Monumental idea

I’ve just booked the flights and hotel for our annual pilgrimage to Daytona Bike Week; and before you ask it’s not coming out of editor Tony’s paltry expenses budget but out of my skinny pension and Mrs W’s housekeeping. We absolutely love the whole event. Regular readers will know that I have a leaning to American V-twins, so the madness that is Daytona’s Main Street keeps me amused for hours. Obviously the iconic Daytona Speedway, which still fizzes with atmosphere, is a major draw for this old racing junkie and the warm Florida sunshine is just what we need after a miserable British winter. However, one major attraction that we would not want to miss each March is the celebration at the Daytona 200 Monument, where the heroes of both the original beach race and the current banked stadium are honoured. It’s an amazing tribute in marble, surrounded by walls with individual bricks and plaques in memory and celebration of riders past and present. We invariably catch up with long-time friend Don Emde; Don’s late father, Floyd, won the 200 as a factory Indian rider and Don achieved the same result on a 350Yamaha, against all the 750cc Superbikes.they are the only father and son to have achieved this. Through Don we have got to meet many of the pioneer racers, including Dick Klamfoth, who won the race three times and was the inspiration and driving force behind the monument’s existence. And each time we visit, the same thought creeps into my head and my conversation with Don. Why on earth isn’t there something similar to this in the Isle of Man? Obviously I’m aware of the memorial wall in Douglas Cemetery, opposite thett startline, but sadly you have to be dead to appear on that, which you most definitely don’t on the Daytona wall. I’m all in favour of remembering my fellowtt racers who paid the ultimate price, but surely the greatest road race in the world deserves a celebration? I know that Isle of Man Government ministers, and other very influential people on the Island, read Classic Racer, so what about it folks?