A Farewell To A Rising Star

He was known as “Iceman,” and the tee-shirts being offered at the Motorcycle Performance Services’ Memorial Benefit for racer Kenny Anderson, held at L.A.’s Motorcycle Performance Services carried that nickname and his racing number 12.

Too many of us have attended memorials for fellow riders and racers, but this one cut deeper. Kenny Anderson was literally a rising star in roadracing with a long list of achievements demonstrating his high level of skill and courage. While “Iceman” suggested a salty veteran, Kenny was only 12 years old when he passed away from injuries sustained while competing at Buttonwillow Raceway Park on March 11, 2013. Kenny was the reigning Heavyweight Twins Superbike Novice and Formula 2 Novice Champion with WERA West.

The crash occurred in the final turn of a race at Buttonwillow. Earlier in the day Kenny had won the 250cc Production race in a heated battle with Ari Henning of Motorcyclist Magazine. In a statement made by his father Eric Andersen, “He died doing what he loved, and what he excelled at. I have no doubt that there was nowhere on Earth Kenny would rather have been that weekend than at the racetrack, racing his motorcycles and hanging out with his friends,”

He continued, “I’m sorry that all the thoughts and prayers we have received were not enough to bring him back, but please know that your love and comforting words really helped us get through the past week. Please keep Kenny The Iceman number 12 in your thoughts. Live your lives to the fullest, and hug your children every day.”

The memorial benefit event and shop open house was held on Wednesday July 17, beginning at 6pm and went on well into the night, with the Motorcycle Performance Services’ parking area eventually overflowing as individual riders and groups of club riders made their way from all around L.A., most longtime friends and customers of the shop, and those who had followed Kenny’s racing exploits.

Memorial T-shirts and raffle tickets were sold, the proceeds going to help with the Andersen family’s hospital expenses and toward sponsoring the WERA series renamed in Kenny’s honor. Along with Motorcycle Performance Services, several companies contributed products and services as raffle prizes including VanLeuwen Enterprises, Motoyard race school at Willow Springs, Cycle Gear, Galfer brakes and Ed Sorbo of Lindemann Engineering.