America's First GP Road Race
Winner Passes
P
at Hennen, the first American
to win a 500cc World Cham-
pionship Grand Prix Road Race,
died on Saturday, April 6, accord-
ing to friends. He was 70.
His victory at the 1976 Fin-
land GP paved the way for a
flood of American riders who
would come to dominate the
sport. Hennen began his career
in 1972 as an AMA dirt-track
and road-racing competitor. His
rapidly rising career was ended
prematurely by a crash at the
Isle of Man TT in 1978. Hennen's
short but brilliant career was an
inspiration to all American road
racers of his era. He proved that
an American could win in the
highest echelon of motorcycle
racing at a time when few be-
lieved it could be done.
Hennen grew up honing his
skills riding regional dirt track
and scrambles races across
Northern California in the late
1960s and early '70s. He rapidly
became one of the top up-and-
coming riders in the region.
After a successful AMA
Novice and Junior class career,
Hennen became an expert in
WIND
IN THE
P28
Pat Hennen, the first
American to win a 500cc
World Championship Grand
Prix Road Race, died at the
age of 70 on April 6.
