Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1960's

GUEST EDITORIAL OUR CHAMPION SPECTATOR LIABILITY AND PARTI· ClPANT INSURANCE FOR TRACK OWNERS, PROMOTERS AND CLUBS ~ BUSINESS PACKAGES- MOTORCYCLE & AUTOMOBILE - LIFE & ACCIDENT. s. HAIlItIS·I"INSltY Of MICHAEL BENDER" ASSOCIATES, INC. 5225 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD. Sulta n7 L.A., C.",. '0036 (213) '37·2011 BROKER INQUIRIES INVITED. Bl' Joe Aro . What is a champion? Kirk Douglas played ill a movie by the same name. and it told a story heart-felt and cruel. the story ofachampioll and his ways..Vow. I shall try my humble best to tell you about my champion. Gary Nixon. According to Webster, a champion is many things: a fighting man, a man of valor. a penon who fights or speaks for another, or anyone engaged in a cOlllest or conflict where power will win. In our great country we have many champion teams and individual champions. What made me want to write this story was what happened at York, Pennsylvania; the boos of the crowd and the look in Gary's eyes-sad, hurt, tired to the point of exhaustion. But he waved, gave his little cocky walk, and went to his machine. When the announcer introduced Bart Markel, the crowd cheered. Yet I can recall the boos when Bart was champ. They even called him "Bad Bart," but people forget-and they should-but ·they should also be fair and just to the lone man against many. A VIEW FROM THE PITS For Your He_est "Built 'To-Go" Dealer Call TRo 7·2400 or PO. 9-0441 UWASAI' Headquarters BEACH CITIES CYCLES 525 N. EI Camino RNI 51n Cle....te, Callfomla (114) 492-6141 . We all know what's happening. The factories want the Big Plate; it sells motorcycles. Triumph knows this, and so do Harley and BSA, the big three in /lattrack racing. Let's look behind the scenes, from the pit view. The Triumph camp had a good thing going when they got Chuck Palmgren and Gene Romero. This cut the odds. Rayborn, HQIlby and Lawwill were there, and both Palmgrens, but they didn't ride. Gary rode. He took a chance ofgetting hurt, and he knew this. He didn't ride for the money, but beCtlUse he is a champion and because the race was for a good CtlUse-crippled kids-and beCtlUse he did have some fans. There were two fans I know of. The harder the crowd booed, the harder my rider and I cheered, because we had heard him booed before. How many fans know that he donated his winnings in North Carolina to charity, at a benefit race he didn't win. But for where he finished he earned over $200.00 fora worthy cause. Yet again they booed and he put on his cockey act and waved and walked away, head up and shoulden back. But there was hurt in his eyes, and he was dirty, tired, worried, nervous and exhausted mentally and physically. He asked no edge and gave much. A HELL OF A LIFE I have talked to Gary many times. He talks for a few minutes, then walks away, always on the move. In this business you htrPe to be. Carrying that plate means he must win, but does the guy who paid a buck a¢ a half know that Gary just drove 600 mileS" with no sleep, living out of a truck? It's a hell of a life. I know, and I only travel on weekends, but have gone as far as 1400 miles to race. Recently we visited with a lovely and charming lady, the wife ofour flat track dirt champion Darrel Dovel. Peg said she would like to have a nice home and fix it up, but they never stay in a place longer than six months. Like many /lattracken' wives, in her own way this gal is a champion, keeping notes and cheering her man on. Peg and Darrel were at York, then drove to Plains City, Ohio. We followed them across the East. Peg said that at some time or other she had had most of these kids stay with herand Darrel, including Gary. Peg said he is a strange guy and is always nervous. - THE GOOD LIFE A champion golfer makes around $150,000 a year, has a nice clean job around an air-conditioned country club, and he flies from place to place. He never wears leather clothes and a helmet in 95 degree heat, and he never breathes dirt that chokes you up until you can't breathe. What's more, he doesn't take chances with his life, nor does he drive 100,000 miles a year and live out ofa truck. COMMON COURTESY ., r- GENE H. MYERS YAMAHA Dealer NEW & USED SALES Authorized ParIs - Servi ce & Repair . 445' Redondo Beach Blvd. Lawndale, Calil. (213) 542·4041 We all know to be a champion. you have to be good, and Gary is good. I recall a night at Santa Fe a few nights before a National when he got tangled up on the line with Rayborn. and Cal went down. We were parked next to Cal, and Gary came by and told him he was SO"y they had bumped. and walked on. But he did apologize. as did Bart to Gary at Springfield. Ohio, this year. Markel bumped Gary on one of the turns, and after the race he walked over and said he was SO"y. Gary said. "One more lap, Baby, and I would have had you. .. That's all that was said. At r vrk. as we were loading. Gary came ou t and there were about 20 people having a picnic. He stopped. walked ol'er. gare autographs. received two pieces of chicken, smiled. shook hands with l'l'eryone. and got into his truck happy. These people cheered, and he felt their warmth and friend~\' ways and was pleased that out of so many people. at least a few made him happy. He drol"e away with a smile on his face and a piece of chicken in his hand. HARD ODDS The Harley camp has some fine riders. matching leathers. and a lot of money. I am IIOt saying Triumph is brokt:, -but Harley has gone all out-and f mean ALL out-against one mall. Freddy the mile man and shorr tracker. Rayborn the roadracer, Markel the halfniler, Lawwill. Haaby. Reiman. and Breslford make up the team That's a lot of guys for one man to beat. But he has done it, and he is doing it again. Before Livonia he was second. That's a champion for you, and I feel he should be treated like one. I hal'e seen him work two hours on a motor just to make the program so the people can see him ride. He rides /lot just the Nationals. but ell that he can make. He's the little, cocky, tired redhead [rolll Maryland. He \our Grand National Champion. He's my champion and yours.

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