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Dick Mann (June 13, 1934 – April 26, 2021) was an American professional motorcycle sport. He was a two-time winner of the A.M.A. Grand National Championship. Mann was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1993, and the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998. Dick Mann , Motorcycle Hall of Fame, Retrieved September 17, 2007 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. Dick Mann at the AMA Hall of Fame
Mann was the second-winningest rider in AMA Grand National Series history with 24 national victories. His career on the pro circuit spanned the early 1950s to the mid-1970s. 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.
Mann continued to win races and place high in the points standings before his next title eight years later. He also helped pioneer motocross during that time, and raced in several motocross races in the 1960s and early 1970s. He represented the United States in the Transatlantic Trophy match race series. The series faced little-known American racers against Great Britain's well-known pavement riders.
In 1971 Mann won his second Grand National title on a BSA. He became the oldest series champion in the history of the series. He won the 1971 season opener at the Houston TT. He won his second Daytona 200 in the second race of the season. The win earned him a spot on the May 1971 cover of the AMA magazine. Mann also won road races at Pocono Raceway and Kent, Washington. He was named AMA's Most Popular Rider of the Year in 1971. Mann became the first rider to win motorcycle racing's career Grand Slam by winning in Grand National on mile, half mile, short-track, TT, and road racing circuits.
Mann won races in 1972. His final win was at Peoria, the site of his first win. He remained competitive in 1973, still on a BSA, and finished in the Top 10 in points at age 40.
Mann retired in 1974. He had raced in 240 nationals, and he finished in the Top 10 in points in every season except one between 1957 and 1973.
In 1975 Mann returned to his trail riding roots. He competed on the United States International Six Days Trial team (now the International Six Days Enduro) on the Isle of Man, earning a Bronze Medal on an OSSA 350.
The Motorcycle Hall of Fame opened an exhibit honoring Mann's career on July 27, 2006. The exhibit is called "SuperMann". "Opening of SuperMann, the exhibit honoring the legendary Dick Mann, draws a record crowd to the Museum" ; July 28, 2006; Bill Kresnak; Motorcycle Hall of Fame; Retrieved September 17, 2007 Over 400 people came to see the opening.
In 1967, he was retained by John Taylor of Yankee Motor Corp. and incorporated the same design elements into the Yankee 500Z. 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.
He was also influential on styling. Design elements of an earlier BSA of Dick's appeared on the Ossa Wildfire SS tank in 1967, the DMR tank, and the tank and seat that graced the first 500Z prototypes in 1968. That prototype had influence on later designs such as Craig Vetter's Triumph X75 Hurricane.
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