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Letter Of The Month: Hall Of Fame Inspiration

On Saturday, Feb. 10, I made my second visit to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame with my girlfriend (her first trip). She is fairly new to the world of motorcycling, and I was a bit concerned as to how she would enjoy my passion in this type of setting. It wasn’t long before we were both very pleasantly surprised as our visit took on the added element of educational research!

She is currently a student and one of her courses is on the topic of women’s gender and sexuality studies. So imagine my surprise when we came upon an exhibit featuring motocross star Sue Fish and my girlfriend got very excited and started taking pictures, while at the same time telling me how she is doing a project on women in “non-traditional” workplaces.

After Sue’s exhibit came Debbie Evans, championship trials [and stunt] rider. Then Bessie Stringfield, who was an amazing woman in too many ways to describe here. Bessie was followed by Mona Ehnes, an advocate and champion for off-road motorcyclists’ rights. And last, but certainly not least, came Adeline and Augusta Van Buren, two very wealthy ladies who could have lived wonderful lives even without pushing the norms of gender roles.

All of these ladies are incredible and I’m sure there are many more just like them out there challenging the status quo in the world of motorcycling, both on and off road. Kudos to the AMA for featuring these awesome women and for highlighting their respective contributions that broke down gender barriers and destroyed the “norms” associated with motorcycling. More of this please!

Dennis Lyon | Pittsburgh, Pa.

Thanks, Dennis! As you and your girlfriend learned, women have been actively involved in motorcycling from essentially the beginning. From the Van Burens in the 1910s to pro flat tracker Shayna Texter today—not to mention AMA Board of Directors Chair Maggie McNally-Brandshaw—barriers have indeed been broken.

February: A Good Month

Being a longtime sidecar rider (23 years on the same Harley-Davidson Road King), I was pleased to see an article written by a fellow side hacker (“Cruising Overlooked Roads in Ventura County,” February issue). Thanks to Tom Culbertson for sharing the nuances of riding a sidecar rig and the great riding in Ventura County. Very well written and full of great places to visit the next time I get that way.

We seem to be a vanishing breed. After finally making it to Rolling Thunder last year, even with the thousands of bikes there, I only saw two other sidecar rigs.

Also, reading about Dave Barr and his accomplishments is always inspiring (“Hall of Famer”). Thanks for a good read month after month.

Michael Preston | Ocean Shores, Wash.

It’s A New Economy

I was happy to read something positive about our industry (“Is The Sky Really Falling?” February issue). I would like to add my perspective as a dealer.

I have owned a dealership in the Boston area for over 40 years and have been through many up and downs. The difference between now and the past is that there are many fewer dealers left in this area, and many are multi-store organizations.

First, the cost of the real estate is prohibitive, and then the new requirements from the manufacturers make it extremely difficult to turn a profit. You now have to travel 25 miles from Boston if you want to warranty service your Triumph (since I dropped them). The only two dealers anywhere near Boston (except for me and a Harley-Davidson dealer) have motorcycles parked handlebar to handlebar and they get away with it because they are grandfathered and belong to a group with five dealerships. Surely soon they’ll want to take advantage of the real estate gold mine they have, as I did.

I can see Millennials buying something besides new motorcycles or the manufacturers playing a Tesla on us and start selling directly on the Internet. I am glad I am 71.

I hope I am wrong.

Carlo Maugini Hansen
Riverside Motorsports
Medford, Mass.

Living The Life

I was glad to see the great article in the February issue highlighting Patricia Jacques (“Three Paths, One Lifestyle: Women Thrive In Motorcycling Community”). I had the privilege of knowing Pat through local motocross racing in Colorado, and I can tell you for a fact that she could keep up with the guys!

Bob Krus | Denver, Colo.

Enjoyed February

I enjoyed reading the February issue. Regarding the Letter Of The Month by Bill Ross, I wish I had his Yamaha DT175. I would give it to him just to bring a sparkle to his little brother’s heart.

Also, the article about Hall of Famer Dave Barr was highly inspirational. Jim Witter’s “Riding For A Cause” should inspire all of us to harness any spare time we may have and support the great causes he writes about—maybe even start a fundraiser of our own.

Kudos for a job well done, AM. Keep up the good work!

Thomas Bahr | Vincennes, Ind.

How Does He Really Feel?

The news that the ethanol industry is back, pushing for ever higher mixtures in more vehicles, is distressing enough from the perspective of the damage this garbage fuel additive does to small engines. Even worse is the reality this is simply rank corporate welfare masquerading as some sort of social welfare agenda.

The ethanol industry wants more vehicles burning ethanol so that they can then get the Environmental Protection Agency and Congress to boost the required usage of their product, ensuring that they get rich while we pay more to fix the damage their water-attracting additive does to vehicle engines.

If ethanol made any financial sense, they would be able to sell it without mandating its use and without the government subsidizing its production. That we are required by law to buy it simply underscores the truth: Ethanol is a big-government boondoggle. Rather than allowing higher mixes, Congress should ban ethanol in gasoline.

Paul Cooper | University Park, Md.