Born To Ride News

My name is Major Edward Pulido, U.S Army, (Ret.). I spent 19 years of my life serving the greatest nation in the world. Like many service members my story begins while serving a combat tour in Baquoba, Iraq. It was 17 August 2004. On that fateful day I hit an Improvised Explosive Device (I.E.D.). This particular road side bomb’s wrath would lead to the amputation of my left leg and would change my life and my family’s life forever.

As I struggled to breathe and as my faith in God was tested, I remember a comment that my father once made that had a powerful impact on my life. He told me that when I take the oath to serve my nation, as an officer in the United States Army, I have a duty and responsibility to God, my country, my family and to those men and women who serve under my command. In addition, he explained to me the importance of making sure that as a nation we must always understand that we never leave anyone behind on the field of battle . On that day my Non- Commissioned Officers honored my father’s vision.

Finally, my father concluded by telling me that as a citizen of this great country we have a patriotic duty and responsibility to honor our fallen and take care of our wounded. It is with this vision that I am proud to say that I am a part of one of the country’s most prestigious foundations.

The Folds of Honor Foundation, in collaboration with the PGA, the USGA and so many others, not only fulfills my father’s vision of not leaving anyone behind but supports a vision by its founder, F-16 fighter pilot Dan Rooney, to ensure that families of the fallen and wounded have the right educational foundation. I am proud and honored to say that my family is a recipient of the Folds of Honor Foundation Scholarship. This gift is an investment in the education of my beautiful children, Kaitlin and Kinsley.

In conclusion, I want to thank my good friend and personal hero, Captain Dan Rooney. I also want to thank our patriotic partners and donors of this great nation who are making an investment in so many children’s futures. Together we are making a difference in the lives of the families of our fallen and our wounded. They deserve it and the Folds of Honor Foundation is ready to provide it. Thank you for the wonderful gift and investment.

General Peter Pace once told me at Brooke Army Medical Center, “Always remember that on that day you did not lose a leg. On that day you sacrificed it for your country and for all in this nation to be free.” This was a poignant statement by a passionate leader.

I thank God and my country for the Folds of Honor Foundation.

For more information about Folds of Honor visit www.foldsofhonor.com/

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — One afternoon in the mid-1960s, a man walked into a Southern California motorcycle shop looking for someone to race an unproven motorcycle with a foreign-sounding name. Lucky for that man, he walked into the right shop and found the right racer. Malcolm Smith took Edison Dye’s offer, and their partnership would help establish the Husqvarna motorcycle brand as a force in American off-road.

In recognition of Malcolm Smith’s contributions to the success of Husqvarna, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and Husqvarna Motorcycles North America are pleased to announce that Smith will serve as Grand Marshal at the 19th annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this July 9-11 in Lexington, Ohio. Husqvarna is the Marque of the Year for 2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

“Even today, decades after Malcolm Smith’s racing prime, his fan base rivals some of the top names in the sport,” said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman. “To anyone who has met him, the reason for that is clear: Malcolm Smith is synonymous with everything positive about motorcycling — fun, sportsmanship, and excitement. He will serve as an exceptional Grand Marshal at this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days as we celebrate the brand on which he became famous: Husqvarna.”

Added Husqvarna National Sales and Marketing Manager Scot Harden: “When it came to honoring a Grand Marshal at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, Malcolm Smith was the obvious choice. We look forward to celebrating the storied history of Husqvarna with Malcolm, as well as a large number of other past Husqvarna legends and champions on July 9-11.”

Smith says he’s looking forward to meeting fans and enjoying the activities himself at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

“I was last at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days three years ago and had a wonderful time,” Smith said. “I particularly liked walking around the large field where they sell all the old bike parts, buying a truckload and then figuring out how to get it all back to California. I’m spoiled. I like to ride new bikes, but I really enjoy working on old motorcycles. I work on them every day.”

Smith said that he remembers the day he was introduced to Husqvarna motorcycles like it was yesterday.

“When Edison Dye brought me the bike, we laid out a track and some trail that went up into the hills,” Smith said. “When I came back from that ride, I said, ‘Mr. Dye, you have yourself a rider.’ The bike was so far ahead of anything else available at the time, and so reliable.”

Following his encounter with Dye, Smith’s success and influence wasn’t limited to the track. Smith’s positive evaluation of those first Husqvarnas also persuaded Dye to become the U.S. Husqvarna importer in 1966. That decision paved the way for Dye to bring in reigning Swedish world motocross champion Torsten Hallman to race the bikes in the United States. Not only did that move further advertise the quality and speed of Husqvarnas and help Dye sell a lot of motorcycles, but it also established the sport of motocross on American soil.

In his role as grand marshal, Smith will participate in numerous fan-friendly activities, from autograph signings to discussions of his history with Husqvarna. This will be a rare and unique opportunity for Smith’s thousands of fans to meet and greet the off-road legend.

As a racer, Smith gained fame for his accomplishments in the Baja 1000 and for his gold-medal-winning rides in the International Six Day Enduro competitions, but his notoriety reached well beyond the motorcycling community as the star of the influential 1970s motorcycle movie, “On Any Sunday.” The scenes of Smith play-riding with his buddies, which included popular actor Steve McQueen, showed people across the country just how fun motorcycling could be. The movie helped launch an explosion in the popularity of off-road motorcycling in America.

Held at the world-class Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features vintage and post-vintage competition in motocross, trials, hare scrambles, roadracing and dirt track, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet. Also on tap: educational seminars, bike shows, demo rides of current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, stunt shows, the new product Manufacturers’ Midway, and club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs.

Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The goal of the AMA Hall of Fame, located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, is to honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit, passion, vision and entrepreneurship have played a vital role in shaping the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling. For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Museum’s website at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

For more information about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2009, visit AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com. For tickets to the event, see MidOhio.com.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations.