2013TrailblazersProg.. - Morgan Williams Graphic Design

“ 

Ride 

Ed Kretz Jr (right) and his father, 

Ed Kretz Sr. 1949, Del Mar Fairgrounds, 

Del Mar, Calif. 

©2013 Indian Motorcycle International, LLC 

Hard 

OR DON’T 

RIDE AT ALL. 

” — 

— Ed Kretz Jr. Jr 

Spoken like a true rider. Ed put this philosophy into 

every race he entered. Indian Motorcycle congratulates 

2013 Dick Hammer Award Recipient, Ed Kretz Jr., and 

every one of the Trailblazers Hall of Fame Inductees. 

indianmotorcycle.com 

april 

6, 2013 

car 

son 

cen 

ter 

carson, ca 

sixty 

ninth 

annual 

TrailBlazers 

BanqueT 

50 

cents Official Souvenir Program 

Toast to Walt Mahony! 

Ed Kretz Jr. (33) and Dick Hammer (16) racing close at a daytime Ascot TT in the early 1960s. Walt Mahony photo.

sixTy 

ninTh 

annual 

TrailBlazers 

BanqueT 

Hi everyone! Welcome to the 69th annual 

Trailblazers banquet. In case you didn’t 

see the announcements last year after the 

banquet, I am again serving as your Trailblazers 

President, a position I have held in the past. 

This is something we have done previously to 

rotate that job to keep your leaders fresh. Our 

previous President, Keith Mashburn, did a great 

job at the helm and continues to serve on the 

Trailblazers Board of Directors. 

Yes, this is the 69th annual banquet, dating 

continuously back to 1940 with just a couple 

of off-years. We should be very proud of what 

we all have done through the years to keep this 

organization going strong, and in fact growing. 

Our connection with the Motorcycle Industry 

Council continues to provide new tools and 

resources for us to improve how we function, 

and we thank them for all they do to support us. 

This year we are again honoring some very 

special people with interesting and notable 

histories in motorcycling. Ed Kretz Jr. is 

this year’s recipient of our prestigious Dick 

Hammer Award. Eddie comes from such a great 

motorcycling family that has made headlines in 

the pages of motorcycling magazines since the 

1930s. 

We also will making a special toast tonight to Walt Mahony, the 

prolific motorcycle racing photographer whose racing images all 

of us have enjoyed since back in the day they were shot. Walt 

Thanks to GE Capital for sponsoring the wine! 

69th TRAILBLAZERS BANQUET PROGRAM 

PrEsiDEnt’s WElcoME 

Don and his father Floyd Emde. Daytona 1972. Dave Friedman photo/Don Emde Collection. 

had a close-up view of the riders when he was covering a race, 

He was often the first witness to numerous crashes where riders 

were injured and killed and became motivated to have better 

racetracks for the riders. So what did he do? He got all of the 

money together that he could -- even took on a sketchy partner 

-- and they built a racetrack that would eventually be known 

as Ascot Park. You can read further back in this program what 

else he did in his life before he passed away, but he was a special 

person to us Trailblazers, and we’re giving him a fitting tribute 

tonight. 

In addition to Kretz and Mahony, we are also honoring some 

other legendary motorcyclists tonight, including the “Desert 

Fox” Larry Burgquist, Jim Connolly, Lori Conway, Larry 

Huffman, Stu Morley, Buddy Stubbs and Tom White. You can 

read about them all here in this program and we’ll be presenting 

their histories in the videos that we will be showing. 

Thanks for being here tonight, and for your ongoing support 

of the Trailblazers. We look forward to seeing you all again next 

year for our 70th annual gathering. 

Ride safe, 

Don Emde 

Page 3

last year... 

AT The 68Th AnnuAl 

TrailBlazers BanqueT 

April 14, 2012 

By mid-afternoon, the patio was almost filled to capacity with banquet attendees who 

came to see the many unique and historic motorcycles on display at the annual tom 

cates Memorial Bike show. Tracy Emde photo. 

on stage at the conclusion 

of the banquet were 2012 

honorees (l-r): Eddie 

lawson, Dan rouit, sammy 

tanner, sam Dempsey, 

tom Dempsey accepting 

for Gene Dempsey, Jim 

McMurren, John rice, steve 

scott and Bob sirkegian 

Jr. accepting for his latefather 

Bob sr. Photo by 

Dennis Suter/VFT.org. 

Photos by Tracy Emde and Dennis Suter/VFT.org as noted. 

sammy tanner was 

presented with 

the Dick Hammer 

Perpetual trophy last 

year. Presenting were 

Don Emde and skip 

Van leeuwen, and on 

tanner’s right, Keith 

Mashburn. Photo by 

Dennis Suter/VFT.org. 

We toasted shell thuet last year and many 

motorcycles were on display that were ridden by 

some of his riders though the years, including 

this #14 Hank scott short-tracker. Many of his 

former riders were on hand as well, including 

Kenny roberts, Eddie lawson, Wayne rainey, Keith 

Mashburn, tom Horton and others. Tracy Emde photo. 

the trailblazers never 

forget those we lose 

along the way. lucile 

Flanders was for 

many years a member 

of the trailblazers 

Board of Directors and 

organized many of the 

past banquets. 

Tracy Emde photo. 

2012 Hall of Fame inductee Jim McMurren 

enjoying the excitement of the day with his 

grandson. Tracy Emde photo. 

Page 4 69th trAilBlAZErs BAnQUEt ProGrAM 

T R 2013 

A I L B L A Z 

HALL OF FAME 

E R S 

Glory to those 

with guts. 

Congratulations to the 2013 Trailblazers Hall of Fame inductees, and to Ed Kretz Jr., recipient 

of this year’s distinguished Dick Hammer Award. Here’s to leading the pack, always.

TrailBlazers 

hall 

of fame 

J.c. Agajanian 

David Aldana 

Hap Alzina 

leonard Andres 

sonny Angel 

Ernie Aragon 

c.r. Axtell 

Bill Bagnall 

Bob Bailey 

Hazen Bair 

Erwin “cannon Ball” Baker 

Dallas Baker 

chuck Basney 

Darryl Bassani 

Bill Bell 

Mike Bell 

Larry Bergquist *** 

P.A. Bigsby 

Doug Bingham 

Jerry Branch 

Everett Brashear 

Annie & Bill Brokaw 

Paul Brokaw 

Bruce Brown 

Don Brown 

Bert Brundage 

Don Brymer 

Gary Bryson 

Max Bubeck 

Dewey Bunkrud 

John cameron 

Ben campanale 

tom cates 

chuck clayton 

sharon clayton 

Floyd clymer 

Paul collins 

russ collins 

Pete colman 

Page 6 

Jim Connolly *** 

Lori Conway *** 

Frank cooper 

“Wild Bill” cottum 

charley cripps 

lodge cunningham 

clarence czysz 

Allan D’alo 

Monty Darling 

William H. Davidson 

Jim Davis 

Gene & sam Dempsey 

Paul Derkum 

“sparky” Edmonston 

Kenny Eggers 

Bud Ekins 

Dave Ekins 

Freddie Ellsworth 

Don Emde 

Floyd Emde 

ted Evans 

George Everett 

Jerry Fairchild 

Bryon Farnsworth 

Earl Flanders 

lucile Flanders 

ruth Fordyce 

skip Fordyce 

Walt Fulton, sr. 

