Eddie Mulder
Eddie Mulder is an American former motorcycle racer and stuntman, known for his success in off-road, steeplechase, dirt track, and vintage motorcycle racing. He gained national recognition in 1960 when, at the age of 16, he won the Big Bear Run, one of the most demanding off-road motorcycle races in the United States.
Early life
Eddie Mulder was born in 1943 in California, United States. He began riding motorcycles at the age of eight and entered organized competition by the age of 11. Growing up in Southern California, he was immersed in a strong motorcycle racing culture that influenced his early development as a rider and competitor.Big Bear Run
In 1960, Mulder won the 39th Big Bear Run, a 150-mile off-road motorcycle race held in the Southern California desert. Riding a Royal Enfield, he competed against several hundred riders under extreme conditions of heat and terrain. Only a small percentage of entrants completed the race, and Mulder's victory at age 16 made him the youngest winner in the event's history. The win is widely regarded as a landmark moment in American off-road motorcycle racing.Professional racing career
Following his Big Bear Run victory, Mulder turned professional in the early 1960s and began competing in American Motorcyclist Association events. He achieved success across multiple disciplines, including dirt track and steeplechase racing, and won several AMA District 37 championships.In 1965, Mulder won the Peoria TT, one of the most prestigious AMA Grand National events. In 1966, he achieved a rare distinction by winning all three major AMA steeplechase national races in a single season. Throughout his professional career, he was closely associated with Triumph motorcycles and became known for his aggressive yet precise riding style.
In later interviews, Mulder reflected on the physical demands of TT racing, his competition with other leading AMA riders of the era, and his eventual decision to step away from full-time professional racing.
Later career and vintage racing
After retiring from full-time professional competition in the mid-1970s, Mulder remained active in motorcycle racing through vintage events. He achieved multiple class victories at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and continued competing well into later decades, demonstrating long-term adaptability and skill.Mulder later founded the West Coast Vintage Dirt Track Series, an organization established to preserve historic racing motorcycles and promote traditional dirt track competition in the United States.