I raced at a Winter Indoor in St. Louis back in '71 or so and had the honor to pit right next to Gary.. He was a Grand National Champion and I was in my rookie year, but Gray talked with me like he and I had been friends all our lives.. I also got Gary to autograph the biography "Racer", written about Gary Nixon while he was still running the Grand National circuit.. Those were the days of real races ridden by real racers!!
Lucky for me, I got to watch Gary Nixon race a (bored out) 650 Yamaha (750) at Bridgeport Speed Way in New Jersey (a 5/8 mile dirt track). He set a track record, won every race, he'd lay it over, put his foot back on the pegs (still sideways) & while in the turn, I heard the carbs come on (easy to hear, everyone else was way back) he'd lay low, pull the front wheel, then boogie down the straight. It was a thing of beauty & a treat to watch, I'll never forget that, it's burned in my memory.
Nixon brought TRIUMPH into the limelight in the mid 60's which had been mostly dominated by the HD KR. Winning back to back AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION Titles in 67 and 68 secured his place in the AMA HOF.Most of his total National Wins were from Roadracing but he was an excellent Dirttracker as well.Another Legend with the Likes of Markel,Rayborn,Nix,Gunter gone now but will certainly be remembered and talked about forever. RIP FRIEND...S.M.
Totally the nicest guy when it came to talking about racing I remember stopping a Gary Nixon Enterprise he had his number one bike for sale in 1992 for 13k I wish now I grabbed it he was a really cool guy to talk to he will be missed.
looking at this video reminds me of my youth,,reading magazine about racing,motorcycle racing,, Baker,,Sheene,Duhamel,,, these were the great days, Gef
Nice Tribute Video Jim; I remember being at Ascot in 68 for the 8 Mile National. Fred Nix had won 6 Nationals that season and was separated by 8 points from Gary to Claim the #1 Plate. He needed to finish 3rd in the Feature Main but ended up 8th and Gary reclaimed the GNC Plate once again for the 69 season. Mert ended up winning the 8 mile National.Ironic that Nix was killed in July 69 in a Street Accident in Bakersfield leading the points chase and unbeatable on the Mile Tracks. Water under the Bridge Now but Fred Nix may have been the Star of On Any Sunday instead of Mert Lawwill. R.I.P. Gary,Fred,Bart,George and all the other NN Greats of that Era.....Steve Matz
he was a motorcycle racer, through and through he was our hero growing up, when we took yamaha enduros and made mx bikes with aftermarket parts and then ride like him and decoster and the greats from on any Sunday
had him autograph his book and met him in laconia new hampshire years later at a vintage race he signed it again fan of his for years tough guy he was.
I grew up near Parkesburg, PA. Ed Fisher sold me my first motorcycle a Honda 50cc mini trail. I knew Gary Fisher and graduated high school with his sister Fay Lee. Latter Jeff
Hello Jim Duffner, Great Tribute piece you did for Gary. I've been back in the World for a few Months. Still have the Videos you did on Jay and the others you most generously let me review. Hope you are well and prospering. Glad to see people still remembering me....BEST S.M.
Great video! Loved it! Amazing how fast guys like Gary could push a puny 500cc OHV Triumph! Missed meeting him and always wanted to after reading Joe Scalzo's "Racer - The Gary Nixon Story" with that iconic tongue-out slideways pic up in the cushion on the cover!
As a Brit (and Triumph fan) I follows his profess for many years. I met a few of the "greats" including Mike Hailwood, Mick Grant and Kevin Schwantz. I bet Gary was a great guy to hang out with.
Thanks this was nice. I lived in Baltimore in the early 70's, worked at Boutwell's In Baltimore and knew Gary well. I went on the road a few times with him & Gary Fisher and road the trails in Baltimore county with him and other friends. I have some great photos of Gary I'd like to share with his fan base, just not sure how to best get them out.
Oh hell yeah sayonara 70s flexi-flyer frames, modern bike frames you can get away with so much..... I had your book written by Joe Scalzo, read it about 100 times.
![일상 속 기분 좋음 [Proto disco meme]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DwmEIaZ7XGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
I raced at a Winter Indoor in St. Louis back in '71 or so and had the honor to pit right next to Gary.. He was a Grand National Champion and I was in my rookie year, but Gray talked with me like he and I had been friends all our lives.. I also got Gary to autograph the biography "Racer", written about Gary Nixon while he was still running the Grand National circuit.. Those were the days of real races ridden by real racers!!
Lucky for me, I got to watch Gary Nixon race a (bored out) 650 Yamaha (750) at Bridgeport Speed Way in New Jersey (a 5/8 mile dirt track).
He set a track record, won every race, he'd lay it over, put his foot back on the pegs (still sideways) & while in the turn, I heard the carbs come on (easy to hear, everyone else was way back) he'd lay low, pull the front wheel, then boogie down the straight.
It was a thing of beauty & a treat to watch, I'll never forget that, it's burned in my memory.
He was one of my many hero's growing up, along with Dick Mann, Moon Buchanan, Roger Reiman,Meet Lawill. All great racers.
