More fallout from the Motorcycle Hall of Fame de-inducting Nobby Clark. This time well-respected TV personality Dave Despain has asked to be removed from the Hall. Despain wrote the following letter to the Hall of Fame:
To Whom It May Concern:
Dave Despain
This letter and the enclosed medal commemorating my induction comprise my immediate resignation from the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. I expect my name and picture to be removed without delay from all Hall of Fame materials and representations.
I take this action in response to the Hall of Fame’s unconscionable rescinding of the nomination of Nobby Clark, a motorcycling legend more than worthy of Hall of Fame membership. I believe we Hall of Famers have a special stake in the integrity of the institution and its nominating process. I have lost all faith in that process and, more importantly, in the individuals who apparently now control it.
I am deeply suspicious of media speculation that Clark’s “criminal record” is somehow grounds for the withdrawal of his nomination but given the absence of any clear and official explanation from Hall of Fame officials, that apparently is the brush with which Nobby is to be tarred. This raises a couple obvious questions: What changed in the short time between the announcement and the rescinding of Clark’s nomination and why would Clark’s “criminal record” be grounds for a blackball when that clearly was not an issue for a number of previous inductees who also have criminal records.
I suspect the answers to these questions, if they were truly known, would do nothing to restore my faith in the integrity of the institution but in the end my resignation does not turn on those answers. Instead it is based on a simple and inescapable conclusion; given everything Nobby Clark has accomplished in this sport, if he doesn’t belong in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame then I sure as hell shouldn’t be in there.
Sincerely,
Dave Despain
Rider Files 
While I have always liked Mr Despain and the work he does, he just jumped a few notches higher in my book for this.
Thank you Mr Despain for showing character, guts and integrity in world where these traits are rarer and rarer every day.
DH
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Dave is a man of the highest integrity and has a reverence for our sport perhaps unmatched by anyone. This is very meaningful, and the AMA better set the record straight, and among other things, issue a public apology to Nobby Clark for what appears to be the result of internal bungling of the highest order.
Nobby is far from the only HOFer with skeletons in the closet as noted my Ed Youngblood in this article: http://www.motohistory.net/news.html, so Nobby’s past should be irrelevant.
Let’s see if anyone else has the honor and conviction that Dave has. You other living HOFers, let’s hear from you.
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As usual, Despain, getting it done.
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For crying out loud is it a MOTORCYCLE Hall of Fame or The Male Figure Skater Hall of Fame???!!! Criminal records and motorcycles go together like flies and sh!t!!!!!!!! Screw them!
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Way to go Dave! You saved our asses while we waited endlessly at Harrington, De. by commentating on anything you could think of and then some. You saved the AMA’s butt that day too. The crowd was calm only because of you. It’s too bad about Knobby Clark being turned down. Trumped up charges by Team Obsolete’s owner is what this is all about. Look at who’s running the AMA’s Vintage program and this should all make sense. Folks like Dave shouldn’t have to leave the Hall. I commend him for having strong moral value. I can’t say the same for Rob.
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Good for you Dave.
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I can’t fault Mr. Despain’s logic or action on this. I don’t know the details, but I don’t have to, to know that he (Mr. Despain) feels justified.
I disagree that motorcycles and criminal records somehow go together, but if there have been precedents set previously, then I suppose it’s up to the BOD to make that decision regarding nominees.
I happen to believe that Pete Rose belongs in the baseball HOF, but I don’t think it’s gonna happen.
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Proud of Dave for taking a stand. He is among heavy hitters who stand behind Mr. Clark.
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