From 1974 to 1981, AMA Motorcycle Hall of famer Dick Burleson won eight consecutive AMA Grand National Enduro Championships during his career, earning the nickname "King Richard." This July 19-21, Burleson’s triumphs will be celebrated when he serves as the grand marshal for BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring the riders and champions of Husqvarna, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
"Dick Burleson’s dominant run in the AMA Grand National Enduro Championships is legendary," said AMA president and CEO Rob Dingman. "His dedication to competition and his focus on excellence produced a winning streak that included some of Husqvarna’s greatest titles in the country’s leading off-road championship. BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is the perfect venue to honor Dick Burleson’s accomplishments, and we are very pleased that he will be our grand marshal."
BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, featuring the riders and champions of Husqvarna, includes vintage racing, bike shows, seminars and an expansive motorcycle swap meet. It is a fundraiser for the 501(c)(3) AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio.
"It will be a blast to share memories of winning titles on Husqvarnas with fellow riders, fans of motorcycling, and supporters of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame," Burleson said. "Off-road motorcycle technology has come a long way, but the sport is still about the thrills of pushing your limits on the track while enjoying time with friends off it — that never changes."
In addition to his domestic record, Burleson also won eight consecutive gold medals in the world’s top off-road competitive event, the International Six Days Trials (now called the International Six Days Enduro).
Burleson was born in Johnson City, Tenn., in 1948. His family moved to St. Joseph, Mich., when he was two years old. Burleson first began riding at 18, and in the late 1960s he excelled at motocross.
Burleson’s off-road career took a leap in 1971 when AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer John Penton invited Burleson to race on the American Trophy team that was competing in the International Six Days Trials at the Isle of Man.
Burleson continued to compete in international and domestic competitions, and in 1974, Burleson earned his first AMA National Enduro Championship. He also earned his first gold medal in ISDT competition, in Italy. That kicked off Burleson’s eight-year AMA Grand National Enduro title winning streak.
To meet Burleson and learn more about his career, attend BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. For tickets, visit www.midohio.com or call (800) 643-6446.
Proceeds from BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days support the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame which features the riders and champions of Husqvarna. The BikeBandit.com AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days activities include the AMA Classic Field Meet Challenge, amateur national championship roadracing, motocross, hare scrambles, trials and dirt-track in vintage classes, a motorcycle skills test, a Wall of Death stunt show, and demo rides of current street and off-road motorcycles. The weekend also features North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet, bike shows, seminars on a number of topics by noted motorcycling experts and autograph sessions with AMA Motorcycle hall of famers.