I grew up in Castle Rock and saw him on the old TT track. One of the class of legends...
Excellent tribute to a fine racer and a great man... Thank you!
One of the last of the "no hanging off the seat" great racers.
Nixon brought TRIUMPH into the limelight in the mid 60's which had been mostly dominated by the HD KR. Winning back to back AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPION Titles in 67 and 68 secured his place in the AMA HOF.Most of his total National Wins were from Roadracing but he was an excellent Dirttracker as well.Another Legend with the Likes of Markel,Rayborn,Nix,Gunter gone now but
will certainly be remembered and talked about forever. RIP FRIEND...S.M.
Steve it's been along time I hope all is going well for you!
Totally the nicest guy when it came to talking about racing I remember stopping a Gary Nixon Enterprise he had his number one bike for sale in 1992 for 13k I wish now I grabbed it he was a really cool guy to talk to he will be missed.
Gary was a good guy!
Gary Nixon, Dick Mann, Mark Brelsford, Dave Aldana, Gene Romero. Man there was a ton of talent back in the day!
looking at this video reminds me of my youth,,reading magazine about racing,motorcycle racing,,
Baker,,Sheene,Duhamel,,,
these were the great days,
Gef
We´ll never forget you Gary. 1:12 .... Feet up, left hand on the fork...sideways.
Nice Tribute Video Jim; I remember being at Ascot in 68 for the 8 Mile National. Fred Nix had won 6 Nationals that season and was separated by 8 points from Gary to Claim the #1 Plate. He needed to finish 3rd in the Feature Main but ended up 8th and Gary reclaimed the GNC Plate once again for the 69 season. Mert ended up winning the 8 mile National.Ironic that Nix was killed in July 69 in a Street Accident in Bakersfield leading the points chase and unbeatable on the Mile Tracks. Water under the Bridge Now but Fred Nix may have been the Star of On Any Sunday instead of Mert Lawwill. R.I.P. Gary,Fred,Bart,George and all the other NN Greats of that Era.....Steve Matz
Thanks! How are you whats new?
He was a great racer, a tough competitor and an awesome man!
he was a motorcycle racer, through and through he was our hero growing up, when we took yamaha enduros and made mx bikes with aftermarket parts and then ride like him and decoster and the greats from on any Sunday
had him autograph his book and met him in laconia new hampshire years later at a vintage race he signed it again fan of his for years tough guy he was.
Gary was a good guy!
A great tribute to a great competitor.
RIP, Gary. You were one of the best.
I grew up near Parkesburg, PA. Ed Fisher sold me my first motorcycle a Honda 50cc mini trail. I knew Gary Fisher and graduated high school with his sister Fay Lee. Latter Jeff
Hello Jim Duffner, Great Tribute piece you did for Gary. I've been back in the World for a few Months. Still have the Videos you did on Jay and the others you most generously let me review. Hope you are well and prospering. Glad to see people still remembering me....BEST S.M.
steve matz Lifelifes been hard but I'm trying to turn it around, I hope all is going well for you. Your friend Jim
Great coverage , well put together , THANKS GO , Glen Orth
Thanks. That was good. I really liked to watch him on the flat tracks.
Great video! Loved it! Amazing how fast guys like Gary could push a puny 500cc OHV Triumph! Missed meeting him and always wanted to after reading Joe Scalzo's "Racer - The Gary Nixon Story" with that iconic tongue-out slideways pic up in the cushion on the cover!
Thank you! He was one of a kind!
As a Brit (and Triumph fan) I follows his profess for many years. I met a few of the "greats" including Mike Hailwood, Mick Grant and Kevin Schwantz. I bet Gary was a great guy to hang out with.
Thanks this was nice. I lived in Baltimore in the early 70's, worked at Boutwell's In Baltimore and knew Gary well. I went on the road a few times with him & Gary Fisher and road the trails in Baltimore county with him and other friends. I have some great photos of Gary I'd like to share with his fan base, just not sure how to best get them out.
I worked at Boutwell's in 64.
Amazing!
R.I.P.
Oh hell yeah sayonara 70s flexi-flyer frames, modern bike frames you can get away with so much.....
I had your book written by Joe Scalzo, read it about 100 times.
Great work on a great racer!
Great video, great racer...
I saw him run at Ascot so long ago - seldom do you see someone keeping their line and looking so smooth. RIP
Nice! :)
thanks for making this video, my father would have loved it.
sure would be nice to hear the motorcycles instead of the music though
I'd LOVE to have a print of the Tracken Tongue Out cartoon! THX!
Very nice tribute.
I'm a Gary Nixon fan.
your still number 1❤
Your welcome, I only wish Gary could of seen it!
None were better in a time when men were men.
Good video - to bad you cannot pick better music...
what's the name of song?
Nixon was a diamond in a pile of coal. A superb rider in many disciplines..
Ps..... What's with the crappy music, kinda ruins the video...
Whoops follows should be followed. Profess should be progress.
WFO
These are my Gary Nixon style leathers,