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Subject: Apology from Thunder Roads Texas Motorcycle Magazine
Name: Bob Cooney
Date: Jan 9, 09 - 2:27 PM
Email: thunderroadsbob@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.thunderroadstexas.com
Message: To all of our good biker friends,

I am very disappointed to see what has happened as a result of the memo Reynolds Mansson sent to Bruce Arnold. We are greatly embarrassed by all of this and wish to publically apologize to Bruce and to everyone offended by Reynolds.

Reynolds was hired as a sales agent for our magazine. He in no way represents the views, feelings and ideas of our magazine. He was expressing his own feelings and mistakenly did so using a business signature line, instead of his personal email.

All of this has been discussed in several phone conversations with Reynolds, including being removed as the Director of Advertising for Thunder Roads Texas Magazine.

I am saddened and truly sorry that this has happened.

Bob Cooney
C.E.O.
Thunder Roads Texas Magazine

Source: http://tinyurl.com/89cy8a

***

From: Bruce Arnold [mailto: Bruce@LdrLongDistanceRider.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 8:22 PM
To: Angie Miller (arhenson13@yahoo.com); C. E. O. Bob Cooney (thunderroadsbob@yahoo.com); Editor Shelly Horan (shelly@thunderroadstexas.com); Editorial Staff & Sales Bill "Shovel Head" Barnes (thunderroadsbill@yahoo.com); Sales Representative BA Autery (thunderroadsba@sbcglobal.net)
Subject: To Thunder Roads Texas Magazine and all Texas Bikers

To Thunder Roads Texas Magazine and all Texas Bikers:

According to the web page headers, Thunder Roads Magazine offers "The ultimate Texas BIKER experience!":

http://thunderroadstexas.com/aboutus.htm

But according to the person identified on that web page as their Marketing Director, Reynolds Mansson...

http://www.m2motomedia.com/contacts.html

... AUTHOR OF THE EMAIL BELOW, "Bikers" is a word that for him carries "...a very negative connotation". You will also note that he equates "... ABATE and most 'Biker' MROs with Creationists, science illiterates, & Luddites". And I am quite sure Sputnik will get a big kick out of knowing that Mr. Mansson does not want "...a man with a mohawk and a tattoo on his forehead" representing him!

Just thought y'all might want a heads up...

Bruce Arnold ;-)

http://BikersRights.LdrLongDistanceRider.com

***

From: Reynolds Mansson [mailto:reyn@manssonmedia.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:47 AM
To: Bruce@LdrLongDistanceRider.com
Subject: Still not the right issue

Bruce,

I was forwarded an editorial you wrote recently. I agree in concept but disagree on how at achieve Unity.

While I agree that Motorcyclists need a unifying issue, for me and many like me, using the word "Biker" is the end for any unity. I never use the "B" word, to me it has a very negative connotation. When Eric Buell spoke of "Short-sighted infantilism." he was referring to the anti-helmet and loud pipes save lives groups. Most MROs are a bad thing for motorcycling as they strive to protect what should have died out about 50 years ago. I equate ABATE and most "Biker" MROs with Creationists, science illiterates, & Luddites. I don't want a man with a mohawk and a tattoo on his forehead representing me, he doesn't.

A unifying issue needs to be a positive action rather than a reactive one. Every thing you mention is just a reaction to some problem. The science on distracted driving is not solid. The whole cell phone issue reminds me that in the 1920s when radios first appeared in autos several cities banned in-car radios as too distracting. Graduated operator permits, training programs like the U.K., helmet laws and safety inspections would save more lives than cell-phone bans. Motorcyclists becoming identified with the anti-cell phone groups will end up building more resentment toward us. I believe if more riders would learn how to panic stop and use the front brake properly they would hit a whole lot fewer cars. I see "Bikers" all the time stop without ever touching the front brake, those riders need training to stay alive. Much of what goes down the road in the U.S. would be illegal on the E.U. roads due to safety equipment violations.

What motorcyclists need is to get a positive action campaign in motion, like obtaining a new right. I spoke with Rob Dingman, AMA President, about this last summer. I have been an AMA member for 20 years and was part of the original AMA Eagles program 15 years ago. There is a privilege that motorcyclists have in California and most of the world that makes commuting a dream there, I am speaking of LANE SHARING. The AMA needs to get behind getting motorcycle commuters this privilege nationwide. That is something positive to do for motorcycle riders. It would make us more visible and make motorcycle & scooter commuting more attractive to new riders. It would get the sport-bike riders, commuters, scooterists and others involved where the other issues won't. You are never going to get anywhere until the motorcycle media is behind you, your reactive issues simply don't create the buzz needed.

I am going to the Texas legislative day with other non-Biker Motorcyclists to tell my representatives that ABATE does not speak for me. My issue is lane sharing and I am more than ready to trade away helmets for the right to split lanes.

Reynolds Mansson
M2 MotoMedia
Exclusively TEXAS Motorcycle Media & Marketing
210.259.9916
11600 Bandera Rd, Suite 102
San Antonio, Texas 78250
myspace.com/manssonmotomedia
representing
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