Leftclankers
Dick Klamfoth
(Originally posted on Flattrack.com)
An interview with Dick Klamfoth, the first man to win the Daytona 200 three times.
After several snow delays and various scheduling conflicts, the big day had finally arrived.
Chew and I had arrived in Thornville, Ohio, and we were on our way (with the youngest Chewable in tow) to meet the original three-time winner of the Daytona 200, Mr. Dick Klamfoth.
Talk about anticipation!
We finally arrived at Dick’s house. Before we had even made our way out of the Fan Van, he was there…hand extended to greet us, and a warm smile on his face.
“Come on in,” he beckoned, “Supper’s waiting for you!”
And BOY, was it! Dick’s wife, Bev, LOVES to cook…and IT SHOWS! After an amazing meal, and plenty of amicable chatter, it was time to get down to the heart of our visit…an interview with the man behind the legends.
We were familiar with Dick, as a legend. Few people who follow The Sport have never heard of how he became the first man to conquer the old beach course at Daytona…the race that STARTED the “Daytona Bike Week” that attracts thousands of two-wheeled enthusiasts from all over, each March…not only on his first attempt, but two more times, to boot. Most know that, of all the victors at this grueling sand-and-asphalt combo, Dick was the only one to ever take home the coveted trophy. Many marvel at how he went on to open a motorcycle dealership, and then to build the famous Honda Hills race facility. An increasing number are learning how Dick poured his entire life’s savings into building a Memorial at the old Daytona beach course, honoring not only those who slid ‘em sideways THERE, but flat trackers EVERYWHERE… and those who support them.
Chew and I were thrilled at the invitation to spend an evening with Dick and Bev. We had a hunch, also, that there were probably some fascinating stories Dick could share with us.
We were NOT disappointed!
1. “Sparking the Fire”
Dick began riding motorcycles in 1942. He had just turned 14, and gotten his driver’s license. It was during World War II, and gas was rationed to a gallon and a half per week, for motorcycles. Dick would syphon a couple of extra gallons out of the tractors on his father’s farm in Groveport, and go riding around the family orchard.
After graduating, in 1946, Dick began competing in local endures. He caught the eye of a Columbus Norton dealer, who persuaded Dick to consider attempting flat track racing, instead.
Interest piqued by the dealer’s offer, Dick rode his bike out to Illinois, where he attended the legendary Springfield Mile…not as a racer, but as a spectator.
“It was magic,” he said, with a faraway look in his eyes, “Some lady…Barbara Mandrell, maybe? Anyway, she sang on the stage, that night. The fans…they were all screaming and cheering…the racers, they were amazing. I was hooked. I knew right then and there, THIS is what I wanted to do. I wanted to race flat track.”
He progressed quickly through the ranks, and made history in 1949 when, as a rookie expert, he won at Daytona with a record average speed of 86.42 mph.
“I wasn’t trying to break any records,” Dick said. “There were over 100 bikes on that course! I’m not crazy. I was actually riding pretty carefully. The Norton (supplied by the same dealer who had convinced him to consider The Sport) wasn’t doing so well on the beach part of the course, but…boy…when she got on that asphalt, it was like she grew an extra set of legs! I’d just start passing them a few each lap, whenever I got on the road. That was the whole key, right there.”
2. “The One Who (ALMOST) Got Away”
Dick broke records again when he took a second win at Daytona 2 years later, in 1951... But WE loved the story of his third win, in 1952.
Weather conditions had made the track unfavorable, and Dick was disappointed by the news that Daytona was going to be postponed a day. He decided to make the best of a bad turn of events by going fishing. He stopped into town to grab a few sandwiches, to take out on the boat.
A fan came into the store and recognized Dick.
“Are you gonna win today?” The man asked.
“Nah,” Dick replied. “They rescheduled it for tomorrow.”
“No, they didn’t…haven’t you heard? They got things shaped up. They’re running it TODAY!”
Dick raced back to the garage area, only to find that his crew (believing him to be AWOL) had left without him. Dick suited up, hopped on his bike, and raced to the track…just in time for the races to start, and to claim the first ever third time win at the track.
3. “Bev vs. Bart Markel”
At an Ohio race, Dick was on his way to the front when, all of a sudden, he took a blatant hit from Bart Markel. Dick was sent off of turn three, down the embankment, out of sight and out of the running for any shot at finishing in a top spot.
Dick got his bike back up and onto the track and (of course) was VERY upset… Upset to the point that he was heading to the pits to face old Bart down. Now, Dick assured us, “Hey, I wasn’t that kind of guy. I didn’t go looking for fights. But…Oh, I was so mad at him, and I made my mind up it wasn’t going to happen again!”
As he reached the pit gate, the water truck guy (who’d seen the whole thing) stopped him.
“Dick,” he said, “I don’t think you wanna do that. Bart’s a Golden Glove, ya know.”
Considering this, Dick decided to just cool off and let it go. His lovely wife, Bev, had OTHER ideas.
In those days, wives were not allowed in the pits. However, Bev had ALSO seen what had happened. She climbed over the fence, and had already given old Bart the what-for. Bart ended up sitting on the fence for 90 days because of that incident, but both Bev and Dick said that Bart had become a very good friend of theirs, later on in life.
4. “Fighting Tooth and Nail”
In another race, Dick was working his way towards the front. With about 5 laps to go, he noticed a foot peg, laying on the track. On the next lap, Joe Leonard’s bike picked it up and threw it…right into Dick’s choppers, at a high and PAINFUL rate of speed. Dick continued on, with over half of his teeth gone and blood streaming from his mouth, and finished the race. In the winner’s circle, he was covered in blood, and missing most of his grin. WOW…what Iron Men these guys were, in the day!
5. “That Terrible Day in Lincoln”
“We went out for practice. Resweber and I were running together. It was very dusty. I went up a little higher than Carroll, to see what I could do at the start-finish line. As we came off the corner, you couldn’t see a thing. I drifted a little higher, yet, and he went out of sight in the dust. The next thing I knew, I saw a bike laying on the track right in front of me. No where to go, but up and over. I remember hitting the bike, going up and over the handlebars, and don’t remember anything else. They put me in the ambulance with Paul Ghoulsen.
On the way to the hospital, Paul passed away. It ended Carroll’s career. I woke up, 11 hours or so later, in the hospital.
It was truly an awful day.”
6. “Memories Are What You Make Them”
Dick has a vision, and it sits along the Daytona Beach Boardwalk.
The 12 men who originally rode on the hardened sands of Ormond Beach are etched on granite, as permanent a testimony as the throngs of bikers who continue to flock to the area each year for Bike Week…although few, if any, can tell you that the tradition BEGAN because of the crowds of fans who would swarm the beach, each year, to cheer on the racers of the Daytona 200.
Other faces and names have joined the original dozen. Racers of today, and days gone by…fans…crew members…sponsors… In granite plaques and on red paving bricks, new names join the monument each year.
Our own Wayne Hosaka, father of Flattrack.com, has taken his place among them.
There are many others, waiting to be “inducted,” here…Ricky Graham, Will Davis, Rex Beauchamp… Dick’s hope is that he will be able to see them, and many others, honored in this permanent testimony to what he believes is the greatest sport on earth.
For information on how YOU can be a part of the Daytona 200 Memorial project, please visit http://www.daytona200monument.com .
