AMA Grand National Champion Mert Lawwill is born in Boise, Idaho.
Inspired by watching Portland's TT racer Eugene Thiessen ("I worshipped the ground he walked on.") and with help from Harlan Woods and his Boise BSA shop, Mert began his racing career on local Northwest TT tracks.
He moved to California in 1961 and after tasting success in the amateur ranks, he turned pro in 1963. Harley-Davidson recognized his burgeoning talent and in 1964 they signed him to a factory contract. With the factory behind him Lawwill's career took off.
After finishing on the podium numerous times in 1964 and 1965, the 'Boise Scrambler' finally won his first AMA National at the famous Sacramento Mile on September 19, 1965. That Sacramento Mile victory would be the first of 15 Grand National wins for Lawwill.
In 1969, Mert was crowned the AMA Grand National Champion plus, voted the AMA's 'Most Popular Rider of the Year'. But, he is perhaps best known for being one of the featured riders of the 1971 Steve McQueen movie, "On Any Sunday". The movie chronicled Lawwill's bid to defend his AMA Grand National title during the 1970 racing season.
By the time Lawwill hung up his racing leathers in 1977, he had amassed an incredible 161 career AMA Grand National finishes during his 15-year racing career.
Mert Lawwill was inducted in the AMA Hall of Fame in 1998.
Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk
