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SuperMann: The legendary career of Dick Mann

“SuperMann” honors the legendary career of Dick Mann, one of motorcycling’s most versatile and successful competitors. The exhibit was officially unveiled on July 27, 2006 and continues through June, 2007.

Dick MannMann, who was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998, was indeed a competitor with Superman-like qualities. He was the first individual in history to win every category of AMA Grand National competition, is a two-time Daytona 200 winner, a two-time AMA Grand National Champion and a 24-time AMA National race winner. Not only did Mann win more races in more categories than anyone else, he brought home the trophies for longer than most. Competing in over 230 AMA nationals, including dirt track, road racing and motocross, Mann was in hot pursuit of the checkered flag for over 25 years, scoring top ten finishes when other racers were long retired.

“SuperMann,” the third in a series of Legends exhibits at the Museum, celebrates the highlights of Mann’s numerous championship seasons as well as his professional achievements and contributions to the sport, including his current work for the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA). Featured exhibit bikes include BSA, Matchless, Ossa, Yankee and Honda road race, dirt track and motocross bikes – all raced or developed by Dick Mann.

Visitors will also enjoy artifacts and memorabilia from Mann’s prolific career, many of them on loan from Mann as well as from private collections. Ephemera includes Mann’s Grand National Championship leathers, trophies, early design concepts for Yankee Motorcycles and other unique items that help tell the story of “SuperMann.”

Mann is a natural choice for a Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum exhibit, notes Mark Mederski, the Museum’s executive director.

“Dick wasn’t just a fierce and multi-talented competitor who mastered virtually every type of motorcycle he ever threw his leg over, but his mechanical expertise also made him that rare breed of racer who could build a fast bike by himself, race and win with it,” said Mederski.

Learn more

To read more about Dick Mann and his incredible career, see his biography in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Scenes from the exhibit


True to the philosophy behind all Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum exhibits, “SuperMann” doesn’t simply present the hardware – it delves into the stories behind the legend. This mission is expertly accomplished by “SuperMann” curator, Motorcycle Hall of Fame member and historian Ed Youngblood, an award-winning author, also penned the Dick Mann biography, “Mann of His Time.”


Beginning in 1962, Mann won eight AMA Nationals racing a Matchless G50 like this one. At a time when fiberglass and plastic fairings were uncommon, he demonstrated fabricating skills, in addition to racing prowess, by designing bodywork for his racebike.


Mann once said the only regret he had in his racing career was that he didn't come along 10 years later, when motocross had caught on in the United States. Still, he raced successfully on off-road machines like these OSSA and Yankee racebikes, shown in the foreground above.


One of the many amazing stories from Mann's career was his win in the 1970 Daytona 200. At the end of the 1969 season, BSA dropped Mann in favor of younger racers. Meanwhile, Honda was set to race at Daytona with its new 750cc Four and had hired three European Grand Prix riders to lead the effort. Wanting an American to ride the fourth entry, Honda hired Mann. Instead of the European stars or BSA's young-gun riders, it was Mann who crossed the finish line first on the Honda.


1973 was the last year of Dick Mann's long professional career. This Triumph dirt-tracker, with his signature Number 2 plate, was one of the racebikes he rode that year. At age 39, he still finished in the top 10 in the AMA National standings.