The Trailblazers Motorcycle Club has announced brothers Gene and Sam Dempsey among its 2012 Hall of Fame inductees. They join previously announced inductees Jim McMurren, Eddie Lawson, Bob Sirkegian Sr., Dan Rouit, Steve Scott and Ray Tanner to be honored at its 68th annual banquet on Saturday, April 14th.
Gene (pictured above in 1961) and Sam started riding, and then racing, motorcycles in the early 1960s. At that time big British bikes were the rage and the Dempseys rode Triumphs. They were both working in construction then, and after working all week would prep their bikes on Saturdays and race the desert on Sundays. That was their routine for about ten years. Along the way Gene started his own construction company and Sam joined the L.A. City Fire
In 1970 the Dempseys first raced in the now-famous Baja 1000 from Ensenada to La Paz. They rode a 650 Triumph and finished 4th overall. In those days Baja was a two- man race, so Gene rode the first half and Sam rode it to the finish. Department in 1974 after completing five years for the Ventura Fire Department. Sam retired in 2007 after 33 years.
As the years went by the courses got rougher and rougher and were more physically demanding. There were three races per year in Baja: the San Felipe 250, Baja 500 and the Baja 1000. Along the way some additional riders joined their team. They included Jim O’Neal, Steve Hurd, Dick Vick, Ron Bishop, Lou Peralta, Mike Harper, Charlie Marshall, Chuck Koistra, Dave Lapraik and Bill Nichols.
Through the years they followed the age classes: 30, 40, 50, and presently in the 60 class. They have now ridden in all five classes with many wins and class championship awards. Gene and Sam (pictured at right in 1967) rode together for fifty years, ten years in the desert and forty years in Baja. In 2007 Don Lewis joined up with the Dempseys team and has won four class 60 championhips riding all three Baja races each year. Gene Dempsey passed away in September, 2009 from cancer. He was Sam’s brother, best friend and racing partner. According to Sam, “My personal passion for motorcycle racing for all these years could only be exceeded by Gene. He was one of a kind as everyone who knew him would tell you. He is greatly missed by all, but mostly by me.”
The Trailblazers congratulates Sam Dempsey and his late-brother Gene for a lifetime of motorcycling excellence. The 68th annual Trailblazers banquet will be held on Saturday, April 14th at the Carson Center in Carson, CA. The evening’s dinner and awards presentations will follow the Tom Cates Memorial Bike Show which will begin at 3:00 pm. Tickets will go on sale in January online at: www.trailblazersmc.com.