Don Graves 

Bob Greene 

Al Gunter 

Dan Gurney 

Jerry Hatfield 

Dick Hammer 

Dave Hansen 

tim Hart 

Jack Hateley 

John Hateley 

tom Heininger 

“Digger” Helm 

Dean Hensley 

Wayne Hosaka 

Larry Huffman *** 

Paul Hunt 

Jim Hunter 

steve Hurd 

Wm. “Bill” Johnson 

chuck Jones 

Dewayne Jones 

Don Jones 

Gary Jones 

Hap Jones 

neil Keen 

Jim Kelly 

Kim Kimball 

Mike Konle 

Ed Kretz, Jr. 

Ed Kretz, sr. 

Del Kuhn 

lammy lamoreaux 

Bob lanphere 

ted lapadakis 

Eddie lawson 

Aub lebard 

Joe leonard 

Woody leone 

Ajay lewis 

carey loftin 

Bill & richard love 

Freddie ludlow 

Danny Macias 

Ken Maely 

Dennis Mahan 

Walt Mahony *** 

Dick Mann 

lee Marvin 

Keith Mashburn 

Harold Mathewson 

Mitch Mayes 

Jack Mccormack 

Victor Mclaglen 

John Mclaughlin 

Jim McMurren 

steve McQueen 

cordy Milne 

Jack Milne 

chuck “Feets” Minert 

Stu Morley *** 

Eddie Mulder 

ron nelson 

Jody nicholas 

nick nicholson 

Bob nichols 

sonny nutter 

Jack o’Brien 

Jim odom 

cliff onan 

chuck Palmgren 

Joe Parkhurst 

Mike Parti 

Dud Perkins 

stu Peters 

Joe Petrali 

Preston Petty 

Barbara Phillips 

Jimmy Phillips 

sammy Pierce 

Elmer rasmussen 

Harrison reno 

Jim rice 

John rice 

George rich 

J.n. roberts 

roxy rockwood 

larry roeseler 

Al rogers 

***2013 inductees 

Gene romero 

Dan rouit 

cindy rutherford 

Bob sandgren 

Kenny scholfield 

Dave schuler 

Bobby schwartz 

steve scott 

Bob shirey 

tom sifton 

Jack simmons 

Bob sirKegian sr. 

Buck smith 

Don smith 

Malcolm smith 

Don spargur 

Wilson springer 

lee standley 

Peter starr 

Buddy Stubbs *** 

Harry sucher 

Don surplice 

ray tanner 

sammy tanner 

shell thuet 

“Doc” trainor 

skip Van leeuwen 

A.F. Van order 

Don Vesco 

Joe Walker 

c.H. Wheat 

ralph White 

Tom White *** 

larry Wilburn 

lynn Wineland 

Eddie Wirth 

tim Witham 

Keenan Wynn 


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ED KrEtZ JUnior 

In 2000, Skip Van Leeuwen, Tom Cates and Jim Feuling came 

up with the idea of honoring motorcycle racing legend Dick 

Hammer at the Del Mar Show. Hammer, who at the time was 

still winning a ten-year battle with cancer, had throughout his 

life demonstrated a rare level of “Desire, Determination and 

Dedication” in everything he pursued, from racing motorcycles 

to his fight with cancer. 

A special perpetual trophy was created and Dick was the first 

recipient. He was surprised with the presentation of the trophy 

and well pleased to have an ongoing award carrying his name as 

a part of the popular Del Mar motorcycle event. The following 

year the honors went to 1970 AMA Grand National Champion 

Gene Romero, followed by racing great Joe Leonard. 

Motorcycle racing ended at Del Mar in 2002 however, so the 

idea was presented to the Trailblazers to make it a part of our 

annual banquet. It has not only been a part of the Trailblazers 

annual banquet ever since, it is the club’s highest award. 

For 2013, the Trailblazers Board 

of Directors 

Photos by Mahony Photos 

considered many candidates, but unanimously agreed that Ed 

Kretz, Jr. best lived up to the Hammer’s “Desire, Determination 

and Dedication” criteria and we are proud to present him the 

award this year. He was previously inducted into the Trailblazers 

Hall of Fame and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. 

Kretz was born in Pomona, CA. in 1932. Following in the 

footsteps of his famous father, Ed “Iron Man” Kretz, Eddie had a 

very successful racing career, including winning the 1955 Peoria 

TT National, plus top off-road finishes at Catalina and Big Bear, 

as well as being the Pacific Coast TT Champion three times. 

He went to work with his father at their Ed Kretz & Son 

dealership in Monterey Park, as well as serving on the Trailblazers 

Board of Directors for many years alongside his wife Elaine, until 

they relocated to Colorado. 

Ed is not able to travel 

a lot these days, so it has 

been many years since he 

has been able to attend 

our annual banquet. The 

Trailblazers welcomes 

Ed back to Southern 

California and to 

the banquet, and 

congratulates him for 

this prestigious award. 

two future trailblazers Hall of Famers Ed Kretz Jr. (33) 

and chuck Basney battled at carrell speedway in 1952. 

Ed Kretz Jr. was born and raised in southern california. After 

retiring from the motorcycle business, Ed and his wife Elaine 

remained active with the trailblazers, both serving on the Board of 

Directors, until they moved to colorado where they live today. 

Early in his racing career, Ed Junior rode 

some of his dad’s indian scouts. 

Kretz and Hammer mix it up at Ascot a few years after the previous photo. Hammer was 

by this time one of the Harley-Davidson Motor company’s leading riders on the national 

circuit, riding Harleys built and tuned at long Beach Harley-Davidson. Dick Hammer has 

since passed on, but his spirit lives through the trailblazers annual presentation of the 

Dick Hammer Award. We are pleased to recognize Ed Kretz Junior this year. 

2013 dick hammer 

award recipienT 

Ed Junior (right) with his famous father, Ed “iron Man” Kretz, 

the winner of the first ever Daytona 200 and many other 

major championship races. 

circa 1960, Kretz leads a then up-and-coming BsA rider 

named Dick Hammer (17X) at a daytime Ascot tt. 

Previous winners of the 

Dick Hammer Award: 

2000 Dick Hammer 

2001 Gene Romero 

2002 Joe Leonard 

2003 Everett Brashear 

2004 Tom Cates 

2005 Dick Mann 

2006 Bud Ekins 

2007 Skip Van Leeuwen 

2008 Dennis Mahan 

2009 Malcolm Smith 

2010 Dan Gurney 

2011 Ralph White 

2012 Sammy Tanner 

Page 8 69th TRAILBLAZERS BANQUET PROGRAM 


Page 9

p o s t h u m o u s a w a r d 

2013 

hall 

of fame 

inductee 

Larry Bergquist would have to be considered one of the greatest 

off-road motorcycle racers who ever lived. According to 

AMA District 37 records, only two riders (JN Roberts and Dan 

Smith) have caught or surpassed Larry’s overall desert, Baja and 

off-road win total since he retired from racing 41 years ago. 

What’s amazing is that Larry did not score an overall win in 

the desert until he was 31 years old. When he did finally break 

through for top honors, the wins came often. He raced desert and 

other off-road races for 25 years and scored 32 overall victories 

and 18 runner-up finishes in the 106 races he competed in. All 

together he finished with 95 top-ten overall finishes out of the 

106 races and a stunning 80 class wins! 

