Part of the huge crowd of 60,000 (possibly the biggest ever) on hand to watch the 1974 Daytona 200. Pictured going into turn one is Gary Fisher (21), Steve McLaughlin (83), Gene Romero (3), Christian Bourgeois (behind Romero) and Dick Mann (2). The ’74 Daytona 200 was one of the most star-studded in the history of the race. (Photo courtesy Daytona International Speedway)
If you’ve ever seen photos of the 1974 Daytona 200 the thing that strikes you is the enormous crowd on hand to watch the race. In spite of the gas crisis that made it a little tricky to travel very far due to so many closed gas stations, a crowd reported in newspapers as 60,000 showed up that year to watch America’s Grand motorcycle race. The photos show packed main grandstands.
Why the huge turnout? That year marked Giacomo Agostini’s long awaited debut in the 200. Ago had just signed with Yamaha and he was making his debut with the team in the Daytona 200.
Imagine if it were announced that Valentino Rossi was coming to race in the 200. That’s the kind of enthusiasm Agostini generated by racing Daytona in ’74, perhaps even more because he would be riding against America’s best, like Kenny Roberts and Gary Nixon. Throw in the addition of Barry Sheene and it’s easy to understand why the race may have been the best attended in the history of the race.
Giacomo Agostini celebrates after winning the 1974 Daytona 200 (actually the Daytona 180, shortened due to the national fuel crisis). (Photo courtesy Daytona International Speedway)
Fans got a great race to watch, at least for the first half. The 200 was shortened to 180 miles in compliance with government requests to shorten motorsports events due to the gas crisis (the Daytona 500 a few weeks earlier was shortened to 450 miles).
Ago sprinted to an early lead, but was chased down by Sheene, Nixon and Roberts. The quartet had great battle for most of the first half of the race. The motor on Sheene’s factory Suzuki broke dropping him from the battle, then Robert’s Yamaha TZ700 began to overheat cause him to slow.
That set up a two rider battle between Agostini and Nixon for the win. Nixon pitted first for his fuel stop giving Ago the lead. In the closing stages Nixon (riding a Suzuki) was poised for a major upset over Agostini. He was only 12 seconds behind and Ago was yet to make his final fuel stop. But it was not to be, Nixon, trying to close the gap even further, crashed out and Ago went on to win the race over Roberts by a comfortable margin. Hurley Wilvert was third on a Kawasaki.
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