Two Floridia Road Racing Icons

• Larry Lawrence

Donald Jacks has the No. 1 Team Suzuki Endurance machine in the lead in an early 1990s WERA National Endurance race at Moroso Motorsports Park. Jacks is just ahead of fellow Floridian racer Glenn Barry on the No. 9 Team R.E.S. Suzuki. Jacks and Barry were two of the best road racers to emerge from the Sunshine State just about a decade apart. Barry was underrated; earning a slew of top-five AMA Superbike finishes during his career in the ‘80s, including a podium at Pocono in 1985. Jacks earned a little more recognition, earning a factory ride with Yoshimura Suzuki. He too earned a number of top-10 AMA Superbike finishes, with a third-place at Road America in 1989 being his career best.

Donald Jacks has the No. 1 Team Suzuki Endurance machine in the lead in an early 1990s WERA National Endurance race at Moroso Motorsports Park. Jacks is just ahead of fellow Floridian racer Glenn Barry on the No. 9 Team R.E.S. Suzuki. (Larry Lawrence photo)Donald Jacks has the No. 1 Team Suzuki Endurance machine in the lead in an early 1990s WERA National Endurance race at Moroso Motorsports Park. Jacks is just ahead of fellow Floridian racer Glenn Barry on the No. 9 Team R.E.S. Suzuki. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Donald Jacks has the No. 1 Team Suzuki Endurance machine in the lead in an early 1990s WERA National Endurance race at Moroso Motorsports Park. Jacks is just ahead of fellow Floridian racer Glenn Barry on the No. 9 Team R.E.S. Suzuki. (Larry Lawrence photo)

3 thoughts on “Two Floridia Road Racing Icons”

  1. Nice memories. Just wondering if you got any shots from that era of another Floridian, Jon Roberts. I got to know Glenn and Jon from the dirt track world in the 70’s. They were very fast at that as well. If memory serves, both were in their forties and still going pretty fast in the 90’s.

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  3. Very vivid memories at that time!…..My first year racing in the “Champion Cup Series”..with TBR racing(riders Lee Pounders, Mike Luke ,Brock Bunnell,Jim Mcgrath ,Laney Cobb,Lock Johnson and the Wizard mechanic “Roger Jaquith”that we all dearly miss! ….Donald was definitly an icon to me and mentor.Young and talented and ripped on anything he rode.Raw natural talent to watch and learn from.. Every weekend at Moroso I couldnt wait to take my gear off and run back to the track for the Shootout Race for $1000…Knowingly who was going to win and show boat alittle thru the dog on the back tire one handed .Mitch and Henry knew Jacks was the next young AMA Champion….I have many pics ,just got to dig and find them…DJ will be missed always, but he left true “goodness” and true “memories” for us all to enjoy! He Blessed Everyone In Many Ways! Life and Racing!

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