Another noteworthy aspect of Larry’s racing career is that he 

accomplished so much under bad circumstances. His father, 

Albin, suffered a massive stroke in 1955, which began twelve 

sad and difficult years for the entire Bergquist family, and 

significantly limiting Larry’s racing activities. Larry’s first wife 

Pauline said, “Sometimes the money just wasn’t there either for 

Larry to race as much as he would have liked. He tried to make as 

many races as he could, but visiting his dad in the hospital always 

came first.” Larry missed out on well over 120 races during his 

father’s hospitalization, a time that was filled with one medical 

complication after another for Albin, including the loss of a leg 

to amputation from complications brought on by Diabetes. He 

passed away in 1967, having never seen his son race motorcycles 

in person. 

Larry Bergquist was born in Pasadena in 1932. His first job 

was at Milne Brothers. Jack and Cordy Milne hired Larry when 

he was 15 years old to sweep the floors and clean the shop area. 

Along the way, both Jack and Cordy became mentors to Larry as 

his racing activities took off and they were his first sponsor. 

Bergquist later worked as a photo engraver for KC Photo 

Engraving in Pasadena for 40 years, was married twice, had three 

sons (Steve, Eric and Larry Jr.) and one daughter (Tambra). 

In 1968 alone, Larry had one of the most successful years ever 

Page 10 

lArry BErGQUist 

lArry BErGQUist “the Desert Fox” • 1932-2003 

larry Bergquist 

speeds across 

the california 

desert on 

a Bultaco 

Pursang, likely 

heading for 

one of his 32 

overall race 

victories 

during his 

career. 

in off-road racing history. Victories and awards included the 

AMA 250cc Regional and National Hare Scrambles Sportsman of 

the Year awards, Mexican 1000 overall win (with Gary Preston), 

Stardust 7/11 overall win (with Gary Preston), NORRA Off Road 

Racing Team of the Year (with Gary Preston), AMA District 

37 250cc California State Hare and Hound Championship and 

AMA District 37 250cc Champion with 19 overall wins. 

All together, his racing career accomplishments include: 

R E S T I N P E A C E 

• Ranked 3rd in overall victories in AMA District 37’s history with 31 confirmed 

overall Cross Country desert victories, plus one additional overall win in District 36. 

• 5-Time California State Hare and Hound Champion 

• 2-Time California / Nevada State Hare Scrambles Champion 

• 2-Time National Hare Scrambles Champion 

• 2-Time Pacific Southwest Hare and Hound Champion 

• Teamed with Gary Preston, won The Mexican 1000 overall on a motorcycle the 

first eight years the race was held. 

• Named to the United States team for the 1968 ISDT held in Spain. 

Larry was fortunate to have numerous organizations support 

his racing efforts through the years. They include: Milne Brothers, 

Johnson Motors, Long Beach Honda, Fergus and Griffin Bultaco, 

Kawasaki, Circle Industries, So. Cal. Harley-Davidson Dealer 

Association, Harley-Davidson of Westminster, Bultaco Western. 

A 4-pack a day cigarette habit eventually took its toll and Larry 

passed away in 2003 from throat cancer. 

“The Good Samaritan” 

by Dale Boller 

The following is a excerpt from a race report written for “Motorcycling News” 

by Dale Boller of the 1964 California State Championship Hare Scrambles 

held at Red Rock Canyon. 

“A good Samaritan story should be related here. 500cc Expert Roger 

Dietz was leading the race closely followed by another 500 Expert 

Larry Bergquist. Dietz hit a rut at high speed and took a very hard fall. 

Bergquist was so close that he brushed Dietz as he fell, inflicting only 

slight bruises. However Dietz hit the crown of his forks with such force 

that he was rendered unconscious. Bergquist stopped, dropping out of 

his then-first place position and stayed with Dietz until he was safely on 

his way to the Bakersfield hospital by car. Hats off to Larry Burgquist, a 

member of the Buzzards M.C. who certainly practiced the Golden Rule 

in regards to Checker Roger Dietz. 

At the hospital Dietz underwent surgery for three hours to relieve 

pressure on the brain. The impact was so hard that his helmet was 

completely penetrated by the fork crown.” 

Note: According to Bergquist’s son Eric, Larry used a big piece of sage to keep Dietz 

from swallowing his tongue and choking while he was convulsing. Then after the 

sweep crew reached Roger and had him loaded safely in a car, Larry re-joined the 

race dead last and finished 5th overall, and clinched the state championship in his 

class for the year. 

Note: Thanks to Eric Bergquist for his assistance compiling the statistics and background information for this story. 

69th TRAILBLAZERS BANQUET PROGRAM


2013 

hall 

of fame 

inductee 

Page 12 

WAlt MAHony 

Walt Mahony captured the action for cycle Action Magazine, as 

2013 Dick Hammer Award recipient Ed Kretz Jr (33) led the way 

in this 1959 race at Ascot Park. 

Walt Mahony was one of motorsports most prolific 

photojournalists and a fixture at many of California’s 

racetracks, the most notable of which was Ascot Park in 

Gardena. When he passed away in 2002, Walt had been an active 

photographer for five decades. Through the years he had also 

earned his Screen Actors Guild card and appeared in several 

feature films, been a race promoter and built motorcycle racing 

frames. 

He actually got his start in racing photography when the 

regular photographer didn’t show up one night in 1951 at Carrell 

Speedway in Gardena. Walt’s camera equipment was a Navy 

Surplus 4x5 Speed Graphic and Graflex wet-cell battery that 

weighed about 20 pounds each. 

Later in the 1950s, local racing moved to the new ¼-mile 

Gardena Speedway, but many deaths and injuries convinced 

Walt that 400 pound Harleys and Indians needed a bigger track 

to run on. He designed “pipe dream” plans for a wider, safer and 

faster half-mile track. 

By 1956, Walt was working in the photographic departments 

of Universal and Paramount studios in addition to the Los 

Angeles Herald-Express, a well-known tabloid newspaper. One 

weekend he raced in his first Scrambles race on a Triumph, broke 

his ankle and got fired because he was unable to work. 

He took his severance and insurance money and leased 37 

acres of swamp, wild strawberries and an illegal dump and put 

all his energies into the design and building of Los Angeles 

Speedway, later know worldwide as Ascot Park. 

He partnered with Harry Schooler and they ran Sprint Cars, 

motorcycles (1/2-mile and TT), Jalopies, and NASCAR latemodel 

cars. Walt’s new career as a promoter looked promising 

Building 

los Angeles 

speedway 

in 1956. 

1926-2002 

until he lost his lease when 

Schooler reportedly took all the 

gate receipts, snack bar money 

and entry fees and split for 

Mexico during the running of a 

big USAC Stock Car race. Walt 

had to pay the drivers out of his 

own pocket. 

In 1959, J.C. Agajanian took 

over the lease and renamed the 

track New Ascot Speedway, 

later shortened it to just 

“Ascot.” Walt served as track 

photographer there for the 

Agajanian family until the track 

closed in the early 1990s. 

In 1970 he took a job to 

manage Trackmaster Frames 

for Ray Hensley. He did that 

for a year, then bought the 

famed company and went to 

work designing the “squashed 

backbone” mile track frames 

for British twins and triples. 


