Today in motorcycle history, July 8, 1922

 


                                        

  Bobby Hill is born in the small town of Triadelphia, West Virginia.  Population 811.

 

  After  the frustration of consecutive second place finishes, on a sweltering, shirt-soaking Atlanta afternoon, on August 8, 1948, Bobby Hill finally wins his first race but, alas, he has to share it.  In one of the most memorable races ever, Hill and Billy Huber crossed the line in a dead heat and both were declared winner, the only time that has happened in AMA racing history.

 

  He would eventually win the AMA Grand National Championship in 1951 and 1952 by his victories on the Springfield Mile.  By no means taking away from his feats but, from 1946 to 1953, the AMA Grand National Champion was crowned based solely on the results of the Springfield Mile held at the Illinois State Fairground racetrack. 

 

  After winning the national title in 1951 and 1952 riding an Indian,  he won the Daytona 200 in 1954 while piloting a BSA. 

  Hill won a total of 12 AMA nationals during his professional racing career between the years 1947 to 1959.

 

  Bobby Hill was inducted to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.

Today in motorcycle history, July 2, 2000

 

 

  TT legend Joey Dunlop dies in Tallinn, Estonia. 

 

  Having already won the 750cc and 600cc class races, Joey Dunlop was leading the 125cc race when, in wet conditions on Pirita-Kose-Kloostrimetsa Circuit, he lost control and hit head-first into the trees killing him instantly.

  Dunlop was so well-loved that Northern Ireland television carried live coverage of his funeral.  Fifty thousand mourners, including bikers from all parts of Britain and Ireland, attended the funeral at Garryduff Presbyterian church and his burial in the adjoining graveyard.

 

 

  Joey Dunlop's riding/racing ability and his list of wins was so impressive that Motorcycle News voted Joey as the fifth greatest motorcycling icon ever.  He won 26 times at Isle of Man TT, including three hat-tricks in 1985, 1988 and 2000.  In 1986 he won his fifth consecutive TT Formula One world title.

  Originally from Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, homeboy won the Ulster Grand Prix 24 times. 

 

  On the Isle of Man, a statue of Dunlop astride a Honda overlooks the Bungalow Bend at Snaefell.

 

  William Joseph Dunlop was awarded the MBE in 1986 for his services to the sport, and in 1996 he was awarded the OBE for his humanitarian work for children in Romanian orphanages, to which he had delivered clothing and food.

 

                                     

Today in motorcycle history, July 1, 1958

 

 

  The Bates Manufacturing Company is incorporated on July 1, 1958.

 

  When you think of choppers you think Bates headlight.  Single, large, small, square, rectangular, teardrop, over and under.  On that springer has gotta be a Bates. 

 

  Robert Owens Bates started Bates Motor Scooter Service in 1939 in Los Angeles, California.   In October of 1948, he printed his first complete catalog: 14 pages of accessories for Wizard Bikes, Harley-Davidson, Indian and English motorcycles, Cushman, Salsbury and Moto Scoot scooters.  The catalog also displayed Bates’ own headlight,  motorcycle saddle, pillion seats, luggage racks, saddle covers and apparel.  When the company name was changed to Bates Manufacturing Company in 1958 Robert Bates, Jr., who worked in the business as a saddlemaker and leathercutter, was named vice president and helped them become pioneers in the aftermarket industry that helped foster the motorcycling community’s affection for customization.

 

  Robert Bates, Sr. also provided volunteer first aid and ambulance service for local races when none previously existed.  He took a first-aid course, bought an old Ford station wagon, had it painted bright red, and purchased a stretcher at a war surplus store. 

 

Robert Owens Bates, Sr. was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in 2009.

                                       

Today in motorcycle history, June 28, 1992

                                        

                                         

 

  Joe Teresi's neighbors think they live next to a pigsty, and he is determined to prove them right.

 

  Joe Teresi had originally planned to expand his Malibu Mountains Racquet Club, but Los Angeles County planning commissioners revoked the club's operating permit in April after neighbors complained that the onetime tennis ranch had degenerated (?) into a rowdy biker hangout.

Neighbors noted that the land was zoned for light agriculture--for hogs with tails, not tailpipes.  Now Teresi says he is giving them their wish.

  Teresi is preparing to reopen the club July 3 with a new name: the Malibu Mountains Hog Ranch, in honor of the "attack pigs" he plans to raise there and of his members' fondness for riding large motorcycles known as "hogs."

