 "DAYTONA 200 LEGENDS MEMORIAL" |
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Several years ago Dick Klamfoth, a 3 time winner of the Daytona 200 Motorcycle Race, strolled down Main Street in Daytona during bike week. He talked to different folks about when the races were held on the beach and found that many had no idea how bike week actually started. He thought a Daytona 200 Memorial would be a great thing before that history was lost. On March 7, 2002 the first phase of the memorial was dedicated to the city of Daytona, Florida and accepted by the Mayor of Daytona. But that's only part of the story... |
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You have two ways of becoming a part of the Daytona 200 Legend : either you find yourself a good sponsor, some outstanding riding skills and win next years edition of this great race, or you donate some of your bucks to the Daytona 200 Monument Fund. This Fund was created eight years ago by Dick Klamfoth, the first three time winner of this legendary 200 Miler. Dick won these races long before the International Speedway was built, which puts him in the very restricted circle of the Beach Course winners, a grand total of 12 talented racers : Ed Kretz (1937), Ben Campanale (1938-39), Babe Tancrede (1940), Billy Mathews (1941-50), Johnny Spiegelhoff (1947), Floyd Emde (1948), Dick Klamfoth (1949-51-52), Paul Goldsmith (1953), Bobby Hill (1954), Brad Andres (1955-59-60), Johnny Gibson (1956) and Joe Leonard (1957-58). Five of these twelve great men were attending the Monument unveiling on March 7th 2002, a great opportunity to talk to these living legends. Along with the others, who couldn't attend the party or who have already passed away, the monument is dedicated only to the Beach Course era of these 200 Miles. The monolithic black granite memorial stands behind the huge Adam's Mark Hotel in Daytona, right above the beach and as it says in its engraved letters, the original course was located 9 miles south of this spot. So now that the monument is standing, what's next ? It will soon be completed by a circular place surrounding it. This place is going to be paved with hundreds of bricks and stone blocks, as well as a dozen of benches. For $ 3000, you can have you name / City & State (or company name or whatever) engraved in one of the bench's front face. For $ 2000 you'll have the same thing engraved in a big 2' x 2' block and for only $ 50, your name and other words will be engraved in one of the smaller 4" x 8" bricks. Imagine your kids proud faces when they'll see your name engraved somewhere around this monument, while they'll attend the 100th Daytona Bike Week Anniversary in 2041 ! To get your very own brick, you have to use the following form and send a copy (along with the payment and your name and address) to :
Daytona 200 Monument Fund A non-profit 501 © organization EIN #31-161885. Under current IRS Guidelines, contributions made to this organizations are tax deductible. Related
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____________________________________________________________________ On March 7th, just before the official unveiling of the Daytona 200 Monument, an unforgettable party was organized by Dick & Bev Klamfoth in the luxurious Adam's Mark Hotel Ballroom. Five hundred forty guests were dispatched on 55 big round tables decorated with checkered tablecloths. Everybody in the attendance was wearing the same white shirt, with its name embroidered on the chest, making it quite easy to spot some famous people. The problem is that you always know a few racers from their 1940's black and white pictures, but it's sometimes hard to recognize them now, many decades later (except for people like Bobby Hill, who didn't change at all !). Dick Klamfoth was kind enough to seat me between my friends Ben Campanale and Bart & JoAnn Markel, some of the nicest people you could ever meet. Other great names in the attendance were Joe Leonard, Paul Goldsmith, Bobby Hill, Bill Tuman, Carroll Resweber, Tommy Byars, Ed Kretz Jr., Yvon Duhamel, Eddie Fisher, Al Gaskill, Butch Baer and many more. Some other great people like Gary Nixon came right after the party, probably to hang out a little bit longer at the Speedway's infield. Among the "younger" generation, guests like Doc & Maria Batsleer (in their hometown), Dale Walksler and Arthur "Moon" Mullins. Lunch started around 11.30 am, and we all remained seated until 4.30 pm, which left fairly enough time to talk racing ! After this "private" part of the Monument dedication, everybody finally went down on the beach to watch the unveiling of the black granite memorial. Now it will be standing here forever, but the party was a once in a lifetime chance to see all these living legends gathering in one place. Thanks to all for having been there ! |
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