Dick Bugsy Mann

1997, Competition

Dick was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 13, 1934. He grew up in Nevada and in 1942 the family moved to Richmond, California.

His first enterprise was a shoe shine boy and his first choice of sports was football , but was unable to play because he was to short to suit the coach. His next enterprise was a paper route.

In 1949 Bugsy made a down payment on a light weight BSA motorcycle, and that was the start of his life with motorcycles. A little enduro riding and a little cross country riding helped hone his expertise on a motorcycle.

Dick tried his luck at a turkey run. His prize was a full grown goose. He stuffed the goose in his jacket. When he got home, he found out the goose was not house broke, the stuff was all over his shirt. His first real race was at the Belmont track just north of Redwood City, California.

In 1954 Dick took in the Eastern Circuit, and his record speaks for itself with the following National championship titles:

  • 1959-Peoria, Illinois-25 lap TT
  • 1960-Laconia, New Hampshire-100 mile road race (Paved)
  • 1961-Heidelberg, Pennsylvania-15 mile 1/2 mile dirt track
  • 1962-Laconia, New Hampshire-100 mile road race (Paved)
  • 1963-Gardena, California-50 lap race (Steeple Chase)
  • 1964-Windber, Pennsylvania-50 mile road race (Paved)
    • Greenwood, Iowa-175 mile road race (Paved)
    • Meadowdale, Illinois-150 mile road race (Paved)
    • Peoria, illinois-25 lap TT
  • 1965-Meadowdale, Illinois-150 mile road race (Paved)
    • Wentzville, Missouri-120 mile road race (Paved)
    • Nelson Ledges, Ohio-120 mile road race (Paved)
  • 1967-Reading, Pennsylvania-12 mile road race (Paved)
    • Peoria, Illinois-25 lap TT
  • 1969-Chicago, Illinois-20 lap race (Short Track)
  • 1970-Daytona Beach, Florida-200 mile road race (Paved)
    • Castle Rock, Washington-25 lap TT
  • 1971-Houston, Texas-20 lap TT
    • Daytona Beach, Florida-200 mile road race (Paved)
    • Kent, Washington-100 mile road race (Paved)
    • Pocono, Pennsylvania-l00 mile road race (Paved)

He was the first rider to win every type of event in the Grand National series; Short Track - Half Mile - Mile - TT and Road Race.

In 20 years of AMA racing, Dick finished 14 times in the top 10. out of those fourteen times, he was awarded the number one - two times.

Dick is still active in the sport, building special frames for the A.R.R.M.A. racers and has a small shop at his home, catering to racers.

His contribution to the sport of motorcycle racing along with his willingness to help his fellow racers gives a good shot in the arm to the sport of motorcycling.

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