Norm McDonald is considered one of the Renaissance Men of motorcycling, because it did practically everything: run, prepare engines, design products and direct a chain of dealers. His passion was born despite the limitations: his parents did not allow him to have a motorcycle, so he began in the Hot Rods And in the acceleration races until, with 17 years, he bought his first motorcycle thanks to the money he earned by cutting grass, hiding it at a friend’s house.
After serving in the US Navy between 1952 and 1955, Norm McDonald returned, married Louise (Lucy) West and returned to motorcycles with more force than ever. During the day he worked as a surveyor in San Bernardino County, but at night he overturned his energy in his passion.
The birth of K&N: Norm McDonald and Ken Johnson
In 1957 he met Ken Johnson, and together they opened K&N Motorcycles In Loma Linda (California), with just $ 200 and three used motorcycles. Johnson worked by day and McDonald at night. Soon they assumed brand concessions such as Indian (then Royal Enfield) and Yamaha, in addition to giving his first job to a young Malcolm Smith, who with 17 years began a path that would also take him to the Hall of Fame.
The expansion arrived in 1965, when they founded K & N Engineering. First they dedicated themselves to accessories such as handlebars, fenders and fork reinforcements, but a year later they presented the revolutionary K&N air filterwhich in just five years was already a standard in almost all motor competitions.
In parallel, Norm McDonald expanded its dealership network until it reached six, where it sold brands as varied as BSA, CZ, Jawa, Husqvarna, Hodaka, Marusho, Greeves and even Harley-Davidson. In addition, he supported generations of pilots: from his children Phil (Champion of the Daytona Junior 100 Miles in 1973) and Sam (National Champion of 250 in 1982 and SubCampeón de Superbike in 1984), to his son -in -law Ted Boody (National No. 12) and his grandson Tyler McDonald. In total, he sponsored hundreds of runners, of which more than 30 reached the national level.
In 1971, Norm decided a change of course: he sold businesses, bars and even an insurance agency to move to Tulsa (Oklahoma). There he stayed with the concessionaires side, while Johnson continued with K&N Engineering. Since then he opened new stores in Tulsa and Wichita (Kansas), and continued working with his children and grandchildren until his last days.
His philosophy was always clear: “Motorcycling is not something to become rich, but it gave us to live in our families and kept us together”. In 2013, their dedication and trajectory were recognized with their entry into the Ama Motorcycle Hall of Fame. McDonald then said he felt overwhelmed: “I never put myself in that category. Seeing so many pilots who ran for me to enter the Hall of Fame and be next to them leaves me speechless”.
With its departure, the community loses a reference that embodied the passion for the two wheels in all its facets. From SoyMotero, our condolences to family, friends and the whole family of motorcycling that today reminds one of its most influential figures.
