The Rider Files Shoots From The Hip....continued...with final article in the series...

Thanks again to Larry Lawrence for the 3rd in a series of articles on the meltdown at
the AMA. MUST SEE READING!!!!!

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=1267

Updated on Thursday 10/8/09:

The following is the 4th and final article of the series that Larry has put together over on
http://www.theriderfiles.com/. Take the time to read it and the others so you can really take in
what a mess the AMA is in and what ideas are out there to try and correct this mess.
Thanks and a tip of the helmet to Larry Lawrence for his time and efforts!

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=1287

The Rider Files Shoots From The Hip....

You have had to put up with me and my rant(s) against and about the AMA/DMG Road Racing people since the start of the year. From running off the 7-time champion, changing rules on the
fly, allowing over-spec motorcycles to compete against other bikes with half the displacement,
and the pace car fiascos, these are only a brief handful of the atrocities that they have created
and caused for our lovable sport of motorcycle road racing. And it stinks like a rotting animal
in the middle of the road.
Well, thanks to his industry inside line, his very fine journalistic skills, and his down right love
of the sport, Larry Lawrence, the former PR guy for the AMA, is writing a series of articles
here in the last couple of days that pretty much says it all about the stink that is emanating
from the HQ of AMA Racing in Pickerington, OH., and how and why it has managed to get
to this very critical rotting point. And in the process of doing so, exposes the lethal level of
sheer idiocy and hipocracy that has been glowing from the center of the racing universe
as we know it for some time now.
So, as I have told you several times recently in my rants, you can make your own educated opinions here as you read what I put out there for you, but I can tell you right here and now,
Stevie Wonder could see the tornado swirling in the air from the spin these people have and
are creating. But you take a look see for yourself and make up your own mind.
Thanks to Larry Lawrence and his great site, http://www.theriderfiles.com/ for the links below
and for getting to the bottom of the fallout from this mess. You are the man Double L!

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=1225

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=1246


I will try to add more on this as it becomes available. Stay tuned!

New Website From a Great Old Pro!! Check it out....

While you are checking out the various racing going on around the
world this w/e, please take the time to visit the following link:

http://www.theriderfiles.com/

...and the official shameless plug for Stu's Shots R Us:

http://www.theriderfiles.com/?p=232


Larry Lawrence, who at one time took care of media relations with and for the AMA racing series, and whose fine work you can now also find in Cycle News, amongst other publications, has started his own website featuring some shots and stories he has done over the years.
Currently covering the AMA Flat Track Series on a regular basis as well as penning his column 'Archives' for Cycle News, Larry has been around the
motorcycle racing world almost as long as dirt, and myself have been. His weekly column is reason enough to buy and read CN, but his coverage of the
flat track series the last several years has been stellar, to say the least.
After all of the time he has wrapped up in doing this, 'LL' started his website earlier this month featuring a BOAT load of great archival shots and writings
that go back in to the 70s. Being an ole hoss like myself, he has been around some of the finest and fastest and his work more then speaks for itself. And I
can't remember when I ever heard anyone speak a harsh word about the man, so his jovial attitude and endearing smile and laugh almost immediately make you gravitate towards anything bike-related, or otherwise, he is involved with. The man is an expert and has fun, obviously, doing it!
Please take the time to check him out--I guarantee you won't be dissapointed!

The shot above is actually one of 3-Time AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler, that I took at Road America in June of '90, the w/e he won and continued on a tear for the rest of the year to capture his first AMA title. As
you look at the shot of Doug looking over his tuner's shoulder at the bike, in the
background you can see the constant-smiling face of Mr. Larry Lawrence walking past. He is the gentleman in the center-rear of the shot in blue jeans and light blue shirt. Okay, if you didn't know him well you might not recognize him, but nonetheless his 'Cheshire Cat' grin is one that never seems to disappear as you can tell.

Take care and enjoy the races and the w/e!