Today in motorcycle history, September 12, 1954

                          

 

  At Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Geoff Duke thrills the home crowd, winning the 1954 Nations Grand Prix (Italian Grand Prix) aboard his 500cc Gilera. 

  Duke continues his dominance that began on a Norton winning both the 500cc and 350cc World Championship in 1951 and the 350cc World Championship in 1952.  Switching to Gilera in 1953 he would win the 500cc World Championship in '53, '54 and '55. 

 

  Also today in motorcycle history, September 12, 1966, the Triumph-riding, wool hat-wearing Michael Nesmith and his "pals" Davey Jones, Peter Tork and Mickey Dolenz debut on American television as 'The Monkees'.  At the auditions in October of 1965 Nesmith wears a wool ski-hat 'to keep the hair out of his eyes' while riding his Triumph Trophy.  The producers gave him the nickname "Wool Hat", realizing how dumb that sounds they dropped it after the pilot but, kept the hat.