Walt Mahony shot photos at Ascot 

Park from the day it opened in 1959 

(even before that if you include its 

time as “los Angeles speedway”) 

until it closed in the early 1990s. 

During that time, Walt owned some Ascot-winning Triumphs 

and Yamahas that were ridden by many top riders, including 

John Hateley, Tom Berry and Ron Moore. Walt’s designs and his 

many other innovations kept Trackmaster frames in demand 

both then, and still today as classic and vintage racers continue 

their popularity. 

When Ascot closed, Walt retired to Missouri and continued 

what he knew best and what he will be remembered for the most: 

racing photography. He covered racing at Airport Speedway in 

Springfield, MO until he passed away at age 76 on September 1, 

2002. Typical of his unique attitude and sense of humor, on his 

passing he requested that the mourners should buy a six-pack 

of Corona beer, a Sinatra tape, and enjoy life while you have it. 

The lives of most members of the Trailblazers were affected by 

Walt Mahony in one way or another, either using Trackmaster 

frames on the track, or for most, just seeing his extensive 

motorcycle racing photography in publications that continue to 

appear to this day. We welcome his posthumous induction into 

the Trailblazers Hall of Fame. 

Harry schooler (left) and Walt 

Mahony in 1958 when they 

co-promoted motorcycle and 

car races at their los Angeles 

speedway. the pair had an 

unexpected “parting of the ways” 

during a car race that year leaving 

Mahony with a race purse to pay 

out of his own pocket. 


Congratulations! 

to 2013 

Dick Hammer Award 

Recipient 

Ed Kretz, Jr.! 

Also, congratulations to this year’s 

Trailblazers Hall of Fame inductees: 

Larry Bergquist 

Jim Connolly 

Lori Conway 

Larry Huffman 

Walt Mahony 

Stu Morley 

Buddy Stubbs 

& Tom White 

From Dan and Justin Gurney and all of your friends 

at All American Racers & Alligator Motorcycles.

2013 

hall 

of fame 

inductee 

Jim with one of his many District 37 #1 trophies. 

Born in 1938, Jim Connolly learned to ride by borrowing 

friends’ bikes until he could afford his own. He didn’t start 

racing until he was married with children in the 1960’s, but as 

soon as he dropped the clutch he was hooked. He won the very 

first race he entered and began racing every weekend in different 

events. Still a novice and riding a knobby-tired 175cc Montessa, 

Jim naively entered the Long Beach indoor short track and set 

the fastest qualifying time ahead of Dick Mann. Jim led the main 

that night until his Montessa sputtered to a stop. “I forgot to turn 

on the gas,” says Jim. “Novice mistake.” 

Jim got some structure for his racing when he joined the Dirt 

Diggers Motorcycle Club and he was able to focus on District 

37 Scrambles racing. It wasn’t long before he added bikes to 

his stable and started riding two classes (for more track time) 

and winning titles. He held the District 37 #1 plate in either the 

Open or 250cc class for more than four years, sometimes earning 

both plates in the same year. He was a competitor of some of the 

top riders of the era and has fond memories of banging bars on 

Page 14 

JiM connolly We Were Here When Vintage Was New 

his Greeves Griffon and Bultaco Pursangs against Jim Hunter, 

Gary Jones, Chuck Minert, and C.H. Wheat. He started racing 

motocross in 1972 and won more titles in the 125cc class and 

Open class. He also took in the ISDT qualifiers, desert races and 

endurance events like the Mint 400. 

When fellow Dirt Digger, Rick “Super Hunky” Sieman started 

Dirt Bike magazine in 1971, he approached the club’s top rider to 

help test and evaluate new bikes; thus, Jim became the magazine’s 

premier test rider and photo model. Jim graced the cover of the 

first issue of Dirt Bike and many more over the tenure of Sieman’s 

editorship. Jim was a pioneer in writing “how-to-ride” articles by 

coaching readers in the arts of scrambles and motocross racing 

supplemented with photos of his flawless riding style. 

Jim continued to race and test-ride until marriage, kids and 

finance forced him to focus on other work at the age of 42, but 

he never left the sport. A machinist by trade, Jim had his own 

business, Connolly Products, which still thrives today. For a long 

time Connolly Products focused on the aerospace industry, but 

Jim also made special parts for his racer friends whenever he had 

the time. It soon took over most of his business and today he is 

a contractor for American Honda Racing, working to keep their 

roadracing, motocross, and off-road teams in the winner’s circle. 

Jim couldn’t stay off the track though and returned to racing 

when he was 57. Riding an XR600 he won more #1 plates in the 

Big 6 GP Series. Jim continues to race and is thrilled that entries 

are free now that he is over 70 year old. He still rides with much 

of the same style and grace that made him so fast and photogenic 

back in the day. 

Welcome Jim to the Trailblazers Hall of Fame! 

testing a Hodaka for Dirt Bike magazine. 


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Page 15

the 

trailblazers 

7th annual trailblazers banquet 

March 16, 1946 

Basically, we’re a group of fun-loving motorcycling enthusiasts 

and racers whose mission is to keep the spirit of motorcycling 

alive in Southern California by gathering annually for a gettogether 

banquet and, occasionally, other functions as the spirit 

dictates. 

A.F. Van Order founded the Trailblazers in 1936. As a Los 

Angeles area motorcycling enthusiast, he would round up 

a number of fellow riders from that era and they’d have their 

sessions of bench racing. By 1940 it was time to get more 

serious (and formal) and the first of many annual banquets was 

scheduled. It was a “Stag” event – men only. Pioneer motorcyclist 

Paul “Dare Devil” Derkum was elected the first president of the 

... A BriEF History 

Trailblazers at the 1940 banquet. 

World War II put a damper on such activities, as most of the 

members had gone off to fight for Uncle Sam. The cadence was 

restored following the war, with Van Order at the helm. When 

“Van” passed away, others continued the tradition, including 

publisher Floyd Clymer. After Floyd’s death in 1970, however, 

the annual gatherings were in limbo for several years. 

Spear-headed by Max Bubeck and Earl Flanders, the banquets 

were reactivated in the mid-1970s, and ladies were more than 

welcome to attend. Eventually, motorcycle editor and publisher 

Bill Bagnall took the helm and presided over the Trailblazers 

for many years. Bagnall later turned over the leadership duties, 

which have been carried on since by Keith Mashburn, Walt 

Fulton Jr. and current president Don Emde. Bill passed away in 

2006. 

A wide variety of motorcycling enthusiasts and celebrities 

have attended the Trailblazers banquets. Early day legends 

such as Jim Davis, Erwin “Cannon Ball” Baker, Jack Milne, Ed 

Kretz, Floyd Emde, Ben Campanale and others were regulars, as 

were Hollywood stars such as Lee Marvin, Steve McQueen and 

Keenan Wynn. 

To spice up the evening’s festivities, themes were added such as 

“Big Bear,” “Daytona,” “Catalina,” “Motorcycle Clubs,” “Famous 

Tuners,” and “Off-Road Competition.” More recently we have 

added the “Trailblazers Hall of Fame” and the “Dick Hammer 

Award,” which is a beautiful “Mach Warrior” sculpture given 

annually to an individual who represents the level of “Desire, 

Drive and Determination” of the award’s namesake Dick 

Hammer. 

