I have been asked this on other Boards where I have been a member a lot longer. Several people have asked these questions, so to answer everyone at once here is the explanation.
In 1981, I finished 2nd at Nelson Ledges at an AMA Regional Race. This made me 4th ranked lightweight (250 cc) Amateur in the Country for 1982. Because of this and other things I sat on the Pole for the Daytona Amateur Lightweight race in March 1982.
As far as I or anyone else knows, I am the only Black person that has ever sat on the Pole for any Kind of race at Daytona!In 1983, I qualified 67 for the Daytona 200. Near the end of the race I had moved up in the top 20 but had develpoed an Oil leak and the rear was starting to slide and eventually finished 32nd.
As far as anyone knows, I was and may still be the only Black person to Qualify and Finish the Daytona 200!Some of you may say, what is the Big deal? Well, the Article in Super Street Bike Magazine is not the first time I have been in a Magazine Actually I was the Feature Story in the June Issue of Black Biker Magazine in 1983. They did the research and found this was true. You still say what is the Big deal? Well, in that article I gave them a copy of a 1949 AMA Rule Book which which Stated
"All Participants must be members of the Association and membership in the Association is limited to "WHITE Persons" Only! It was not until 1952 that this rule was dropped. and it was about 20 years later in 1973 when a Black Guy from Washington DC got his Amateur Road Race License and went to Daytona and Raced a Kawasaki Bighorn Road Racer.
BTW, I was on the Cover of that exact same magazine in June of 1984 sitting on the Pit Wall at Daytona just before the Daytona 200 where I had problems all week and just made it into the field as 2nd Alternate. I got into the top 30 before the lifting of the cylinders on the banking oiled the bike so much I could not keep my feet on the pegs and pulled in around lap 42. The biggest compliment I have ever received was someone said I was the AMA's version of Wendell Scott the Only Black NASCAR Driver.
And Still one Fast Old Man! That Part is because I qualified 3rd at Charlotte behind Eddie Lawson and Richard Chambers in my Heat Race and Finished 11th. At Road Atlanta I was in 6th Place but was so tired after rebuilding my engine Saturday Night I slowed and finished 11 there also. Finally, Starting Land SPeed Racing when I was 58 and running 199.353 on my 60th Birthday really does make me
"One Fast Old Man!" (
Please do not believe what my wife says about me being "fast"!)
