Motorcycle Hall of Fame to induct 45 new members July 8
19 May 2000
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The Motorcycle Hall of Fame will induct 45 new motorcycling legends to its elite fraternity at a gala celebration July 8 at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio. This year's inductees were chosen from a list of more than 200 candidates representing all aspects of motorcycling. These honorees bring the total number of racers, riders and industry figures in the Hall of Fame to 241. The ceremony, set for 4 p.m., is open to the public, with a reception to follow. Guests are invited to mingle and talk with the many Hall of Famers sure to be in attendance. The induction ceremony is free of charge, while tickets to the reception are $15. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame recognizes those who have made significant contributions to all aspects of motorcycling, including those who have excelled in motorcycle business, history, design and engineering, in addition to those known for road riding, off-road riding and all categories of motorcycle racing. For more information, contact John Eikenberry at (614) 856-2222 or jeikenberry@ama-cycle.org. The 45 new inductees are: Dave Barr: A double amputee who rode a Harley-Davidson around the world Mike Bast: Eight-time U.S. speedway champion Jean Michel Bayle: 1991 250cc & 500cc motocross national champion; 1991 Supercross champion; two-time motocross world champion, road racer Wells Bennett: 1920s board-track racer; hillclimber; 24-hour world-record holder; Three-Flags Run record holder, cross-country competitor with Baker and Remaley Dick Bettencourt: Dealer, racer, enthusiast Mark Blackwell: Winner of America's first 500cc national championship motocross race in 1972; motocross school instructor Ted Boody: Winner of 8 dirt-track nationals; top-10 ranking 1981-1986; 1985 Grand National Championship runnerup Bob Braverman: Land-speed record holder and journalist Sharon Clayton: Co-founder of Cycle News magazine Pete Colman: Speedway champion; tuner; Triumph factory mechanic; vice president of Birmingham Small Arms in '60s and '70s Dave Coombs: Founder of High Point Raceway, Steel City Raceway and Loretta Lynn Nationals; considered founder of arenacross Carl Cranke: Penton rider in the 1960s & '70s; helped develop the Penton motorcycle; 10-time ISDE team member Jimmy Filice: 1991 & 1993 250cc road-race national champion; winner of 22 national road races Bill France Sr.: Promoted post-World War II Daytona 200, turned it into one of the world's most prestigious motorcycle events Bill France Jr.: Continues with his father's work of making Daytona one of the most prestigious tracks in the world Broc Glover: 1977-79 125cc motocross national champion; 1981, '83, '85 500cc motocross national champion; 50 motocross national wins Torsten Hallman: Multi-time 250cc motocross world champion; helped introduce motocross to American riders Mike Hailwood: 1964 500cc American Grand Prix winner at Daytona Fred Ham: "Iron Man Ham"; broke Wells Bennett's 24-hour endurance record in the late 1930s; Three-Flags Run record setter Dick Hammer: Versatile racer who excelled at road race, TT, and flat track; first winner of Daytona 250cc class T.K. Hastings: First American to compete and medal in ISDE at 1913 event on the Isle of Man Barry Higgins: First American factory-sponsored motocross rider Soichiro Honda: Co-founder of Honda Motor Company Kent Howerton: "The Rhinestone Cowboy"; 1980-81 250cc motocross national champion; 1976 500cc motocross national champion Gary Jones: 1972-74 motocross national champion Neil Keen: 1960s and '70s dirt-tracker; part of the original "BSA Wrecking Crew" Danny LaPorte: 1979 500cc motocross national champion; member of first U.S. winning Motocross des Nations team, 250cc motocross world champion Jay Leno: Television star; motorcycling ambassador; enthusiast; collector Gunnar Lindstrom: Racer; engineer; trainer Randy Mamola: 1978 AMA 250cc motocross national champion; three-time winner of Monterey national road race, 13 500cc world championship road-race victories Tom McDermott: First American gold medalist in 1949 ISDE; scrambles competitor in England; road-racer; dealer Dave Mungenast Sr.: 1973 ISDE silver medalist; enduro rider; dealer; enthusiast Dick O'Brien: Harley-Davidson racing team manager in the 1960s Johnny O'Mara: 1983 125cc motocross national champion; 1984 250cc AMA Supercross champion; member of four winning Motocross des Nations teams 1981, '82, '84, '86 Tom Penton: Winning ISDE rider with several medals; Penton development pioneer; performance product designer Joel Robert: Six-time motocross world champion; Trans-AMA competitor Bernie Schreiber: First American world trials champion in 1979; instructor; world-wide ambassador of trials; 1978 national trials champion. Hank Scott: Winner of 17 dirt-track Nationals; factory Honda rider; top-10 ranking 1974-81, '84 Jeff Smith: World champion rider; ISDE and motocross champion; former president of the Antique Historic Racing Motorcycle Association Marty Smith: 1974-75 125cc motocross national champion; 1977 500cc motocross national champion; motocross grand prix and Trans-AMA competitor Jeff Stanton: 1989-90, '92 250cc motocross national and AMA Supercross champion; 1987 Rookie of the Year Elmer Trett: Father of modern-day drag racing; eight-time drag-racing champion; first rider to top 200, 210, 220 and 230 m.p.h.; still holds record of 6.06 seconds at 235 m.p.h. Bill Werner: Legendary Harley-Davidson tuner; 130 wins and 12 Grand National Championships George Wyman: The first to cross America on a motorcycle in 1903 on a Yale Pops Yoshimura: Tuner; product designer and developer