In recent years, the Trailblazers became affiliated with the 

Motorcycle Industry Council, the industry’s major trade 

organization. The club now functions as a sub-committee of the 

MIC Aftermarket Committee, a relationship that will ensure 

the Trailblazers have the resources and structure to continue its 

mission to preserve motorcycling’s heritage. 



Page 17

Page 18 

Ascot PictoriAl 

Mahony captures the moment as Jack o’Brien (24) and stu Morley battle side-byside 

for a race win in 1963. 

Positioned on the outside of turn 1, Mahony gets the 

full view of the pack at it enters turn 1 at the start 

of the 1965 Ascot 100-lap tt. lots of trailblazers in 

this photo. How many can you name? 

no race promoter 

ever did a better 

job with opening 

ceremonies. this 

early 1960s Mahony 

photos includes 

(from left): J.c. 

Aganjanian, Brad 

Andres, Joe 

leonard, troy 

lee, Don Basile 

from Agajanian 

Enterprises (behind 

lee), Dick Mann, Al 

Gunter, stu Morley 

and sammy tanner. 

Photography of Walt Mahony at Ascot Park 

in 1960, AMA #1 carroll resweber battled Al Gunter in the early 

going for the lead in the 8-Mile national at Ascot. resweber 

later spun out and Gunter went on to victory. 

Except for a worried looking stu Morley in the middle, it’s a lighthearted 

moment on the starting line of a 1960 Ascot race. sammy 

tanner’s tuner Pete colman sits on the #7 triumph, with Morley’s 

tuner Dick Bultmann holding his 8x BsA, then rider troy lee and 

lee’s long Beach Harley-Davidson tuner Jerry Branch. 



COLLECT HISTORY 

Dan Mahony and his late-father Walt have 

been capturing motorcycle race action 

in photos for over half a century. Prints 

available. See numerous examples of 

available images on our Facebook page. 

THEN 

Tom White, National Number 80 on 

the San Jose Mile in 1974. 

Tom White with his 

one-of-a-kind motocross collection. 

NOW 

Mahony Photos 

P.O. Box 139. Urbana, MO 65767 

Phone: 417-993-5159 

Email: mahonyphotos@yahoo.com 

Facebook: DAN MAHONY 

We accept checks, money order or PayPal. 

Tom White and the Early Years 

of Motocross Museum wish all 

of the Trailblazers members a 

great banquet and bike show! 

About the Early Years of 

Motocross Museum: It is a private 

museum in Villa Park, CA open 

only for planned events. 

Check out our web page at 

www.earlyyearsofmx.com for 

info on the museum and how 

to register to attend an event. 

All proceeds raised by the 

museum are donated to the 

High Hopes Head Injury Center. 

Please check out this wonderful 

charity at www.highhopes.ws. 

Page 19

2013 

hall 

of fame 

inductee 

Page 20 

BUDDy stUBBs 

Buddy stubbs became a nationally known and respected racer when he 

won the 100-mile Amateur final at Daytona in 1963. 

Buddy Stubbs is a man who was literally born into a life of 

motorcycling. His parents owned and lived in a Harley- 

Davidson dealership in the Midwest where Buddy’s first crib 

was a drawer in the shop. Buddy’s father was a hill-climber 

and taught him to ride at a young age. By age 10 he was racing 

and won his first trophy a year later. From that point forward, 

Buddy’s ambition was to be a motorcycle racer. The first big win 

came at age 15 when he took the checkered flag at a TT event in 

Peoria, Illinois. Buddy took racing seriously and was a threat in 

TT scrambles, flat track and road racing and was a familiar sight 

Many sons of Harley-Davidson dealers in the 1950s and 60s started riding 

on the 125cc two-stroke Harley-Davidson Hummers. looks like Buddy’s 

dad carl came up with a clever way to promote his business while the 

younger stubbs learned to ride. 

on Harley race bikes carrying the No. 42 plate. Buddy’s biggest 

win was the Daytona 100 Miler in 1963. 

By 1966 Buddy’s racing career was starting to wind down 

when he received a call from Harley-Davidson’s president Walter 

Davidson. Davidson and Stubbs were old friends and the Harley- 

Davidson Motor Company had a dealership in Arizona that was 

in trouble. He asked Buddy to run the struggling dealership until 

a buyer could be found to take it over. Buddy liked the challenge 

and moved to Phoenix to live behind the shop in a trailer as he 

put the store back on its feet. The struggling dealership soon 

began to prosper and Davidson 

asked Buddy to take over 

permanently and personally 

co-signed the loan so he could 

purchase the store. Buddy 

still owns and operates the 

dealership to this day along 

with his sons, Frank and Jack. 

The next call Buddy received 

was from Hollywood; Bud 

Ekins who was doing some 

projects in Arizona needed 

a good stunt rider. Buddy’s 

stunt career took off and 

encompassed some of the best- 

known motorcycle movies and 

television of the era, including 

the memorable television series 

Then Came Bronson. 

For a time Buddy stubbs made 

a good living as a stunt rider 

for movies and television. 

“My favorite movie was Electra Glide in Blue in 1973,” says 

Buddy. “It was a motorcycle cop movie. It was shot entirely in 

Arizona. Harley-Davidson sent me five new police model Electra 

Glides for use in the movie which I rode, fixed, and maintained.” 

The whole time Buddy raced, ran his dealership and worked 

in movies, he fed his passion for motorcycles by collecting 

his favorite bikes. A few years ago a 3,000 square-foot wing of 

Buddy’s Phoenix dealership was specially built as a museum to 

house his impressive personal collection of classic and vintage 

motorcycles. “Although I’ve had a lifetime of involvement with 

Harley-Davidson,” Buddy says, “I’ve never been prejudiced 

toward any brand of motorcycle. I just love all motorcycles and 

I have owned, raced and ridden many brands.” His collection 

includes Vincent/HRD, BSA, Harley-Davidson, Indian, Ariel, 

and Norton motorcycles. 

Buddy still rides; he just completed the coast-to-coast pre-1930 

Cannonball endurance run on one of his museum bikes. When 

he’s not riding, you can find him in one of his two dealerships 

(Buddy Stubbs Arizona Harley-Davidson in Phoenix or Buddy 

Stubbs Anthem Harley-Davidson) or conducting tours of his 

museum. He really loves his collection of bikes and has a personal 

story to tell about many of them. The Trailblazers proudly 

welcome Buddy Stubbs to the Hall of Fame and congratulate him 

on a lifetime of motorcycling achievement. 


ted lapadakis, High Vista 1964 


to tonight’s Trailblazers 

Hall of Fame inductees 

and other honorees! 

Ted Lapadakis 

and the 

Checkers 

Motorcycle Club 

ted lapadakis (middle) with Al Baker and 

John rice, isDE 1969, Garmich, Germany 

Page 21

2013 

hall 

of fame 

inductee 

tom White at the 1975 Ascot tt national. 

The first time Tom White rode a motorcycle he crashed into 

a parked Cadillac. Despite that early set-back, he was soon 

blasting through a dirt pit near his parents’ house on a 1967 

Yamaha 100cc. Soon, he graduated to a DT1 with a GYT kit 

and entered his first race at Huntington Beach Cycle Park where 

he crashed three times on the first lap. As Tom is persistent, he 

kept practicing and racing. A few years later he was a top rookie 

expert: “National #80” racing a Harley XR750 on ½-miles, Miles, 

and TT’s against riders like Mert Lawwill and Kenny Roberts. 

