AMA Announces Inclusion of Keith McCarty and Alex Jorgensen in Hall of Fame
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2015 just grew by two members. On October 17, 2015 in Orlando, FL, race team manager Keith McCarty and dirt-track racer Alex Jorgensen will be included int the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Orange County Convention Center.
“I’m pleased to welcome two additional inductees to the Class of 2015,” said Ken Ford, a member of the AMA and American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation boards of directors. “Keith McCarty was instrumental in the launch and growth of numerous Hall of Fame careers. His mastery of the preparation, skill and strategy necessary to excel in racing have contributed to numerous AMA National Championships.
Beginning his career as a motorcycle mechanic for U.S. Suzuki in 1973 for rider Mike Runyard, McCarty moved on to wrench for AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Tony DiStefano in 1975–76, winning two 250cc AMA National Motocross Championships* in the process. He also found time to work with Hall of Fame duo of Erv Kanemoto and Gary Nixon on the road racing side.
January 1977 saw McCarty begin his long career with Yamaha in the pits of AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legend Bob “Hurricane” Hannah. Since then, McCarty has flown the Yamaha flag in the company’s racing division as a mechanic, supervisor, and department manager, ultimately reaching his current position of manager for all of Yamaha’s U.S. racing activities. McCarty is known not only for his vast technical knowledge, but also for inspirational prowess and organizational acumen that transcends racing disciplines. McCarty’s career has been a benefit to not just Yamaha. He stands as a iconic figure in the motorcycle community.
Alex “Jorgy” Jorgensen enjoyed a long and distinctive career that saw him win his first four Grand National, while competing on four different motorcycles – Can-Am, BSA, Norton and Harley-Davidson. He also scored wins in all four dirt-track disciplines – short track, TT, half mile and mile. This breadth of versatility ranks Jorgensen among the greatest AMA Grand National competitors in history.
Jorgensen’s career features a number of unique victories: He is the last rider to win an AMA Grand National on a Norton or BSA (both at Ascot). Jorgensen earned Can-Am its first AMA Grand National win. The first AMA Grand National victory on Rotax’s four-stroke single at the Ascot TT is another one of his first wins for a manufacturer. If you’ve noticed the repetition of Ascot in Jorgensen’s career, it shouldn’t be surprising. Jorgensen shares the record of most AMA Grand National wins at Ascot with six time winner Gary Scott.
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony is open to the public and, for the second consecutive year, takes place in conjunction with the AIMExpo – the fast-growing and impactful event that brings together consumers, dealers, manufacturers, and the world press in one location for global product launches, demo rides, motorcycling seminars, and much more.
McCarty and Jorgensen join previously announced motocrosser and off-road racer Rodney Smith and entrepreneur and patron John Parham in the Class of 2015. The two final inductees of the Class of 2015 will be announced shortly.
Purchase tickets at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.
Like most of the best happenings in his life, Evans stumbled into his motojournalism career. While on his way to a planned life in academia, he applied for a job at a motorcycle magazine, thinking he’d get the opportunity to write some freelance articles. Instead, he was offered a full-time job in which he discovered he could actually get paid to ride other people’s motorcycles – and he’s never looked back. Over the 25 years he’s been in the motorcycle industry, Evans has written two books, 101 Sportbike Performance Projects and How to Modify Your Metric Cruiser, and has ridden just about every production motorcycle manufactured. Evans has a deep love of motorcycles and believes they are a force for good in the world.
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