Motorcycle inventor,
designer and Hall of Famer Craig Vetter will headline AMA Motorcycle Hall
of Fame Breakfast at Daytona, March 14
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is pleased to announce
that Hall of Famer Craig Vetter -- motorcycle inventor, designer and racer --
will be the featured guest at its annual AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast
at Daytona, on Friday, March 14, at 7:00 a.m., at the Daytona 500 Club on the
infield at Daytona International Speedway.
"Craig Vetter's impact is far-reaching, starting with the design of the
iconic Windjammer fairings of the 1970s, continuing with motorcycle designs
like the Triumph X-75 Hurricane and the limited-edition 'Mystery Ship,' and
enduring more recently with a resurrected series of motorcycle fuel economy
runs that push the boundaries of everyday streamlining," said Jeff
Heininger, chairman of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which
oversees the Hall of Fame. "We're proud to host motorcycling's design
professor emeritus for this year's Breakfast at Daytona."
Taking place during 2014 Daytona Bike Week, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Breakfast at Daytona fundraiser will feature a live interview with Vetter on
stage, an audience Q&A period and an autograph session with Vetter and
other Hall of Famers in attendance. The event is open to the public, and
tickets are available now at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.
Proceeds benefit the AMHF and the Hall of Fame.
Craig Vetter founded the Vetter Corporation, a company that became famous for
its touring and sport fairings for motorcycles from the late 1960s into the
1980s. Vetter's designs always inspired new directions in motorcycle design.
Vetter was a racer himself at Daytona in 1976. Later, his company sponsored the
Kawasaki team when Reg Pridmore became the 1978 AMA Superbike Champion. He also
sponsored famous Vetter Fuel Economy Contests where motorcycles squeezed more
than 400 miles out of a gallon of gas -- a program he continues doing to this
day at the annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days event in Ohio.
Vetter said he's looking forward to making the journey from his home in Carmel,
Calif., to Daytona during Bike Week to meet fans and catch up with old friends.
"My first motorcycle design was in 1964: the Daytona Display for
Bridgestone motorcycles," Vetter said. "My college professor was
concerned: 'Motorcycles... are you sure?' In those days, motorcycles were not a
part of 'nice' society. We were not respected and our motorcycles certainly did
not belong in museums.
"Things sure have changed," Vetter noted. "Today, motorcyclists
occupy a new position in American culture. Today, it is cool to ride. We even
have a Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. How did all that happen?
"I lived this period," he continued. "I helped make those
changes. Along the way, I met the greats of motorcycling. I look forward to
telling some of my stories at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast at
Daytona, where it all began for me 50 years ago."
About the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation
Founded in 1990 by the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the goal of the
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is to tell the stories and preserve the
history of motorcycling. Located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist
Association in Pickerington, Ohio, the Museum's three major exhibition halls feature
the machines and memorabilia of those who have contributed notably to the
sport. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum recognizes individuals who have
made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their
contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racing, as
well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering.
More information can be found at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.
