Don Emde has a long history in the motorcycle industry and sport. His family has been involved in motorcycling since 1914 and the tradition continues today, not only by him, but by his daughter Jennifer, the Editor of Parts Magazine and Drag Specialties Magazine, and son Jeff, the Webmaster.
As a former professional motorcycle racer, Don and his late father Floyd Emde hold the distinction of being the only father and son to have both won the prestigious Daytona 200-Mile Road Race. Since retiring from racing, Don has been involved at virtually all levels of the motorcycle industry and sport, including retailing, distributing, product development, marketing and publishing.
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THE EMDE DYNASTY: SAN DIEGO’S FIRST FAMILY OF RACERS
Louis "Joe" Emde
Joe Emde racing at the 4th of July races in El Centro, Calif. in 1914 (He's the rider on the inside)
Joe (on left) sitting on his 1913 Indian twin inside his repair business in El Centro called the "Emde Garage." He later became the first motorcycle patrol officer in Imperial County and later was on the Chula Vista P.D. until he retired in the 1950s.
David Emde, Hall of Fame Class of 2010
David Emde was among the best roadracers in the late 1970s--a time when the strength of the field was unmatched, filled with the likes of Kenny Roberts, Steve Baker, Gary Nixon and Yvon Duhamel. His speed and skill helped him win the 1977 AMA 250cc National Roadracing Championship and become a force at the prestigious Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance race.
At the same time that he was chocking up numerous National victories in AMA 250cc roadrace events in the late-1970s into the 1980s, Emde established himself as one of the pioneers of the then-new segment of the sport known as Superbike racing, battling stars such as Reg Pridmore, Cook Neilson, Steve McLaughlin and others. He also played a role even later in the newly created Battle of the Twins class.
A desire to move closer to his family in his hometown of San Diego led Emde into the motorcycle retail business, where he worked until his untimely death resulting from a road accident in 2003. It was a cruel twist of fate for someone who risked his life in competition for so many years, but Emde’s record of success on the racetrack and in the motorcycle community is a record that speaks for itself.
David Emde was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2010.
Floyd Emde, Hall of Fame Class of 1998
1948 Daytona 200 Winner
Floyd Emde was the son of a California motorcycle police officer who also raced. Emde went on to become one of the foremost racers of the 1940s.
