The Trailblazers will formally induct Wayne Rainey to its Hall of Fame at its 72nd annual banquet in Carson on Saturday, April 23rd. To be there to see that in person, tickets go on sale on Monday, January 4th online at www.trailblazersmc.com.
One of this year’s Trailblazers Hall of Fame inductees is Southern California native Wayne Rainey. When he was about six-years-old, his dad fixed him up with his first mini-bike and it was full speed ahead from there. Rainey started in amateur racing in Southern California, then came the professional license that allowed him to further develop his skills at Ascot Park and other dirt tracks from coast to coast.
In 1983, Wayne won the AMA Superbike championship and was then hired for a Grand Prix ride in Europe racing for Kenny Roberts. His first GP deal only lasted one season, though, and Wayne returned to race in America for the next few years. In 1987 he culminated his career in America with a Daytona 200 victory, as well as his second AMA Superbike championship.
He returned to the Grand Prix series in 1988 and this time went all the way to the top. Over the next six years Wayne won 24 Grand Prix events and was crowned World Champion three times. 1993 would be his last season as a Grand Prix racer. He won four races that year before suffering career-ending injuries in a crash in Italy.
In late 2014, Rainey joined forces with three associates to create MotoAmerica, an organization that ultimately purchased the commercial rights for the AMA’s professional roadracing series. In 2015, the AMA Superbike series ran under the MotoAmerica banner for the first time and they look forward to the beginning of their second season in April.
The Trailblazers congratulate Wayne Rainey on his induction to the Trailblazers Hall of Fame. Others honors given at the banquet will be for three other new Trailblazers Hall of Fame inductees: 7-time American Speedway champion Mike Bast, Ascot 8-Mile National winner Dan Haaby, and famed Dirt Track race tuner and suspension expert Steve Storz. We will also recognize posthumously two Trailblazers who have previously passed on: Bruce Ogilvie and Gil Vaillancourt. Webco co-founder Tom Heininger will be the recipient of our annual wine toast, Susie Ellworth will receive the Lucile Flanders Award and Keith Mashburn will receive the Dick Hammer Award.
Questions? Send an email to: mctrailblazers01@gmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment