BIKES
by Steve Gregory
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It was at San Mateo in 1949 that legendary tuner and team owner Tom Sifton asked Paul Goldsmith if a young novice rider he had could follow him around a few laps in practice. That youngster was none other than Joe Leonard, who would go on to become one of the all-time greats in AMA racing.
"I guess you could say I taught Joe Leonard how to ride," quips Goldsmith.
Joe Leonard had a spectacular career at the National level. His overall win total was 27 with 23 wins being noted. The Grand National Series, (GNS) which began in 1954. His record in the Grand National puts him in 10th overall. The National victory at Sturgis came in 1953 prior to the the establishment of the GNS in 1954. This GNS total included
- Two (2) half-mile races
Eight (8) one mile races
Six (6) TT races
Seven (7) road races
The only race Joe failed to claim a National victory at was a short track. The versatility Joe Leonard displayed in the professional motorcycle racing world is still a subject of conversation among fans. Joe Leonard won a total of three (3) Grand National Championships in a career spanning nine years (1954-1961). Joe Leonard is a two time winner of the Daytona 200, a three time winner of the Laconia Classic and a seven time winner of the Peoria TT race.
Joe Leonard's first National title year was 1954 when he won no less than eight (8) GNS races. Leonard was victorious in: TT races Joe also won the half mile race at Hammond, Indiana.
In 1955 Joe Leonard finished third in the Grand National Series points standings. Leonard was victorious in the road race at Windber, Pennsylvania, one TT race at Peoria, Illinois, and at the half-mile race in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Joe Leonard earned the coveted #1 plate in 1956 by being consistent and winning two (2) National races. His National race victories came at the mile track at San Mateo, California and in the TT race at Peoria, Illinois.
Joe's Grand National Series points total for 1957 earned him the #1 plate for the second consecutive year! Prior to coming to the Black Hills Motor Classic in 1957, Leonard won the Daytona 200 road race on March 3rd, the 100-mile road race at Laconia, New Hampshire on June 23, and the dirt mile at San Jose, California. After winning the Championship race at Sturgis, Leonard went on to win the mile at Springfield, Illinois.
In 1958, Joe Leonard repeated his 1957 wins at Daytona and Springfield (the two most prestigious races in America). Leonard ended up 2nd in points after losing the title by 1 point to Carrol Resweber.
Leonard slipped to 5th place in the points for 1959, but was back up to #2 again in 1960. Both of these final points standings were due to points garnered by podium finishes as Leonard went winless in Grand National events for both years.
1961 was Leonard's final year racing bikes. Joe won the 100 mile road race at Laconia, New Hampshire and the mile at Sacramento, California. Joe finished second in points in his final season.
Joe Leonard made the switch to automobile racing in 1962. Joe Leonard excelled in the sport of automobile racing as he did in bike racing. Not only did Joe Leonard become the only American racer to win a National Championship in both venues, he made the record practically impossible to break by being the only racer to win back-to-back National Championships in both venues!
"Good motorcycle racers can always do well at car racing, but very few, if any, car racers could succeed in a motorcycle race" - Joe Leonard
Road Races at -
Laconia, New Hampshire
One mile races at -
Wilmot, WisconsinSan Mateo, California
Springfield, Illinois
Indianapolis, IndianaBoth TT races at Peoria, Illinois
