Cycle News Staff | November 6, 2009
Tony DiStefano, the three-time 250 National Champion from 1975-1977, was honored last weekend with the prestigious Edison Dye Motocross Lifetime Achievement Award during two separate ceremonies during the running of the MTA World Vet MX Championships at Glen Helen Raceway.The first came on stage at the Todd Huffman “Monsters of Motocross” gala event on Saturday night, October 31, when he was given his plaque/trophy with many of his former competitors and friends in the audience. Among those who joined Tony D. at a pre-event autograph signing session were Mark Barnett, Donnie Hansen, Bill Silverthorne, Roy Turner, Brad Lackey, Jim Holley, Gerrit Wolsink, Malcolm Smith, Barry Higgins, Gary and DeWayne Jones and Bob Hannah.The next day, at the track, he was “officially” given the award by Tom White, who began the honoring program 13 years ago with the induction of Roger DeCoster as the first recipient. Along with each plaque given, there is a corresponding marble slab laid in Glen Helen’s Walk of Fame.”This award is especially special,” said Tony D., whose racing career ended abruptly in 1988 when he was paralyzed from the waist-down in an accident but still remains in the industry conducting his MX schools throughout the country. “It’s special because so many family and friends came. I’ve won a lot of awards in my life, but usually by myself…it’s nice by yourself.”