Larry Lawrence | August 17, 2016
It all began with the 20-year reunion of the Class of ’79, one of the most talented groups of rookies ever to enter the AMA Grand National Flat Track Championships, that included Wayne Rainey, Johnny Wincewicz, Charlie Roberts, Tommy Duma, Ronnie Jones and Scott Parker. Several of that amazing rookie class assembled in Indianapolis in August of 2009 to be recognized at that year’s Indy Mile during Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend.
The guys got together for a round of golf, “There was a little bit of money involved and Parker won, imagine that,” Charlie Roberts grins while remembering the get together. “He threw the money in the middle of the table and said, ‘Let’s do something.’ That’s how this all started. None of us had any idea that it would grow into what it is now.”
What was started that day was the Class of ’79 deciding to do something to help the racers of today. Former racers Jackie Mitchell, Lance Jones joined the group and united with other friends and today the Class of ’79 works tirelessly to raise funds to help injured AMA Pro Flat Track riders and their families.
“When Stevie Bonsey fell off and broke his neck at Springfield we raised $14,000 in ten days,” Roberts said. “So we were able to tell Stevie, don’t worry about rent, don’t worry about making a car payment. We’re going to take care of your life, you focus on healing yourself and getting back to what you love to do.”
Talk about paying it forward!
“That was a goal we had when we started this, to have that kind of an impact,” Roberts continued. “We’re nearing somewhere close to a half-million dollars lifetime benefits paid to injured riders. We were right at $100,000 in 2015. I think 26 riders have received funds in excess of $50,000 and then Jethro Halbert’s one-year-old son Caleb has a $26,500 educational trust because of the fan’s love for his father. We’re kind of the vehicle that’s driving it, but it’s the fans and sponsors who really make this happen.”
Since founding the charity, it has put on a variety of unique fundraisers to allow fans to interact with the riders. Everything from golf outings to parties, tent gatherings, auctions, catered dinners with legends, you name it. “Every year we’re trying to step up from what we’ve done previously with new and fun things to do to raise money and get fans involved,” Roberts explained before going right into talking about this year’s events during the Labor Day Weekend Springfield (Ill.) Mile. “This year we’re having our sixth-annual golf tournament and then after that on Friday night we’re doing an AMA national number reunion. Every rider that ever earned a national number is invited to Springfield and on Friday night the city of Springfield is closing the street behind the state capital for our second annual ‘Party in the Street.’ We’ve got vendors like Vance & Hines, Dunlop, Crosley Radios and we’re hoping to have about 300 former national number riders attending. On Sunday we’ll honor them all on the front straightaway at the Springfield Mile.”
That’s a photo op not to be missed.
The lead up to the Springfield weekend will also feature a Race for Racers, on Sunday, August 28th, 2016 presented by AMA Flat-Track Rookie’s Class of ’79 and Friends at the American Legion Fairgrounds, 1401 West Main Street, Jerseyville, Illinois.
Another important aspect of the charity is the fact that when you give money it goes directly to riders in need. Class of ’79 was able to do that with the help of corporate sponsors who pitch in to defer the administration costs of the organization.
All of the riders involved are thrilled that they’ve been able to take a spur-of-the-moment idea at a friendly golf outing and turn it into one of the biggest rider charities out there today. Since it was created by former racers, they know firsthand the help the organization gives.
“It’s really good that we can help injured dirt trackers because one of the biggest concerns of being a racer is when you get injured and the insurance only covers so much,” said Wayne Rainey, three-time Grand Prix World Champion and Class of ’79 member. “When you race motorcycles if you get injured, you have medical bills so anything we can do to offset that is a good thing. As former racers, we understand what the current guys are going through and what it takes to live that profession. This is our way of giving back to the sport that we all love and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to do as the Class of ’79 to raise funds and awareness for dirt trackers.”
For Scott Parker the legacy of giving he and his fellow Class of ’79 riders are leaving is something he hopes future generations of riders will build on. He also credits others for taking the reins and running with it to make the charity grow.
“It’s really Chas’ and Jackie’s work that’s helped make this thing grow to what it has,” Parker said of the work put in by Charlie Roberts and Jackie Mitchell. “Tommy Duma and Tom (Seymour) at Saddlemen really got the thing off the ground. It’s just cool something that started off so simple has really taken off. It makes you happy when you see people you’ve helped out.”
To be a part of the Class of ‘79’s efforts visit http://www.amaft79.com/ and consider a contribution. Seven years ago the riders from the Class of ’79 could have thrown down a few beers, waxed nostalgic, had a couple of laughs and call it a day, but they decided to do something that would leave a lasting legacy and the sport is better for their efforts.
