Today in motorcycle history, May 30, 1998

 

  Canadian motorcycle racer Miguel Duhamel dedicates his May 30, AMA Superbike race win at Road Atlanta to Josef Boyd and Dirk Vandenberg.

  On Wednesday, May 27, 1998,  the two Honda associates were killed in a tragic accident during motorcycle evaluations at Willow Springs Raceway near Rosamond, California.

  Dirk Vandenberg, 48, Manager of Product Evaluation from American Honda Product Evaluation and Press Department and Josef Boyd, 49, Senior Engineer, Motorcycle Division, Honda R&D Americas, were evaluating a pre-production version of the Honda CBR600F4.  At the time of the accident, Boyd was apparently standing on the track photographing the motorcycle being ridden by  Vandenberg.  

  In what is considered a freak accident,  Dirk Vandenberg, a rider with nearly 40 years of experience, somehow lost control, swirved and collided with his friend, resulting in the deaths of both men. 

 

  Josef A. Boyd, aka GL Joe, was considered the "father" of the GL1500C Valkyrie F6C motorcycle, which was a "cruiser" derivation of the Honda Goldwing.

  Following their deaths the words, "Dedicated to Super Evaluators Dirk Vandenberg and Josef Boyd", were embossed in raised letters on the inside of the Honda CBR600F4's upper fairing.