![Dick Klamfoth circa 1952]()
Three-time Daytona 200 winner Dick Klamfoth and his wife, Bev, narrowly escaped a fire that raced through their home in Thornville, Ohio, early Saturday, December 20. Details are still sketchy, but what we know is the fire destroyed all of their worldly possessions and took the lives of eight dogs. Bev risked it all by heroically going back into the burning house to rescue some young pups. She reportedly saved a couple, but suffered smoke inhalation and was hospitalized for a day.
Dick’s racing career stretched from the late 1940s into the mid-1960s. He then became a
Honda dealer in the Columbus area until retiring in 1989. He also operated Honda Hills, a large riding park in the Thornville area right next to the home just lost in the fire. Honda Hills hosted a round of the AMA National Motocross series for many years.
In the 1990s, Dick and Bev secured a small plot of land along the beach in Daytona Beach, Florida, and raised money to build the Daytona 200 Monument. It is dedicated to the champions of Daytona 200 races held on the beach from 1937 to 1960.
As they begin to rebuild their life, a fund has been created to receive donations. Log onto:
www.gofundme.com/klamfothfirefund.
![Dick Klamfoth circa 1952.]()
![Daytona 200 Monument.]()
![Dick Klamfoth at Cannonball Ride 2014.]()
Three-time Daytona 200 winner Dick Klamfoth and his wife, Bev, narrowly escaped a fire that raced through their home in Thornville, Ohio, early Saturday, December 20. Details are still sketchy, but what we know is the fire destroyed all of their worldly possessions and took the lives of eight dogs. Bev risked it all by heroically going back into the burning house to rescue some young pups. She reportedly saved a couple, but suffered smoke inhalation and was hospitalized for a day.
Dick’s racing career stretched from the late 1940s into the mid-1960s. He then became a Honda dealer in the Columbus area until retiring in 1989. He also operated Honda Hills, a large riding park in the Thornville area right next to the home just lost in the fire. Honda Hills hosted a round of the AMA National Motocross series for many years.
In the 1990s, Dick and Bev secured a small plot of land along the beach in Daytona Beach, Florida, and raised money to build the Daytona 200 Monument. It is dedicated to the champions of Daytona 200 races held on the beach from 1937 to 1960.
As they begin to rebuild their life, a fund has been created to receive donations. Log onto: www.gofundme.com/klamfothfirefund.
