The Scene
THE SCENE
IVAN J. WAGAR
THE AMERICAN Motorcycle Association awards the Number One plate to the high point rider on the National Championship trail each year. It is just possible that somewhere behind the scene they have an award for the severest critic. We would probably be the last to know because CYCLE WORLD almost certainly would be the holder for the past ten years. Our biggest gripe has been the association’s lack of interest in anything and everything that did not directly concern industry and industry’s best interests, even at the expense of the sport.
The reasons for the industry/sport ties were simple, logical, and financial. Until only a couple of years ago, representatives of both associations were the same people. Meetings were held in the same room, at the same hotel, in the same city and, at the sound of the gong, people just put on the other hat and went on to the next agenda.
Under constant pressure from several sides, industry began to pull away from the AMA. It should be explained that there is a difference between an industry representative and industry representation. It is possible for an industry rep, elected to the executive committee, to be more interested in sport and competition than his counterpart in the MIC, providing they are different people.
At a recent press conference Russ March, the AMA’s executive director, outlined plans for the future of the association. And now, ironically, the shoe is on the other foot; some of the old industry diehards resent the new progressive thinking of the AMA, and the fact that the AMA is not seeking permission before launching the programs. Such ;s progress.
Probably the boldest move by the New AMA is the formation of a Political Frontiers Workshop program, which will be headed by Bill Low, a professional political consultant. Low is recognized as one of the most dynamic and perspective political strategists in the country today, and in 1969 he developed the organization program and management system for the Republican National Committee.
More interesting to us is that Low is an avid motorcyclist, and a first-year motocross rider. He is acutely aware of the anti-motorcycle legislation that we are beginning to be faced with nationally and feels he can help us solve our problems.
And that is exactly the key to the whole issue “Help us solve our problems.” I think for too long, too many of us have been sitting around complaining about the problems we are faced with, content to think that someone else will dig in and get the job done, or that some day there will be a bolt of lightning and a messiah will ride down through the clouds on a fire-breathing 750 and chase all our troubles away. But it just ain’t gonna happen that way.
Low’s way is to set up a series of workshops across the country (these will be announced by the AMA at a later date), and teach the inner secrets of politics at all levels of government. Operating on the lines presented in these pages in the past, Low states: “There are heavy political overtones to virtually every problem facing cyclists today. The average politician views the cyclist as publicly unpopular and, therefore, considers him to be a politically desirable target for criticism. The politician feels that the cyclist doesn’t fight back very often and when he does it is relatively ineffective.”
Low is further convinced that motorcyclists can be effective when we consider that some five million people from motorcycling families, especially now that we have the 18-year-old vote, easily could swing the outcome of some very important elections. It is not Low’s intention to teach people how to fight the bad guys at the polls, but rather to show how you can discover who the politicians are that do or do not like motorcycles. Once the friendly politicians are identified there are literally dozens of ways (costing no money) that we can help ensure that man’s success at the polls on election day. It is not enough to not vote for the man you don’t want, you must help the man you do want, and you may find that helping does not necessarily mean a great deal of work.
I think Low is on the right track, and I for one look forward to attending a workshop. It’s election year and there still is time to get some work done. I wonder, for instance, how many motorcyclists will remember the ridiculous attitudes of Senator Vance Hartke (Ind.) some five years ago when he bullied the “motorcycling minority” in his state. Now things have swung around slightly, and Senator Hartke is a Presidential candidate. Very interesting.
Another important step for the AMA is the creation of priorities for our sport. As late as the end of 1969, professional racing required 50 percent of the staffs time. When we consider that Amateur racing occupied another 40 percent, we can see that almost the total effort was being applied to racing. At the end of last year, even with a healthy racing program, competition now requires 60 percent of staff time, leaving 40 percent for legislation, public relations and news. By the end of this year, it is hoped that professional racing will require only 15 percent of total effort, because of the expansion in other areas. The new Youth Division, for instance will have as much effort applied as professional racing. Youth Division, or Y-AMA for short, is a program to encourage youngsters under the age of 16 to ride safely in a controlled environment, form charter clubs, and organize events.
Also available to the Y-AMA members, will be the all new insurance program. Continental Assurance Company has come up with even a better program than in the past. There is not space here to go into all of the rate details, or the towing and bail bond services, but you might drop a line to the AMA, P.O. Box 231, Worthington, OH 43085. [Ö]
