FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: It was with great interest that I read your 6 August article on Libby Wilke’s efforts concerning the AMA/Dunlop tire rules. Having known Luther & Libby “back in the day” I guess I have a bit of a personal interest in the story as well as the safety of the young riders. These are the same riders that will become the stars of AMA road racing in the coming years. It seems now, as it has been many times in the past that the AMA forgets this concept. As I sit here in Baghdad, Iraq it is interesting to note that some things have not changed in the 15+ years I have been away from the race tire business. I cannot help but think this is another example of failing to learn from history, condemns them to continue making the same mistakes. I witnessed more than my share of these “decisions” during my career as a racer, owner/mechanic, the Dunlop Tire Distributor and as a member of the AMA rules committee. Let me address some of the issues from your letters: “…he (Bill Styfan) also said there was an issue on Dunlop’s part of cost and room in their truck to bring more tires to each event.” It seems that Dunlop wanted this “spec tire” party for a long time. This idea was being floated around while I was involved. Now that they have an exclusive deal, not being able to properly support the events, in my mind is inexcusable. This time quoting Libby: “We feel this class is being used as the tire dump for the tires nobody wants and we feel this is a safety issue…So far Dunlop/AMA has picked the wrong tire at each race which is understandable who can predict the weather/track conditions?” First, I agree 100% with the first part of the quote, incidents at an October Daytona race comes immediately to my mind on this very issue. As for the second part of the quote, I have to somewhat disagree, the year is 2009, weather forecast have come a long way. I can look at a weather forecast on Tuesday or Wednesday and make a pretty accurate decision if I will be able to take my Cessna and go flying the upcoming weekend. Thus making a decision during the load out of the truck should not be that difficult. This is not to say, as typical weather at Elkhart Lake can be anytime of the year that the load would have to include all weather conditions based on the forecast. For Dunlop to say “we did not know or we can’t predict the weather!” is again, no excuse. I can’t predict the weather either, but there are very good people that can. For example, the forecast for Baghdad the next five days bright sunshine, 110+ cooling down to the low 100’s next Tuesday. And finally, again from Libby’s letter: “When Luther confronted AMA Pro Racing’s Al Ludington about this, the ridiculous response was – well, they are all on the same front tire, and if all of them can find the same traction limit in all the corners, where they are all about to tuck the front at the same time – what a great race it would be!” There is no response to that mentality. It is astonishing that this is what we are dealing with at this level of competition. Libby’s response is spot on. It’s one thing to say it’s a bumpy pool table but it is the same for everyone, but everyone gets to pick which cue stick they want to use. I am surprised at Al’s response, with his experience he should know better. Is he implying that it would be a better show for the AMA if there were more crashes? Racing should be about rider skill, not who manages the most “lucky saves!” Thanks for listening, keep up the good work, your magazine continues to improve with each issue. Phil Flack Armorer, FOB Olympia Baghdad, Iraq