

Steve Pretzel (President)
Henry Vurens van Es (Treasurer)
Valerie Pretzel (Secretary)
David Bylund
George Lowry
Tadhg McCarthy
Simon Mykolajenko
Paul Neve

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Name: Steve Pretzel

Nickname: Pretz

Age: 54

Family: Married with 1 child

Occupation: Company Director

Current Bike: Husaberg FE450

All Time Favourite Bike: The blue and yellow one.

Riding Background: Started at 13 on a Honda Z50A, progressed through a Kawasaki 75 mini, XR75 then CR125M Elsinore. Raced C Grade motocross in last year of high school (forged birth certificate to get racing licence early), gave up because I couldn't afford a trailer and got sick of completely dismantling the bike to stuff it in the boot of my MkII Cortina. Took it up again five years ago after a weekend ride with West Coast Safaris (had a huge grin for about a week after that one).

Favourite place to ride: South West.

First Race: UW Mini Wheels mini bike club c 1973.

Hobbies: trail bike riding, snow skiing, photography, music (keyboards and drums)

Favourite Food: Omniverous.

Favourite Rider: Most impressive ride I’ve seen was a 13 year old Jeff Liesk annihilating the field at Amaroo Park

Why did you get involved in the RTRA? At a time when trail riding is coming under increasing pressure I saw that no one was representing the interests of the riders. I’m always up for a challenge so I figured I’d try to do something about it.

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Name: George Lowry

Nickname: Too many to name here

Age: 42

Family: Married with 2 children

Occupation: Managing Director

Current Bike: WR250F

All Time Favourite Bike: My first (new) bike Honda 125TL.

Riding Background: Grew up on a farm in NZ where heel's are hills and mountains are for ski-ing on. Our local farming community was always having trials and scrambles on each others farms, which was loads of fun and great social outings.

Favourite place to ride: South West.

First Race: Too long ago.

Hobbies: Riding, tennis, catching up with family & friends.

Favourite Food: My wife's!

Favourite Rider: Paul Simon (NZ Trials Champion): He use to practice on our farm and what he could do with a bike had us kids spellbound. Close second Casey Stoner: a true champion and role model for kids (which seem to be in short supply).

Why did you get involved in the RTRA? - Professionally, I'm involved in the equine industry, where well organised and committed groups work to voice the interests of horse riders, at all levels of government and industry. As a result, the industry thrives and many people enjoy riding for both sport and recreation. RTRA is about doing the same for off-road riders. There are thousands of us and we need a voice like the RTRA to ensure we (and our children) can enjoy riding in many places both for sport and recreation for a long time to come.


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Name: Valerie Pretzel

Nickname: don’t think I have one :-(

Age: none of your business

Family: Married with 1 child

Occupation: Company Director

Current Bike: KTM 200, KTM Freeride 350

All Time Favourite Bike: the one I have at the moment.

Riding Background: was introduced to riding in 2006 by my husband and when my daughter started riding. If you can’t beat them, join them!

Favourite place to ride: South West.

First Race: no racing, just for enjoyment.

Hobbies: snow skiing, trail bike riding, horse riding, travelling, catching up with family & friends.

Favourite Food: Japanese.

Favourite Rider: my husband ... because I don’t know any famous ones!

Why did you get involved in the RTRA?: We started RTRA because trail bike riding has been suffering as a result of riders not presenting a single, united front and speaking with one voice. Whilst other recreational groups are engaging with government about keeping recreational areas open and providing tracks and trails (eg walkers and mountain bikers), we never heard from trail bike riders. Motorcycling WA represents those who race competitively but there was nothing for recreational riders, who are the ones experiencing the issues. I particularly want to get better and more riding areas and trails for families so we can ride legally but have the great riding experiences that we want.
Other trail bike riding involvement: (1) my husband and I started our company Trail Bike Management Australia specifically to tackle the complex issue of resolving trail bike conflicts. This year we have been developing the State Trail Bike Strategy with funding from government. (2) I am on the Off Road Vehicle Advisory Committee which provides advice to the Minister for Local Government on matters pertaining to the off-road vehicle act.


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Name: Tadhg MacCarthy

Nickname: Jeez you’re slow!

Age: 42 though I look much younger … with my helmet & goggles on :-)

Family: Married with 2 children (8yrs, 10 yrs)

Occupation: Software Development Manager with a mining software company

Current Bike: WR250F

All Time Favourite Bike: 1982 Yamaha RD350LC ... yeah, I know it’s not a trail bike ... 1982 Yamaha IT250

Riding Background: Got my first ride on a Yamaha 50 at 10 and was hooked after 25m. Had some trailees in my late teens and at 21 had an Yamaha IT250J which I commuted on(!) I used to stop at a motocross track on the way home and blast around. Never raced ... still practising for that. Had a break of 15 years or so for mortgages, kids etc. Got back into it at 38 on a DRZ and then the WR250F; got to look after your internal 15 year old. Kids are now starting to dabble. Try to trailride at least once every couple of weeks.

Favourite place to ride: South West of WA.

First Race: Dakar 2015 :-)

Hobbies: Riding, Push-biking, family & friends.

Favourite Food: Thai

Favourite Rider: Andy Caldecott.

Why did you get involved in the RTRA? To try and help make a difference now, before it’s too late.

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Name: Simon Mykolajenko

Nickname: None

Age: 54

Family: Married with 1 daughter.

Occupation: Regional Manager WA / NT for a major motorcycle distributor.
Current Bike: Yamaha WR250F, Triumph Speed Triple, 1984 Suzuki Katana 1100, 1988 Suzuki DR750 (soon).

All Time Favourite Bike: What, only one? Probably my 1994 Suzuki RMX250, or my 1973 Husky CR250.

Riding Background: Started riding at 16 on a Honda MT250. Joined the Trail and Enduro MCC the next year and have been riding enduros ever since (with a few breaks along the way).

Favourite place to ride: Manjimup and Nannup. Big hills, loamy soil, and no dust (most of the time), or anywhere in Victoria.

First Race: Dementia prevents an accurate answer. Probably a T&E Club enduro in Avon Valley around 1974.

Hobbies: Dirt bikes, dirt, bikes, oh, and dirt bikes. If it snowed in WA I'd ski. It's the closest thing to dirt bike riding I've found.

Favourite Food: Japanese.

Favourite Rider: Easily the great Malcolm Smith. You can't watch "On Any Sunday" and not be impressed by Malcolm's skills. He has a swag of Six Days gold medals, was mates with Steve McQueen, fights for rider's rights in the US, and at 68 years old, is still riding better that I ever have. LEGEND!

Why did you get involved in the RTRA? I guess as I've gotten older I've been spending a bit of time thinking about the awesome rides I've had, great places I've been, and the fantastic friends I've made riding dirt bikes. I think it would be really sad for future generations to miss out on what I've been so lucky to enjoy because there is nowhere to ride. It's no good sitting back waiting for someone else to do something...so here I am. 

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