In just a little over a week Jack Penton will be on the job as AMA Director of Operations. To me this is the best move the AMA has made in a long time. I watched Jack in action in his work with Motorcycle Hall of Fame and in helping to coordinate the perfectly conceived and wonderfully executed Penton Motorcycles 40th Anniversary Reunion.

Jack is first and foremost a hard worker. He doesn’t mind doing the tedious heavy lifting of report writing, coming up with concepts, following through, managing and delegating when need be. The man seems inexhaustible in the times I’ve seen him work.

Nearly as important is the fact is Jack Penton is from one of the best-known families in all of motorcycling. He’s known and highly respected within the industry here and abroad. He’s well spoken, diplomatic and knowledgeable. He’s worked in many areas of motorcycling from riding, designing, R&D, running race teams, working for manufacturers, you name it and if it pertains to motorcycling you can bet Jack has done it.

He cares deeply about motorcycling and the legacy of the AMA.

Hopefully Jack will actually be given real decision-making power and not simply be a figurehead for the AMA. If the AMA board and the CEO are smart they will listen to Penton and allow him, if needed, to have his say against current approaches of doing business he may see as counterproductive.

With membership in freefall, a general lack of respect in the industry for current association leadership, the AMA could really use someone like Penton who, I believe, will come up with ideas to stop the bleeding. He just needs to be given the chance to implement those ideas.

I will watch closely how Penton’s hiring plays out and report back to you.

At least there’s good news coming out of Pickerington and that’s something that been in short supply of late.