TrailBlazers Motorcycle Club

10/07/2026

TRAILBLAZERS CHANGE 2027 BANQUET DATE

The Trailblazers Motorcycle Club has announced that the previously scheduled date of their 82nd annual banquet has been moved up by one week, from Sunday, April 4th to Saturday, March 27th.

Trailblazers’ president Norm Bigelow noted that many of their members and sponsors are actively involved in various current racing series. As a result, the club has always tried to avoid having the banquet on the weekend when an event such as a Supercross race is being held. Bigelow stated, “We believed we had the banquet set for an open weekend, but when the unexpected announcement was made about the addition of the Foxboro Supercross on the same weekend as the banquet, we knew we had to make the change.”

The Board of Directors of the Trailblazers will be meeting soon to discuss and plan adjustments to the schedule of the program on March 27th.

The 82nd annual Trailblazers banquet will again be held at the Carson Center in the city of Carson. Tickets will go on sale on November 1st on the Trailblazers website at: www.trailblazersmc.org.

10/05/2026

TrailBlazer Dick Allen passed away on June 12, 2026. He had Dick Allen Motorsports (Yamaha, Honda and others) in Newhall, CA, for several years. Dick promoted many rides including his famous Sierra Safari. District 37's LA-Barstow and Team Dual Dogs dual sport rides also started right at his store. There will be a Celebration of Life for Dick on October 17th at Grace Baptist Church at 22833 Copper Hill Rd., Santa Clarita, CA, from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM. It's an outdoor celebration, so BRING A CHAIR OR BLANKET to sit on. Lunch will be served, so please RSVP by going to the Facebook event page, https://www.facebook.com/events/2288823838598852

10/05/2026

Ernie Aragon passed away on August 4th at 91 years of age. He was well known throughout the motorcycle community and was on the TrailBlazers board of directors. There will be a Celebration of Life for Ernie on Saturday, October 24th at the Rowland Heights Community Center, 18150 Pathfinder Rd., Rowland Heights 91748, from 12 Noon until 3:00 PM. Lunch will be served. Please RSVP by text to his daughter Pam Griffin at 951-640-9032, so they will know about how many will be attending.

09/27/2026

The SMX World Championship races in Branson, Missouri was a nail biter Saturday night all the way down to the last lap of the 450 finale. Congratulations of course to 250 winner Levi Kitchen and 450 winner Jorge Prado, but when it all over with, I was also so happy for my fellow Trailblazers members Mitch Payton and Roger DeCoster, who both made it all possible for their riders to achieve their success. Both Mitch and Roger have been inducted in recent years to the Trailblazers Hall of Fame.

09/25/2026

Godspeed Chuck Jones / 2007 Trailblazers Hall of Fame Inductee
Mahony Photo/Dennis Burkman Collection

09/01/2026

Thanks to everyone who attended the Mert Lawwill Celebration of Life on Sunday. While it might have looked like the Trailblazers produced the event, we actually didn't. It was Joe Lawwill's event, but the club did helped out in many ways.

I was proud to be asked many months ago by Joe to help him put on the extravaganza to really showcase Mert's life. It was not only about Mert's success in motorcycling, but included his involvement in bicycling and prosthetics as well.

In addition to being the emcee, my publishing team put together the 24-page 4-color souvenir program that all of the nearly 500 attendees received.

Our president, Norm Bigelow, not only transported four of the Trailblazers Pop-Ups to provide shade at the check-in area, but he jumped in to assist with the concours bike display.

Tom Seymour also assisted with the bike show entrees and arranging the security guard. Trailblazers member, John Parker, was involved with the project right from the start arranging motorcycles to be accepted for the event.

Keith Lynas helped check in the concours bikes, while Joe Colombero assisted with the layout of the bikes and the load-in and pack-up after wards.

Finally, Trailblazers member and annual banquet photographer Mitch Friedman was on site with his camera. He shot all of the photos in this report except the first one, which was borrowed from member Nancy Foote, wife of Walt Fulton. It shows the layout of what we were calling our best recreation of the old "Johnny Carson Show." We had four groups on stage. One with two of Mert's old friends from his early years in Idaho, then Mert's pro racing years, followed by Mountain Bike racing and then Mert's Hands prosthetics.

The event closed with some great out takes of previous footage from the Bruce Brown On And Sunday library organized and presented by Bruce's son, Dana.

Thanks to all who attended, and to everyone who helped make it such as successful event.

Don Emde
Trailblazers Secretary/Treasurer

08/26/2026

JN Roberts R.I.P.

After a life spent as a celebrated pioneer of American desert racing, James Nelson Roberts (best known as J.N.) passed away at his home in Helena, Montana on August 18. Thanks to an unmatched win record that stretched over 27 races in the seventies, the 84-year-old Roberts was known as “The King of the Desert”, and for good reason.

In addition to winning the first Baja 1000 in 1967 as a teammate with Malcolm Smith, J.N. would go on to claim victory in some of America’s most celebrated off-road races including the Barstow-to-Vegas (four times), the Mint 400, the Baja 500, and a second win at the Baja 1000. He also represented the U.S. at the ISDT in 1971 and ’72.

Along with Smith, Roberts would be a key figure responsible for helping cement Husqvarna’s early dominance in off-road racing circles.

As a lifelong motorcyclist, J.N. kept riding long after his racing career, but he also enjoyed a lengthy career as a highly regarded Hollywood stuntman.

While his many off-road wins were enjoyed far from the limelight of closed courses and spectator turnout, a brief moment of J.N.’s high-speed talent was immortalized in Bruce Brown’s famous movie, “On Any Sunday”.

Not only was Roberts an inductee in the Trailblazers Hall of Fame, but he was also inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2009. He was also a member of the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame.

Condolences from the Trailblazers to JN’s family and friends

by Zap Espinoza

08/05/2026

R.I.P. Ernie Aragon. The Trailblazers regret to report the passing of Ernie Aragon on Tuesday (8/4/26). Ernie, who was 92 years old, had been a club member since the 1960s, and served as a Director for many years until being promoted in 2025 to a Director Emeritus. He was elected to the Trailblazers Hall of Fame back in 2002.

Ernie was a motorcycle accessory distributor back in the 1960s and 70s. His Aragon Distributing company sponsored many riders. He wasn't a pro racer himself, but did some District 37 racing in sidehacks. It could be said he was one of the easiest people to spot in the movie, On Any Sunday. He was the pilot of the sidecar at the Elsinore Grand Prix in the Bunny suit.

Ernie always liked to be active at the annual Trailblazers banquets. He didn't just show up. If help was needed at the check-in table, Ernie was there. He often helped organize Hall of Fame attendee group photos and to make our awards program extra special, he had the customized gold medals made and provided them to the club every year. And knowing they would be needed in the years to come, he recently donated the remaining inventory of the medals to the Trailblazers.

Godspeed Ernie. You'll be missed.

06/17/2026

TRAILBLAZERS ELECT HONOREES FOR 2027

On Tuesday, the Trailblazers Board of Directors held a meeting at the headquarters office of the Motorcycle Industry Council in Irvine, CA. The purpose of their meeting was to review, discuss and ultimately vote to decide which of the twenty candidates that had been nominated would be chosen as one of the eight honorees at the 2027 banquet to be held at the Carson Center on a first-ever Sunday, April 4, 2027.

There were seven new Hall of Fame inductees elected. They were:

• Pat Alexander – 43-year employee at U.S. Suzuki with numerous race team involvements.
• Brad Andres – Winner of three Daytona 200s and the AMA Grand National Champ in 1955.
• Mark Johnson – Four decades of experience managing two- and four-wheel organizations.
• Rick Johnson – One of the most successful motocross and supercross racers of all time.
• Gunnar Lindstrom – 1960s Swedish MX rider who stayed in America to race and work.
• John Ulrich – Magazine publisher responsible for adoption of air fences at racetracks.

• Eddie Cole – Founder of Answer Products, in addition to his Hall of Fame induction, will receive the Earl & Lucile Flanders Lifetime Achievement Award

Dick Hammer Award Recipient:

• Jody Nicholas – while already a Trailblazers Hall of Fame inductee, was a nationally ranked AMA Pro Racer in the 1960s and 70s (out three years serving as a Navy pilot in Viet Nam). He will receive the Trailblazers highest recognition with the Dick Hammer Award.

