Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128349
Happe n ings in Motorcycling Hall of Ferne '[)4 On October 9, a capacity crowd gathered at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Oh io, to honor the 2004 inductees into the Hall of Fame. Among the more notable inductees were flat track legend Steve Morehead , motocross champ ion Jeff Emig, road racer Wes Cooley and longtime motorcyclist rights activist Dal Smilie. "It's great to see such a group of enthusiasts gathered here tonight to honor the class of 2004," museum director Mark Mederski said. 'I\fter all, these heroes are the reason why we 're here. Their hard work helped pave the way for motorcycling as we know it today." The class of 2004 includes: Joe Bolger: Five-time New England Scrambles Champion, mid-1960s and -1970s ; designer and manufacturer of motorcycle tools ; longtime contributing editor for Cycle World, Cycle Sport; engineer and designer. Willard "Red" Bryan: Eight-time National Hillclimb Champion, 1938 through 1951; built his own engines , made heads , cast cylinders, and designed and built frames. Roy Burke: 1947 Class A National HillclimbChampion; 1952 Open Class C Hillclimb Champion; 19S5 Big Bear Grand Prix winner; motorcycle dealer. Wes Cooley: 1979 and 1980 AMASuperbike Champion; eight AMA Superbike race wins; member of two winning Suzuka Eight-Hour endurance race teams. linda Dugeau : Pioneer and founder of the Motor Maids of America, the oldest motorcycling organization for women in North America ; motorcycle rider and enthusiast throughout her life. E. Paul duPont: Major investor and pres ident of the Indian Motocycle Company from 1929 through 1945; saved the company from financial ruin. Jeff Emig: Three AMA Motocross Championships; one AMA Supercross Championship; 1999 U.S. Open of Supercross winner; 37 Nat ional victories ; member of six Motocross des Nations teams, 1992 through 1997. Johnny Gibson : Winner of 1956 Daytona 200 and over 100 dirt track, road race and TT races; helped organize speedway-racing revival in United States . Steve Mclaughl in: Successful road racer in the 1960s and I 970s; winner of the first AMASuperbike race at Daytona ; member of the Transatlantic Match Races team; originated the World Superbike Championship in Europe. Steve Morehead: Career spann ing three decades, dirt track racer from 1972 to 1999; upon retirement was ranked 10th on the all-time AMA Grand National win list and fourth -ranked in half mile victories; currently operations manager for AMA Flat Track. Dal Smilie: Passionate advocate for motorcycl ist rights throughout his 35-year industry career; longest-serving AMAdirector; first American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation chairman; recipient of Motorcycle Safety Foundation Award of Excellence for national safety leadership. Former Nationa l Motocross Champion Jeff Emigwas this year's youngest inductee. "To be part of the history of motorcycling and to be recognized for that , it blows me away," Emig said. "It's beyond me ." Steve Morehead was another who was touched by his induction into the Hall of Fame. "Truly, over the years, it was all about the fans and the re lationships with all the people we met along the way," Morehead said. "I'll take some of those relationships to the grave." lnn N()VI=MI\I=~ 10 ?MA • CYl" F NFW!i Steve M claughlin Linda Dugeau 40th AnnivEr.. aru