Paul Smart Leading the Daytona 200 (1971)

• Larry Lawrence
Englishman Paul Smart (12) leads the 1971 Daytona 200 aboard his Triumph 750 Triple, with countryman and nine-time world champion Mike Hailwood (20) close behind on the factory BSA. The duo dominated the early laps, trading positions until Hailwood’s valve train failed on Lap 15. Smart led for 40 laps, but his Triumph began smoking, forcing him to pit with fouled plugs. American Dick Mann (4), following closely, seized the opportunity, maintaining a steady pace to claim victory. Mann, who won the previous year on a Honda and now on a BSA, later remarked, “It was a fantastic school of road racing,” after learning from Smart and Hailwood’s blistering pace. Mann’s win, averaging 104.737 mph, cemented his status as a master strategist and road racing legend. (Dave Friedman photo) 
#paulsmart #mikehailwood #dickmann #britishtriples #triumphtriple #bsatriple #bsaracing #triumphracing #daytona200 #motoamerica

Leave a comment