Motorcycle racer, World Land Speed Record Holder on two wheels, Daytona 200 winner 1968 & 1969. Born Calvin G Rayborn II in San Diego, California, he arguably became America's best road racer of all time. He began riding motorcycles at the age of only 8yrs and soon became a motorcycle delivery rider. He later became firm friends of Don Vesco, another famous racer. By the early 60s he was a regular winner in local scrambles and TT races, then both he and Vesco started in club road racing. In 1966 he won his first AMA road race at Carlsbad CA. People said that he rode in a style which was ahead of his time and he had a special feel for cornering. Always on under-braked and heavy Harleys, his best years were in 1968 and 1969 as he rode for the factory team. By 1970 the two-stroke bikes were just too fast for the elderly H-Ds and he failed to get a win that year. He did pilot an H-D streamliner at Bonneville Salt Flats to a new World Record of 265.492mph, bravely succeeding after several crashes. In 1972 he raced in the UK-US TransAtlantic races. On an old H-D and on circuits new to him, he won three of the six races tying with Brit Ray Pickrell. A few more victories came his way at the end of the year, but the writing was on the wall and he reluctantly chose to race for Suzuki the following year. Unfortunately in a minor end of year race in Pukehoke, New Zealand, on a borrowed Suzuki, the bike seized and slammed into a trackside wall. His successes were the start of more American wins on the World Championship stage.
Motorcycle racer, World Land Speed Record Holder on two wheels, Daytona 200 winner 1968 & 1969. Born Calvin G Rayborn II in San Diego, California, he arguably became America's best road racer of all time. He began riding motorcycles at the age of only 8yrs and soon became a motorcycle delivery rider. He later became firm friends of Don Vesco, another famous racer. By the early 60s he was a regular winner in local scrambles and TT races, then both he and Vesco started in club road racing. In 1966 he won his first AMA road race at Carlsbad CA. People said that he rode in a style which was ahead of his time and he had a special feel for cornering. Always on under-braked and heavy Harleys, his best years were in 1968 and 1969 as he rode for the factory team. By 1970 the two-stroke bikes were just too fast for the elderly H-Ds and he failed to get a win that year. He did pilot an H-D streamliner at Bonneville Salt Flats to a new World Record of 265.492mph, bravely succeeding after several crashes. In 1972 he raced in the UK-US TransAtlantic races. On an old H-D and on circuits new to him, he won three of the six races tying with Brit Ray Pickrell. A few more victories came his way at the end of the year, but the writing was on the wall and he reluctantly chose to race for Suzuki the following year. Unfortunately in a minor end of year race in Pukehoke, New Zealand, on a borrowed Suzuki, the bike seized and slammed into a trackside wall. His successes were the start of more American wins on the World Championship stage.
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