Vintage Days '09 in jeopardy?

[brian kirby]

Forgive me if this sounds harsh, but the AMA should try to be the motorcycle AAA because that is the only thing they do well. Racing will be better off if someone else runs it.

Brian

'73 Berkshire

[firstturn]

Brian,
  Sounds like you are doing what you do the best....telling it the way it is.  Tip of the hat to you.[8D]

Ron Carbaugh

[Dwight Rudder]

I am afraid that someone is underestimating how many members the AMA will lose if AMA membership is not required for racing.  The only reason the AMA has such large numbers certainly isn't from the road riders or play riders.  It is from the racing community.  The AMA will surely collapse if they lose the racers.
IMO,
Dwight

[cubfan1968]

Dwight I agree that racers do make up the largest segment of their membership. Most if not all of those members sign up because they have to not because the want to. Just thinking in my "Pollyanna" world if the AMA was to appeal to a larger segment of the motorcycle community by getting more politically active and having more to offer to the average motorcyclist. Wouldn't that entice a larger audience to join? Just speaking for myself, I no longer race (some say I wasn't racing when I was racing), what is in it for me to join the AMA if my belief is that they are set up primarly for the racing community? Now if my belief was that the AMA was out there fighting tooth and nail to keep riding areas open and having additional offers of insurance and other benifits. This would make me join. Kind of like AARP for the motorcyclist.

Don't get me wrong I love racing but most motorcyclists don't race. If you look at the way things have went for the off road motorcyclist in the past 30 years it aint good. Here in Iowa most of the best riding are on account of grass roots clubs that worked hand and glove with the state to set up areas where folks could ride. Maybe if the AMA were to aid these clubs, like BASS does for the fishing community things would get better.

I don't have the answer and you guys, like Ron and Dwight, have alot more knowledge in these affairs than I do. I'm just writing down what I think.

Thanks Guys
Rod

Rod Whitman
Omaha, Nebraska
1972 Six Day (Rider)
1972 Six Day (Project)

[firstturn]

Dwight,
  Your comment;
I am afraid that someone is underestimating how many members the AMA will lose if AMA membership is not required for racing. The only reason the AMA has such large numbers certainly isn't from the road riders or play riders. It is from the racing community. The AMA will surely collapse if they lose the racers.

I agree, but this needs to be said TO AMA.  I really have only used AMA's Federal shipping and felt it wasn't that good of deal.  I have tried their hotel and rental car discounts and I can do better just as a walkin or calling the hotline for a reservation.  My point is that I hear a lot of talk and I see more lawyers being hired.  And I agree with Rod on most people had to join AMA and didn't join because they wanted to....I had to join to race.
  Just in closing I have no dog in this fight anymore since I cannot race so I sit back and listen to the same complaints from promotors as I always have.  Oh, and the first Big Race, the Daytona 200, run by the New Guys was a disaster.....ask people who paid good money to be there.  That is it I am headed home to load up for Don's Race....the promotor makes it a fun Race.

Ron Carbaugh

[Dwight Rudder]

quote:Originally posted by firstturn

I agree, but this needs to be said TO AMA.  I really have only used AMA's Federal shipping and felt it wasn't that good of deal.  I have tried their hotel and rental car discounts and I can do better just as a walkin or calling the hotline for a reservation.  
Ron Carbaugh

I will have to say that I have been using the AMA CP code for Red Roof Inns lately and I am getting about $7-8 cheaper than other ways.  I stay at Red Roof about 5 times a month.   I also agree that my comment needs to be said TO the AMA but Roger Ansel and others whom I have had close contact with over the past 25 or more years are gone or fired .  
So Whom do we let know that we are not happy with the new direction of the AMA ?   Sad isn't it.  I have been a supporter of the AMA for over 38 years.
Dwight

[firstturn]

