If you live in Louisiana and love riding motorcycles, chances are you know about Freddy Spencer. He’s a local, from Shreveport originally, who achieved renown and fame in the world of international motorcycle racing during a career that spanned from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.
He’s retired from racing now, but as a Louisianan who competed and thrived on the world level, his presence still looms large in New Orleans and around the state. He won three Grand Prix world championships, including winning the 250cc and 500cc Grand Prix world championships in the same season (1985), the only rider to have ever done so. The list of his accomplishments goes on, but suffice to say that he’s a living legend.
At the beginning of this year, I went with my wife and my friends from the Transportation Revolution to attend a dinner in his honor.
It was a packed house at the Bourbon House, located on Bourbon St. in the French Quarter. Still, it was intimate enough for everyone to have a chance to mingle, and “Fast Freddy” was surprised to be presented with an official acclamation from the City of New Orleans at the event.
What was cool was that people who ride every day were there to honor him. The crowd had its share of VIPs, but it also honored the everyday rider. Some had come on their motorcycles to the dinner! The event was a joyous one, an evening to celebrate our love of riding. For me, it was a special night since we just launched this new website and our toll-free number was chosen with Freddie in mind. The “1983” at the end of the Motojustice toll-free number pays homage to Freddie’s 1983 world-championship victory. He was only 21 at the time, and he was the youngest rider to seize this massive honor.
The dinner made me feel the importance of what we do here at MotoJustice every day, and spending time with Fast Freddy and so many of his admirers was an inspiration to me. Motorcycle riders need representation and justice when other drivers on the road don’t see them. We have a right to ride and have a duty to stick up for our fellow riders. While I’ll never be able to match Fast Freddy’s accomplishments on the track, I’ll do my best to accomplish similar feats in Court. I’m glad to be part of a community of riders that respect him and feel privileged to have a chance to show him their admiration.