PORTRAITS
Don Emde was awarded the Dick Hammer Award for 2025. Due to is many accomplishments and deep family heritage, Don's place in the world of motorcycles is unique. His family involvement in motorcycles goes back to the family sales and service shop in the early 20th century. His grandfather was a motorcycle patrolman, his father and uncles all raced, but it was Dons dad Floyd who won the prestigious Daytona race in 1948. Don began racing early in several disciplines. Floyd bought him a Suzuki road racer, the same one Dick Hammer raced. In 1972 Don won the Daytona race, making it the only father and son combo to ever have reached this landmark.
A few years ago I did a portrait of Don to commemorate his 1972 Victory at Daytona. I did it in the same motif as the Hammer Award, not knowing he would eventually be selected to that honor as well. So when it came time to paint the award painting I needed to do something different. It occurred to me that Don didn't do this alone, that his family support helped him along, so I thought it appropriate to do a sort of family portrait with Don and his family in 1972 Victory Lane, His father with his Daytona trophy, his grandfather on his Police bike and his dad and uncles on dirt trackers. This was given to Don as a surprise at the 2025 Trailblazers Award banquet.