- Dick Mann
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Dick Mann (born June 13, 1934) is an American motorcycle racer born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was a two-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship. He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1993, and the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.[1] He was one of the few riders to race on dirt flat tracks, TT (tourist trophy), motocross, Observed Trials and road racing.[2]
Mann was the second-winningest rider in AMA Grand National Series history with 24 national victories.[1] His career on the pro circuit spanned the early 1950s to the mid-'70s.[2] He was known for being one of the most talented and versatile riders and for wearing a cheap straw hat while working on his motorcycle.[3]
Contents
Background
He rode his first motorcycle as a teenager when he delivered papers on a Cushman scooter in Richmond, California.[2] He learned how to ride dirt competitively on a cinder running track at the area schools.[2] He would also ride on the cow trails in the area, experiences that would later help him in motocross.[2] After high school, he started helping at fellow Motorcycle Hall of Famer Hap Alzina's BSA shop in Oakland as a mechanic.[2]
Racing career
1950s
In the summer of 1954 he started touring as an amateur with professional Al Gunter.[2] Mann turned expert in 1955, and finished seventh on a Harley Davidson in his first Grand National race, the Daytona 200. At this time it was competed on the Daytona Beach Road Course.[2][4] He slowly made a name for himself in his first three years, and he finished in the top ten in the season points for the first time in 1957.[2] He had second place finished at the Daytona 200 and Laconia in 1958. He had his first national victory at the Peoria, Illinois Tourist Trophy (TT) in 1959.[2][4] He finished second in points in that year.[2][4]
1960s
In 1963 Mann won his first AMA Grand National title.[1] He had five podium finishes. He clinched the title by winning on September 21 Ascot Park in Gardena, California.[2]
He continued to win races and place high in the points standings before his next title eight years later.[2] He also helped pioneer motocross during that time, and raced in several motocross races in the 1960s and early 1970s.[2] He represented the United States in the Trans-Atlantic Match Races.[1] The series faced little-known American racers against Great Britain's well-known pavement riders.[2]
1970s
Mann started the decade with one the biggest wins of his career.[2] He won the 1970 Daytona 200, a race that he had not won in fifteen attempts.[2][5] Mann beat former world champion Mike Hailwood, and rising stars Gene Romero and Gary Nixon.[2][6] It was the first win by Honda in an AMA national,[1] and it happened at the series' premiere event.
In 1971 Mann won his second Grand National title on a BSA.[4] He became the oldest series champion in the history of the series.[2] He won the 1971 season opener at the Houston TT. He won his second Daytona 200 in the second race of the season. Mann also won road races at Pocono Raceway and Kent, Washington.[2] He was named AMA's Most Popular Rider of the Year in 1971.[2] Mann became the first rider to win motorcycle racing's career Grand Slam by winning in Grand National on mile, half mile, TT, and road racing circuits.[2]
Mann won races in 1972.[2] His final win as at Peoria, the site of his first win.[4] He was competitive in 1973, and finished in the Top 10 in points at age 40.[2]
Mann retired in 1974.[2] He had raced in 240 nationals, and he finished in the Top 10 in points in every season except one between 1957 and 1973.[2]
In 1975 Mann returned to his trail riding roots. He competed on the United States International Six Days Trial team (now the International Six Days Enduro) on the Isle of Man, earning a third place finish.[2][4]
In 1975 Mann started designing frames for the Yamaha XT/TT500 In all he sold some 200 frames for this engine in four marks, the final frames being completed in 1982. He also designed variations for the Honda XL/XR500 and the Suzuki DR/SP370. All the production frames were constructed by Terry Knight based on each of Mann's home built and extensively tested prototypes.
Honors and awards
Mann was awarded the AMA Dud Perkins Award for his contributions to the sport in 1995.[1] He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1993. He was still competing in vintage racing when he was inducted in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.[2]
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame opened an exhibit honoring Mann's career on July 27, 2006. The exhibit is called "SuperMann".[3] Over 400 people came to see the opening.[3]
Current life
He owns a business specializing in restoring and selling vintage race motorcycles.[2] He also continues to actively participate in American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) [1] Vintage Moto-Cross racing. His wife's name is Kay.[4]
Biography
- Mann of His Time, Ed Youngblood. Whitehorse Press (September 7, 2002). ISBN 978-1884313400.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Dick Mann, Motorcycle Hall of Fame, Retrieved September 17, 2007
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Dick Mann at the AMA Hall of Fame
- ^ a b c "Opening of SuperMann, the exhibit honoring the legendary Dick Mann, draws a record crowd to the Museum"; July 28, 2006; Bill Kresnak; Motorcycle Hall of Fame; Retrieved September 17, 2007
- ^ a b c d e f g Dick Mann; Motorsports Hall of Fame of America; 1993; Retrieved September 17, 2007
- ^ Daytona 200 winners at www.motorsportsetc.com
- ^ American Motorcyclist, May 1970, Vol. 24, No. 5, ISSN 0277-9358
Categories:- 1934 births
- Living people
- People from Salt Lake City, Utah
- People from California
- American motorcycle racers
- Motocross riders
- Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductees
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