Beloved Motorcycle
Author Passes
E
dward Anthony Hertfelder,
who for more than 50 years
regaled motorcyclists with his
hilarious exploits of riding—well,
crashing and finding new ways
to get off the pace—in enduros
and other dirt-racing
events died in late
February 2024, sur
-
rounded by his fam-
ily and loved ones.
Ed was 95.
Hertfelder, who
took great pride in
describing himself
as the "World's Worst
Dirt Rider," was the
author of the famous
"The Duct Tapes"
monthly columns in
motorcycle magazines
including Cycle, Cycle
World, Motorcyclist, Dirt
Rider, Trail Rider, Cycle
Sport, The East Coast
Enduro Association
News, Cycle News, Motocross
News and more.
Many of Ed's columns were
later published in five books in
the Duct Tapes series that are
collector's items today. The vol
-
umes include "Duct Tapes 80,"
"Reset to 80.1," "80.2 Change to
27 MPH," "80.3 Gas Available,"
and his final book, "80.4 Finish
Check.
Hertfelder wrote from the
heart about his comical adven
-
tures on two wheels, describing
his crashes, strategies, mechani-
cal roadside repairs and deba-
cles, adventures with errant rac-
ing officials, bad-weather tales,
his Bultaco Matador and other
dirt-bike models and their quirks,
all with a humor that makes it
difficult to read his writing in bed
late at night without waking your
spouse due to your loud laughter
and snorting.
Ed was a truly beloved writer
and he met so many friends
and fans along the way over five
decades, his family said. He was
invited to speak as the Master of
Ceremonies at countless motor
-
cycle events around the world.
In another honor, one of his dirt
bikes is on display at the Motor
-
cycle Hall of Fame Museum in
Columbus, Ohio.
A memorial for Ed Hertfelder
will be held in New Jersey at
a date that will be announced
later.
Donations in his memory can
be made to fishtownplayschool.
org, or weathervanemusic.org,
two non-profit organizations that
involve two of his grandchildren
in Ed's hometown of Philadel
-
phia, Pennsylvania.
Fans and friends are invited
to share their Ed stories and
tributes with his family and
friends at this link created by the
funeral home that is handling his
memorial.
Todd R. Weiss
VOLUME ISSUE MARCH , P29
motorcycle magazines
Motorcyclist, Dirt
Cycle
Motocross
his Bultaco Matador and other
(Right) Legendary
motorcycle author Ed
Hertfelder passed away
at the age of 95. (Below)
Hertfelder's iconic
cartoon trademark.
