| August 31, 2021
After multiple pandemic-caused delays, the Trailblazers were finally able to host their 76th annual meeting and awards ceremony. Yes, it was a year and half late, in another county and more or less outdoors, nevertheless, it was wonderful to see hundreds queue up for passes to meet and greet old friends.
Trailblazer Hall of Famers gather for a photo.
By Richard T. Haight
Photos: Mitch Friedman
The master of ceremonies was Trailblazers President Don Emde, and he did his usual excellent job, albeit without his familiar co-host Larry “Motor Mouth” Huffman. Huffman has been experiencing some lengthy health problems and was unable to attend, but the motorcycle community wishes him a speedy recovery!
After months of delays and a variety of problems because large gatherings were forbidden by state and local mandates, the Trailblazers were finally able to secure a venue for the night at the Phoenix Club. Originally a German-American club in Anaheim, the Phoenix Club has a large outdoor banquet area that is covered, which suited the purpose perfectly.
Opening the event was the Tom Cates Memorial Motorcycle Show, and there were some beauties. Not the least of which was the BSA Goldstar that Jody Nicholas (the world’s fastest concert violinist!) took to an unusual win at Laconia New Hampshire in 1963. Why unusual, you ask? Because after leading all but two laps of the 100 laps at the Belknap Recreation Area track, Nicholas slid the bike down and was passed by Harley-Davidson factory’s George Roeder as he lay sprawled on the track! Nicholas had kept the bike running and immediately re-mounted in pursuit of Roeder. He re-passed Roeder down the long backstraight after a super-human effort and won the last race at the track.
Team Acid Rock years later (left to right) Patrick Johnson, Sandy Johnson, Rider Brad Lackey, Bryon Farnsworth, Mark Johnson, Randy Hall, Norm Bigelow and Roy Turner.
In addition to a well-done banquet prepared by the Phoenix Club’s staff, the Trailblazers inducted this year’s crop of Hall of Famers, including Johnny Campbell, a Baja racer and team owner/builder par excellence; Scot Harden of Barstow-to-Vegas and Baja fame; Steve Johnson (posthumously) tuner/builder for notable world champions such as Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, Phil Read and Brad Lackey; three-time AMA Champion Bubba Shobert; America’s only World 500cc Motocross Champion Brad “Bad Brad” Lackey; and finally, two-time Speedway World Champion Bruce Penhall.
The annual Barnett champagne toast in memory of Trailblazers we’ve lost over the past year and a half was held, with more than 600 members saluting those who have gone before us.
Next was the Earl & Lucile Flanders Lifetime Achievement Award, which went to Larry Langley for his many achievements—such as being a top enduro rider, writing for a wide variety of publications, owning his own PR firm—but mostly he earns the award for simply promoting the fun and adventure of motorcycling over his lifetime.
Finally, the last award of the night for the individual who best represents drive, determination and desire—the Dick Hammer Award—went to Southern California’s own Eddie Mulder (yes, with the ever-present toothpick and in his signature Bermuda shorts). Mulder thanked so many people that he had to use a handful of notes, sort of like at the Oscars. That’s our Eddie!
Eddie Mulder was honor with the Dick Hammer Award at the Trailblazers Banquet.
The night closed out with lots of cheers and clapping, and with the hope that the next annual meeting will not take as long to happen or be fraught with as many scheduling problems. CN
