Stockus Joins AMA Staff

Peter Stockus, who in September became the AMA government relations manager for off-highway issues, arrived with years of experience in the political arena and a decade of motorcycling under his belt.

While he worked on campaigns to elect candidates to office, his most recent experience includes overseeing land-use issues with the Calvert Street Group, a political consulting firm in Nashville, Tenn.

“What really appealed to me with this [AMA] position was the fact that, at its core, off-highway issues are land-use issues,” Stockus said. “I have spent several years working for industries, spanning from renewable energy to affordable-housing developers, helping them with land-use regulations and bolstering their grassroots support. To be honest, professionally I fell into a very niche field with public affairs, and the fact I can take those skills and apply them to helping the motorcycle world at-large is fantastic.”

Here is a little more information about Stockus and his work.

American Motorcyclist: Tell us about your motorcycling history.

Peter Stockus: I’ve been riding 10 years. I do a lot of sport touring and will typically do a 10- to 14-day solo camping trip each year. I’ve done trips around Lake Michigan and through New England, camping off fire trails throughout national and state parks.

My daily rider is a Yamaha XSR900. I also have a 1982 Honda MB5 and a 1975 Kawasaki KZ400. My race bike is a Yamaha RD400.

I am still getting into it, but I have built out my RD400 for the Novice Historic Production Heavyweight class with American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association and hope to get out on the track this year.

All my work and maintenance is done by me. I’d largely describe myself as a shade-tree mechanic.

AM: Why sport touring, among all the types of motorcycling available?

PS: I got into sport touring because I love going on long trips and camping. I always wind up riding naked bikes (Suzuki SV650 and, currently, an XSR900), strapping bags to them and just hitting the road for a week or more. There is a mindset change once you are more than a day’s ride away from your home. You start living this “road dog” life that is so fun. Plus, I love any excuse to eat junk food and ride twisty roads with my friends.

AM: Tell us about your racing interest.

PS: This is my first build for competition. I really have not raced my bike yet. I did the training school with AHRMA at Roebling Road Raceway, but had mechanical problems with the motorcycle and didn’t finish.

I decided I wanted to get into road racing after walking the paddock during the Barber Vintage Festival. I always assumed racing vintage bikes was prohibitively expensive, but the production classes forbid any engine work.

I had an RD400 that was one of my daily rider street bikes, so rear sets and safety wire was about all I needed to get racing.

This winter, I will be rebuilding the engine and hope to be out on the track next year.

I keep joking with my friends that my race slogan is going to be “Last in laps, first in naps.” I am not a competitive person. I just want to have fun with my friends and become a better rider.

AM: What prompted you to move into motorcycle advocacy?

PS: I decided to move away from electoral and more traditional public affairs campaign work into motorcycle advocacy, because this position combines my professional and personal passions.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d have the opportunity to apply the skillsets I learned in the public affairs world to helping the motorcycle community grow and thrive. I could not pass up such a wonderful opportunity.

AM: What differences do you anticipate between your previous efforts and your role with the AMA?

PS: The biggest differences I see between my previous work and my new role with the AMA come from working with a larger coalition and conducting concurrent campaigns across the country.

Electoral campaigns tend to be very cookie-cutter and do not have much room for creativity—95 percent of people have decided how they are going to vote before you even speak to them.

The AMA represents a diverse group, from racers to trail riders just trying to go camping with their family. Everyone has a different idea of what motorcycle riding should be, and organizing all those desires into a single voice will be a challenge I am excited about.

AM: What do you bring to the AMA that will help accomplish the organization’s mission?

PS: My knowledge of land use and zoning will be a great asset in this position, and I hope to apply the tips and tricks of organizing to help apply positive pressure to elected officials and other decision makers.

AM: What else would you like to say?

PS: I just want to convey to the membership how excited I am to be working with the organization.

Anyone seeking help with land-use issues, including access to public lands for responsible motorized recreation, may contact Stockus at [email protected].