Howie Zechner
Most credit former Trailblazer director Tom Cates for the idea as he believed it would complement the Banquet and create a good bench racing opportunity for those that came early and held tailgate parties in the parking lot. Making a dedicated spot to display club members personal bikes in a closed secure environment along and lots of seating made the Trailblazer bike show an instant success.
Well-liked and respected Tom Cates was a successful Class C AMA racer in the late 50s and early 60s. After retiring from racing he held a job at Honda before moving to BSA. After BSA stopped selling bikes in America, Tom joined K+N as a sales manager where he remained for over 20 years. After he passed battling cancer in 2004 the board renamed it the Tom Cates Memorial Bike Show in his honor.
Tom White became the show’s new director. His passion and energy elevated the event to new levels with awards and judging. Enlisting the help of his friend Norm Bigelow, the Tom Cates Memorial Bike Show added a full day of fun and merriment to the evening affair in the banquet hall. A new opening time of 1pm and a no charge to display your machine consistently brings out the best of the best.
Don Emde invited Norm Bigelow to become more involved and offered him a seat on the Trailblazer board of directors. After Tom White passed from cancer in 2017 Norm Bigelow and Tom Horton took over the bike show. Now Bigelow is the director and with help from friends continues to keep the show pointed in the right direction.
In 2022 the board decided that the bike show would be named each year after the main bike show sponsor. A smart move as it allows the company, person or identity that puts up the money to capitalize on the name recognition they dearly deserve for doing so. In 2024 the event was titled the Tom White, Early Years Motocross Museum bike show.
Each year the machines on display are some of the finest quality and historical bikes seen at any show which makes it hard to pick a best so Trailblazer directors judge the bikes according to established disciplines; The best of show, Trailblazer spirit award, The Tom White competition award, and the people’s choice award chosen by ballot from Trailblazer members.
This year the Tom White, Early Years Motocross Museum bike show winners were: Best of Show: Bob Spicer – 1966 BSA Titanium 500 MX factory racer ridden by Jeff Smith. One of three ever built.
Trailblazers Spirit Award: Clyde Williams – Authentic Norton Dirt Track race bike - ridden at Ascot by David Aldana and others.
Tom White Competition Award: Jim Odom – Yamaha 250cc TD1-C flat track race bike.
People’s Choice Award: Lee Fabry – 100cc Hodaka roadracer – restored race bike that was one of four motorcycles that Don Emde rode in So Cal club races in 1969 when he won the overall AFM #1 for most combined points. Originally a stock Hodaka trail bike, it was made into a roadracer by another Trailblazers Hall of Famer Mel Dinesen -- who was also Don’s tuner and sponsor when he won the Daytona 200 in 1972 on a 350cc Yamaha.
The bike awards given out each year are just a small part of a happening many consider the best in the country as they set the stage for this year’s 79th Annual Trailblazers Banquet.
A wonderful night that celebrates the now, remembers and honors the yesterday, and fills the record books with the hero’s and happenings we are luckily a part of. View 240 Tom White, Early Years Motocross Museum bike show pictures on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/speedwayzar/posts/pfbid037j7bR4HhUDZ14L8ixC3GGQLUqdUUKsXKEQSk3qWEbPQYyqTBPKA6N4DdQuCYft9Yl
See all 350 banquet pictures on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=speedwayzar&set=a.7489949284373745
For those that would like view a well-produced video of the Banquet it is available on the Trailblazers Facebook page. Here is the link, give it a look you’ll be glad you did. https://www.facebook.com/trailblazersmc/videos/703631165056691
Thanks for Listening, See you Where the Wheels go Round