![]() ![]() And in 1969, it merged with the West Coast Motorcycle Safety Council to form the Motorcycle Industry Council, which continues today. The M&ATA later united with scooter trade representatives to become the MS&ATA. That path was followed and after five years of growth, the department was named the American Motorcycle Association on May 15, 1924. When a large list of registered motorcyclists has been obtained, it will then be possible to perfect the independent association, with the registered motorcyclists as the chartered members.” The preliminary plan of registration at the nominal fee of 50 cents is the affiliation part of the program. Parsons, editor of Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated magazine, wrote in his publication: “This plan of registration is not, strictly speaking, the organization of a rider’s association, though it is expected that this will be the foundation upon which eventually will be built a strong and efficient rider organization which will be affiliated with the M&ATA for competition control. Parsons was the chairman of the Educational Committee at the time, as well as the chair of the Competition Committee. The Competition Committee recognized 11 national championships that year. Notably, 1919 also was the first year that the sanctioning body supplied and issued national championship medals. Also that year, the M&ATA began supporting the annual Gypsy Tours, attracting even more members as a result. The M&ATA’s Competition Committee managed the former FAM racing responsibilities. So, although it was controlled by the motorcycle industry, the M&ATA Educational Committee and Competition Committee (which was a sub-committee of the Educational Committee) began registering riders and clubs and supporting motorcycle activities in 1919. ![]() When failing membership rolls eventually ended the FAM, the M&ATA was left without a counterpart representing riders. On November 15, 1916, a similar organization, the Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association, was founded. Among the earliest was the Motorcycle Manufacturers Association, formed in 1908 to represent and regulate the motorcycle manufacturers, accessory makers and distributors. One of these was the formation of several trade associations. Throughout the years of the FAM’s existence, there were indications of the increasing health and vitality within the fledgling American motorcycle industry. The Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association (M&ATA) The FAM listed 8,247 members in 1915, but with World War I draining potential members, the organization went out of business in 1919. Article I, section 2 of the constitution of the newly created FAM stated: “Its objects shall be to encourage the use of motorcycles and to promote the general interests of motorcycling to ascertain, defend and protect the rights of motorcyclists to facilitate touring to assist in the good roads movement and to advise and assist in the regulation of motorcycle racing and other competition in which motorcycles engage.” The constitution also recorded annual membership dues of $2, and named several committees, including: Membership Legal Action Competition Roads, Touring and Hotels and Transportation and Facilities.ĭuring its 16-year existence, the FAM developed competition rules and rider classifications, dealt with restrictive ordinances in cities like Chicago and Tacoma, Washington, and wrestled with funding and membership concerns. Hendee of the Indian Motocycle Company, who brought 109 membership pledges from the New England area.Ī constitution was drawn up, and officers appointed, with R.G. ![]() Perry, and one notable attendee was George M. On September 7, 1903, the FAM was officially formed during a meeting of 93 enthusiasts at a clubhouse in Brooklyn. Further momentum for the creation of this organization was provided by the enactment of a New York City law requiring registration of motorcycles as motor vehicles. The formation of the FAM can be traced to the New York Motorcycle Club, whose members in early 1903 saw the need for a national motorcyclist organization and assembled a committee to study the interest level in such an organization. In large part, the roots of the AMA can be traced to two organizations that preceded it, the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) and the Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association (M&ATA). To fully understand the emergence of the AMA as the world’s premier member-driven motorcycling organization, it is first necessary to understand the forces that led to its creation. But at the time the AMA was founded, this was a rather revolutionary concept. Today, it seems only logical that motorcyclists would have their own organization to address the issues that are important to them. ![]()
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