Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126323
Guest Editorial As one of four AMA Congress delegates elected at the last AMA Congress in October , 1977 to represent Class A members on , the AMA Board of ~ rus t e e s , I would like to T ,en lighten you with a progress report. Out of the aforementioned annual Congress meeting, held in Columbus, Ohio, came a mandate to the Board to change the Code of Regulations to accept four Congressmen, elected by the Congress to provide more equal representation on the Board. The four members elected were Bob Woods of Oregon, George Smith of Neb raska , Lynn Wineland of California , and myself. Since the October, 1977 Congress we ha ve attended one meeting in Westerville, Ohio, three meetings in California . .one in Florida . and one in Cincinnati. At last , I feel we ar e making progress in the right direction. • The first meeting in Westerville in la te October was a success . We were met with open arms. welcomed and told we had no problems. The Cod e of Regulations could be changed and we would ha ve equal representation by February of 1978. , At the second meeting in Anaheim, California, we were m et with an open display of hostility by a few Board members - especially by one West Coast Class A member who didn't like us or any of the rea sons why we were there. This was hard to understand since"he is a Class A member and is sup posed to represent all Cla ss A members. ~ We soon fou nd out that th e present Board was up fo r re-elect ion in February (1978)anddidn't pl an to do a thing until after the elec tion . We really didn't find th is ou t until t'!e last five minutes .of the meeting in Los Angeles . It was too late. and at that moment we felt that we had been snockered. .., The Cincinnati meeting was twofold. A v regu lar Board meeting in the morning and the annual Class B meeting in the afternoon. A Congress resolution about the status of motorcycle dealers was , at that time, motorcycle dealers had no voting righ ts, We were not A's (everyday $12. 00 dues • paying m embers) , not B's (manufacturers, etc.) , or C's (B's without voting privileges). We couldn't vote or hold office. The resolution on motorcycle ' dealers was put aside for later consideration. . When Mark Rosen resigned in February, he was the Eastern Region's Class A representative on the Board. The AMA staff was instructed to come up with four or five names for a suitable replacement for Rosen , and . present those names to the Board. ;"fwo of thos e presented were motorcycle dealers and they were promptly rejected. Bill Gifford was appointed to take Mark's place. John Wyckbff, a Class B member, had also resigned in February and it was our understanding that both of these spots would be filled at this time . John still had a year . 'to go on ' Ilis term . But 'not so. Mr. Rudolph made a comment that this spot didn't necessarily have to be filled at this time - let 's let it ride till later. The Board ' went along with him . At 't ha t tim e , I wondered what in the world was going on ; why didn't they fill WycJ<.offs seat? We found out later ' that day . . The Class B annual meeting in the afternoon was a farce! (Continued to page 21) --- - --- - "MagMopus' Rides Again. Th ere's a legend among motorcycle ride rs about the mysterious rider, Mag Mopus, Half man - Half cycle. It's said that many a rider has seen him in the distance, but no one's ever gotten close. Because there's nothing on the road fast er or more surefooted than Mag Mopus, or so the story goes. Well at Bridgestone the legend of "Mag Mopus" lives on. It's the name of our newest line of motorcycle tires, Designed to deliver the kind of mileage , handling and traction that Mag Mopus would de mand. See your Bridgestone dealer today for more information on the first motorcycle tires worthy of the name "Mag Mopus" \iiBRIDGESTONE Cl8rIdg~ lit Dn~ Tire Company of Ame n ca, tec. . Torunce . Cahlorma 1918 . CANOGA PARK SUZUKI • • • • • • • • • • • • Gives you more • • • • • • • • • • • • • Pu r c h a se any Canoga Park S u zu k i RM . Maico, or Italjet and for the next 30 days your parts and /or accessories will b e d iscounted 15 % SHOP US LAST! Canoga Park Suzuk i w ill meet or beat any advertised p rice It's siDlple If you bought a bike somewhere el se ... You lo st money ! 7045 C anoga Ave . Ca noga Park, CA 91303 213 -8 8 4 -0 413 5·