Fiasco Follows Nobby Clark's Retracted AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Nomination

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark... or more specifically, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and it all started with a strangely public case of Indian giving.

On June 11, the AMA said they were "pleased to announce" that Derek "Nobby" Clark, who was responsible for bikes which claimed 17 FIM world titles from the 1960s to 1980s, would be inducted into the upcoming Hall of Fame. Clark was quoted as saying "It's a great honor to be inducted. With many of the guys I worked for already in the Hall of Fame, all I can say is I know I'm in good company."

But on June 30, things got a little weird.

A follow-up statement said that the planned induction would be withdrawn due to an error in the balloting process. "This was a difficult decision," claimed American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation chairman Jeffrey V. Heininger, "but it had to be made to ensure the integrity of this remarkable institution."

Since then, the plot-- not surprisingly-- has thickened: TV commentator Dave Despain said in a statement that he was returning his own Hall of Fame medal due to the "unconscionable rescinding of the nomination of Nobby Clark, a motorcycling legend more than worthy of Hall of Fame membership." He went on to say that he has "... lost all faith in that [nomination] process and, more importantly, in the individuals who apparently now control it."

It didn't take long for other Hall of Famers to follow suit; legendary racers Dick Mann and Kenny Roberts also returned their medals, and Jack Mangus has since quit the organization's Dirt Track committee. While some have speculated that a criminal case may have played a part in the actions to pull Clark's award, the AMA itself is no stranger to scandal, including one incident in which a former Board Chairman was sentenced to eight months in prison for embezzlement.

The AMA's latest statement can be downloaded by clicking here... but at the end of the day, how much can be said in a statement that hasn't already been said in action?

For different takes on the ongoing saga, check out Ed Youngblood's motohistory.net, Mark Gardiner's Bikewriter.com blog, and Roadracingworld.com.

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Source: http://motorcycles.about.com/b/2012/07/13/fiasco-follows-nobby-clarks-retracted-ama-motorcycle-hall-of-fame-nomination.htm

Gert Bender Ingemar Bengtsson Johnny Bengtsson Angelo Bergamonti