Bruce Ogilvie: 2016 Trailblazers H.O.F. Inductee

Bruce Ogilvie was born in 1953. His father, Don, was an avid off-road rider and Bruce’s happiest memories were of riding through the desert with his dad. As Bruce grew he graduated from his first bike—a Tohatsu 50—to larger and faster motorcycles and began racing in the hotly contested District 37 Desert Series. By the time he was a teenager Bruce was one of the top riders in the series.

Ogilvie’s desert racing career soon led him to the biggest prize a dust buster could go for, the Baja peninsula. His first win came at the Baja 500 in 1975, followed that same year by a victory in the Baja 1,000. More wins would follow in Baja and around the world. In his career Bruce was a 4-time Baja 1,000 winner; Baja 500 winner; San Felipe 250 winner; ISDE Gold Medalist and much more.

Even while he was still a competitive racer Bruce was recruited by Honda to manage the company’s off-road efforts. He started working for American Honda in 1984 and became a lead developer of Honda’s CRF/CRX motorcycles, and eventually rose to be the Senior Test Evaluator for Honda’s Product Evaluation department. His greatest achievement as a manager was Honda’s unbroken string of victories in the Baja 1,000. From 1996 to 2013 a Honda stood at the top of the podium at the finish line of the Baja 1,000.

Bruce Ogilvie was the only man in history to win the Baja 1000 overall in four different decades—he posted his last overall win in 2003 at the age of 51. He died on April 13, 2009 after a two-year battle with cancer, and was inducted the following year into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

The Trailblazers are proud to remember the spirit and accomplishments of Bruce Ogilvie and induct him posthumously into our Hall of Fame.

BANQUET TICKETS SOLD OUT

SEND EMAIL TODAY TO GET ON WAITING LIST!   

     This year it only took one week for all the banquet tickets available online to be sold. But that doesn’t mean that there is no way to still buy some. Every year we find that after a few weeks people start realizing that they don’t need as many tickets as they ordered, or their plans change, and we work it out with them so that those seats can become available. So don’t give up. If you still want to attend, please send an email today to get on the waiting list. Email: mctrailblazers01@gmail.com. We hope to see you at the banquet on April 23^rd.

DAN HAABY: 2016 TRAILBLAZERS H.O.F. INDUCTEE


The Trailblazers will induct Dan Haaby to its Hall of Fame at the 72^nd annual banquet on Saturday, April 23, 2016.

     Dan Haaby was born in North Dakota in 1945, but grew up in Northern California. When he was eight his father bought him a 1948 Harley 125, then his first race bike was a 1954 Tiger Cub upon which he started scrambles racing. He turned pro in 1963 and with his 200cc Bultaco headed for the Ascot season opener and managed to win the Novice Main event. Later Dud Perkins asked Dan if he wanted to team up with a first year expert named Mert Lawwill, and ride his Harley Sprint. Dan accepted and finished the year second in points at Ascot, winning 8 out of 12 Main events including the California State Championship.

     He turned Amateur in 1964 and Perkins put him on a Harley-Davidson KR to race, upon which Dan again won the Ascot season opener. He finished the season with 62 victories (Heat races, Trophy Dashes and Main events). The next year he turned Expert and the AMA assigned him National number 22. He rode a Gary Bray-tuned BSA Gold Star and won the opening night at Ascot for the third year in a row and went on to finish the year second in points at Ascot and eighth in AMA Grand National points. He was also named AMA Rookie of the Year.

     In 1966, he was second in points at Ascot again and managed to win a couple of Ascot TT races and the 20 lap California State Championship. He finally got the high point award at Ascot in 1967 winning 10 Main events, and topping off the season by winning the Ascot 8-Mile National.

     He was contracted by Harley Davidson’s Dick O’Brien to ride for them in 1968 and finished fifth in the nation that year. Harley picked him up again for the following year in 1969, and he won the Ascot season opener again!

     Dan bounced around a bit in 1969, riding the Harley early in the season and later a BSA Trackmaster. He won a few races, mainly at Ascot, and then was contacted by Yamaha to ride and develop their new 650 twin for dirt track.

     Dan retired in 1972, and got into the automobile business. Though successful in the business world, Dan says racing motorcycles holds the greatest memories and times of his life. He presently lives in Auburn California with his wife Gail. He still rides with friends like Neil Fergus and his son Aaron, on a KTM in the dirt and a V-Strom on the street.

     The Trail Blazers proudly welcomes Dan Haaby into the 2016 Hall of Fame!

BANQUET TICKETS ON SALE HERE STARTING MONDAY, JANUARY 4TH