Dick Mann

[1] He was one of the few riders to ride motocross and Observed Trials as well as dirt flat tracks, TT (tourist trophy) and road racing.

[2] He was known for being one of the most talented and versatile riders, and for wearing a cheap straw hat while working on his motorcycle.

[2] He learned how to ride dirt competitively on a cinder running track at the area schools.

[2] After high school, he started helping at fellow Motorcycle Hall of Fame member Hap Alzina's BSA shop in Oakland as a mechanic.

[2] Mann turned expert in 1955, and finished seventh on a Harley-Davidson in his first Grand National race, the Daytona 200.

[2][4] He slowly made a name for himself in his first three years, and he finished in the top ten in the season points for the first time in 1957.

[2] Mann continued to win races and place high in the points standings before his next title eight years later.

[1] The series faced little-known American racers against Great Britain's well-known pavement riders.

[2][5] Mann beat former world champion Mike Hailwood, and rising stars Gene Romero and Gary Nixon.

[2] The Motorcycle Hall of Fame opened an exhibit honoring Mann's career on July 27, 2006.

In 1969 while with Yankee, he designed and worked with Frank Conner of OSSA/West to build the highly successful OSSA/DMR flat tracker.

After winning several National races, the DMR was put into a short run of production by Yankee with 150 units being produced in 1970-71.

All the production frames were constructed by Terry Knight based on each of Mann's home built and extensively tested prototypes.

Mann won the Grand National title on this BSA A75 Rocket 3 and continued to race this very bike until the end of the 1973 season.
1968 Yankee Prototype