#FlashbackFriday TrailBlazers M/C has been meeting annually since 1940 (back when it was known as the “Old Timers”), however this year’s event was even more special than usual… at least to those of us at Dealernews and the Class of 2025 inductees that is. Daytona 200 winner, former publisher and current president of the TrailBlazers, Don Emde was honored with the club’s highest honor, the Dick Hammer Award. However it was a toss-up between Speedway legend Fast Eddie Castro and the Flander’s Lifetime Achievement honoree Howie Zechner who was more stoked to be at the Carson Center in March for the annual Hall Of Fame banquet. See Don’s presentation in this video or better yet, check out the new issue for full coverage of TrailBlazers 80th Banquet.
For those who couldn’t make it to the 80th Banquet (seating was limited to the first 800 folks and it sold out in minutes) or the Live Stream from the Carson Center, film historian Todd Huffman’s collection of tributes to the Class of 2025 has been collated here:
In addition to the Trailblazers Bike Show presented by Tom White’s Early Years of Motocross Museum during the day, the following new Trailblazers Hall of Fame inductions and two special awards will be presented during the evening dinner program.
Trailblazers Class Of 2025
• Steve Baker: 1977 Daytona 200 winner and 1977 Formula 750 world roadracing champion.
• Eddie Castro: Veteran of the Speedway world who has been entertaining race fans for over 45 years.
• Tony Dodge: Second-generation race team owner. In 2013, Dodge Brothers Racing won the AMA Grand National Championship with rider Brad Baker.
• John & Rita Gregory: Founders of the world-famous JT Racing motocross and off-road apparel company.
• Bruce McDougal: One of the winningest motocross riders in Southern California in the late-1960s and into the ’70s.
• Roy Turner: Former factory motocross race mechanic, team manager, product designer and patent holder.
Two special annual awards were also presented:
• Howie Zechner will be this year’s recipient of the Earl & Lucile Flanders Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Don Emde, 1972 Daytona 200 winner and current Trailblazers President, will receive the Dick Hammer Award.
