AMA HoF adds off road advocate

From the American Motorcyclist Association

PICKERINGTON, OH -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced the third member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2010: BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) founder Clark Collins. Collins, known for his tireless work on behalf of motorcyclists to keep trails open and build regional and national coalitions among all trail users, will be among the legends of motorcycling honored at the 2010 induction ceremony at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas on Nov. 19.

"Clark Collins represents an area that is so vitally important to all riders -- motorcyclists' rights -- and he is a fitting inductee into the Hall of Fame," said Jack Penton, AMA director of operations and a Hall of Famer himself. "Collins' advocacy work is the reason why so many trails remain open today, and why motorcyclists across the country are better organized to protect the future of motorcycling."

In 1987, Collins created the BRC, which is a national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting responsible recreational access to public lands and waters. He served as executive director of the organization until his retirement in 2004.

Collins formed the BRC after he was told by then Idaho Governor John Evans that recreationists were not politically significant, and implied that federal Wilderness was more important than responsible recreational access to public lands. In the years since, Clark and the BRC have come to be nationally recognized by public land agencies as authorities on responsible motorized recreation.

Today, Collins continues to serve the off-road recreation community in Idaho as president of the Idaho State ATV Association.

"I was really excited last year for Mona Ehnes being inducted as a rights representative, and I'm amazed to be inducted," he said. "Looking at all the people in the Hall of Fame, I feel really honoured to be on that list. A lot of the Hall of Famers got in for their skill in going fast on motorcycles, and I'm excited to see that folks like Mona and me, who have been involved in the advocacy role, get recognized as well. We're not used to getting trophies, and we don't get to stand up and be recognized for going fast, so this is really great."

Collins joins previously announced members of the AMA Hall of Fame Class of 2010: championship team owner Mitch Payton and AMA 250cc Roadrace Champion David Emde. More inductees will be announced soon.