Born To Ride News

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 25, 2012 – Raising awareness and revenue for the Right Rider Access Fund, the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) will host a star-studded breakfast auction at next month’s 2012 Dealer Expo in Indianapolis. The free breakfast will include racing legends Mark Blackwell and Kevin Schwantz, with more champions to be named later. The event will be emceed by MIC Board Director Eric Anderson and MIC member Tom White.

The event is set for 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, in the Wabash Room of the Indiana Convention Center, and is open to any Dealer Expo attendee: dealers, manufacturers, aftermarket reps and all others are welcome. Breakfast and sign-in for the auction begins at 7:30 a.m., though space is limited to 250.  All proceeds will benefit the Right Rider Access Fund (RRAF).

Items slated for the RRAF auction block will appeal to off-road enthusiasts and street riders alike. So far, these items include a pristine, vintage Yamaha DT1, graciously donated by Tom White; a Schwantz School at your choice of Road Atlanta or Indianapolis Motor Speedway, courtesy of American Suzuki Motor Corp.; and a variety of Supercross jerseys autographed by your fan-favorite Supercross racers. Keep an eye out for future releases and a final list of auction items at www.riderfund.org.

“We’re all familiar with the live to ride slogan,” said MIC President and CEO Tim Buche. “Now, the MIC is encouraging riders to give to ride by donating their time to maintain trails or money to support the RRAF’s initiatives and fund the grants it gives to other partners that strive to preserve current riding areas and opportunities. That’s what this auction is all about: Giving to Ride. The BlueRibbon Coalition previously hosted The Breakfast of Champions fundraiser like this one, and our plan is for the MIC auction to be something of an homage to its event. We want to give our attendees valuable goods and experiences to bid on, but we also want to entertain them by having motorcycle industry luminaries on hand for interviews. Most importantly, we want to encourage everyone to Give to Ride by supporting the RRAF at what we hope will be an exciting and entertaining event.”

The Right Rider Access Fund is a charitable, community benefit organization created in 2011 to support off-highway vehicle enthusiasts directly, by supplementing the work of the Motorcycle Industry Council, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America, and the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association, and in other ways. The Fund’s charitable mission is to promote the safe and responsible use of off-highway vehicles and to preserve their access to appropriate lands. RRAF initiates its own initiatives and provides grants to others, like the NOHVCC. www.riderfund.org

The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. As a not-for-profit, national industry association, the MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants.

The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office in metropolitan Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC at www.mic.org.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce that Ken Ford, a 27-year AMA member from Bartow, Fla., has been elected the member representative on the AMA Board of Directors from the Southeast region. Ford fills the seat previously held by Charles Goman.

“The AMA Board of Directors thanks Charles Goman for his years of service to the AMA,” said AMA Board of Directors Chairman Stan Simpson. “We are looking forward to Ken’s contributions in the years to come. The members of the Southeast Region will be well represented by Ken’s range of experience and years of passion.”

Ford, a senior executive at a Fortune 50 company for 17 years, is an active off-road, dual-sport, adventure and sport-touring rider. He is a 32-year member of the Florida Trail Riders and former president of the AMA-chartered club. He is also a member of Sunrunners M/C, Dixie Dual Sport and the Concours Owners Group, where he is the current executive director. An environmental engineer by education, Ford has been riding for more than 50 years.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to help the AMA move forward,” Ford said. “As a longtime motorcyclist and a member of several motorcycling organizations, I hope I have something to give to the organization.”

Ford, whose riding background is rooted in trail riding, dual-sport riding and off-road racing, said that he is particularly concerned with the loss of access to public land.

“Responsible off-road riders have a right to access public land,” Ford said. “The lobbying effort of the AMA is key to protecting our future as motorcyclists, and one that I can help with. My professional experience includes working with governmental bodies with regard to environmental regulations, and I hope to bring some of that experience to the AMA Board.”

Ford currently rides a Kawasaki KLR650, a Suzuki DRZ400 a Triumph Tiger 800XC and a Kawasaki Concours. Ken’s wife, Marcia, rides a Kawasaki Versys.

Ford’s term on the AMA Board of Directors expires in February 2015.

The next AMA Board of Directors meeting is Feb. 18 in Indianapolis.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.