Hall of Famer Dave Aldana to serve as grand marshal of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — One of motorcycle racing’s all-time fan favorite riders, David Aldana, will be the grand marshal for AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 10-12, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
Aldana, known for his trademark black leathers with a white skeleton print, will not only meet and greet fans at this year’s event, but he’ll also compete in the vintage motocross and dirt track programs of the AMA Vintage Grand Championship that takes place during AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.
“These days, there’s a real vibrant community of fans, collectors and vintage racers who fondly remember the 1970-80 era of racing,” Aldana said. “Those same people are now coming out to events like AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days to re-live and re-experience those memories. They are dedicated enthusiasts and die-hard motorcyclists, and I love to spend time with them and connect over motorcycles.”
Aldana said vintage racing helped pull him back into motorcycling after a layoff following his professional career.
“When I was growing up, I just enjoyed riding, whether it was my motorcycle or my bicycle,” Aldana said. “When I quit road racing in the 1990s, I just stopped everything. Then when I had an opportunity to ride a vintage flat track bike, I had that same feeling that I had when I was younger. The pressure was off. I could just go out and have fun riding. That’s what vintage racing is about.”
One of the most colorful personalities in racing, Aldana teamed with AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Mike Baldwin to win the prestigious Suzuka eight-hour endurance race in 1981 as a Honda factory rider contesting the FIM World Championship Endurance Series. He later rode the revolutionary Elf Hondas in the world endurance series. One of the most versatile racers in the history of the sport, Aldana competed in nearly every form of motorcycle racing, including motocross and speedway racing.
Prior to his foray into endurance racing, Aldana was a top AMA Grand National Series competitor during the 1970s, winning four AMA nationals during his career. By the late-1970s, Aldana began concentrating on road racing. He became a factory rider for Suzuki and later joined Kawasaki’s AMA Superbike team in 1980.
When not racing in Europe and Asia, Aldana raced in select races in America. In 1983, he finished third in the AMA Superbike race at Daytona aboard a works Honda. In 1985, Aldana rode the new Suzuki GSX-R750 for Cycle Tech Racing with teammate John Kocinski, who will be inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in October, to win the WERA National Endurance Championship.
For 2015, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is a fundraiser for the facility, which houses the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and other thematic exhibits that celebrate motorcycling’s heritage.
The museum was founded in 1990 to provide a permanent home to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, which celebrates and preserves the rich tradition of motorcycling in America through the recognition of the sport’s greatest heroes. Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days are donated to the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization tasked with funding the operation of the museum and Hall of Fame activities.
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days also includes North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet with parts, bikes and memorabilia from all eras. Bike shows bring out examples of some of history’s most beloved motorcycles, while stunt shows, such as the American Motor Drome Wall of Death, and demo rides of current production bikes keep attendees entertained. Seminars feature some of the country’s leading experts on numerous motorcycling topics.
It all adds up to one of motorcycling’s premier events. Purchase tickets now from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
To learn more about the event, see photos and read stories from past AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, visit www.amavintagemotorcycledays.com. You also can opt-in to receive the official AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days e-newsletter at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/vmdupdates. For updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, search for the hashtag #AMAVMD.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com.
Not a member? Join the AMA today: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/membership/join