RIP Roland Hinz

Roland, thank you for decades of moto! When Dirt Bike & MXA came out in the early 70's they caught it and we all rode the

moto wave of life. And were still doing it. God Speed my man!

Roland on the right and a confused looking Mike Kiedrowski on the left I had my days at Hi-Torque. 
Those magazines wouldn’t have survived without out him. A little fun we had in the good old days,

Oh man. Wow. Thanks for the update 😞

The most impressive, ground-breaking thing Roland did was to green light allowing Hunky and every other writer to thumb their noses at the advertising department (and writers at other pubs). Their tests and opinions were honestly legit. If they found a bike to be unrideable, they said so. Example: The Widowmaker TM400 Suzuki.

https://motocrossactionmag.com/the-worst-bikes-i-ever-raced-by-jody-wei…

Oh man ​​​​​​, sorry to hear that. I dare say he (and of course all you guys who were part of the Hi Torque crew) played a significant role in the explosive success of mx and dirt bikes in general in the '70s. Jeez, I lived for the next issues of DB and MXA. Godspeed Roland, and thank you - 

RIP thank you 

Damn.

Huge lifelong fan of MXA here.

RIP Mr Hinz.   Thanks for putting out a hell of a publication over the decades. 

Hi-Torque publishing was the best in moto when I was a kid. MXA, Dirt Bike and Cycle News kept me checking the mailbox for years. 
 

RIP Mr. Hinz
 

Yup Super Hunky...Rick Sieman...another GIANT of this little hobby we all love and someone we all owe a debt of gratitude for. (The Phantom Duck exploits)

RIP Mr.Hinz. 

I was always checking the mail box for the latest MXA as well. 

Our high school had two subscriptions to Dirt Bike, and our librarian always kept one hid back for me. 

RIP Roland.

I remember reading his columns as a youngster, he was incredibly well informed and plugged into the sport. Hardly a disinterested publisher.

MXA, Dirt Bike and MBA were so formative to me, I still read them quite religiously - long after all the others have fallen. Long may they live. 

RIP Roland 🙏

I bought every MXA since the very first one. This copy sits on my desk…to me it’s the most awesome cover of all time. It was when I realized Moto finally made it big time 

Thanks for sharing, Michael.  Very sad news indeed.  RIP Mr. Hinz.

I've read MXA & Dirt Bike for many decades.  Still subscribe to MXA and enjoy every issue.  My condolences to family, friends & staff.

Very sad to hear this news… Rest in Peace, Roland. 😞

Thank You for decades of bringing Dirt Bikes to the newstand and mailbox. Words can't describe what you did for the sport.

Not sure if it's been mentioned here before, but Hunky's daughter has been rallying support to get him inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame. He didn't make it this year. That class was just announced. Both he and Mr. Hinz should be in there, IMO.

Godspeed and grace and peace to his family.  

Much respect to anyone who could keep a print magazine in circulation.  Noting for the sake of history that Mr. Hinz bought Hi Torque in the early 80s and that Bill Golden was the original owner/publisher that created Dirt Bike and MXA and ran them in the 70s.  Rick discusses the relationship in his Monkey Butt book.

In today's digital world it's hard to fathom the impact magazines had years ago. Like many of you mentioned the joy of getting something in the mail that was of genuine interest to you was something else. My brother and I would read them together and look for more pics of the races we read about in Cycle News weeks before the magazines made it to the newsstand. The roll magazines like MXA played in the growth of our sport is hard to measure but for sure had a major impact in creating and keeping the interest. Rest in Peace Mr. Hinz, the sport of motorcycling is grateful for your contributions. 

A lifetime of respect and admiration for the man that delivered excitement into my mailbox every month. There was nothing like opening the mailbox and seeing the latest MXA waiting inside. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiPA_vJi4xo

As others have said the magazines he was responsible for helped build the foundation of the sport in this country, There was a time that the new issue of MXA hitting the newsstand or coming to my mailbox was something I looked forward to more than darn near anything in the world! RIP Mr Hinz!

Rest In Peace, Mr. Roland Hinz. 

This note is exactly right.  I think the tenor and scope of most of the Hi-Torque publications changed materially between the Golden and Hinz periods.  Mr. Hinz was a very sophisticated businessman and this was what it took to save the magazine franchises and set them on the right course.  Without him, I suspect they might not have survived and, given the reliance we had and have on that sort of media to link all of us in what is truly a fringe sport, we owe him our thanks.  Condolences to the Hinz family.

And there was nothing like the work done by Rick Seiman.  Super Hunky broke a bunch of molds, and didn't even know he was doing it at the time.  Get "Monkey Butt" and read it.  And read it again.  It's worth it.

I haven't seen the AMA Hall of Fame story....but I 1000% support it!  

FTE mentioned Monkey butt.....that book is a must read if you are a fan of this sport.   Ricks no BS writing style and humor shines here. 

Recently, I ordered one of his "newer" books from his site "Last Ride" and it came with some printing problems.  I emailed the contact information from the site.  Rick himself responded and sent out a good copy within days.    

Like that little kid did...I still look forward to MXA and Dirt Bike showing up in my mailbox.   There is just something about leafing thru a well put together magazine. 

RIP, Roland. 

My first Hi-Torque issue of anything:

Aww man , this really sucks to hear!  Been reading his stuff since I was a kid. Definitely lived for this sport. RIP Roland.

 My wife workeed for Hi Tourqe in the 80's early 90's, said he was good guy. Could be tough but a good guy.

 Of course like many of you I loved seeing the new issues in the mailbox.

RIP

Not a knock on MXA but nothing on their page. I thought they would have broke this sad news. 

Couldn't wait to devour everything from HI Touque and Cycle News each month such a wonderful time to grow up reading about my Hero's far far away in America and Europe. RIP Mr Hinz.

The offices of High Torque Publishing were always referred to as "plush" by Super Hunky and Mr Know it all. Must have been Mr. Hinz' input. RIP.