Safety author named to Hall of Fame

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced another member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2009: David Hough, acclaimed author of several well-known books on riding techniques. Hough will be among the motorcycling heroes honoured at the 2009 induction ceremony at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas this Dec. 5.

"For many new motorcyclists, before they take a training course or even buy a motorcycle, they are introduced to proper riding through the books and columns of David Hough," said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. "His comprehensive approach to proper riding technique has pointed many motorcyclists -- novice and veteran alike -- down the right path, and has helped riders learn the skills they need to be safer on the road."

Hough is a long-time motorcycle journalist who turned 25 years of experience commuting through city traffic into articles about riding skills and crash avoidance. He is best known for his series, "Proficient Motorcycling," in Motorcycle Consumer News, which has been honoured with awards by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. His books include Street Strategies: A Survival Guide for Motorcyclists, Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well, and More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride.

"By the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame giving me this honour, it's good for me and I appreciate this recognition, but it's bigger than that," Hough said. "It's honouring all the people who write and teach about motorcycle skills and safety, as well as the dealers in the sport who make safety awareness an integral part of selling a motorcycle."

Hough said that one of his main messages is that managing risks is critical regardless of how or where your ride.

"Teaching this idea of safety has been my mission for years. Very few journalists write about riding skills. They write about machines," Hough said. "The secret to riding quickly is don't crash, because crashing ruins your time. It doesn't matter if you want to go out for a putt-putt joy ride or go fast on the racetrack. I think it would be great if all motorcycle organizations, associations and publications would have riding skill seminars and columns on how to manage the risks of riding and how to become a more skillful rider."

Hough is the sixth member announced for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2009. He joins off-road racer Randy Hawkins, suspension pioneer Gilles Vaillancourt, off-highway rights activist Mona Ehnes, and industry entrepreneurs and technological trailblazers Geoff and Bob Fox.