From Cycle News, January 19, 2000, page 5.

Regarding "A Day in the Dirt/A Day in the Hospital," Mr. Stanley has made some very good points regarding safety, but has failed to mention that it is the responsibility of the riders to see what is safe and what is not. I see the riders failing to notice this responsibility time and time again. With respect to Donovan Mitchell and his misfortune, my heart goes out to him and his family. I have first-hand knowledge of the confusion and pain that he is experiencing at this time - it is overwhelming.

Because my career-ending injury is directly related to the lack of us a neck roll and chest protector, I have devoted my attention to the public by speaking at schools, hospitals, fairs and motorized events. I attempt to convey the negative effects of alcohol and drug use on the human body, why helmets, chest protectors and neck rolls are so important, and the need to create mandatory use of these safety items by professional riders.

A portion of my time is spent instructing young athletes how to ride dirt bikes while attempting to enforce the need for safety gear at all times. When a young individual responds to me by saying that Jeremy McGrath or Ricky Carmichael, among other leading riders, don't wear neck rolls or sometimes even chest protectors, so why would I, I quickly inform them that males aged 16 to 26 have the highest risk of obtaining a spinal-cord injury. I educate them on the ways to prevent these types of injuries and tell them what they view on television and read in magazines is not reality. These riders could be only one crash away from ending up in my situation. So with that in mind, I continue to promote the use of the equipment while racing at AMA Pro events and I encourage other promoters to do the same. I know that this will minimize the number of lawsuits.

I recently attended the opening of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum and the 75th anniversary of the AMA in Ohio. I accepted my award and was interviewed and I talked about how the AMA should be more concerned about the safety of the riders than such things as minimum weight requirements and production rules. I attempted to inform the AMA that spinal-cord injuries are as equally important to prevent as head injuries. Like the helmet, neck rolls, spinal support and chest protectors should be mandatory safety items.

For the sake of your children and this sport, speak out today. Life in a wheelchair is no cakewalk and it can be prevented by intelligent decisions. See you all next year at "A Day in the Dirt."

Danny "Magoo" Chandler