Dick Klamfoth's 1956 BSA 500cc B34 Gold Star " Ultra Short Circuit Racer"
Dick Klamfoth had already won the America's most important race, the Daytona 200 in 1949, 1951 and 1952 on a Francis Beart tuned Factory backed Norton. This was the 'Garden Gate' Manx which was quick but not a particularly good handler. When the AMA banned its replacement, the paradigm shifting 'Feather Bed' Manx, with it's ground breaking duplex cradle frame because they feared it would dominate the series, Klamfoth decided it was time to make a change.
He took three Norton Manx double overhead cam motors with him when he sailed to England to sell them to raise funds to buy a 1956 BSA Gold Star he would campaign until 1962 in the American AMA Grand National Championship series. It sported a BB32R USA short Circuit Rigid Frame with RRT2 four speed. Dick took back-to back wins in 1958 and 1958 Charity Newsies races on this bike. The Gold Star was continuously modified by Klamfoth.
In 1962, Dick was involved in a horrible crash with this bike at the Lincoln, Illinois National. RIders were killed in the melee and Dick and Carroll Resweber spent months in the hospital recuperating. That was the last time this bike was used in anger. Dick came out of retirement in 1964 to run the high banks of the new Daytona Speedway on a Matchless and finished fifth. It was only fitting that his final race would be at Daytona, where he conquered the beaches at such a young age.
Over the years Dick and his wife Beverly raised their three daughters, opened a motorcycle shop in Groveport, Ohio, became the first Honda dealer east of the Mississippi, survived a brain aneurism, ran two moto cross tracks, hosted trans -am and inter- am races and created the Daytona 200 Monument on Daytona Beach, Daytona, Florida. In the Winter of 2014, Dick and Bev were the victims of a house fire and were lucky to escape alive. They lost several dogs in the tragedy as well.
Despite this, the 85 year old AMA Hall of Fame inductee keeps looking towards the future and not back on his illustrious past. He's won the Daytona 200 three times, won 12 AMA GNC races and was voted most popular rider in 1961. He's a true living legend in my book.
Dick Klamfoth had already won the America's most important race, the Daytona 200 in 1949, 1951 and 1952 on a Francis Beart tuned Factory backed Norton. This was the 'Garden Gate' Manx which was quick but not a particularly good handler. When the AMA banned its replacement, the paradigm shifting 'Feather Bed' Manx, with it's ground breaking duplex cradle frame because they feared it would dominate the series, Klamfoth decided it was time to make a change.
He took three Norton Manx double overhead cam motors with him when he sailed to England to sell them to raise funds to buy a 1956 BSA Gold Star he would campaign until 1962 in the American AMA Grand National Championship series. It sported a BB32R USA short Circuit Rigid Frame with RRT2 four speed. Dick took back-to back wins in 1958 and 1958 Charity Newsies races on this bike. The Gold Star was continuously modified by Klamfoth.
In 1962, Dick was involved in a horrible crash with this bike at the Lincoln, Illinois National. RIders were killed in the melee and Dick and Carroll Resweber spent months in the hospital recuperating. That was the last time this bike was used in anger. Dick came out of retirement in 1964 to run the high banks of the new Daytona Speedway on a Matchless and finished fifth. It was only fitting that his final race would be at Daytona, where he conquered the beaches at such a young age.
Over the years Dick and his wife Beverly raised their three daughters, opened a motorcycle shop in Groveport, Ohio, became the first Honda dealer east of the Mississippi, survived a brain aneurism, ran two moto cross tracks, hosted trans -am and inter- am races and created the Daytona 200 Monument on Daytona Beach, Daytona, Florida. In the Winter of 2014, Dick and Bev were the victims of a house fire and were lucky to escape alive. They lost several dogs in the tragedy as well.
Despite this, the 85 year old AMA Hall of Fame inductee keeps looking towards the future and not back on his illustrious past. He's won the Daytona 200 three times, won 12 AMA GNC races and was voted most popular rider in 1961. He's a true living legend in my book.
