50th Anniversary Daytona 200 Victory Celebration

On Saturday, March 12, history was relived and retold in a special 50th Anniversary celebration of father and son victories decades apart. Held at the Carson Center in Carson California approximately 65 friends, colleagues, racer and historian buffs enjoyed an agenda that outlined the work and effort that lead to victory.

Don’s wife Tracy handled credentials. In November they celebrate 50 years of marriage

Hosted by Don Emde, a 10 am start with coffee and pastry greeted guests. No mask or shot verification it was all very casual. Everyone who attended received six raffle tickets, a large 8×11 picture of Floyd and Don Emde and a “Daytona 200, The History of Americas Premier Motorcycle’ book. A line formed as the author of the book Don Emde autographed each copy.

Daughter Jen Rose is a bookkeeper and magazine production manager at Don Emde Inc.

Several other tables included a large poster that everyone in attendance signed and another that had six different raffle items one could win if their number was pulled from the box in front of each item. Not sure how others did it but I put all six of my tickets in the vintage Daytona Race bumper sticker box.

One must understand that those that come to a shindig of this nature are gearheads in one manner or another so bench racing was in full swing till the buffet opened at noon. Good food and plentiful none would go hungry on this day.

After lunch, the presentation started. First the intros of family and others. Then a drawing. FYI, that put all the tickets into one box worked because I did win the vintage Daytona Race sticker.

Don Emde took the microphone. In a powerful and well-produced PowerPoint presentation, he went into great detail on every picture shown. Heavy on the when and who facts. Kudos were given to those that were a part of that special time.

For those that want to know every word that was spoken at the Daytona 200 victory 50th-anniversary celebration it was live-streamed on Facebook and is available at:

https://www.facebook.com/DonEmdeFanPage/

See all 180 pictures on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=speedwayzar&set=a.4988571687844863

Car Images:

By hrhwp