More info online at

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05/26/2026

TRAILBLAZERS INVITED TO MERT LAWWILL CELEBRATION OF LIFE – A LIFE WELL LIVED

There has been much sadness in the motorcycling community since the passing of legendary racer Mert Lawwill on May 5th. Some good news, however, has been announced recently that Mert Lawwill’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Carson Center on Sunday, August 30th.

While the event is not being produced by the Trailblazers, each Director on our Board has volunteered individually to help with the event and Joe Lawwill wanted to let all Trailblazers members know they are welcome to attend as well. Admission is free, although there are some other options to choose from to help fund the event that are indicated on the RSVP form. To get all the plans in place, Joe needs to know how many attendees to expect, so if you would like to attend, please submit your confirmation at: https://www.mertlawwill.com.

Mert’s connection to the Trailblazers goes back much farther than the 2022 banquet when he received the club’s Dick Hammer Award. Back in the 1960s and ‘70s, Mert won 3 of his 15 career AMA Nationals at Ascot Park, located then just one mile from the Carson Center, the longtime home of the Trailblazers banquets.

This gathering is intended to be a true Celebration of Life rather than a formal funeral service. The goal is for the atmosphere to feel warm, welcome, authentic, and a celebratory gathering of friends, family, racers, riders, builders, and storytellers coming together to honor Mert in a way that would feel true to him.

The event will feature:
• Guest speaker storytelling panels.
• Vintage motorcycles and memorabilia.
• The inaugural “Mert Lawwill Vintage Dirt Track Concours.”
• Historical displays and artwork.
• A Special tribute film presentation by Dana Brown.

Mert was never a suit-and-tie kind of person, and the spirit of the event is intended to reflect the authentic, relaxed, and creative nature of who he was. Guests are encouraged to dress casually and comfortably. Those who own vintage Mert Lawwill apparel, racing shirts, motorcycles or bicycle-related clothing, or the commemorative event shirt are encouraged to wear them as part of celebrating Mert’s life and Legacy.

The activities on August 30th begin at 11:00 a.m. with a high caliber “Mert Lawwill Vintage Dirt Track Concours.” The purpose of the Concours is to specifically celebrate the motorcycles, craftsmanship, racing culture, and history that helped define Mert’s life and career. The display will focus on:

• Vintage dirt track motorcycles from the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s
• Historically significant race bikes
• Period-correct dirt trackers
• Motorcycles with historical relevance to the era
• Special bikes connected to racers, builders, and the culture of American flat track racing

The Concours will feature a single award, a People’s Choice Award. Each attendee of the event will have the opportunity to vote for the motorcycle they feel best represents the spirit and history of vintage dirt track racing.

Note: Space will be limited, and all entries must be approved in advance. When you submit your RSVP to attend, please indicate your interest and supply a photo of your motorcycle. Those with motorcycles confirmed in advance for display can arrive to unload beginning at 9:00 a.m.

The doors to the Carson Center Banquet Hall open at 12:30 and the Celebration of Life program will begin. Emcee Don Emde will open the program with a welcome to attendees, followed by personal reflections of his Mert by Joe Lawwill, and remarks from Marcy Lawwill and Tom Suchomel.

Don Emde will then lead discussions with Mert’s early family friends Al Kozak and Kyle Kozak, followed by Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, Chris Carter, Troy Lee and Allan Seymour (part of Bruce Brown’s On Any Sunday traveling film crew).

The next segment will address Mert’s years in the Mountain Bike Racing world where his innovative motorcycle-inspired front and rear suspension changed the sport and earned Mert an induction into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Yeti bicycle founder John Parker and journalist Zap Espinoza will share comment on the significance of Mert’s contributions to the bicycle sport.

The final segment of the interviews will be about Mert’s involvement with Prosthetics and Humanitarian Legacy. Shane Cahill, Jake McCullough and Josie will share stories of freedom and independence as a result of “Mert’s Hands.” A short video created by Joe Lawwill featuring Shane Cahill and Josie will follow.

The final part of the program will be a special closing tribute film made special for the event by Dana Brown, son of the late-Bruce Brown, producer of On Any Sunday.