Daytona 200 1974
Racing the high banks
The beach looked inviting, but American racing fans knew the real action was on the legendary oval of Daytona with its packed stands. In the early Seventies, European riders started taking a serious interest in the Daytona 200 classic, and it wasn’t just riders who discovered the Daytona attraction; European fans were up for a good time as well.
Flying Finn, Jarno Saarinen, winner of the 1973 Daytona 200 on a 350 Yamaha, opened the door for many European riders to compete in the 1974 race. Riders from 13 countries entered the 33rd annual edition of the Daytona 200. They were headed by 13-time road racing World Champion Giacomo Agostini. He had won most of his laurels with an MV Agusta, lost the 500cc title to Phil Read in 1973 and decided to make the move to Yamaha. The Yamaha factory had developed the TZ750A, a mighty bike that in fact was, a two 350 blocks connected inline-fourcylinder 700cc, that was sold to and raced by many privateers. In 1970, the AMA changed its regulations to allow FIM connected riders to compete at its races in the USA. The 1969 250cc FIM World Champion Kel Carruthers was one of the first riders to make the move to the American scene. Riders like Paul Smart and John Cooper became regular competitors since then and they were successful in many AMA events. The Anglo-american Match Races in the UK and races like the Italian Imola 200 caused a sort of ‘Daytona Fever’ in Europe. The Formula 750 was new, it was bigger and more money was involved – and not just the spectators adored the new class. The crowds came in large numbers to see the big bikes and their riders. Bigger seemed better. Thousands of fans boarded planes to places like Daytona Beach and Imola. Despite an oil crisis in Europe in early 1974, planes took off for the States to visit the Daytona 200. A Dutch plane with hundreds of racing enthusiasts landed in Keflavik Iceland to take the necessary kerosene fill-up to make it across the Atlantic. As soon as the aircraft approached the continent, it was forced to land on a small airstrip at Bangor Maine to repair one of the engines... After a long flight and bus ride, the Dutch fans arrived in the middle of the night at the hotel near the beach of Daytona. A few days later they saw another European rider win the Daytona 200 again. It was another week to remember. Giacomo Agostini sure did.
“ART BAUMANN MADE A SPEECH TO THE EUROPEAN RIDERS. HE EXPLAINED THAT AMERICAN RACING IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT IN THE REST OF THE WORLD AND ADVISED THEM TO TAKE IT EASY IN THE BEGINNING AS 200 MILES IS A LONG WAY TO GO.”
“YAMAHA AND GENE ROMERO SET A NEW SPEED RECORD AT DAYTONA IN THE WEEK BEFORE THE RACE, USING THE OVAL-SHAPED BANKED SPEED BOWL”
Left:thousands of spectators came to see the races and saw how Paul Smart (right) was trying to close the gap to the leading group of Don Castro (11), Gary Nixon (9), Yvon Duhamel (17) and the hidden Kenny Roberts and Giacomo Agostini.
Right:yamaha and Gene Romero set a new speed record at Daytona in the week before the race, using the oval-shaped banked speed bowl. He averaged 150mph on a brand newtz750, shattering the previous record of 144mph set by Mike Hailwood on an Mvagusta in 1964.
Below: Ago is getting the white flag. Only one lap to go!