"BSA's Greatest Daytona" celebrates the 50th anniversary of the historic British marque's legendary victories at the 1954 Daytona 200—the greatest performance ever for a single brand on the sands of Daytona Beach.

Although BSA was the world's largest selling motorcycle prior to the Daytona sweep, sales in the lucrative U.S. market remained lackluster, primarily because the company's products lacked the exciting image young American riders craved.

Realizing this, BSA dispatched ace engine builder Roland Pike to the 1953 Daytona 200 to see what could be done to improve the brand's image in America.

While talking to BSA dealers and racing stars like Tommy McDermott, Warren Sherwood, Gene Thiessen, and Al Gunter, Pike realized that Daytona Beach would be the ideal venue for boosting BSA's image. As a result, he returned just one year later with a stable of eight specially prepared motorcycles.

To ride them, BSA distributors Hap Alzina and Alfred Child assembled a virtual wrecking crew of racing talent, including former Indian star Bobby Hill, Ken Eggers, McDermott, Gunter, Sherwood, Thiessen, and previous Daytona winner Dick Klamfoth. The combination proved lethal to the competition, and BSA swept the first five places, as well as 8th and 16th.

This successful assault helped to establish BSA as a fast, exciting motorcycle and captured the attention of America's performance-oriented enthusiasts.

"BSA's Greatest Daytona"  was on display at the Museum through the end of 2004.

Related Stories:

BSA's Greatest Daytona exhibit dedicated

BSA in Daytona: 50 years later