Some of you old guys (like me) will remember Cycle magazine during the 70's and 80's. It was (IMHO) the best mag available at the time. Two of the stalwarts there were Cook Neilson and Phil Schilling. We all remember the Daytona winning Old Blue and how those guys shared all of the secrets. They inspired me to hot rod my 1973 750 Sport. (I still have today.)
Some of you may know that Cook is a member of the HOF. I was shocked to hear that Phil is not. Craig Vetter submitted his nomination last year but we have to assume that, because he is not on this year's list on nominees, he was denied.
I have been in contact with the Tapitha Davis at the HOF. She has re-submitted Craig's papers so Phil is back on the list for next year's possible inductees. I asked what would be the most effective vehicle for Phil's supporters to show support. We agreed that e-mails would be the best way to do it. I told her that I would ask all of you who are interested in supporting Phil to send e-mails to her at
tdavis@motorcyclemuseum.org.
She suggested that each e-mail have the same subject line so she can manage them effectively. With that in mind, please use the same line that I have used for this mailing. -
"Please consider Phil Schilling for membership"
In the body of your note, please describe in as great detail as you can (using personal anecdotes if possible) why you feel Phil should be in the HOF.
Please forward this note or use a copy of it to anyone you feel can help in this effort. This means any forums you are on, industry contacts you may have, anyone you know who isn't online (they can snail mail) or any other ways that you can think of to support this effort. With all of us Boomers out there, there is no reason why we can't make this happen for 2009.
Here is what I wrote in my e-mail to the HOF just so you get an idea of what I am talking about -
I have looked over the membership rolls of the Hall and have found, what I think, is a huge hole. As a motorcycle rider since the 60’s, I grew up reading Cycle magazine. Probably the two most influential motorcycle journalists in my life were Cook Neilson and Phil Schilling. It was their articles that had me looking for my first Ducati back in 1973. It wasn’t until 1975 that I was able to secure the 1973 750 Sport that I still own today. I followed their exploits in building their Dayton winning Old Blue. It was the work that they did building their machines that I used to hot rod my Sport so I could beat the T.C. Christianson built Norton my good friend at the time had built over a cold winter in Milwaukee. The editorial and journalistic practices that they established at the time formed the standard by which all motorcycle magazines have been and will continue to be judged.
They were not the captives of the advertising dollars that came to the magazine. They were not afraid to call a bad bike a stinker. But they did it in a constructive manner. Always thoughtful and insightful. The work they did to improve the project bikes they built was never kept to themselves. Their detailed articles could always be counted on to support us shade tree mechanics striving to get more performance out of our machines. Phil’s skill as a mechanic was the basis for the success they enjoyed during those heady years. Personally, I feel that not recognizing his contribution to our sport is a great injustice and must be made right.
I am not sure how to go about this but here goes - I would like to ask the Hall to consider selecting Phil Schilling for membership.
I hope that this note will make it to the right people and that they will feel as I do.
Phil Schilling to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame
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