To support his racing program, Tom 

worked in the motorcycle industry where he 

learned the skills to start his own business, 

Tom White Cycle Specialties. A new fracture 

in his already plated arm ended his pro racing 

career and severely curtailed his ability to run 

his new business. His brother Dan came to 

the rescue and the siblings formed the now 

famous White Brothers in 1975. 

For nearly three decades White Brothers 

successfully created and marketed new 

products for dirt bikes, ATVs and Harley- 

Davidsons and sponsored racers and racing series like the White 

Brothers World Veteran MX Championships. “The happy stuff,” 

says Tom “was being involved with riders like Bob Hannah, Brad 

Lackey, Scott Parker, Chris Carr, and Scott Russell. I enjoyed 

working with some really great employees, customers, and 

vendors in an industry that I’m still passionate about. Possibly 

the best part to this date, is having access and friendships with 

many of my heroes.” 

When the company was purchased by a venture capitalist 

group, Tom decided to focus on his family and his personal 

passion for collecting vintage dirt bikes. “At White Brothers I had 

started collecting early motocross bikes,” says Tom. “First was 

Page 22 

toM WHitE 

tom and 

his dad on 

the road 

in colby, 

Kansas. 

tom cranked over at Ascot in 1973. 

the whole White Brothers crew out in front of their headquarters 

in yorba linda. 

a Greeves that I planned to restore with the help of my young 

son Brad. Though I had never raced Greeves I just loved the 

look. We did manage to get it apart, but we soon realized it was 

more fun to ride them than work on them, so a friend, Denny 

Berg, completed the restoration. Soon a Triumph Metisse and a 

Wheelsmith Maico was added to the collection. By the early 90’s 

I had somewhat of a focus for the collections. The focus was bikes 

that were important in the early years of American motocross.” 

That small collection is now the Early Years of Motocross 

Museum with nearly 120 collector bikes 

featuring 45 different brands of motorcycles. 

In Tom’s retirement life he spends much of 

his time sharing his Early Years of Motocross 

Museum, continues to work in the motorcycle 

business for the Motorsport Aftermarket 

Group as an advisor, supports his daughter 

– Kristin and her husband John Anderson’s 

company - Dubya USA, rides bicycles with 

his Road Bike Action editor son - Michael, 

and does his best to repay the motorcycle 

industry for his good fortune. On any given 

weekend you might hear his voice over the loud speaker at a local 

motocross or off-road race, as he has also become an outstanding 

announcer. The Trailblazers are proud to add Tom White to the 

Hall of Fame. 

The Early Years of Motocross Museum is open for special 

events only. One of Tom’s most popular events is called “Bikes 

and Burgers Night” with all profits going to the High Hopes 

Brain Injury Center. He attends the High Hopes fundraiser 

annually in Newport Beach and shares the story of his museum, 

the generosity of motorcycle people and presents a sizeable 

check to help with tuition for less fortunate head injury victims. 

For more information visit http://www.earlyyearsofmx.com 



Join us for our 22nd Annual Open House 

SUNDAY 

May 19, 2013 * 

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM 

* Handford Swap and Show is the day before 

Your hosts: Dan and Kathy Rouit 

FREE Admission 

Bring your family and friends! 

Dan Rouit’s Flattrack Museum 

309 W. Rialto Ave., Clovis, CA 93612-4331 

(one block north of Gettysburg Ave., 

between Peach and Villa Avenues.) 

Have a question? Have a bike to display? 

Call Dan at 559-291-2242 

BUDDY STUBBS HARLEY-DAVIDSON 

13850 N. CAVE CREEK ROAD PHOENIX, AZ 85022 

(602) 971-3400 | BUDDYSTUBBS.COM 

Page 23

2013 

hall 

of fame 

inductee 

Larry Huffman’s passion for motorcycling began when his 

father paid $50 for a 1948 Whizzer and gave the machine to 

him as a birthday gift. From that point on Larry almost always 

had a motorcycle as his favorite form of transportation; however, 

it was his unique voice and rapid-fire speech that made him 

famous in racing. 

He began his career as a disc jockey, but his love and respect for 

racing drove him to the tracks begging to announce. He started 

at the Lion’s Drag Strip in 1968 announcing the cars and bikes 

for $5 an hour and quickly moved on to the Southern California 

Speedway circuit. When the Motocross World Championships 

came to Saddleback Park in 1970, Larry was the voice shouting 

all those unique European names over the load speakers as they 

raced into motocross history. 

Since then, he has announced at nearly every type of motorcycle 

race, including Supercross, Arenacross, ice racing, drag racing, 

flat track, roadracing, speedway and hillclimb. He has announced 

Page 24 

lArry HUFFMAn 

no cozy press boxes for larry, he liked to work trackside and became a part of the show. 

Huffman all suited up in a tuxedo for the 

weekly speedway show at costa Mesa. 

at motorcycle races in 

nearly every major city in 

the United States, Canada 

and Japan. 

Larry was the choice 

to announce at the first 

Superbowl of Motocross 

at the Los Angeles 

Coliseum in 1972. And 

when Supercross came to 

television, Larry was the 

man at the mic and is still 

recognized as the original 

“Voice of Supercross.” It was 

announcing Supercross 

where Larry’s descriptive 

terminology became catchphrases 

mimicked to this 

day. Who can forget “He’s 

on him like a dog on a piece 

of meat!” or “He’s after him 

like a Krishna on an airport 

traveler!” Huffman’s voice 

is so famous that he was asked to announce Supercross events 

in English to thousands of non-English speaking fans in Japan. 

“Every now and then I would shout ‘Bonsai!’ And the whole 

stadium would cheer,” says Larry of the fond memory. 

As a television host, Huffman realized that many racers were 

camera shy and often gave poor interviews. So he developed 

an in-studio PR course, where they could learn to relax and 

better serve their fans and sponsors. Companies such as Harley- 

Davidson, Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki hired Larry 

to coach their racers into personalities. Graduates of the course 

include Jeff Ward, Rick Johnson, Mark Barnett, Scott Parker, 

Wayne Rainey, Kent Howerton and Eddie Lawson. 

Larry went on to create and produce the first motorcycle 

magazine television show to air on a major American network, 

Motorcycle World with Larry Huffman, which was followed by 

a radio version of the show. He also co-wrote and 

co-produced the motion picture On Any Sunday II. 

Nicknamed “Supermouth” by the Los Angeles 

Times for his ability to get the crowds excited at 

motorcycle races and for being clocked at over 

300 words per minute, Larry also has the dubious 

distinction of having been imitated by comedians in 

comedy clubs across the United States. 

You can still hear Larry’s voice on television and 

radio commercials all over the country. He lives 

and operates his PR and announcing business out 

of his home in Big Bear. The Trailblazers are proud 

to welcome Larry “Supermouth” Huffman into the 

Hall of Fame. 


“Where Legends Gather. . .” 

DEL MAR FAIRGROUNDS 

DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA 

SEPTEMBER 13, 14 & 15, 2013 

Effie - by Scott Jacobs 

DON’T MISS THIS 

EXCITING WEEKEND! 

