Email received 5/20/02:

I have known Rich for over a dozen years and have found him to be honest and altruistic (unselfish regard for the welfare of others). Motocrossjumps.com is consistent with this. I agree with Rich on all points regarding the safety issues of motocross except for his approach. 

Frankly, I believe Rich is naive in thinking that the track owners and
race promoters will change the way they build tracks in order to save
life and limb. While Rich may be so altruistic, most are not. Currently
these folks have been successful in hiding behind, "Hey, racing is, by
it's nature, dangerous" when avoiding the responsibility/liability
relating to some 16 year old getting paralyzed.

The only thing these race promoters and track owners will respond to is
a threat on their own check book. The only way Rich is going to cause
the track owners to build safer (yet just as exciting) tracks is to put
them personally at risk if they don't.

Rich should send each track owner and race promoter involved with
dangerous tracks a registered letter outlining things that are
unnecessarily dangerous with recommended changes. Let them know that if the changes are not made and some unlucky rider is injured the rider
will receive a copy of the letter previously sent to the track owner/
race promoter. I would bet that any track owner would hate to face a
jury who is to decide liability in a case where some 16 year old kid is
forever in a wheelchair and the track owner had previously received, and
ignored,  a letter warning of impending doom if changes weren't made to
his track.

While this may seem extreme, Rich's current tack of trying to depend on
the track owner's altruism and concern for the rider's safety is not
working and it will not work. He must hit these folks where they live,
the safety of our future racers and indeed our sport depend upon it.

Ross H. Liberty
Factory Pipe

Rich's Response: Normally, Ross is the laid-back California guy, and I'm the aggressive, "get-it-done instantly" guy.  Ross's idea of putting a track on notice of dangerous liability problems will make even the most stubborn track owner start thinking about design and reducing liability.

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Rich,

If you recall I wrote to you previously regarding a movie script I was working on entitled "MotoX". You had given me your permission to post your website at the end of the movie. I am hoping that we can do more. 
I am getting ready to enter into negotiations with Chuck Norris to produce this film. He is an advocate of safety in all areas, especially on his movie sets. Most people are not aware that factories don't pay the hospital bills of their riders. I intend to make Mr. Norris and his publicist aware of this. I am hoping that I can convince them to use some of the injured riders in cameo appearances. This would provide them with some income and it would increase awareness of this issue. MotoX will be a feature film, but there is also discussion of a television special to promote the movie. I am hopeful that the TV special will be a forum where Motocross safety can be addressed. 

I am drafting a letter to Mr. Norris' publicist to discuss these issues. I wanted to make you aware of the progress of the project as well as to alert you to my intentions. It is my hope that you will be contacted for your input. I have done countless hours of research on the internet for this film, and yours was the only site I found promoting the safety of the sport. 
I hope that you can be a part of this project. A sequel is in the works and I will tactfully address more safety issues.

Thank you for your support in this project. 

Carey Leigh