Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Share
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame was established in 1998 by the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation (AMHF) to honor the legends and heroes of American motorcycling and highlight their achievements and contributions to motorcycling. The first induction in 1998 included a large number of the early pioneers and competitors who built the motorcycling foundation in America. The second year added a significant number of inductees who again represented the most famous and legendary achievers in American motorcycling. This established the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as we know it today.
Each year after those inaugural inductions, the annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction has added an elite group of new inductees to the hallowed Motorcycle Hall of Fame Gallery in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony is held in the late fall each year and is open to the public.
The process of inducting a motorcyclist into the Hall of Fame is directed by the AMHF board of directors with participation from motorcycle historians, journalists, industry leaders and living Hall of Fame members, all of whom contribute their expert knowledge in the selection of inductees from all faculties of motorcycling. Final selection is done by the voting body composed of this large group of motorcycle experts in a secret ballot.
Applications
Applications for the Motorcycle Hall of Fame may be submitted by the general public.
To submit an individual to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame please fill out the Hall of Fame Application Form and provide the information requested on the application to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Download AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Application form.
- Competition applicants must have been retired for at least five (5) years from routinely participating in national level competition, or if not retired then must have maintained 25 years at the national level of competition.
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All submissions become the property of the Motorcycle Heritage Foundation and will not be returned.
- Applications must be received by the Motorcycle Hall of Fame by Sept. 30 of each year to be included in the following year’s selection process. Receipt of applications will be confirmed via letter.
For questions about the nomination process, please email: info@motorcyclemuseum.org.
Process
Motorcyclists are submitted for consideration for election to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and become Applicants.
Applicants who meet the minimum criteria for consideration, as determined by the appropriate Hall of Fame committee, become Candidates. The committees include more than 70 industry experts who represent the eight categories in which people can be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Every year, each Hall of Fame Category Committee considers the pool of candidates and chooses which names should be forwarded to the balloting committee. The number of candidates forwarded is up to the Category Committee.
Candidates are forwarded to the Balloting Committee (made up of the chairs of each committee, the chairmen of the AMHF and AMA boards and the President/CEO of the AMA).
Candidates selected by the Balloting Committee become the year's Nominees, which are announced publicly. The Balloting Committee also determines the number of nominees and the number of slots on the ballot available each year.
The final Hall of Fame Inductee Class is determined by ballot voting by current living Hall of Fame members, members of the AMA and AMHF Boards, members of the Category Committees, and selected other invited persons. The total number of voters is more than 250.
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Categories
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Individuals who have worked to make American motorcycling better
through promotion in the media, by organizing events, projecting a
positive image of motorcyclists through their own actions or
reputation, and individuals who are employed in the motorcycle industry
working as motorcycle or accessory manufacturers, distributors,
dealers, the motorcycle press, photographers, artists, motorcycle
organizations, or other related occupations.
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Those who design and engineer unique motorcycles or motorcycle
features for use on production or custom machines and related products.
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Racers, team managers, tuners, mechanics, officials and others who
excelled in Dirt Track Competition (Short Track, Half Mile, Mile, TT,
and Speedway racing).
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Individuals who work with or in government at a state, local or
federal level to protect the rights of motorcyclists. Individuals who
promote safety and rider training or advance street, trail or
competition motorcycle riding opportunities.
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Racers, team managers, tuners, mechanics, officials and others who excelled in Motocross and/or Supercross Competition.
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Racers, team managers, tuners, mechanics, officials and others who
excelled in Off Road Riding and Competition (Enduro, ISDE, Desert,
Off-Road Grand Prix, etc.).
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Racers, team managers, tuners, mechanics, officials and others who excelled in Road Racing Competition.
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Racers, team managers, tuners, mechanics, officials, and others who
excelled in other forms of motorcycle competition not covered in the
other categories. This would include Drag Racing, Bonneville Speed
Records, Hill Climbing, and more.