EVENT SCHEDULE: 

FRIDAY 

• MidAmerica Auction at Celebration of 

the Motorcycle/Doors open at 4:00PM 

SATURDAY 

• MidAmerica Auction 

at Celebration of the Motorcycle 

• Broc Glover’s Evening Party and 

Concert to Benefit the Cystic Fibrosis 

Foundation 

SUNDAY 

• Celebration of the Motorcycle 

Concours d’Elegance 

• Broc Glover’s Breathe Easy Ride-In 

Bike Show to Benefit the Cystic 

Fibrosis Foundation 

www.katancha.com 

To be a Vendor at this event, 

please call Chase Micheal at 

Katancha Corp. at 

(262)442-5205 or Email: 

info@katancha.com 

www.midamericaauctions.com www.celebrationofthemotorcycle.com 760.436.9937 www.resmarket.com 

For complete information, tickets and to enter your classic motorcycle: 

www.CelebrationOfTheMotorcycle.com

2013 

hall 

of fame 

inductee 

Page 26 

lori conWAy 

4-time Women’s AMA District 37 #1 lori conway 

In 1969 when other nine year-old girls were playing with dolls, 

Lori Conway was out riding her dirt bike. After school and on 

weekends all Lori wanted to do was ride; it wasn’t long before she 

started racing. The longer and tougher the race, the better Lori 

liked it. She discovered desert racing in 1975 and realized she 

had found her sport. Riding a 175cc Can-Am, Lori quickly rose 

through the ranks of the Desert Racing Association and by 1976 

earned the Woman’s #1 plate in the DRA. 

That was just the beginning of a brilliant desert racing career 

for Lori. She would go on to win the Woman’s #1 plate in the 

tough AMA District 37 from 1981-1984. Her favorite events 

were long distance endurance races where she excelled. Lori won 

the Woman’s class in the Check Chase Hare & Hound in 1981 

and 1982 and topped all other women (and most of the men) 

in the famous Barstow to Vegas race in 1984 and again in 1986. 

When rally racing came to North America, Lori couldn’t resist 

the challenge and beat all other women in the world at the 1994 

and 1995 Nevada Rally. She capped her 20-plus year career as 

a racer by winning the Woman’s class in the grueling Vegas to 

Reno event in 1996 and 1998. 

A thirst for victory and a winning smile made Lori a magnet 

for sponsors. Over the years she proudly wore the colors for 

Can-Am, Bultaco, Yamaha, Honda, Dura-Lube, Torco, Simpson 

Desert riders know what it means when someone says: 

“come Hell or high water!” 

Helmets, Shoei Helmets, Answer Products, Fox, White Brothers, 

IMS, Pro Circuit, and Dunlop Tires. 

In Lori’s professional life her dedication to the motorcycle 

industry has been as focused as her passion for racing. She 

worked for numerous Southern California dealers and 

motorcycle-related companies as she raced and attended 

Fullerton College. After graduating in 1982, Lori went to work 

for American Honda Motor Corporation. At Honda, Lori was 

the first female motorcycle field service representative, as well as 

that, she also personally developed the motorcycle field groups 

for Honda Finance. 

Lori currently works for Honda Research and Development 

in the Motorcycle Division where her years as a racer have paid 

off in the development of many of the Honda motorcycles and 

ATVs people ride today. Lori continues to ride motorcycles 

both on and off-road and has toured both North America and 

New Zealand. She still races an occasional SRA Grand Prix or 

24 Hours at Glen Helen when she’s not trail riding more than 20 

weekends per year. 

Lori turned her passion for motorcycling into numerous 

championships and a stellar career in the industry. She 

exemplifies everything it means to be a Trailblazer and the club 

proudly welcomes Lori Conway to its Hall of Fame. 


CongraTuLaTionS 

gooD CHoiCe, TRAilBlAzeRS! 

fRoM youR fRieNDS! 

lori Farmer conway 

2013 Trailblazers Hall of Fame inductee 

…a rider 

…a racer 

…a planner 

…a thinker 

…a doer 

…a business person 

…a confidant 

…a woman 

…a wife 

…a daughter 

…a sister 

…but most of all, 

a FriEnD.


2013 

hall 

of fame 

inductee 

There were many exciting eras of racing at the racetrack 

located at 183rd & Vermont in Gardena, better known as 

Ascot Park. None were more exciting than the early 1960s when 

four riders dominated the racing there every Friday night from 

April to October. One year, between them, they won 30 of the 31 

main events. 

Al Gunter, Neil Keen, Jack O’Brien and Stu Morley became 

known as the “BSA Wrecking Crew.” Week after week they 

battled, not just each other on their almost-matching BSA 

Gold Stars, but also many other great local and National riders. 

Racers like Sammy Tanner, Dick Hammer, Bart Markel, Carroll 

Resweber and Dick Mann to name a few. 

Stu Morley’s success was a result of 

an early interest in engines; a lifelong 

friendship with his race tuner; a 

commitment to keeping his weight at a set 

limit, and riding only one portion of the 

track. He was born April 23, 1933 in West 

Los Angeles, CA, enlisted in the Army in 

1953, got out in 1957 and married Mary 

McKee in 1958. He was small in stature (5 

foot, 5 inches) and maintained his racing 

weight of 129 pounds by restricting his 

diet. He lived in West Hollywood with 

his wife Mary and their son Tom, born in 

1958. 

Stu was obsessed with the workings 

stU MorlEy 

stu Morley, seen here in a rare Walt Mahony color photo, skids his BsA Gold star 

at a daytime half-mile race at tulare in 1962. 

1933-2000 

of internal combustion engines since 

the age of 12. His former schoolmate, 

Dick Bultmann, encouraged him and 

eventually sparked his interest in racing 

motorcycles. They were both lucky to be 

employed by Transco Products, a machine 

shop, where they were allowed to work 

on their bikes and were supported in 

their mechanical and racing endeavors. 

Morley and Bultmann formed a lasting 

friendship and partnership in pursuit of 

a racing career. 

Stu once reflected on how he got 

into racing: “Ever since I was a kid I 

loved anything with a motor and two 

wheels. Before I was old enough to ride, 

I built model airplanes. The gas motors 

interested me greatly and I would run 

motors on my bench for hours. This is 

how I learned about ignition, wiring, 

trouble-shooting and the sounds that 

certain engine troubles make.” 

He added, “When I was in school I was 

much smaller than most boys, so athletics 

wasn’t my thing. In those days, kid’s 

parents didn’t buy them a motorcycle. 

You had to get one yourself, so I bought a 74-cubic inch Harley 

JD basket case and put it together with my model airplane motor 

knowledge. I would ride every day off Mulholland Drive on the 

fire roads.” Stu later bought a Whizzer, then a BSA, and weekends 

were spent at Crater Camp, Adohr or Half Moon Valley. 

After riding in various sporting scrambles and TTs for several 

years, Stu took to Flat Track, racing pro events as a Novice at the 

¼-mile Gardena Speedway in 1955 riding for Freddy Ellsworth. 

He won one Novice Main that year. He also continued to ride 

selected sportsman events like Catalina in 1956, ’57, and ’58. He 

finished 10th in the Open Class in 1957 on a BSA Gold Star. 

Before he was 8X or national number 8, stu Morley was 6X. He is seen here 

winning a trophy Dash at Ascot in 1962 ahead of Don Hawley. 

