AMA Hall of Famer David Edwin “Ed” Fisher died August 4 at his home in Shunk, Pennsylvania. He was 97.
Fisher was the first born of 13 children to Stephen Fisher and Lavina Hooley. He served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division during World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, in Belgium.
After the war, Fisher began his professional racing career in the late 1940s in flat track. At one time, he was a factory rider for Indian, and in the early 1950s, Fisher became a factory road racer for Triumph. He is best known for winning the Laconia Classic on a Triumph in 1953.
Fisher’s son Gary later won the Loudon Classic in 1972, making them the only father-son duo to win America’s oldest motorcycle road race.
Ed Fisher stopped racing professional in 1957 to raise his family and run his Triumph dealership, but he stayed active in club-level and historic motorcycle racing in various disciplines. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2002.
Ed and Gary Fisher recently served as Co-Grand Marshals of the USCRA/FIM North America Vintage Road Racing Championship event held June 11-12 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the site of the modern-day Loudon Classic. Not only was June 11 Ed’s 97th birthday, it was the 69th anniversary of his Laconia 100 victory.
Ed Fisher is survived by his wife Suzi, son Gary, daughter Fay, sister Helen, brother Vernon, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life has been scheduled August 27 at 11:00 a.m. local time at Shunk United Methodist Church, in Shunk, Pennsylvania.
The service will be live streamed on Gary Fisher’s fan page on Facebook.
A memorial ride has also been planned for later that same day in Shunk, Pennsylvania.
More, from a press release issued by USCRA Director Bob Coy:
ED FISHER – Legendary Motorcycle Racer 1925 -2022
Last week, legendary American motorcycle racer Ed Fisher passed away at age 97. Ed was involved with motorcycles his entire life and rose to fame in the 1950’s with his racing on the Daytona beach, Laconia Belknap track, and many national short track events around the United States. Ed’s racing career started with Indian in the late 1940’s and then moved to be a factory rider for Triumph through the 1950’s. Ed won the fiercely contested Laconia National in 1953 on a Triumph. In the late 1950’s Ed took a hiatus from full time racing to raise his family and focus on his Triumph dealership. Ed still actively pursuing his racing interests, his son Gary became a top US racer and won both the heavy weight and light weight AMA Laconia Nationals in 1972.
This past June, Ed was honored as the Grand Marshal at the FIM North America Vintage Road Race Championships put on by the United States Classic Racing Association at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Also, in conjunction with the vintage motorcycle road race event at the Speedway, Ed was additionally honored to be the Grand Marshal at the Progressive AFT Short Track races also at the NH Motor Speedway that weekend. In addition to those two race events where he was recognized as Grand Marshal, it was a very special date for Ed as we celebrated his 97th birthday on June 11th and the 69th anniversary of his Laconia AMA National win on June 11th 1953. Coincidentally, his son Gary won both AMA Nationals on June 11, 1972.
Ed was truly amazing as his memory was as “sharp as a tack” and he could relate some fantastic races stories from his participation racing in the 1950’s. Ed was an avid motorcycle rider into his late 90’s and actively supported the Daytona 200 monument with his presence and stories during the annual Daytona Motorcycle week. Visit YouTube and watch a recent documentary on Ed called FAST EDDIE and capture the essence of the man behind the legend.
Rest in peace Ed. You will be sorely missed and warmly remembered for the outstanding rider and person you were. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and his wife Suzi.
Bob Coy, Director
United States Classic Racing Association
