Robert Lisey, 2023 AHRMA Trustee Candidate – East
Change. Accountability. Transparency. These are the foundations of my inspiration to run for trustee. Personally I am not as optimistic about the future of AHRMA as I was in 2019 when I joined. We have faced many challenges recently; inflation, gas prices, and a rapidly changing economy. But I believe our biggest challenge has been change, or lack of. Those who refuse to change and evolve are destined to perish.
In the 3 seasons we have raced we have participated in 50 national cross country weekends and 30 MX events, in addition to regional races. We have seen “the good, the bad, and the ugly events”. As rookie AHRMA members we have not lived through the turbulence, the politics and the success of AHRMA past. I see this as a positive in a trustee as we only know AHRMA as it exists today. This is the AHRMA that has to evolve faster.
It is essential to AHRMA’s success that our events be entertaining, fun, safe and profitable to both AHRMA and the event host. Key to that equation is completely breaking down the profit and loss of each genre that every event generates. Every discipline has to be held accountable. Every member should be privy to at least the overall viability status of these events . There needs to be much more transparency between the board and the members. For example members should be informed of changes that impact everyone but are arbitrarily made by the governing body without any member input or explanation.
Brief bio: I joined the AMA in 1968. Began racing a Honda 305 Scrambler at the Michigan Jack Pine enduro in 1969. Raced GNCC for 30 years, had a 10 yr stint road racing SCCA in Formula Ford and FC with a pro license. GNCC again for 6 years then joined AHRMA . Married 48 years to Nancy Lisey who began racing AHRMA MX in 2021 without any prior motorcycle riding.
Motorcycle racing involves riders on 2 wheels, but the similarity ends there. Road racing challenges are very different than off-road competition. I don’t feel that off-road riders are adequately represented on the board. This not the fault of the board rather the fault of the voters. I want to be part of the voices for the off-road members. I feel I can “represent all members in all disciplines and be “fair and open minded. But perhaps I can share more insight into the needs and desires of the off road contingent.
Any entity that does not grow, change and evolve is doomed to fail and perish.
Robert Lisey
yccbob27@aol.com
330.690.5930
