AMA Booing

[erickson9502]

I attended the flat track race in Indy. What was the deal with people booing the president of AMA? It was mostly the leather vest crowd but still what was up with that.

[DarrylRi]

If you haven't been paying attention to the AMA politics, about 3 years ago the board hired a new president to come in and change things. And change things, he has. A lot of the long term employees, like the magazine editors, got the ax. (They're over at the AMCA magazine now, BTW.) There were stories of how employees were afraid to speak out.

Then, he sold off the professional racing series that the AMA had been running (poorly) to a private group, though he kept all of the amateur racing.

People quit some of the volunteer positions in protest. There seems to be a schism openning up at the Hall of Fame Museum and with AHRMA.

OTOH, the magazine is far better than it ever was previously. There are new benefits for street riders, including free MoTow if you sign up for automatic membership renewal. They've hired at least one new person in Washington DC. They're on a new membership drive (though the goals seem impossible). A former trustee has settled a civil lawsuit with the AMA over expenses and is in the middle of a criminal trial over it.

So, there's a lot of controversy.

[patiodadio]

I dropped out of the AMA a few years ago when I found that we had different views. They were pro choice on helmets and endorsed loud pipes. I always wear ATGATT and hate loud pipes. Maybe I need to take another look and see if they have changed .

[DarrylRi]

The AMA has just endorsed a newly developed ANSI noise test that can be conducted easily in the field, and they seem to be working on a "model law" for the states to pass and use.

OTOH, they really haven't changed their stance on helmets and laws -- for helmets, against laws.

[85138]

Consensus (and my view) is that Daytono Motorsports Group really mucked up AMA road racing and have certainly been heavy handed. My initial sense was that it was probably anti-DMG sentiment. However, since you cited the 'Leather vest' crowd which is not a major part of the road -racing fan base, perhaps it's anti-AMA sentiment as a whole.

My sense is that many of the overall AMA management changes were warranted but they used a steam roller where some finesse would have been better suited. DMG on the other hand have relied too much on the NASCAR playbook among other things.

[PAULBACH]

Motorcycle Consumer News did a story on the changes.

People should read it especially if you are a member of the AMA.

[Brettendress]

I got a free year with switching to nationwide insurance but did not join after because of their stance on Helmet laws. Any organization that can agree to not endorse helmet laws is not about safe motorcycling so it's not for me. I wear the gear and the helmet and can not bring myself to send them money and be associated with this group.

Brett Endress
Altoona pa

[SugarHillCTD]

3 years ago I returned to riding after 20+ years away and I did as I had always had done- joined the AMA.

Then I wrote to them about loud pipes and how it is someday going to ruin it for all riders. I had read that the AMA had put together a group from various sectors- m/c manufacturers, aftermarket mfgrs, etc, to advise the AMA on how to proceed on the issue.

I asked them if they had included someone from the non-riding public (the people that loud pipes really annoy) to be on that group. Their response was that they did not think that someone like that would be of any benefit to the group (or rain on their parade- my thought). Nothing like purposely skewing the outcome.

End of my renewals to the AMA.

[Mika]

Consensus (and my view) is that Daytono Motorsports Group really mucked up AMA road racing and have certainly been heavy handed. My initial sense was that it was probably anti-DMG sentiment. However, since you cited the 'Leather vest' crowd which is not a major part of the road -racing fan base, perhaps it's anti-AMA sentiment as a whole.

My sense is that many of the overall AMA management changes were warranted but they used a steam roller where some finesse would have been better suited. DMG on the other hand have relied too much on the NASCAR playbook among other things.

What the AMA and in turn what DMG has done makes sense in the long run. How they both went about their various tasks is a nightmare.

The AMA board did what boards are supposed to do. They made strategic decisions about what the AMA was about, what they were good at, what they are bad at and acted. In the process a lot of people were cut and things changed. In the long run I think it what they did makes sense. There are improvements that are quickly evident such as the magazine. In the change at the magazine a number of long time favorite voices were lost. Others will take time to show fruit. (hmm…where have I been around something like this happening in a motorcycle association before?)

AMA Pro Racing has been broken for a long time IMHO, but it worked sort of for racers and fans. Selling it made sense. Bringing the rules in line with FIM rules makes sense. DMG has done a very poor job of managing the transition. In the short run they have managed to P.O, the big four and hurt privateer racing at the national pro level. For the big four they are at risk in the showroom. For privateers they are at financial risk having spent serious change on bikes that may not homologate under the FIM rules thus costing them more money or taking them out of racing all together. In the long run fans and racers could well see Ducati, Aprilia, BMW and other brands on the track with racing efforts. That is, if DMG can get their act together. Motorcycle racing, even under FIM rules, ain’t NASCAR.

[kbasa]

What the AMA and in turn what DMG has done makes sense in the long run. How they both went about their various tasks is a nightmare.

The AMA board did what boards are supposed to do. They made strategic decisions about what the AMA was about, what they were good at, what they are bad at and acted. In the process a lot of people were cut and things changed. In the long run I think it what they did makes sense. There are improvements that are quickly evident such as the magazine. In the change at the magazine a number of long time favorite voices were lost. Others will take time to show fruit. (hmm…where have I been around something like this happening in a motorcycle association before?)

