AMERICAN BIKERS JOURNALThe Motorcycle Riders Foundation Reports Returns to its Roots - American Bikers Journal VOL. 25, NO. 1 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 American Bikers Journal - January/February 2020 IN THIS ISSUE WHY I SAY, WHY 3 MRF 2019 YEAR END RECAP 4 BUCKNER INDUCTED INTO AMA HALL OF FAME 8 MRF EXECUTES STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT 9 25 YEARS: BACK TO THE FUTURE 10 BIKERS INSIDE THE BELTWAY 2020 13 IS YOUR MOTORCYCLE GETTING SMARTER? 14 MRFPAC NEWS 18 MRF ELECTION NEWS 19 AROUND THE STATES 20 MOTORCYCLIST UNITE 28 HEARTLAND STEAM 2020 30 MRF BOARD OF DIRECTORS 31 COVER IMAGE: Thank you to Jiggs Cressy, Steve Rhode and Big Dave Monroe for providing the awesome snow covered photos. This newsletter is the official publication of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, PO Box 255, Highland, IL 62249; phone: (202) 546-0983. All rights reserved. Portions may be reprinted with proper attribution. The American Bikers Journal is published six times a year and distributed nationwide. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent those of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, its officers or representatives. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation will not knowingly contract with or do business with any entity that discriminates against motorcyclists in any way, shape or form. WOULD YOU RATHER RECEIVE YOUR AMERICAN BIKER JOURNAL VIA EMAIL? YOU CAN OPT OUT OF THE PAPER MAILING BY CONTACTING THE OFFICE at (202) 546-0983 or [email protected] Motorcycle Riders Foundation 2 American Bikers Journal - January/February 2020 WHY I SAY, WHY Kirk Willard MRF President You know, in society, there is an interesting behavior that genuinely affects the biker’s rights world. Those of us that routinely exercise our freedom and individuality on a motorcycle tend to stick to ourselves. We don’t feel like we need a great deal of intervention from the outside world and especially not from the government. We aren’t natural joiners beyond our small circles, and we don’t need to be. You know the slogan you used to see on many t-shirts, “If I have to explain, you wouldn’t understand.” Well, I don’t ever recall trying to explain. Again, I had enough people around me that did understand to fulfill all my gregarious needs. It is who we are but ultimately not the ideal formula for building volunteer grassroots activist organizations that have to play well with others to be successful. We certainly aren’t unique in this regard. Many people who tend to be involved in things where it requires a great deal of passion and act on that passion carry these same tendencies, and they too are under attack daily. I have always found it a mix between baffling and incomprehensible when someone takes up a cause with a crazed zeal to restrict or take something away from someone doing what they don’t even themselves do. I immediately think of throwing a leg over a bike or various other outdoor activities I am heavily involved in. I often say to myself, “What gives them the right to fight to take away something we have that they don’t?” Therefore requiring us to fight to protect it because we do it and understand why we do it. Well, that’s the catch, we fight to give them that right, I don’t see it working any other way in a free country. Of course, one problem is there are less of us that fight out of love for something than those that zealously and jealously fight out of spite to take it away, again something they don’t even do. That’s WHY I say, WHY. Over the past three decades, my experience in the MRF, ABATE, and many other grassroots organizations (including being President of non-motorcycle organizations) lead me to the conclusion that it is indeed fear, spite, jealousy, misplaced or lack of understanding. Increasingly a troubling area, to get attention, which eventually leads to corrupt money. Most ANTI-groups I come up against don’t even want to win the fight because then their source of income, notoriety, and endless fundraising goes away. So, as we know, the only way to combat this uneducated crazy is with a more deep-rooted passion, and battle more aggressively than someone that doesn’t even involve themselves in the activity they struggle against. We have also learned to do it from the inside with significant education behind the causes we take up. Hard to replace an honest, educated, passionate person trying to protect something they love. So, while the political arena is beyond dysfunctional, media’s incredible bias, society seemingly having zero tolerance for anyone that doesn’t think exactly the way they do and significantly decreasing independent thought happening. I remain optimistic in ym belief that honesty, sincerity, education, in and around a passion for something I love to do and that is woven into my very being