The 81st annual Trailblazers banquet took place at the Carson Center in Southern California on Saturday, March 14, and was another sold-out event.
Story by Richard Haight | Photos by Mitch Friedman
The banquet began with the traditional bike show. As usual, there were several flawless bikes, from street to motocross to flat track. In the courtyard where the bikes were displayed, racers, riders and enthusiasts mingled, some reminiscing about how fast they were “back then.” Afterward, the large crowd slowly moved into the conference room to find their seats and enjoy the catered dinner and ceremony.
The Trailblazers is one of the oldest motorcycle clubs in the United States, and it held its first annual banquet in 1940. Since then, the Trailblazers’ goal has been to preserve some of America’s racing history on two wheels and to recognize those who have risen to fame or success and left their mark on motorcycling.
Each year, the club honors riders and industry figures with various awards, including induction into the Hall of Fame, the Earl and Lucille Flanders Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Dick Hammer Award. The Hammer Award recognizes someone with drive, determination and desire in the spirit of Dick Hammer. Hammer was not only a successful racer but also someone who would never give up. For example, after crashing in the Daytona 200 while in second place, he broke his collarbone but got up, bump-started his bike, and rode the last 100 miles in pain to finish seventh.
This year’s Dick Hammer Award recipient was not only a racer and a World Champion, but he was also a race team manager and mentor, who built bikes and guided the careers of notable riders such as three-time World Champion Kenny “King” Roberts. Others who thrived under his leadership included Eddie Lawson, Giacomo Agostini, Wayne Rainey and more. The 1969 250cc World Champion, Kel Carruthers, was this year’s Dick Hammer Award winner. A genuinely humble guy, Carruthers thanked his lovely wife of 69 years, Jan, for always supporting him and being a partner in his endeavors.
This year’s Flanders Lifetime Achievement Award went to World Supercross Champion, motocross racing pioneer, stunt rider, promoter and trainer Jim Holley.
This year’s Hall of Fame inductees included Jeff Ward, Mitch Payton, Ronnie Jones, Randy Hall, Brad Baker and Dave Arnold.CN
Click here to read the 2026 Trailblazers Banquet Recap in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
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