RIP Dick Mann

[oldbike54]

 87 years young , in the estimation of many the greatest motorcycle racer America ever produced .

 "Can you hold the throttle wide open all the way around the track?"

 "No sir"

 "Well when you can , then worry about getting the engine to make more HP"

 So long good sir , you were a gentleman 

 Dusty

[mhershon]

I moved to the San Francisco BayArea in '66 and soon began cow-trailing, as we called it, with a bunch of old San Franciscans, many of whom knew Dick Mann and always referred to him as Bugs or Buggsy. One or two of them had helped him in the pits at races. At that time he was riding hare scrambles and was competitive with Torsten Hallman, Hallman on a Husky two-stroke, Mann on an old-school BSA single. He could ride anything...anywhere . The guys I rode with were generally irreverent, always ragging and insulting each other, but when they talked about Buggsy, it was always respectfully, damn near hushed tones. I think I learned how to be a motorcycle rider from those guys, and they held Dick Mann in awe. He was my idols' idol.

[egschade]

Was just getting into motorcycles at the height of the Nixon/Mann wars. Always rooted for Buggsy as I then, and still do favor an understated, unassuming hero.

RIP Mr. Mann

[Alfetta]

Dick Mann, Marty Smith, Danny "magoo" chandler....  Man all my old heros are leaving...

[Momo]

One of my favorite racers along with Eddie Aldana(his leathers were too cool).  Hadn't heard Torsten Hallman mentioned in many decades

[Guzzistajohn]

I attended a trials school with Dick Mann as the instructor. He was a perfect gentleman, never said one dirty word, until we got on the subject of riding in sand. He said "I HATE F___ING SAND!!  Rest in Peace Dick Mann!

[poorBob]

In addition to unparalleled skill, he had a level of toughness not even grasped by most.

I told my nephew the story of Buggsy, duct tape and maxi-pads and he looked at me like I was demented. It's hard to imagine and hard to believe a man could be so skilled and so tough.

We all have our heroes and he was my greatest hero. We won't get another Buggsy.

RIP Mr. Mann.

[Dharma Bum]

A real class act, not likely to be replaced.

[LowRyter]

RIP Bugsy.

He won Daytona back to back, BSA and Honda.  He didn't believe the factory tuners that the bikes could run the planned pace, so he backed off enough to win.  Tough but smart too. 

https://www.cycleworld.com/how-dick-mann-and-bsa-won-daytona/

[nc43bsa]

One of my favorite racers along with Eddie Aldana(his leathers were too cool).  Hadn't heard Torsten Hallman mentioned in many decades

Dave Aldana?

[LowRyter]

Dave Aldana?

saw him at Springfield a few years ago racing in old timer class.

[Momo]

saw him at Springfield a few years ago racing in old timer class.

coolest leathers ever.  Thanks for posting the photo,  Larry

[vf84pc]

I had the privilege to talk with him at length in in the early 90's at some vintage events. He was such a nice guy and was glad to chat with all us young guys and answer our questions. He would offer us advice on repairing our old Triumphs and BSA's and when I say repair I mean not parts swapping but repairing like taking dents out of tanks! I never heard anybody say a bad word about him.

[Dave Swanson]

Just bought this.  It is supposed to be a great read. 

[JJ]

R.I.P. Dick "Bugsy" Mann and Godspeed....He was indeed a living legend....

[LowRyter]

Just bought this.  It is supposed to be a great read. 

The paperback is $70. 

I have a paperback of "Stealing Speed".  $40105 used and $900 new.  I once offered it as a Dirty Santa present, no one took it.  I kept it.

[oldbike54]

The paperback is $70. 

I have a paperback of "Stealing Speed".  $40105 used and $900 new.  I once offered it as a Dirty Santa present, no one took it.  I kept it.

 How much ?  Do you mean $7.00 and $90.00 ?

 Dusty

[Dave Swanson]

The paperback is $70. 

I have a paperback of "Stealing Speed".  $40105 used and $900 new.  I once offered it as a Dirty Santa present, no one took it.  I kept it.

I paid $25.97 on eBay. 

[oldbike54]

How much ?  Do you mean $7.00 and $90.00 ?

 Dusty

 Wholey Schmidt , just looked , there is no way I am paying $900.00 for a book 

[LowRyter]

How much ?  Do you mean $7.00 and $90.00 ?

 Dusty

no.

but that's Amazon.  Always check ebay and flea markets.   But if you want to order it NOW from Amazon ......

Glad I kept my copy of Stealing Speed but would like the Mann book but not for $25 either.

[LowRyter]

Wholey Schmidt , just looked , there is no way I am paying $900.00 for a book 

used is only $104

[oldbike54]

used is only $104

 I have hundreds of books , probably spent about that much in total  Well , excepting the $20.00 spent on a couple of Bill James baseball abstracts .

 Dusty

[krglorioso]

About the time I really did pass Dick Mann on the track... It was at the 1967 Louden, NH 100 mile National Championship road race, near the site of the old Laconia NH races, but on a much more modern, genuine race track. The earlier Laconia races were held on a connected series of country roads in the Belknap Recreation Area. 

Dick showed up without a ride.  He was able to borrow the BSA Gold Star ridden the previous day in the 50 mile Amateur race by Eddie Varnes, of the endless Varnes family of pro racers in Pennsylvania.  Dick's loaner was not nearly as fast as Dick's own BSAs or the Matchless G-50 he rode to numerous victories, but it was a ride.  I was on my heavily sponsored Triumph 500 twin, arguably a very "hot" bike, even in the hands of a tepid rider.

The race was run entirely in rain and I remember riding into spray from the wheels of the faster riders and soon I was lost somewhere at the back of the field.  Nixon, Rayborn, Lawwill, and all the inhabitants of another planet came flying by me.  I resigned myself to just finish and make a few bucks. 

From behind me, I could hear the sound of a single cylinder bike and soon after, Dick lapped me, riding right around me in a sweeping turn which promptly opened into a straight section of about 200 yards.  Simply on the strength of my Triumph's "motor", I blew by Dick until the next turn, where Dick motored serenely away and disappeared into the mist.  I'd had my moment of glory.  Ever after, I will wonder what was on Dick's mind when I passed him so easily.  I'm sure he was thinking, "If I only had that guy's bike instead of this slug I'm on"...

I did finish and made $50, enough for gas to get me home to Maryland and a bit left over for dinner.

Ralph

[oldbike54]

 Thanks for that Ralph 

 Dusty

[LowRyter]

 

[Moparnut72]

I was at that race weekend. The thing I remember the most was the rain. My buddy and I didn't have a proper tent, only a makeshift lean-to.
kk

[Alfetta]

My Benelli 50 was N-1-2-3-4-N-1-2-3-4-N-1 ....
and if you thought that you missed 4th, the next gear was a BIG surprise....