THE STURGIS SD. MOTORCYCLES RACES 1958
Ray Hendershot, was theBSA Dealer in KANSAS CITY KS. in 1958. He had talked about the STURGIS RACES many times, so in 1958 he had a First Year Class " A" Rider that he was going to help out . Ray was good at helping many riders out, over the years. I happened to be a Class "B" Rider at the time , with a foot injury from a week before, when the topic of the STURGIS RACES up.
Being that the STURGIS RACES were a two day race meet, Ray ask me if I would like to come along as he could only stay for one day. Ray had a second night job with TWA, so after the first days races he would fly back to KC. I could help watch over things because after the STURGIS RACES plans were to go to the KS. FAIR RACES and then on to SPRINGFIELD IL. for the Mile National Championship. We were to meet Ray at SPRINGFIELD.
After the 1st day races , the next morning First Year CLASS "A" RIDER and I headed out to get Breakfast. We spotted some racers trailered RACE BIKES park'ed at a small cafe on main street Sturgis, so we stopped and went inside.
While sitting in a booth I noticed some well known CA. Riders sitting at a table near us. We were about to order our breakfast when in walks JOE LEONARD National # 1 Rider. Joe ask "Does anybody have a SHARP RAZOR, as I want to have a smooth shave , when I kiss the Trophy Girl today ?" First Year Class "A" Rider sitting next to me says,
JOE WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT YOU WILL WIN THE TROPHY DASH ?" NO comment from Joe, but the other CA, Riders sitting at the table near us looked our way....Hell , at that point I wanted to slide under or booths table.
I then ask First Yr. Class "A" Rider, why he would you say something like that to JOE LEONARD.....in his TEXAS DRAW he said " WELL THE RACE HAS NOT BEEN RUN YET ". Needless to say JOE LEONARD WON THE TROPHY DASH and everthing else that day.
First Yr CLASS "A" Rider did OK during those two race days at STURGIS SD. Later he beame a NATIONAL NUMBER AND NATIONAL CHAMPION with Victories at MILE & 1/2 Mile NATIONAL RACES.
My longtime friend and then First Year " A " Rider in 1958....SAMMY TANNER # 7
