Bidding Farewell to Racing Legend and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Dick Mann
Ohio’s Pickerington — At the age of 86, Dick “Bugsy” Mann, one of the most adaptable racers to ever swing a leg over a motorcycle, died on
April 26. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 13, 1934, Mr. Mann was the first individual to complete a motorcycle racing Grand Slam, which included winning the AMA Grand National Championship twice (1963 and 1971).
across the Grand National Championship’s five circuit types: road racing, TT, short track, half-mile, and mile. Mann scored 24 national victories by the time he retired from racing in 1974, ranking him second all-time in the AMA Grand National Series.
Mann began racing in scrambles, but he quickly developed a passion for turning left on dirt ovals. After a while, he moved to the professional circuit in 1954 and became an expert in 1955. He immediately established himself as a top rider in the series after winning his first national race at the Peoria TT in 1959.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mann participated in a number of the first AMA professional motocross events, helping to establish the sport in the United States.
On the then-new Honda CB750, Mann’s triumph in the 1970 Daytona 200 was arguably his most satisfying national victory. After 15 years of racing the Daytona 200 and three second-place finishes, he finally made it to the top of the podium in 1970, edging out future Hall of Famers Gene Romero and Gary Nixon, previous world champion and Hall of Famer Mike Hailwood, and rising talents. In addition to being Mann’s maiden victory at the 200, it was also the first AMA national ever won by a Honda.
Mann returned to his trail-riding origins in 1975 after quitting from professional racing in 1974. He qualified for the United States International Six Days Trial squad and went on to race for the United States on the Isle of Man, where he won a bronze medal. In addition to being a renowned racer, Mann was as significant for mentoring the upcoming generation of American racers and future Hall of Famers, including Dave Aldana, Mert Lawwill, and Kenny Roberts.
