When Jeremy McGrath is inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame on October 5, 2003, he will become the youngest member ever of an elite group. To date, 285 of the motorcycle industry's most intriguing and memorable men and women have been immortalized in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, located just minutes east of Columbus, Ohio on the 23-acre campus of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in Pickerington. McGrath will be one of 13 new inductees honored, include racing legends Scott Parker and Jay Springsteen, industry ambassador Tom Heininger and trials champ and award-winning Hollywood stuntwoman Debbie Evans.
During his career, McGrath--who turns 31 this year--won seven AMA Supercross championships, more than any other racer in the sport. In addition, he set two other records: he won more individual AMA Supercross races (74) and more races in a single season (14) than any other person. McGrath holds 11 major championship titles. He was also twice selected to represent the United States on the Motocross des Nations team. McGrath caught the racing bug at the age of 11 when he started competing in Bicycle Motocross (BMX) competitions. At the age of 17, he traded pedal power for two-stroke engines and began racing motocross as a privateer. He turned pro in 1989. In 2003, McGrath retired from Supercross competition and began a new career on the growing Supermotard circuit. This season, McGrath is competing for Team Troy Lee Designs, aboard a Honda, in the AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championship.
In addition to his amazing string of victories, McGrath has inspired thousands of young men and women to pursue their championships dreams. Motivated by a pure passion for the sport and a rigorous work ethic instilled in him by his parents, McGrath carved his way to the very pinnacle of racing success.
The annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction ceremony takes place at 2 p.m., Sunday, October 5 at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The ceremony is the highlight of a two-day celebration that starts with a Saturday, October 4 evening reception at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, open to the public ($15 per person, RSVP required). On Sunday, visitors can enjoy the country's most exclusive showcase of classic motorcycles at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d'Elegance, featuring over 100 rare vintage bikes. Additional activities include an autograph session with the inductees and a motorcycle art showcase featuring internationally acclaimed bronze artist and sculptor Jeff Decker and licensed Harley-Davidson artists David Uhl and Scott Jacobs. All Sunday, October 5 events are open to the public. Visitors can also tour the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum's extensive new exhibit, "Heroes of Harley-Davidson, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance."