The American Motorcyclist Association has named Tom White the recipient of their Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement honors.
“The White family is truly humbled and grateful to be receiving this award on Tom’s behalf,” said Kristin Anderson, White’s daughter. “The AMA was an organization Tom was proud to work diligently with. He had a deep love and respect for all of its members. Tom’s passion for motorcycling ran deep and he would be truly honored to be receiving the AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you to the AMA for extending this honor.”
Wearing AMA National No. 80 in flat-track competition from 1971 to 1976, White co-founded White Brothers Cycle Specialties in 1975 and later created the World Vet MX Championship and the World Four-Stroke Championship. White’s lasting contributions also included the creation of the Edison Dye Motocross Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997, which recognizes annually those who have made the largest impact on the growth of motocross in America. The Early Years of Motocross Museum was White’s pride and joy, which today features 160 historic motorcycles and related displays.
Even in retirement White was a fixture on the racing scene, announcing motorcycle races during the past several years at the weekly REM motocross series at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, CA. In 2017, White was honored with a monument along Glen Helen’s Walk of Fame.
In addition to his many achievements, White donated untold hours of service to the AMA and as a board member of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which oversees the Hall of Fame. For many years he was a stand-out announcer at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, an annual fundraiser for the Hall of Fame.
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