5 minute read
LETTERS
NPDA BY THE NUMBERS
There are 36 State Dealer Associations listed in NADA appraisal guide. I would bet 10% are up to date, but it is a start to get a national association back and viable. Jerry Abboud from Denver could shed some light on the failure of our last organization. I will keep reading about progress and put my 2 cents in as necessary. Thanks for the thought, as it is necessary for our own good!
Richard G. Riley Fredericktown Yamaha Frederick, MD
HI BOB
Hi there Bob, Mederski here.
Seems like back in the ’80s there was a national dealer association, but it never seemed to get hold of its market. When I was the membership guy at the American Motorcyclist Association, we had hoped to get to dealers as a marketing approach for AMA membership. But that association was not “happening” and was never responsive to our approaches. I had a hunch that maybe like MIC, it was mostly about dealers other than H-D. And I also recall that they ran into problems state to state; some states had a mellow environment, “didn’t need to pay dues to some national group.” Other states had problems and could use the help with retail law, litigation, floor planning, marketing, etc. So no uniformity in a variety of regulations, state-to-state made it a non-starter.
Anyway, good idea, and I hope you can make it work.
Mark Mederski, Director National Motorcycle Museum www.nationalmcmuseum.org
BEATING THE DRUM
The generation that preceded mine did all the hard work. They fought the fight, and got the laws passed that allowed Powersports dealers to grow and thrive. The current generation doesn’t always see the value in those past efforts, and usually only comes to this realization once those protections have been overturned. Then it’s too late.
I’m excited to see that Dealernews is taking on the huge lift of creating a National Powersports Dealer Association. The OEM’s have their organization, while dealers are left to fend for themselves. While there are a few functional State Powersports Dealer Associations, most are on life support. We need more! I’ll be beating the drum in support of this effort. I’ve been on the front lines when one of our industry’s leading OEMs hired 3 lobbyists to change the franchise laws in TX. They carpet bombed the legislature with lies, and it was only through the efforts of the Texas Motorcycle Dealers Association that we caught wind of these efforts and saved the Texas dealers from legislation that would have crippled the powersports industry.
It won’t be cheap, it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. If you believe in the future of the powersports industry, then spread the word.
Mark Sheffield, Strategic Advisor Woods Indian Motorcycle New Braunfels, TX
TEAM WORK
Team -
I was thinking a lot over the weekend about how important the past few weeks have been for our company and our brand. I want to give a shoutout to all of my teammates at Vance & Hines who helped make our announcements from the past two weeks happen. Some companies talk about agility, but our team at Vance & Hines demonstrated how agile and smart this company is through the work they did over the past four months.
Late last winter, when our then racing partner decided to exit their factory race teams participation, we had to quickly figure out our plans. Our mission didn’t change, it’s been the same since we started. This was just another opportunity for Terry Vance and our whole team to come together and deliver on it, because…
Vance & Hines leverages our experience, passion and learnings at the racetrack to deliver products that enhance the exhilaration of the riding experience.
This brand has an incredible 42year history of racing motorcycles at the highest levels with lots of great partners along the way. What we unveiled to the world this past week is so exciting because it hits on so many elements of our business:
• New technology and product development in our new fourvalve Suzuki Pro Stock motor
• New partnership with a global, and racing passionate, consumer food powerhouse in Mission
Foods
• A renewed relationship with
Angelle Sampey, a rider who has 43 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle wins, a three-time NHRA Pro Stock
Motorcycle (PSM) champion making her the NHRA’s top female athlete When you combine all of this together, it spells excitement for our fans and our customers, a huge opportunity for our distribution partners, suppliers, and dealers, and most of all, a huge accomplishment for our employees. And here is the most impressive part; it is only the middle of February. I promise you 2021 is gonna be an EPIC year for Vance & Hines. So saddle up, strap down that helmet and hold on tight, because we are just getting started.
Mike Kennedy President & CEO VANCE & HINES
This note to the team at Vance & Hines was shared with permission. Mike is right, 2021 is going to be a wild ride!
TESTAMENT TO DEALERNEWS
I just had to comment on the “Testimonial Tuesday” you sent out, which my son forwarded to me. I founded The Carlson Company (which still offers powersports service equipment) in 1972 and sold it to my son, Andy, 20 years ago. There are still effects hanging on the wall in my home which bring back memories of Dealernews.
A great one is participating in the Colorado 500 three fabulous times... made possible by none other than Don Emde recommending me for the first one. Pictures from each year’s ride are still on the wall. “Happy Birthday, Don!”
Another super memory is supported by pictures Dealernews’ salesman Dick Hamer snapped with my camera aboard a fishing boat as I was bringing in an 8-foot Blue Marlin. We were among those attending a small motorcycle trade convention in Hawaii. The pictures and the fish are still mounted on the wall.
Thanks for the memories,
Bob Carlson, RETIRED! The Carlson Company
P.S. I haven’t seen a Dealernews in many years. Would you kindly sign me up for your monthly digital edition?
You have been added to the digital distribution list, Bob. Speaking of Dick Hamer, we just did an interview covering the early days of Dealernews and the industry. Stay tuned.
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