Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Racer Rich Thorwaldson, a 58-year-old former off-road and motocross star who took up road racing in his retirement, died Sunday from injuries sustained in a crash during an AFM event at Infineon Raceway May 30, 2004. Thorwaldson went off course to avoid a crashed competitor and hit a hillside at the Sonoma, California racetrack, sustaining serious head injuries that left him in a coma. In recent years, Thorwaldson competed regularly in AFM, CCS and WSMC road races. Thorwaldson owned a Honda dealership in Nevada and imported Moriwaki racing parts. He also founded an aftermarket company, Thor. Funeral arrangements are pending.