will win the day. High time we spend some energy with like-minded individuals believing this is the case and we will continue to prevail. Motorcycle Riders Foundation 3 American Bikers Journal - January/February 2020 MRF 2019 Year End Recap LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES Consumer Protection and Fuel Transparency Act – H.R. 1024 In February, Congressman Scott Austin of Georgia introduced H.R. 1024. This leg- islation seeks an educational campaign about E-15 and new labeling at fuel pumps warning consumers to check their owner’s manual when using E-15 fuel. This simple educational campaign and warning label will alert consumers that fur- ther education on their part may be needed. By encouraging consumers to check their owner’s manual, consumers will have the necessary knowledge to make in- formed decisions about the fuel they put in their engines. The MRF believes that an educated consumer is empowered to make the right decision for their specific circumstances. This is another example of the MRF working with likeminded groups, with common interests to impact legislation. As you can imagine, motorcycles are not the only engines affected by ethanol. The MRF has been in contact with the Marine Retail- ers Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Specialty Equipment Market Association, Briggs & Stratton, American Sportfishing Association, Boat US, Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, American Highway Users Alliance and the snowmobile industry in hopes of raising awareness about the impact of ethanol on engines. This legislation currently has bipartisan 19 cosponsors. Motorcycle Profiling – H. Re.s 255 In March, Congressman Tim Walberg of Michigan introduced H. Res. 255, the mo- torcyclist profiling resolution in the House of Representatives. This resolution is identical to the Senate version lead by Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin that passed in December 2018. In an attempt to shine a light on the issue and earn passage in the House of Rep- resentatives, the MRF has committed to driving cosponsors to the resolution. The MRF DC team, in coordination with SMRO’s and individual MRF members, have un- dertaken a wide-reaching education campaign aimed at lawmakers and their staffs. This “full-court press” has resulted in over 120 bipartisan Members of Congress joining the resolution in just eight months. These members represent 42 different states and American Samoa. The previous two previous versions of this resolution from 114th and 115th Congress had 18 and 37 cosponsors, respectively. We hope that this dramatic growth in cosponsors over the last four years will demonstrate to Congressional leadership that motorcyclists and their elected offi- cials are serious about the issue of profiling and passage of H. esR 255 should be a priority in 2020. Definition of a Motorcycle In April, Members of the House Motorcycle Caucus lead by Congressman Michael Buress of Texas sent a bipartisan letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Ad- ministration (NHTSA) asking for a review of the current definition of a motorcycle. Motorcycle Riders Foundation 4 American Bikers Journal - January/February 2020 As many of you know, the current definition of a motorcycle (listed below) is over 40 years old and extremely broad. Motorcycle means a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in con- tact with the ground. The current definition means that so-called “autocycles” are technically motorcy- cles under the current federal law. This has created a patchwork set of laws sur- rounding motorcycles and autocycles at the state level. We thank the 7 Congress- men who signed the letter seeking information on the topic from NHTSA and will continue to look for ways to find a more common-sense definition of a motorcycle. Autonomous Vehicle Technology In August, the MRF was invited by Senate and House staff to discuss potential au- tonomous vehicle (AV) legislation. In cooperation with the American Motorcyclists Association and Harley-Davidson, the MRF submitted a written proposal listing the priorities for motorcyclists in any autonomous vehicle legislation. In the previous Congress, only the Senate version of this legislation specifically named motorcy- clists as roadway users that AV manufacturers needed to account for specifically. While no bill has yet been made public, the Senate Commerce Committee held hearing late in the year on the topic of AV technology. The MRF was encouraged that three Senators two during the hearing and one in written form asked officials at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Highway Traf- fic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about AV policy and the need to ensure motor- cycles are considered in both legislation and the rulemaking process. RPM ACT of 2019 – S. 2602 and H.R.