Competition Calvin Rayborn II:

The Legend

through the dusty pages of motorcycle racing of the 1960s and ’70s, one’s bound to be mesmerised by the short but enigmatic story of Calvin Rayborn II. He was a top-class professional racer who soared to great success riding for the Harley-Davidson factory racing team. After winning two consecutive Daytona 200 in the US, Rayborn went ahead to set two motorcycle land speed records at Bonneville, UK. But it was his stunning performance in the Trans-Atlantic Match Races (England) in 1972 that etched his name among the greatest. The American fought all odds, shattering the much better equipped competition on his outdated motorcycle, and that too on unfamiliar British racetracks, and won three of the six races.

It was an unfortunate crash in December 1973 during a race in New Zealand that proved fatal for this rising star. Rayborn’s inspiring life as a motorcycle racer garnered huge fan following from across the globe. And much to his fans’ pleasure Rayborn was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

The image of Cal Rayborn tearing through the racetrack, riding his iconic Number 14 Harley-Davidson XRTT, remains imprinted on the minds of motor sport lovers even today.