Motorcycle Hall of Fame inducts class of 2002

Oct. 19 – A large crowd of enthusiasts and fans braved cool temperatures and wet weather for the 2002 Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the inaugural Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Concours d'Elegance today at the Museum in Pickerington, Ohio.

The 16 legendary figures in the history of American motorcycling inducted today join 269 others already enshrined in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, located on the lower level of the Museum. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame features a plaque recognizing each inductee, along with related motorcycles, photos and memorabilia.

This year's class includes racers, stunt riders, engineers, media figures, and everyday riders who became pioneers. Among the notables: Doug Domokos, aka "The Wheelie King," the best-known stunt rider of the 1980s and 1990s; Freddie Marsh, who began short-course racing and hill-climbing in 1924, continued racing until age 88 (now 102); Bessie Stringfield, who broke down barriers for women and African-Americans in the 1940s, completing eight solo cross-country tours and serving as a U.S. Army motorcycle dispatch rider; and Sylvester Roper, American inventor and transportation pioneer who built a steam-powered motorcycle in 1869.

"It's a real honor to be here today. Like most of the people in the Hall of Fame, I'm here because I've been doing what's fun for most of my life," said '02 inductee and motorcycle land speed pioneer Marty Dickerson (right).

"We see the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as an important part of the Museum's mission," said Don Emde, chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which runs the facility. "Preserving the heritage of American motorcycling means more than displaying a collection of classic machines. It means keeping alive the memory of those who built that heritage."

Emde, winner of the 1972 Daytona 200, is a Hall-of-Famer himself, as is his father, Floyd, who won the same event in 1948.

The Motorcycle Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racing, as well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering.

Any motorcycling enthusiast may submit a person to be considered for induction into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame; complete biographical information should accompany the submission. Inductees are chosen by six committees consisting of Hall-of-Famers and independent experts in various disciplines. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2003 will be announced next May.