BACKFIRES

The Fergus Effect

I was thrilled to see my longtime riding hero Neil Fergus on the June 2023 cover. Neil has been a lifelong friend of my dad’s since high school, so I’ve known him for a while. It wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I started to read about Neil’s accomplishments (he’s a low-key guy and never bragged about his past) and realized he’s the real deal. I’ve made it a point to ride with Neil whenever possible, and have taken my first born along with us on occasion. While reading author Lambert’s ride recap, it sounded exactly like the ride my son and I took with Neil, as he hustles that DR650 around like nobody’s business and it’s tough to keep him in sight. My hat is off to the AMA for giving his story nearly 12 pages to highlight some of the highlights of Neil’s career and his continuing passion with motorcycles. Thank you, and please consider him for induction into the AMA Hall of Fame.

John Wilcox Prescott Valley, Ariz.

I truly enjoyed the story on Neil Fergus. What a true legend, and still looking good at age 93! It shows what riding can do for a person. One of the best and most relevant stories in some time. I know that you must accommodate the wide range of interests regarding your members and readers, but this really hit home with me. Thank you!

Bob Jones Fond du Lac, Wis.

What a great story about Neil Fergus! The gentleman is a real testament to the love of motorcycles, and someone to look up to by many motorcyclists, including this rider in his 70s. Oftentimes when we think about how long we should keep riding, we meet or discover riders like Neil who keep us throwing a leg over the seat.

Neil is proof that you just keep doing what you love for as long as you can do it, and safely, with age being just a number — right? Here’s to going out for another ride! And thanks for sharing Neil with us!

Larry Norton

Neil Fergus is my hero! I love hearing about a guy 93 years young who’s still riding, and not just riding but rippin’ it up! I’m a 65-year-old that still occasionally races vintage MX and street rides, and Neil gives me (and probably many others like me) the