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.