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Emde named Grand Marshall for 2009 VMD
I consider it a real honor to be asked to be the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Grand Marshal, says Emde Theres so much of motorcycling represented at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, from the road-race course to the swap meet to the motocross track to the half-mile at the fair grounds in Ashland. The range of interest is considerable. You say vintage to one person, and it might mean a bike from the 70s, and to someone else it might be an old Indian from the 40s.
Emdes greatest racing triumph came in the1972 Daytona 200. Emde won riding a Mel Dinesen-tuned Yamaha 350cc. The win marked several Daytona 200 milestones: it was the first victory for Yamaha, the first time a two-stroke won and the smallest displacement bike to ever win. Emde also became the first second-generation Daytona 200 winner, following the path of his father and 1948 winner, Floyd Emde.
Emdes father also had a BSA dealership in the San Diego, Calif. area, making him a natural choice for Grand Marshall with BSA serving as 2009 Marque of the Year.
After retiring from motorcycle racing, Emde became publisher of Motorcycle Dealernews before starting up Parts Magazine. Emde also authored a book on the history of the Daytona 200 and later joined the board of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation.
Emde was inducted into the AMAs Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.
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