Dwight,
  I guess we should just email each other since you and I have the same feelings and have dealt with AMA (aka AAA of Motorcycling) for so many years.  People like Roger Ansel and other wonderful people are GONE.  I understand direction changes of Companies having worked for two Majors (Mobil Oil and Honda) for 35 years.  But AMA is a Service Company and has turned into a mutual admiration society of Lawyers....plain and simple.  I understand that companies have to change to survive and so be it, but change can go two ways.  I will let the readers of this post form their own opinion of which way they are going.
  I still refer back to Rod's statement....
"I agree that racers do make up the largest segment of their membership. Most if not all of those members sign up because they have to not because the want to. Just thinking in my "Pollyanna" world if the AMA was to appeal to a larger segment of the motorcycle community by getting more politically active and having more to offer to the average motorcyclist. Wouldn't that entice a larger audience to join? Just speaking for myself, I no longer race (some say I wasn't racing when I was racing), what is in it for me to join the AMA if my belief is that they are set up primarly for the racing community? Now if my belief was that the AMA was out there fighting tooth and nail to keep riding areas open and having additional offers of insurance and other benifits. This would make me join. Kind of like AARP for the motorcyclist."

That is it for today.  I appreciate having this Site to voice our opinion.



Ron Carbaugh

[Rain Man]

Every Fathers day  up here in the Northeast we have the Laconia classic, 7days 300,000 bikers and lo and behold, the Pros arent coming again this year  
the National racing scene after 75+ or - years has dissipated and    turned into all my local NE bros racing at the tracks.( a good thing for us self sponsored  amatures!!)  I think this year even the New England Harley dealers have pulled out of the Ben Campanella 1/2 mile @ Rochester as Sponsors ??
  The worse thing is that the basic 300,00 people that are here still have fun, dont care about the racers,  or races or AMA.  the only real popular thing left is the wet T shirt contest, smoke shows and the girls strutting their stuff.
 I miss watching the pros race and feel we've lost alot of sponser ship.  Its not going to be easy getting any of the true competition back or the promotors back either.
  with the AMA pulling back its reigns, it hard to wonder where these week long bike events are going to end up.

Raymond
 Down East Pentons

[Paul Danik]

The POG will be at it's usual location at VMD and will be providing a place for all interested folks to spend some time and partake of some fellowship and tasty nourishment.  

Paul

[Cowhouse]

AHRMA posted some info on their website about their dispute with the AMA. The posting is dated March 31. AHRMA mentions in this update that Mid-Ohio VMD races could be affected this year, and possibly the ISDT RR could be "impacted," according to AHRMA's web posting.

This stinks. What is VMD without racing? Just another giant swap meet. Nothing against swap meets, but ...

http://www.ahrma.org/

Cowhouse
79 Husky 390CR
79 Suzie RM250

[Dwight Rudder]

Letter to the AMA:
I feel that the AMA has lost touch and it's mind.  They have forgotten who the majority of it's members are and why they have joined. Who cares about roadside assistance. What does the AMA think it is AAA of motorcycling. I have been a member and supporter of the AMA for 38 years and like the majority of members , if it wasn't for Amateur racing , we wouldn't have ever joined the AMA.  Not to say that the AMA hasn't done a lot of good but the reality is that we still wouldn't have joined. The AMA has fired all those we offroaders thought were in our corner. Now the AMA is alienated the vintage motorcycle racers buy severing ties with AHRMA who had aligned itself with the AMA.  I hope somebody wakes up in Westerville and realizes what they are doing to it's membership.  It is like they are trying to drive everyone off. Don't bother to reply. Show me you care with your actions with motorcyclists in mind and it isn't just about the dollar.
IMO,
Dwight Rudder
7 time ISDT / ISDE Medalist
many time AMA Nat'l Enduro Class Champion, former AA rider.

[Lew Mayer]

Dwight, their reply to my letter was that VMD was ONLY one event.
They must not realize it's a MAJOR event. I thought maybe I'd get to ride Jerry's CC this year. I guess not.

