Gary Nixon dies after heart attack

By John  Hopkins

Famed American motorcycle racer Gary Nixon died on Friday in a Baltimore hospital. He was 70 years old.

A native of Anadarko, OK, Nixon was the AMA's Grand National champion in 1967 and 1968, won the 1967 Daytona 200 and was the inaugural AMA Pro Athlete of the Year in 1976.

According to a report on roadracingworld.com, Nixon was admitted to hospital on July 29 with chest pains and trouble breathing and suffered a heart attack that night. He had been scheduled to undergo bypass surgery.

Nixon made his professional racing debut in 1958 and won his first AMA national in 1963. He was Grand National runner-up in 1966 before enjoying his best season in 1967, when he scored five victories including the Daytona 200 on his way to his first national title. He repeated his championship success the following year, taking two victories and clinching the crown at the last race of the season.

Injuries forced Nixon to concentrate on road racing in the early 1970s and limited his chances of winning another Grand National crown. But he emerged as a top road racer and nearly won the 750cc World Championship in 1976. He retired from competition in 1979.

Nixon also established a reputation for toughness, racing for three years with an 18-inch rod holding his left leg together.

To the family and friends of Gary Nixon Inside Motorcycles offers its condolences.