Leftclankers
Mert Lawwill
(Originally posted in Flattrack.com)
"He's not a doctor...or a lawyer..."
Nevertheless, this man's occupation (and the introduction of Bruce Brown's legendary film, On Any Sunday, has made him a crowned (and eternally 29-year old) icon in flattrack-friendly homes, EVERYWHERE.
Thanks, Mert, for taking the time to grant us this interview!
Chew & Mia
(The Fans in the Stands)
1. Tell us a little bit about how you got started, racing. How old were you? What was your first racing bike? What was your first big race?
Back in the early 50's my brother had a 125cc CZ and at about 12 years of age I was able to ride it around quite a bit and that started my interest in motorcycles. I soon found that I could ride better than my friends so ego being what it is I started to concentrate on my ridding skills. By 1954 I joined the local motorcycle club and began ridding scrambles (motocross) and was able to get sponsorship from the local BSA dealer Harlan Woods. The Owyhee motorcycle club which I belonged to in Boise Idaho held one professional race a year called the Northwest TT Championship. In 1958 I took out a pro license and entered as a novice. I really liked the racing from that day and for the next three years I competed in every pro race in the area. That was 4 races so by the end of 1961 at age 21 I decided to leave home and move to Los Angeles to race weekly at Ascot in Gardena, Ca. When I left Boise I was winning most of my races but my first night at Ascot in 1962 was a real education. I got a good start and was leading down the back stretch and going into turn 3 they passed me on both sides. I couldn't believe how fast they were. I almost went home but decided to stay and learn how to go that fast. I was in the Amateur class (junior) and by the end of the year I was starting to win events. That sparked interest from Dudley Perkins who was the Harley Davidson dealer in San Francisco. He would fly every week down to see Ascot and he offered me a ride on the Harley. I didn't like Harley's as I was a BSA man but some friends talked me into taking the ride. That became my connection to the Harley factory and off I went to travel the National circuit. We would race all over the mid west and the East at county fairs so we raced 3 or 4 times a week all summer long.
2. Just about every young racer has a hero, a rider they looked up to… who was yours, as an up-and-coming dirttracker?
In the early days I had several racers I looked up to. Al Gunter and Dick Mann were some of the first along with Joe Leonard and Carrel Resweber and Bart Markel. Most all of the people I looked up to eventually became friends.
3. Unless I’m mistaken, the first time the name “Mert Lawwill” popped up in a GNC final was at the 1963 Peoria TT. 84R from Hawthorne, CA got a respectable 6th place!
What can you remember from that day, if I may ask? And, wow…PEORIA, to boot! That seems like a tough track to score points in, that first time…
You mention the 1963 Peoria TT. That was the year before I picked up the factory ride and that was the first season Dud Perkins sent me back east. That was the only race track I raced on that was prepared the same way as the Boise TT which I learned to race on. They used motor oil from service stations that changed oil in cars and that made for a very different racing surface so it fit my style pretty good. Peoria is one of the most demanding race tracks because of where it is located. It is in a valley and the heat and humidity skyrocket unbelievably and there is no breeze to cool off with.
4. During your racing days, you’d have a mile, one weekend…a road race, the next… perhaps, a TT the week after THAT. How does a person get mentally fit, to be able to compete in all forms of Class C racing and be successful?
I am very happy that in those days (the 50,s 60,s & 70,s) a racer had to learn all disciplines of racing and if you couldn't score points in all types of racing you could not earn enough points to become number one.
5. During your racing days, what were your favorite tracks?
Usually a racer will pick any race track he does well at and say that is his favorite track but I have several. I always liked the Boise TT track, Ascot 1/2 mile, Columbus Ohio, The old Sacramento Mile and the Indianapolis Mile.
6. Who were some of your toughest competitors, on the track? What made them such a challenge?
In the early days Dick Mann and Bart Markel were two riders I used as comparison as to how well I was doing. Dick Mann I thought was the best at rough race tracks and Bart Markel would never stop charging. He was a true racer and was always hard to beat no matter what race track you were on. In the latter years just before I stopped riding myself I have to say Kenny Roberts was the guy to beat.
7. The movie, On Any Sunday, unquestionably made this great sport even greater. Please share with us a bit about how you feel about the documentary, and how Bruce Brown’s vision succeeded in giving a boost to The Sport.
It goes without saying that Bruce Brown did by far the best job of capturing the real personality of the people in our sport. I still can't believe that after this many years that film is still watched as much as it was in the beginning 40 years ago. Outside of winning my first national (Sacramento 65) being involved with the film was the highlight of my career and I am still 29 years old.
8. What was the greatest satisfaction as a racer (the fans? The rush? Your fellow riders? Becoming a teacher of The Sport? Etc.)?
The best thing about racing is the actual riding itself along with the high of winning. Probably one of the best things about racing is the great people you get to know and I am still friends with many of them today.
Probably one of the best things about racing is the great people you get to know and I am still friends with many of them today.
9. What was it like, switching from a KR to the XR?
The big difference from the KR to the XR is the amount of work you have to do to keep them running. With the KR you would rebuild completely once in the winter and once in the summer. With the XR it is every several weeks and takes a skilled mechanic to keep the bike competitive.
10. There are so many great “It happened going to/coming home/after a race” kind of stories. Cal Rayburn being hypnotized by Larry Palgram, for example, is a CLASSIC! Do you have a story that YOU could share?
I remember an incident that happened when we were all racing at a short track in Wisconson. After the race we all got together and decided there were too many racers at this track so we should split up and some racers would go to another track so we all could make money. As memory has it I think it was Neil Keen and his girl friend decided to travel to another place. They drove 1/2 the night and changed drivers. The new driver got mixed up and drove the wrong way all night back to where they started. Wasn't funny to them but we had a laugh.
11. What is Mert Lawwill up to, today?
Time moves on and nowadays I am doing two things. I manufacture street trackers and make prosthetic hands so amputee riders can get back on their motorcycles, bicycles, snowmobiles ect. It is very satisfying to see a person get back on his motorcycle and enjoy life once again. My two stars are Jake McCullough who is ridding short track now in Illinois and Greta Neimanas who set a girls American world speed record in the 08 Para Olympics in China on a track bicycle a couple years ago.
Thank you again, for your time, Mert. We sure do appreciate it!
Peace, Love, and Pea Gravel!
