Holy crap! I've been out of town until recently on a family vacation and have been catching up on emails, voice mails, internet shit and I just saw this on superbikeplanet.com from last Friday. Can't believe some old DMF fart like me hasn't posted this already.
Grew up a huge #9 fan!! He was one of the first racers to ever wear the original Bell Star full face helmet in competition. He was an American racing icon, legend and hero just like Mert Lawwill, Kenny Roberts, Bart Markel, Cal Rayborn, Springer, etc... Everyone has to go at some point. No one gets out of here alive. But I am crushed. Like part of my personal motorcycle history just died. RIP Gary Nixon. You will forever be backing that #9 Triumph flat tracker into the cushion on the mile in my mind. God speed. [beer]
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Aug/110805nixon.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Aug/110805nixon.htm)
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Aug/11080869nixon.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Aug/11080869nixon.htm)
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/May/060525a.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/May/060525a.htm)
RIP Gary. One of my early hero's too. Along with Dick Mann, Gene Romero & Rayborn.
Glad at least someone else clicked on this thread and responded. Thanks MadDuck for giving a shit about a living legend. #9 was something else! [thumbsup] [Dolph] [beer] [clap] [bow_down]
I give a shit....and read the thread...I just didn't respond as I think all that needed to be said, was...though, I did like the stories from Spies and Hayden....
Oh I know most folks give a shit. I was just hoping that there were some good Nixon stories out there to be shared by DMF members. No biggie.
Quote from: MadDuck on August 09, 2011, 09:39:03 AM
RIP Gary. One of my early hero's too. Along with Dick Mann, Gene Romero & Rayborn.
Seriously?
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
Quote from: fastwin on August 11, 2011, 06:23:48 AM
Oh I know most folks give a shit. I was just hoping that there were some good Nixon stories out there to be shared by DMF members. No biggie.
I can make one up if you'de like...LOL....J/K
Quote from: El Matador on August 11, 2011, 07:43:27 AM
Seriously?
yes...seriously!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Mann (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Mann)
(http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/uploadedImages/articles/issues/2009-09-01/Parting-Shots-DickMann.jpg)
(http://www.ozebook.com/cr750_files/cr7502.jpg)
(http://www.motohistory.net/images/MannatPeoria70.jpg)
Definitely seriously! [thumbsup] Mann won Honda's first big race on the then new CB750. Daytona 200 March 1970. That would be picture #2 in zooom's post.
Quote from: fastwin on August 11, 2011, 09:24:32 AM
Definitely seriously! [thumbsup] Mann won Honda's first big race on the then new CB750. Daytona 200 March 1970. That would be picture #2 in zooom's post.
Thank you for that too! Yep. Bugsy Mann was a hell of a rider. Maybe not like a Mike Hailwood or John Surtees but he was always a contender.
and I am sorry for sidetracking/threadjacking/soiling the Gary Nixon memorial thread with historical Dick Mann stuffs....
What's to be sorry for? Mann and Nixon were cut from the same bolt of cloth. Great, tough, old school racers from the days of AMA racing when you had to race and master road racing, flat track, short track and TT if you wanted a shot at the championship. Long before the days of specialization in one skill type. It's rare these days to see a racer strap on a steel shoe one weekend and slip on road race leathers the next. I loved the old days when they had to do it all. [thumbsup] [Dolph] [popcorn]
RIP
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/yamiow/ (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/yamiow/)