AMA Pro Racing has been broken for a long time IMHO, but it worked sort of for racers and fans. Selling it made sense. Bringing the rules in line with FIM rules makes sense. DMG has done a very poor job of managing the transition. In the short run they have managed to P.O, the big four and hurt privateer racing at the national pro level. For the big four they are at risk in the showroom. For privateers they are at financial risk having spent serious change on bikes that may not homologate under the FIM rules thus costing them more money or taking them out of racing all together. In the long run fans and racers could well see Ducati, Aprilia, BMW and other brands on the track with racing efforts. That is, if DMG can get their act together. Motorcycle racing, even under FIM rules, ain’t NASCAR.

They're going to need to clarify the rules and make the classes suit the bikes. It makes no sense to me that 600cc is the premier event and the literbikes are not.

Additionally, watching racing is pretty boring as there are a whole gaggle of bikes that look and sound the same. Boo. I was, at one time, a rabid AMA racing fan. Those days are gone, I'm sorry to say. Even with Infineon about 20 minutes from my house I haven't been to a race in a few years.

[Mika]

They're going to need to clarify the rules and make the classes suit the bikes. It makes no sense to me that 600cc is the premier event and the literbikes are not.

Additionally, watching racing is pretty boring as there are a whole gaggle of bikes that look and sound the same. Boo. I was, at one time, a rabid AMA racing fan. Those days are gone, I'm sorry to say. Even with Infineon about 20 minutes from my house I haven't been to a race in a few years.

:nod but maybe not the way you put it.

I haven't been involve in ameture racing (motorcycle or cage) for a very long time. When we did we took it seriously but we did it for fun. The AMA is keeping contorol of ameture racing as I understand it. What they do with that will be interesting.

At the Pro Racing level I gave up on AMA Pro Racing some time ago also. The AMA in that tile struck me as standing for the American Marketing Arm for the big four. If your gig is a marketing arm instead of racing sanctioning body you need to follow the marketing money instead of racing. The money for the big four has been in the 600cc bikes. In the process the Marketing-racing rules have evolved to keep bikes with names that start with A, B, D, T and others off the track.

Professional road racing was on life support from my view point under the AMA. DMG and the shift in rules is the right treament plan for what you and others think is ailing it. What worries me is the patient may have been so ill and the new doc is such a quack that racing as we currently know it may die in the process.

[rfisher]

Interesting no punches pulled opinion on the state of DMG and former AMA Pro racing from Dean Adams at superbikeplanet.com:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Sep/090915expdelfool.htm

Roy F

[Mika]

Last year Raodracingworld.com did an excellent job of even handedly covering the selection of DMG, the big four threatened pull out and the other changes in the AMA. This racing season they have also did an admirable job of covering the season. But with the seasons end the gloves have come off!

They do an excellent job imo of including links to related past articles so those coming fresh to the site can dig in with less effort and catch up.

[Pat Carol]

I gave up on the AMA. They sent Greg Harrison packing. That was a huge disappointment. Greg did a fabulous job. I called on a county operated campground that recieves public funding for operation. The campground did not and will not allow motorcycle's even in the campground parking lot. I called the AMA for help. I had information, name's of officials and even approached the county comission. The AMA dropped the ball on me.
From what I have observed being on the outside, I see the AMA disinegrating. I seen a small blurb of an AMA official that was indicted for embezzling from the club.
The magazine is an absolute joke. I recieved my magazine on Monday. Tuesday it was placed in the paper recycle bin. There is nothing in that magazine that catches my interest anymore.
I will not renew my membership. I have been an AMA member for 24 year's. I always felt that the AMA was our club. That is no longer the case.

Sorry
Pat Carol

[108625]

We've been through this before...

They can't please all of the people all of the time. For my money though (literally), they do a lot more for motorcyclists and motorcycling than any other; including all of our "brand specific" clubs and associations.
The best way I can put it is if you're willing to spend five figures for a new beemer, and then pay for membership here (a social club only), why not membership there?

By the way; the individual behind the scandal was part of the "old regime", not the new.

[bunkyone]

Hey all; I,ve been an AMA member for a long time, (twenty years or so, maybe a bit longer) and I can't say that I am crazy about all the changes I have seen lately. I think selling pro racing was the right thing to do, as it was a huge drain of resources from the primary focus of the AMA. While it's true that they are a bit liberal on their policy about helmet use, they are STILL the only real advocate we the motorcycling public has in Washington. They do a lot of good work there, as well as amateur racing. That's good enough for me. I kind of like the new pro racing format. If you look at the number of brands that are able to race competitively now, you see not only the "big 4", but Harley, Ducati, Aprillia, Triumph, and yes, even our beloved BMW's all racing at the same time. This makes for better racing, and more fan interest. Is this organization perfect? No, but then an organization is only as good as it's membership. If you don't like it, either leave it or help change it. The choice is yours. Vaya con Dios, Dutch