The Trailblazers is one of the coolest motorcycle associations in the country. It gathers annually to connect and honor the riders, racers, and industry leaders who have contributed to the sport of motorcycling. The group was founded in 1936 and is currently helmed by racing legend and author Don Emde.
The Trailblazers hosted its annual banquet on April 6 in Carson, California, which you can read more about in my “Rubber-Side Down” column from our May issue. Prior to the awards ceremonies and Hall of Fame inductions was an eclectic show of vintage and historic bikes.
For 2024, the show was dubbed the Tom White Early Years of Motocross Museum Bike Show in honor of the sponsor of the event. The courtyard layout contained everything from roadracers to dirtbikes to century-old streetbikes. The diversity of machinery was wonderful to stroll around and check out up close. Here are a few of our favorites.
The motorcycle show takes place in a courtyard where legends reconnect and tell legendary stories.
AR readers will recognize this bike. It’s Todd Cameron’s 1909 Indian he rode to victory in the 2023 Motorcycle Cannonball, which was featured in our December issue. It finished runner‑up in the show’s Competition class. (Photos by Duke)
If you’re a fan of patina, you’ll love Bob Bennett’s 1947 Indian Chief, which nabbed 3rd place in the People’s Choice category.
Dubbed “Geronimo,” Barnett’s Chief has a motor packed with every hot‑rod trick in the book, including a wildly high 14:1 compression ratio, courtesy of builder Dick McCune.
According to a sign on Bob Bennett’s 1947 Indian Chief, it’s the “world’s 2nd fastest Indian.”
The Indian Chout wasn’t a production model but rather an Indian Scout chassis stuffed with an Indian Chief motor. Brian Bell brought this “1937ish” version.
Bell’s Chout began its life as a desert racer for Dewey Bonkrud, but it was made street‑legal in the late 1970s “because some of these modern bikes can keep up with my other Chout,” Bonkrud once quipped.
This Yamaha TD1‑C flat‑tracker (18) won the Tom White Competition award for owner Jim Odom. Behind it is the Best of Show winner: a 1966 BSA 500cc with a titanium frame – apparently just one of three ever built – that was once raced by famed motocrosser Jeff Smith.
Do you remember the lovable Hodaka Super Rat? This “Mini Rat” isn’t a production bike but rather a completely custom version that was built to one‑third the size of a Super Rat. The 55cc minicycle was created by Lee Fabry, who won the People’s Choice award for his Hodaka 100cc roadracer.
Perhaps the most famous set of leathers in motorcycling, as worn by David Aldana. He received the Trailblazers’ highest honor, the Dick Hammer award.
The 250cc rotary‑valve 2‑stroke engine in this 1967 Kawasaki A1‑R isn’t going to inspire awe from some Big Twin fans, but the bike’s slinky beauty might.
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