PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to announce six national awards that recognize meritorious contributions to the world of motorcycling. The AMA Board of Directors adopted the selections unanimously at its recent meeting in Indianapolis on Feb. 16.
For 2013, motorcycling advocate Andy Goldfine -- founder of Aerostich/RiderWearHouse and inspiration for the annual worldwide "Ride to Work Day" -- was selected to receive the prestigious AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award. Other 2013 award recipients include: AMA Bessie Stringfield Award, Harley-Davidson Chief Marketing Officer Mark-Hans Richer; AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award, John English and Leff Moore (d. 2004) for creating the Hatfield-McCoy Trails; AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award, Eric Trow, owner of the Stayin' Safe motorcycle school; AMA Outstanding Off-Road Rider Award, 24-year AMA member and OHV volunteer Robert Langley; and Friend of the AMA Award, Port Stockton Motorcycle Club of Stockton, Calif.
Goldfine, an AMA member since 1972, received the AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award for his generous and tireless support of motorcycling. Created in 1970 to acknowledge the highest level of service to the AMA in any area of activity, the award pays tribute to its namesake, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Dud Perkins. Goldfine served with distinction on the AMA Board of Directors from 2004 to 2011 and on the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation Board of Directors, which directs the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, from 2008 to 2011. As founder of Aerostich/RiderWearHouse, he introduced numerous innovative apparel and accessory products to the market, and as a key organizer of the annual worldwide "Ride to Work Day," Goldfine helped heighten the awareness of motorcyclists as everyday people who ride virtually every day.
"I am very grateful to receive the AMA's Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award this year, and also surprised," said Goldfine. "A few years ago, serving as an AMA board member, I became familiar with the names of the past recipients of this award, but never considered someday I'd being among them. I believe that riding is a genuine social good, and that motorcycling is important and has a wonderful future."
The AMA Bessie Stringfield Award honors a man or woman who has been instrumental in bringing emerging markets into the world of motorcycling. For 2013, the award, which memorializes the accomplishments of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame member Bessie Stringfield, was given to Harley-Davidson's Richer for his leadership role in bringing more diverse new customers to motorcycling than any other entity in the United States.
"This is a fantastic recognition for the people of Harley-Davidson who have succeeded so well at attracting new generations of riders, and crossing cultural boundaries, just like Bessie Stringfield," said Richer. "Our approach has been to let people be more themselves through Harley-Davidson, not to conform. When we're out on Harleys, differences don't matter. Just like it didn't for Bessie. Or for me, being the first man to win this award!"
English and Moore received the AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award for their pioneering vision and dedication to the creation of Hatfield-McCoy trail system in West Virginia. The award honors its namesake, Hall of Famer Hazel Kolb, and individuals who have generated positive publicity for motorcycling. In the early 1990s, English and Moore met regularly with local business and political leaders about the public-private project and it steadily progressed toward its grand opening in 2000. Today the Hatfield-McCoy trail system attracts riders from up and down the East Coast and across the Midwest and South.
"The Hatfield-McCoy [trail system] was a hard task, but we always thought of it as a win-win-win-win-win project," said English. "I know that Leff would value this award as much as I do, especially because it comes from the American Motorcyclist Association, the organization of the riders who are today enjoying the trail system that we envisioned and helped to build all those years ago. It's a great reward when your customers appreciate your work."
"Leff had a dream and made it possible by creating a vision that others could make their own," said Karen Coria, Moore's widow. "He envisioned a plan to utilize the natural beauty and the historical and cultural wealth of southern West Virginia as the makings of an attractive tourism destination in order to provide economic diversification and development for the area."
The AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award recipient, Trow, was selected for his progressive work with motorcyclists at Stayin' Safe, an on-road rider coaching school that introduces advanced riding techniques in real-world environments. Winners of the award are significant contributors to the promotion of the motorcycling lifestyle and the protection of on-highway motorcycling, core tenets of the AMA mission. Trow is also author of the Rider Magazine "Riding Well" motorcycling proficiency column.
"Being recognized by the AMA Board of Directors is a distinct honor," said Trow. "I am truly humbled that these esteemed members of the motorcycling community have found my contribution to motorcycling worthy of this distinction and the company of those honored before me. Knowing the AMA's high level of commitment to road-riding excellence, safety and rider responsibility, I take the significance of the AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award to heart and will do my very best to continue to live up to it."
The 2013 AMA Outstanding Off-Road Rider Award highlights the achievements of an individual who has contributed to the promotion of the motorcycling lifestyle and the protection of off-highway motorcycling. For 2013, Washington state's Langley was acknowledged for his tireless work -- 800-1000 hours per year --maintaining riding trails in off-road-vehicle areas throughout his home state. The Boeing Company retiree was hailed by the state's Department of Natural Resources as one of its top volunteers statewide in 2012.
"I am grateful to the AMA for this award," said Langley. "Giving back to the sport that I love is why I do what I do. Off-road riding is in my blood and volunteering on our trails is one way to make sure that these trails will be around for future generations to enjoy."
The Port Stockton Motorcycle Club received the Friend of the AMA Award for its longstanding support of the AMA mission. The PSMC has been an AMA club from its founding in 1937 and all club members are AMA members as well. The men and women of PSMC participate in numerous AMA-sanctioned activities each year, including recreational and philanthropic events.
"It is a honor to have Port Stockton Motorcycle Club chosen for such a prestigious award," said PSMC President Rick Pierce. "Port Stockton MC has been chartered with the AMA since 1937, and never in all those years has there been a break in AMA membership. All members of our fine club are also members of AMA. Ours is, and always has been, a family club promoting safe and fun riding, and PSMC was a pioneer in allowing women full active membership and voting rights just like the men. When the membership bought our property, women were there alongside the men with mortar and bricks erecting the building that would later be known as the August 'Sharkey' Alverez Memorial Club Hall. We thank the AMA for recognizing us as a premier AMA-chartered club."
For more information about the AMA Awards Program, to see past recipients and learn how to nominate individuals for future consideration, please visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com/about/amaawardsprogram.
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, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.