IN
THE
WIND
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KARSMAKERS TO HALL OF FAME
F
ormer AMA National Mo-
tocross and Supercross
Champion Pierre Karsmakers
has been elected into the AMA
Hall of Fame Class of 2014, the
Dutchman one of the first Euro-
pean motocrossers to come to
the U.S. to race.
"It's been a long time since
I raced, so it means a lot that
America still recognizes me as
one who brought motocross to
the United States," Karsmakers
said during a recent telephone
interview from his home in The
Netherlands.
A three-time motocross cham-
pion in Holland, Karsmakers
came to the U.S. to gain wider
exposure and attract the atten-
tion of the Japanese motorcycle
makers. "All the Japanese [spon-
sorship] contracts were going
to Belgian riders," Karsmakers
said. "I got mad, because other
European riders were not getting
noticed. But after I started win-
ning in 1972, it began to open
doors."
Racing for Yamaha in 1973,
Karsmakers won the 500cc
National Championship series,
scoring 2659 total points. The
second-place racer scored 1427.
Karsmakers also was winner of
the inaugural AMA Supercross
Championship in 1974. He re-
tired from racing in 1979.
"That was a great time of my
life," Karsmakers said. "I met
many wonderful people."
Karsmakers is the first mem-
ber of the AMA Motorcycle Hall
of Fame class of 2014 to be an-
nounced. The remaining 2014
inductees will be announced
in random order in the coming
weeks.
The 2014 AMA Motorcycle
Hall of Fame Induction Cer-
emony will be held on Friday,
October 17, as part of the AMA
National Convention, October
16-19, in Orlando, Florida.
PICKERS' FRITZ AT
J&P CYCLES
F
rank Fritz of History's American Pickers will be on site at the
Workshop Hero booth at the J&P Cycles Open House Rally
in Anamosa, Iowa, on Sunday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fritz will be on hand to promote and sign his newly released
book "How to Pick Vintage Motorcycles."
In addition, Fritz will autograph photos and copies of his
book that features tips on how to find a collectible motorcycle,
how to negotiate a good price and how to take care of your
investment. "How to Pick Vintage Motorcycles," published by
Whitman Publishing, is a must have for any serious fan of clas-
sic motorcycles.
American Picker's Frank Fritz will be at J&P Cycles in Iowa on Sunday.