  Known throughout bikerdom as publisher of the adult custom motorcycle magazine Easyriders, he has appealed the Regional Planning Commission's revocation of his conditional-use permit, thereby staying the action until a September hearing.  He plans to ask for a new permit to run a recreational facility for bikers--who, he notes, also play tennis--and may continue farming at the rural Malibu property along Latigo Canyon Road.

  In addition to the "attack pigs" (actually they're tamed, tusked boars), Joe said he also intends to raise turkeys, chickens, rabbits and beefalo (a cross between buffalo and cattle).  One of the tennis courts is being transformed into a chicken coop and he envisions one of the club's swimming pools as a trout pond.

  The pigpen will be dubbed "Le Corral Gee Wulliger's," Teresi said, in honor of one of the county planning commissioners, Richard Wulliger.  At the Regional Planning Commission meeting in April, Wulliger said he became convinced that the club was no longer a tennis ranch when he learned that its restaurant was named "Le Cafe Bubba."

  "With all due respect," Wulliger said before voting to revoke the permit, "I don't know of any tennis players named Bubba."

  At the April meeting, there were complainaints of loud engines and alleged crime and drug use from the club.  Teresi denied that any criminal activities were ever traced to his club and said the noise problems had been corrected.

  Now that it appears that Teresi is taking those sarcastic comments literally and the neighbors panties are getting all bunched-up.

  One of the bitchy neighbors particular concern is Joe Teresi's offer of free beer at the opening celebration and a map used in advertising that shows the Rock Store, a nearby motorcycle hangout, as the only area landmark.

 

 

Today in motorcycle history, June 26, 1955

 

 

 

  Geoff Duke wins the German Grand Prix enroute to his sixth consecutive GP World Championship.

  Geoff Duke dominated motorcycle racing in the 1950s, winning six World Championships and six Isle of Man TT races.   After winning the 1949 Senior Clubmans TT and the Senior Manx Grand Prix 'The Duke' become the very first post-war motorcycling 'superstar'.   Riding for the Norton works team for the 1950 TT, he finished second in the Junior TT and then broke both lap and race records in the Senior TT.

  Still hungry after winning three World Championships for Norton, (1951-350cc & 500cc, 1952-350cc), he moved to Italy and won three consecutive 500 cc World Championships for Gilera.  His support for a riders' strike demanding more start money led the FIM to suspend him for six months, dashing any hopes for a fourth consecutive title.

  In 1955 he was declared the first rider to lap the Isle of Man TT course at 100 mph, though this was later corrected to 99.97.

 

  Highly honored by the Isle of Man, where he made so many of his world record breaking rides, a point on the Mountain Course is named after him. Three sharp bends at the 32nd Milestone between Brandywell and Windy Corner are now known as the 'Duke's'.

 

  Geoffrey Ernest Duke was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1953.

                                   

Today in motorcycle history, June 25, 2002

 


 

  On June 25, 2002 India's Federation of Motor Vehicles estimates 37 million motorcycles/mopeds are registered countrywide, making it home to the largest number of motorized two wheelers in the world.

 

  Realizing this ever-growing body of potential buyers, Royal Enfield decides to market their bikes aiming for the young and hip, playing the Retro card. 

  As the only genuine touring motorcycle that is manufactured in India, Royal Enfield has more recently stayed away from regular mass media advertising and has concentrated more on building its brand around the values that the brand stands for - riding and eating up the miles.  It has positioned itself as a cult brand.

  Royal Enfield has been promoting motorcycling as a lifestyle and encourages Enfield riders/owners to keep riding and riding and riding.  The company also began organizing annual events and rides to further strengthen the cult status, such as the Himalayan Odyssey, the tour of the Rann of Kutch, the tour of NH 17 (Mumbai to Goa), the Tour of Rajasthan, the tour of the North East and the Southern Odyssey.

 





 

Today in motorcycle history, June 24, 1967

 

 Yoshimi Katayama wins the Dutch TT, 50cc class, at TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands.

 

 Yoshimi Katayama began his Grand Prix career in 1964 with Suzuki riding mainly in the 125cc class.  1964-1966 seasons were mostly filled with fifth and sixth place finishes often due to mechanical problems. The  1967 season things would turn around for Katayama as he would win two Grand Prix races and finish the season in second place behind his Suzuki team-mate, Hans-Georg Anscheidt in the 50cc world championship.  Yoshimi finished the 1967 season in fourth place in the 125cc championship.

 

  Katayama would switch to cars in 1968, competing in domestic series mainly as Mazda's factory driver until he retired at the end of 1990.