The AMA

Many questions about the AMA’s concern for ATV racing have been brought up. Some say that the ATV racing community should unite as a whole, discontinue memberships with the AMA and establish a strictly ATV only association. Is ATV racing receiving un-fair treatment? Does the AMA feel that ATV racing is as important as motorcycle racing? On October 1-3, Roger Ansel, who is the Amateur Competition Manager of the AMA, invited the me to sit in at this year’s AMA Congress as well as the ATV National Organizer’s Meeting.

How does it work?
This yearly meeting called AMA Congress is held to; enhance communications with members and non-members, establish new rules, re-define existing rules, constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and protect our right to ride. Decision-makers are made of delegates from individual districts. AMA Congress is broken up into 7 different Committees. The following delegates represent the ATV Committee:
Ellis Robertston (Dist. 37) Chairman

Joanne Carlson, Clerk Laurie Bushnell (Dist. 27)

Evelyn Darlington (Dist. 10)

Bob Hughes (Dist. 11)

Mark Keen (Dist. 13)

Colin MacDonald (Dist. 36)

Randy May (Dist. 5)

Tom Pendergrast (Dist. 18)

Gene Ritchie (Dist. 14 alt.)

Shawn Spradlin (Dist. 12)
Rob Vandermoss (Dist. 16)

Dale Wagatha (Dist. 4)

AJ Waggoner (Dist. 4) Bob Woolf (Dist. 7)

All questions coming before the delegates for decision shall be decided by vote of a majority of the delegates present. Any delegate can submit an issue to be decided on by submitting it in writing to the chairman no later than two months prior to the annual meeting. Any matter not on the written agenda may be brought before the delegates only upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the present delegates. After the committee meetings are finished all of the agreed proposals are written as new business. This new business is then taken to Congress, which is broken into a Road division and an Off-Road division. This is where the new proposals are made final.

Immediate ATV changes for 1999 from AMA Congress:
1999 will be a year to remember for ATV racing and the AMA, as the organization will celebrate its 75th anniversary, and move into a new facility. All AMA members are invited to take a tour of the new facility. The staff should be moved in by January. Don’t forget to check out the Motorcycle Heritage Museum, which should be completed by May.

Below is a list of new rules and changes that were passed directly from AMA Congress that should definitely improve the sport of ATV racing:

· The new 400cc 4-stroke machines will be allowed to compete in some of the 250cc classes at AMA sanctioned events.

· All 350cc 4-stroke classes will be increased to 400cc (plus the allowable .080 overbore) at all AMA sanctioned events.

· Hill-climbing events will see the following added classes: Amateur 4-wheel (16 years & older) 91-250cc modified 2-stroke, 251-650cc modified 2-stroke, and 91-650cc modified 4-stroke.

Below is a list of recommendations from the ATV National Organizer’s Meeting that will more than likely be definite for 1999:

· In the 1999 ATV Grand National Series more than one round must be run to be eligible for a TT or MX National Championship.

· A 91-400cc (plus the allowable .080 overbore) Superstock B/C class will be added to the GNC series. This new class will allow entry level ATV racers to race their stock ATVs at a “B” and “C” level.

· When possible, at GNC TT events, Pro and Pro-Am classes should be an evening program run under the lights.

· Contingent upon sponsorship money, GNC TT events will use a mechanical/electronic-starting device for 1999.

· 91-300cc 4-stroke modifieds (plus the allowable .080 overbore) will be joined with the 200cc air-cooled class.

· In the GNCs, there will be random testing of the top 5 in the Pro class and top 5 in two other random classes for engine displacement, fuel, sound, and quad width.

Changing for the better:
Some of the changes in the future include the following advancements in the sport of ATV racing and recreation:

· The Board of Trustees commissioned a study to see what the AMA could do to better represent ATV riders and racers in the future. This report has been submitted and will be considered by the board at an up and coming meeting. It’s possible that a separate entity could be formed under the AMA. This new organization would be formed to insure that ATV racing receives the proper management and coverage ATVs deserve.

· A final report brought from a form fill in committee stated that the AMA membership cards should have a magnetic strip much like a credit card. When a rider signs up at an AMA sanctioned event all the information will be right on the card. This would allow fast and easy rider entrée sign ups. Also this would provide organizers with additional class information to hopefully stop riders from signing up in classes that they don’t belong in.

· A rider advancement system will be put in place to properly move “B” level ATV riders into the “A” level classes.

The bottom line:
After 3 days of meetings, workshops, tours, breakfasts lunches and dinners, our opinion is that the AMA is with us for the long haul. In fact we can attest to the fact that ATVs received more attention than any other matter on the agenda that weekend. That proves we are indeed important in the organization’s eyes. The AMA is very much for us!

The ATV Committee met for over 5 hours, doubling the time taken for all other committee assignments! We witnessed some of the AMA’s most “important” people stepping in on the ATV Committee, including the president himself, Ed Youngblood.

ATVs currently account for 52% of the overall motorcycle industry sales! It’s simple really — more ATVs are sold than streetbikes, dual-purpose bikes, dirtbikes, scooters, jet skis, and snowmobiles! And ATV racing is currently exploding! In fact, at this year’s Grand National series, rider entree is up 6% from last year alone! The AMA wants to make sure the sport keeps growing in the right direction. To reach our maximum potential we need the AMA and they need us. We’re all in this together

Become an ATV delegate – Don’t be bashful!
Elections are currently being held at annual sanction meetings though-out the country in the months of November and December. Would you like to represent your respective AMA chartered club, promoters and district organization at the annual AMA Congress?

Do you think you can live up to the following delegate responsibilities?

· Submit to the AMA national headquarters proposals for rulebook changes to be acted upon at the annual AMA Congress.

· Posses a working knowledge of the following:

AMA Code of Regulations, AMA Guidelines for District Organizations, AMA rule books relating to ATVs, and AMA club charter guidelines (“How and Why to Form a Club”)

· Work with your AMA chartered clubs, racetracks, promoters and district organizations within your district for the betterment of organized AMA ATV activity.

· Strive to bring clubs and racers into the AMA as chartered organizations and promote the AMA sanctioning of ATV activity.

· Represent the AMA in a responsible and considerate manner.

If you think you can handle the above, and would like to be elected for the two year period, then by all means we encourage you to run for an ATV delegate. To find out when and where the annual sanction meeting is in your area, contact the AMA at 1-800-AMA-JOIN or check out their web site at ama-cycle.org.

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