VincentHill
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posted February 08, 2007 10:01 AM
Gary Nixon, the John Glenn of Road Race
I think it was the latest Motorcyclist where they (Kawasaki) Brought Gary Nixon over to ride the 990 Kawasaki GP Bike. Remember, Nixon was cheated out of his F-750 WOrld Championship when they thew out the results of the South AMerican Race so that someone else could win. It was a cool article because Nixon was having troubles with his legs with Cramps and other things that may have stopped him from riding the Bike. He was even late and almost lost his ride. Seeing what Gary thought reminded me of when they allowed John Glenn to ride the Space Shuttle and how different it was from the Dangerous Rockets he rode and the Peaky 2 strokes That Nixon Rode. He even mentioned the fact that there was no Vibration and the WIde Power band was so different. Just Like NASA Treated Glenn, I was glad to see that Kawasaki gave Gary his "Do Propers" and let him see what the Current bike Go, Stop and Handle like.
(As a Side Note there was also Kenny Roberts Sr. riding their bike and he was only a few tenths off by the time he finished. They had to pull him off because he was starting to get down to RACE Times and were afraid he would fall off and hurt either himself or the bike.
  
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H2 to ZX12
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posted February 08, 2007 11:33 AM
great story. I believe Nixon raced at Daytona in the '90's in this special event for "Legends.....". I was there, it was during the consecutive years Scott Russell dominated the Arai 200. The Legends race was held on production BMW's (of all the bastards rides you could think of) and one of them (sorry can't remember his name) cashed and died. All I could think of, at the time, was fucking BMWs, if they were on a real sport bikes (or race bikes) it wouldn't of happened. I think Kenny R was part of just can't remember.
Vince that's funny that they had to stop Kenny because he was getting down, he ought to come out of retirement and show 'em what an old man can do. Kenny=God
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shane661
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posted February 08, 2007 01:08 PM
I have got to get that issue! Awesome!
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VincentHill
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posted February 08, 2007 01:54 PM
I was there for that race also. Gary had a shop at 10824 York Road in Cockeysville MD> Phone # 301666-1098. That phone still works at that same location but it is now a Hobby SHop. Gary would bring me all kind of Mikuni Carbs for me to try out in my experiments on my H-1 500 even at BridgeHampton in New York. I bought a lot of stuff from him and saw the leathers he got cout out of riding a Suzuki at the Match Races in the UK. He still does the indoor Short track events at the Timonium Fair grounds and is a hard man to beat even now!!
Remember the race at Daytona that ROberts won? In the interview he said and I believe "Tire wqear was going to be a problem. SO during the early stages I used different parts of the tires so that I would still have rubber where I needed it at the end"! Only RObets could do that! Too Bad he could not teach that to Kurtis!!
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shane661
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posted February 08, 2007 02:01 PM
 Edited By: shane661 on 8 Feb 2007 14:04
I also have been trying to remember who died in The Legends race. In fact, Hill and I discussed it at Captain Larry's (during the Oct. Maxton event)...but I could not recall the name!
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oldkawboy
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posted February 09, 2007 09:13 AM
I remember looking through our telescope and could always tell when John Glenn was piloting the thing........his left turn signal was on all the way around. :-)
Dan
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dougmeyer
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posted February 09, 2007 10:18 AM
Excellent issue of Motorcyclist.
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H2 to ZX12
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posted February 09, 2007 10:55 AM
quote:
I also have been trying to remember who died in The Legends race. In fact, Hill and I discussed it at Captain Larry's (during the Oct. Maxton event)...but I could not recall the name!
I've got programs from that year and 2 or 3 years after, It might be metioned in the next years program. Scott Russell was unbeatable during that 5-6 year period but only dominated at Daytona. I was also there the year he didn't show up (for his Harley ride) becauce he got beat up in a bar the night before.
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VincentHill
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posted February 09, 2007 11:06 AM
Here is a List of the people that rode
Legends and non-racing Legends Emeritus have included David Aldana, Hugh Anderson, Mark Brelsford, Don Castro, Yvon Duhamel, Chris Draayer, Don Emde, Walt Fulton III, Dick Klamfoth, Kurt Liebmann, Dick Mann, Bart Markel, Eddie Mulder, Jody Nicholas, Gary Nixon, Reg Pridmore, Phil Read, Roger Rieman, George Roeder, Jay Springsteen, John Surtees MBE, Don Vesco, Walter Villa and Walter Zeller.
I was thinking it was either George Roeder or Roger Reiman and it was Roger!
Roger Reiman died on March 4, 1997, as a result of a three rider accident while practicing for the second round of the BMW Battle of the Legends at Daytona International Speedway. Roger Reiman was 58, of Kewanee, Illinois.
A Harley-Davidson factory supported rider during his racing years, Reiman made history as the inaugural Daytona 200 winner at the superspeedway in 1961. He would go on to become one of five three time 200 winners, collecting back to back victories in 1964 - 1965. Reiman also earned the AMA Grand National Championship title duuring the 1964 racing season.
Upon retirement from the sport, Reiman devoted most of his time to the operation of his family's motorcycle dealership, Reiman's Harley-Davidson, in Kewanee. He was also a longtime supporter and many-time Northern region director of the Illinois Motorcycle Dealer's Association.
Roger Reiman is described by ALL who knew him as a gentleman, a fierce competitor, quiet and reserved, humble, a true champion, a terrific human being, the most professional motorcycle racer of his times, and, a nice guy.
Those who knew him can not say enough good about him, and all agree they will never meet another guy like Roger Reiman.
Roger Reiman was Evel Knievel's Chief Mechanic and above that, a true friend whom Evel respected and misses dearly.
Roger Reiman was soley responsible for preparing Evel Knievel's Harley Davidson motorcycles for his performances. Reiman did this for several years and was a intricate part of the Knievel team.
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H2 to ZX12
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posted February 09, 2007 11:23 AM
thanks Vince. A great racer dies promoting a pos bike, that's just wrong
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VincentHill
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posted February 09, 2007 11:49 AM
Actually to me it was more like the Race of Champions and the Camaro or Mustangs they Drove vs the Porsches they were driving to begin with. I actually think they used the Bikes because they thought as slow as they were, no one would get hurt badly!
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