Professional Motorcycle Racer. In 1958, he began his racing career as a teenager and in his rookie season at the A.M.A. National level in 1960, he took a seventh-place finish at the Springfield Mile in Illinois. Riding his Triumph, he won his first A.M.A. national road race at Windber, Pennsylvania, on August 4, 1963 and three weeks later he won a short-track national race at Santa Fe Park Hinsdale, Illinois. He went on to win the Daytona 200 in 1967, plus was the first rider to win back to back Grand National Championships in 1967 and 1968. During his 22 years of pro racing, Nixon earned 19 A.M.A. National victories and amassed over 150 Grand National finishes. In 1976, he received the first ever top A.M.A. Pro Athlete of the Year Award, was inducted into the A.M.A. Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2003. He died from complications of a heart attack at age 70.
Professional Motorcycle Racer. In 1958, he began his racing career as a teenager and in his rookie season at the A.M.A. National level in 1960, he took a seventh-place finish at the Springfield Mile in Illinois. Riding his Triumph, he won his first A.M.A. national road race at Windber, Pennsylvania, on August 4, 1963 and three weeks later he won a short-track national race at Santa Fe Park Hinsdale, Illinois. He went on to win the Daytona 200 in 1967, plus was the first rider to win back to back Grand National Championships in 1967 and 1968. During his 22 years of pro racing, Nixon earned 19 A.M.A. National victories and amassed over 150 Grand National finishes. In 1976, he received the first ever top A.M.A. Pro Athlete of the Year Award, was inducted into the A.M.A. Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2003. He died from complications of a heart attack at age 70.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Advertisement