In 1957 Stu got his AMA Pro Expert license, but it would 

be a few years until he began to make headlines. In 1960 he 

finished 2nd at the Ascot 8-Mile National, 5th at Phoenix and 

5th at Sacramento. He won the Pacific Coast Championship 

race at Ascot and finished 2nd in the Ascot points, notching 33 

firsts, 28 seconds, 13 thirds and 8 fourths (Heats, Trophy Dashes 

and Main Events). These were gained by competing in a total 

of 37 meets without a mechanical breakdown, a fine tribute to 

Bultmann’s skills. 

Morley loved to race low on Ascot’s inside rim, and would 

never move his Gold Star high in the corner. “I always try to 

take ‘em low,” he once said, “That seems to be my groove and 

it’s the shortest way around.” He raced in black leathers and a 

red jumper - - colored leathers were still a few years away. In the 

Ascot pits following a race, his young son Tom could be seen 

standing next to him, wearing an identical small, red jumper 

with 8X. Morley and Bultmann were both superstitious and on 

the way to the track would drive a certain route, had to see a 

black dog, no kissing the wife before races, no eating peanuts in 

the pits and no wearing green. 

Stu scored enough points to earn a National Number in 1960 

and his choice was #8. He lobbied the AMA to fulfill his request, 

but on October 8, 1960 received this reply from the AMA 

notifying him that #88 was the only number available to him. 

Dear Mr. Morley: Your 1961 competition number will 

be #8X, just forget about a National number. There were 

only 12 National numbers available, the other 11 riders 

have accepted the National numbers we asked them 

to accept. We will assign #88 to some other deserving 

Expert. Jules Horky, the AMA Competition Director. 

In 1961 Stu again finished 2nd in the Ascot flat track points. 

He also finished 6th at Sacramento, 5th at Ascot and 8th at 

Springfield and he set the 1-lap and 20-lap records at Ascot. 

He was again eligible for a National Number and this time the 

number that Stu long desired was available. For 1962 he was 

able to finally drop the “X” off his number plate and was now 

National Number 8. 

Stu raced for two more years until he suffered injuries racing at 

Tulare in September, 1963. He didn’t race again until Speedway 

started at Whiteman Stadium. His passion returned and he raced 

the Speedway circuit, sometimes hauling his bike to the races on 

the back of a VW Beetle. He rode Speedway for five years until 

back and knee injuries caused him to retire from racing for good. 

He stayed involved, though, running a Speedway school for 

young riders. He later moved from the track to the pits helping 

his son Tom race a T.Q. Midget. 

Stu Morley passed away on March 6, 2000. 



Page 29 


the famed “BsA 

Wrecking crew” 

of the early 

1960s: Al Gunter 

(3), stu Morley 

(8x), neil Keen 

(10) and Jack 

o’Brien (24). in 

1960, between 

these four, they 

won 30 of 31 

Main Events. 

With his tuner 

and lifelong 

friend Dick 

Bultmann, stu 

proudly accepts 

the 1960 

Pacific coast 

championship 

trophy from 

Don Basile 

from Agajanian 

Enterprises. 

Morley sporting 

his national 

number 8 in 

1962. He was 

eligible for 

a national 

number the 

previous year, 

but rejected the 

AMA’s choice of 

#88. 

After being 

sidelined for 

five years due 

to injuries, stu 

switched to 

speedway racing 

when it was 

revived in America 

in 1968. He was 

first an active ride 

and later became 

a speedway school 

instructor.

sixTy 

ninTh 

annual 

PROGRAM 

Advertisers 

Alligator Motorcycles/All American Racers, Inc.; Barnett Clutches & Cables; Buddy Stubbs 

Harley-Davidson; Circle Bell Motorsports; Dan Rouit’s Flattrack Museum; Del Mar Celebration 

of the Motorcycle; Don Emde Inc.; Friends of Lori Conway; GE Capital; Indian Motorcycle; 

Mahony Photos; Mike Konle’s Champion Crane; Motion Pro; Motorcycle Industry Council; 

Petersen Museum; Saddlemen; S&S Cycle, Inc.; Ted Lapidakis; Tom White’s Early Years 

of Motocross Museum; Van Leeuwen Enterprises, Inc.; Yamaha Motor Corp., USA 

Production 

Editor/Publisher: Don Emde 

Art Director: Morgan Williams 

Contributor/writer: Joe Colombero 

Historic photos: Dan Mahony/Mahony Photos 

Contributor/ 

2012 banquet photos: Dennis Suter /VFT.org 

BANQUET 

Page 30 

TrailBlazers 

BanqueT 

sPonsors 

Wine: GE Capital 

Video: Advanstar 

Hall of Fame medals: Ernie Aragon 

Tom Cates Memorial 

Bike Show trophies: K&N Engineering 

Pit Passes: Van Leeuwen Enterprises 

Hall of Fame trophies: Tom Horton 

Pit Pass lanyards: K&N Engineering 

AcKnoWlEDGEMEnts 

2013 Board 

of directors 

President: Don Emde 

Vice President: Gary Bryson 

Secretary: Judy Whitson 

Other DirectOrs: 

Ernie Aragon 

Paul Collins 

Bryon Farnsworth 

John Hateley 

Tom Horton 

Keith Mashburn* 

Jody Nicholas 

Paul Puma 

Tom Seymour 

Peter Starr 

Skip Van Leeuwen 

Tom White 

*Past President 

At LArge: 

Chris Coulter 

Paul Flanders 

Mary Morley 

Duane Teevans 

Personnel 

Video Production: Keith Mashburn, 

Andy Crittenden/Dinosaur Digital Marketing 

Tom Cates Memorial 

Bike Show producer: Tom White 

Seating layout: “Mr. Bill” Cooper and Gary Bryson 

Pit Pass/wine label art: Nancy Wegrowski 

Communications/Email news/ 

TRAILBLAZERS 

mailings/Sign-in: Judy Whitson 

Meeting Annually Since 1940 

Sign-in: Chris McEntee, Mary Morley 

Contact info: Mail: Trailblazers c/o MIC, 2 Jenner St., Suite 150, Irvine, CA 92618-3806. Email: MCTrailblazers@cs.com 

Stay current about the Trailblazers online at: www.trailblazersmc.com and also on Facebook. 

Motorcycle Industry Council 

The Trailblazers M.C. is a sub-committee of the Motorcycle Industry Council. 

2 Jenner St., Suite 150, Irvine, CA 92618-3806. Ph: 949-727-4211 

MIC President: Tim Buche 

Thanks also to Cam Arnold, Kathy Hicks, Mike Martin, Paul Vitrano, Frank Wagenseller, 

and everyone at the MIC! 


In Appreciation 

With Admiration 

In Recognition 

We’re all riding on so many roads, 

tracks and trails that you pioneered 

since the early days of two-wheeling. 

Without you, motorcycling just wouldn’t be 

the same. 

The Trailblazers – a social organization of 

true enthusiasts, founded in 1936 and keeping 

alive the rich history of motorcycling. For 

years, their home, their meeting place has 

With Veneration 

In Tribute 

With Thanks 

been the headquarters of the Motorcycle 

Industry Council. The Trailblazers are 

an official MIC Subcommittee, offering 

knowledge, counsel and assistance drawing 

from a genuinely veteran perspective. 

As we help build the future of powersports, 

we salute The Trailblazers. They helped 

motorcycling get where it is today and, with 

the MIC, will help lead us through tomorrow.

2013TrailblazersProg.. - Morgan Williams Graphic Design

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