Lew Mayer

[Speedy]

quote:Originally posted by Lew Mayer

Dwight, their reply to my letter was that VMD was ONLY one event.
They must not realize it's a MAJOR event. I thought maybe I'd get to ride Jerry's CC this year. I guess not.

Lew Mayer

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This came from the Indyriders site:
Interesting!!!
 
 
 
Mr. Kemsuzian,
 
On February 19, 2009, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) announced that it has settled the lawsuit filed in March 2001 by TeamObsolete, Robert T. Iannucci, et al. against AHRMA, Ltd., the AMA, etal. in the U. S. District Court, Eastern Division of New York. Team Obsolete, Robert T. Iannucci, et al. entered into a Settlement Agreement with the AMA, which resulted in the case being dismissed. The terms of the Settlement Agreement are confidential.
 
The AMA spent a considerable amount of its member's funds in its defense of this lawsuit. Ultimately, the AMA determined that it was not in the best interests of motorcycling, vintage motorcycle racing, or the AMA to squander additional resources on the matter.
 
The AMA and AHRMA are discussing various aspects of the sanctioning arrangement between the two organizations.  The AMA hopes there will be an amicable resolution to these issues soon. However, we have advised AMA Organizers that if these issues cannot be resolved on or before April 30, 2009, the AMA will no longer sanction AHRMA events or activities, or otherwise engage in business with AHRMA. AMA will update AMA Organizers as more information becomes available.
 
We are aware of the thoughts, concerns and perspectives surrounding this issue. Understandably, the current environment of uncertainty is disconcerting to many.  Like you, AMA hopes the remaining issues can be resolved and=2
0that everyone can get back to enjoying vintage racing.
 
Please be assured that AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 24-26 at the
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, will include a full slate of national-level vintage racing in all disciplines, regardless of the outcome of this matter
 
Thank you for sharing your concerns.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Stanford <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 8:44 am
Subject: Re: [IndianavintageMX] Re: AMA/AHRMA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
a friend of mine wrote AMA, here's there response
 
 
 
Mr. Kemsuzian,
 
On February 19, 2009, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) announced that it has settled the lawsuit filed in March 2001 by TeamObsolete, Robert T. Iannucci, et al. against AHRMA, Ltd., the AMA, etal. in the U. S. District Court, Eastern Division of New York. Team Obsolete, Robert T. Iannucci, et al. entered into a Settlement Agreement with the AMA, which resulted in the case being dismissed. The terms of the Settlement Agreement are confidential.
 
The AMA spent a considerable amount of its member's funds in its defense of this lawsuit. Ultimately, the AMA determined that it was not in the best interests of motorcycling, vintage motorcycle racing, or the AMA to squander additional resources on the matter.
 
The AMA and AHRMA are discussing various aspects of the sanctioning arrangement between the two organizations.  The AMA hopes there will be an amicable resol
ution to these issues soon. However, we have advised AMA Organizers that if these issues cannot be resolved on or before April 30, 2009, the AMA will no longer sanction AHRMA events or activities, or otherwise engage in business with AHRMA. AMA will update AMA Organizers as more information becomes available.
 
We are aware of the thoughts, concerns and perspectives surrounding this issue. Understandably, the current environment of uncertainty is disconcerting to many.  Like you, AMA hopes the remaining issues can be resolved and that everyone can get back to enjoying vintage racing.
 
Please be assured that AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 24-26 at the
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, will include a full slate of national-level vintage racing in all disciplines, regardless of the outcome of this matter
 
Thank you for sharing your concerns.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 
 
 
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Helmut"Speedy"Clasen
 Ontario Canada
http://speedy_c.tripod.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vindurospeedy
2 x Sachs MC-GS 250-7A
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[Ernie Phillips]

New news 04/15/09:  http://www.ahrma.org/#news

Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN

[Ernie Phillips]

Latest from AMA

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=36166

Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN