Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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IN THE WIND P72 Three-time Daytona 200 Winner Dick Klamfoth Passes D ick Klamfoth, the first three- time champion of the Day- tona 200, died Friday in Colum- bus, Ohio. He was 91. At the age of 20, Klamfoth burst onto the motorcycle racing scene in March of 1949 when he rode a Norton to a surprise victory in the 200 on his very first attempt. Klamfoth won the spring classic again in 1951 and 1952 to become the first three-time winner of America's most famous motorcycle race. Known as one of the true gentlemen of the sport, Klamfoth was named AMA's Most Popular Rider in 1961. Later in life Klamfoth, along with his wife Bev, devoted his energies to raise money for a Daytona 200 Monument. They spent years raising funds and working with the city of Daytona Beach to get approval to place the monument near the beach- front site of the north turn of the old beach course. With the ideal location secured and with generous donations coming in, the idea became a reality as the Daytona 200 monument was of- ficially dedicated in March 2002. "This monument is likely to be here forever, and everyone can be part of it," Klamfoth said at the dedication. Klamfoth was born in Colum- bus, Ohio, on Sept. 30, 1928. Growing up on a farm in nearby Groveport, he began riding motor- cycles after getting his driver's license at the age of 14. Klamfoth's record of three Daytona 200 wins was tied, but not broken until 1998 when Scott Russell took his fourth victory at Day- tona. While Klam- foth never won the AMA Grand National Series (which was instituted in 1954), he finished in the top 10 in all but two years during the period from 1954 to 1961. Klamfoth went into semi-retirement after the 1962 season, but did venture back to Daytona in 1964 so he could finally race on the high banks. (In 1961 through 1963 the 200 was held on an infield course that did not utilize the banked turns of the super-speedway). In his final pro race, appropriately at Daytona where he came to fame, Klamfoth took a very credible fifth on a Matchless. Klamfoth finished his racing career with a total of 12 AMA national victories and one international win. Klamfoth owned one of the nation's biggest Honda dealer- ships and also promoted AMA National Motocross races at his central Ohio Honda Hills com- plex. Klamfoth retired in 1989 and continued to promote the sport. Klamfoth was part of the first class of inductees into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. Larry Lawrence Dick Klamfoth at Lima in 2009. PHOTO: LARRY LAWRENCE