Known by many as a star of the epic and iconic documentary On Any Sunday, Gene Romero was so much more than one of the stars in Bruce Brown’s acclaimed film.
Born in 1948 in San Luis, California, he honed his riding skills racing in dirt track and hare scrambles, only taking to the tarmac in 1967 as a rookie in the Triumph team racing in the AMA Grand National championship, with his training for the road racing element of the championship incorporating 2000 miles on the road on a production Bonneville with no modifications other than a pair of clip-on handlebars.
Racing in the Grand National series meant that Gene competed in flat track (both mile and half mile), TT (the American version, essentially flat track with more bumps and right-hand bends as well as left) and road racing, with his all-rounder abilities gaining him the AMA title in 1970.
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That year was a particularly good one for Romero, as he also claimed pole position at that year’s Daytona 200 using some clever tricks, a lot of talent and a whole lot of bravery!
Read more and view more images in the June 2019 issue of OBM – on sale now!
