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April 30, 2009. For Immediate Release AHRMA moving forward without the AMA
AHRMA will be moving forward for the rest of 2009 and the future as an independent sanctioning organization without affiliation with the AMA. This follows notification and announcement this evening from the AMA that they will no longer do business with AHRMA. See further below for more information on these recent developments.
· AHRMA members should be assured that we will be conducting all our currently scheduled events this year, in all disciplines, with the exception of those associated with Mid-Ohio in July, where we had previously teamed with the AMA to help build that event up to its current status.
· We have obtained full insurance coverage for all our disciplines, and at a reduced cost to what was available through the AMA. We are also working toward offering a competitor personal injury insurance option.
· AHRMA members will no longer be required to obtain annual AMA membership in addition to AHRMA membership. Look for additional announcement of new membership program options from AHRMA in the very near future.
While AHRMA regrets the termination of a mutually beneficial past relationship with the AMA, we also now have the opportunity to take a fresh look at rejuvenating our programs for 2010 and beyond. Watch our website and Vintage Views for announcements as we move in that direction.
Additional information on the recent developments that led to the our separation from AMA:
The AMA notified AHRMA in mid-February 2009, that AHRMA must resolve all disputes and disagreements with Mr. Robert Iannucci, Team Obsolete, and the individual riders, “to Mr. Iannucci’s and the individual rider’s satisfaction”, or the AMA will no longer enter into sanction agreements or do business with AHRMA after April 30th, 2009.
Following this notification we met with senior AMA leadership during Bike Week in order to more fully understand the issues and options, and have been in contact with them as we have attempted to resolve this.
AHRMA believed we have previously settled all issues with Mr. Iannucci. However, in the best interest of sustaining and preserving the integrated core of multi-discipline vintage motorcycle racing in the US, we contacted Mr. Iannucci (representing TO and the original riders) in March, and agreed to meet, per his request, on April 28th.
Dave Janiec (AHRMA Chairman) personally met with Mr. Iannucci for several hours on April 28th at his Brooklyn, NY offices, in a good faith attempt to resolve issues. The meeting was cordial as substantive proposed resolutions were offered and discussed, at length. At the end of this meeting we felt positive on the potential outcome, but were notified on April 29th by Mr. Iannucci that “there was not enough common ground between Team Obsolete and AHRMA to justify any future relationship.”
The AMA was notified by both parties of the substance of the meeting, as well as the ultimate failure to achieve Mr. Iannucci’s satisfaction.
Subsequently, the AMA notified us this evening that the AMA would no longer sanction AHRMA events or do business with AHRMA effective May 1, 2009.
Dave Janiec
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