18 and Life
The Terry Poovey Dirt Track Story Text by Don Miller
Dirt Track fans of all ages are betting on Terry Poovey winning the Daytona Short track this year. When the green flag drops we know where he's going. But for those youngsters, who might not be in the know, let's take a good long look at where he's been.
In the late 60s, Terry's older brother, Teddy, raced motorcycles around their Texas home. It would only figure that Terry would want to follow in his big brother's footsteps. When he turned 10, they got him a new '68 Honda Z-50. It didn't take long after learning how to ride that he wanted to try his hand at racing. Teddy took him to Lake Lavon Raceway in Texas. Terry, though young and in experienced, took to the track like a duck to water. Beyond everyone's wildest dreams, he actually won the final! It was on that night that the racing bug bit the young Texan, and bit hard. Incidentally, he hasn't missed much time on the track since.
It wasn't bad enough that older brother Teddy was wreaking havoc on the locals, but now they had Terry to deal with also. The brothers went to as many races as they could. When Terry reached his teen years, he also gave roadracing and motocross a try. And although he did well at both, flattrack is where he wanted to stay.
With age and ability increasing, Terry gave up the Z-50 to ride some of his brother's hand-me-downs. At 11 he got a Honda S-90. The bike didn't seem to fit his likings much, but it was what he had. Little did anyone know that fate was about to change everything. Terry was at a race in Marshall Texas. The little Honda wouldn't cooperate. It went into a speed wobble on the straight away, and it tossed him on the ground, resulting in a broken thumb. Luckily, one of the biggest Bultaco dealers in the country, Arlie Hutsell, (owner of Bultaco Sales of Dallas) was there. He could clearly see that Terry had the talent, but the bike was sub-par for a kid with TerryÕs skills. Once his thumb was bandaged up, Hutsell proposed a deal with the youngster to race one of his 100cc Sherpa S Bultacos. Terry jumped at the offer. The bike fit his style and ability perfectly. Shortly after, Arlie attended a Bultaco dealer meeting in Ross Bends, Texas. He spoke of Terry's ability and winning ways. At the time Bultaco was big in racing, but the company was unsure of the youngster's ability considering his age. Always willing to take a chance on any one who was hot, Bultaco race developer George Ireland took the time, while in Texas, to watch Poovey take to the track at Ross Downs in Colleyville, TX. He was convinced after the first heat race that Terry Poovey should be on the factory team. Still, there was hesitation from the management at Bultaco. But, after some strong advice from Mr. Ireland, Mr. Hutsell and Tommy Connors, Terry was offered a spot on the team, two years later. They had no idea what a good decision that would turn out to be! Terry went on to earn the title of Mr. Bultaco in everyone's hearts. He won races at a record pace aboard the Spanish short-trackers. It was aboard Bultacos that he campaigned what was probably the shortest time span ever for a novice. It lasted from September to December of 1974 - period. He got his points to become a Junior along with being the District, Regional and National champion all in the same season! All at the tender age of 16.
In early 1975, they loaded up the Bultaco and headed to the Houston Astrodome. He won the first night with out a hitch. The second night he didn't fair as well. A fellow racer bumped Terry off of the track causing him to lose the race. Next was going to be his first 750 race; it was on the way to Daytona, in Valdosta, Georgia. Again, some problems would arise and the XR-750 and Poovey would end up on the ground, unable to finish the race. They patched it up and got it going for the rest of the Bike Week races. With the skills of a surgeon Terry carved his way through the following year, again garnering enough to turn pro, at a rapid pace. This was a dream for Terry since he was a kid - to become a professional motorcycle racer. When the pro license was handed out the decision of a number was to be made. Terry immediately thought of 19 like one of his peers, Keith Mashburn. That was not to be. It was brother Teddy who convinced him to go with the number 18. Terry said, "It has been a really good number for me. If you look at the meaning of numbers; the number eight as the symbol of infinity, it goes on forever. And of course the number one means to be on top."
Also while on the subject of the number 18, Terry says, I'm 18 on the track, but number one in everyone's heart.
Daytona '05 will be Terry's 37th year racing a motorcycle. Thirty years of them as a professional! Talk about a life sentence! One that every racer dreams ofƒ Wow! In his first year as a pro he won the Talladega, Alabama short-track on his trusty Bultaco Astro. He also finished in the top 20 for his initial efforts. His second year as a pro was the only year he finished outside the top 20; he was 21st.
Around 1979-1980, Bultaco's machinery started to become outdated and the company was all but out of business. It was then that Terry accepted an offer from Harley-Davidson as a support rider. He was now going to use the MX-250 as his short-track weapon, along with the industry standard XR-750. That choice of bikes would serve him well, that is until he got the call from Honda in 1982. At that time, Gene Romero was running the Honda team. He already had Mike Kidd and Hank Scott and was in the market for a third gun. Poovey was definitely the man for the job. The RS-750 and the RS-250 would now be the weapons of choice. In his first, and only year as a factory rider (It only seemed like forever) he started the season out with a bang, taking his Honda short-tracker to the winnerÕs circle at the opening round in the Houston Astrodome.
Even though the factory ride only lasted a couple of years, The Honda RS-750 stands out in Terry's heart as his all-time favorite race bike. From time to time has had to race a Harley XR, but it has definitely been aboard the Hondas that he has done best on. His two Formula USA titles were on them along with many, many of his national wins. Poovey admits, "I'm a Honda guy stuck in a Harley world, even my lawn mower is a Honda."
In 1984 Terry teamed up with legendary tuner, Tex Peel. After moderate success that year, Terry made the switch to Charlie Gardner for the up coming 1985 season. The beginning of the season, garnered him a couple of wins and some top finishes, but Terry said some kind of gremlins got in the mix. Halfway through the season his bike broke down at every race. This was kind of frustrating for some one who puts the maximum time into preparing his race bikes. But, sometimes it is not in preparation, it's in the cards. The year was not a total bust though. Terry and his wife gave birth to their daughter Katey. The poor performance of the past season left Terry searching for something else that would work in his favor. He bounced around for a couple of years, riding bikes for Mert Lawwill, Harry Marino and others. This juggling of sponsors, team owners and everything else didn't hurt Poovey's racing stats though. In 1987 to 1990 he finished top 10 in the points chase without a win. Some may say: always the bridesmaid, never the bride. I think Terry has finished second more times than anybody, but that's not the place he wanted to be. He always strives to be number one!
The 1990-91 seasons left the wily Texas veteran wondering about racing and life. He was suddenly in his thirties and never had a job like the so called "normal people." Not that racing didn't treat him well; he had done it all these years with the help of some of the greatest sponsors in racing history, friends and family. Terry said he made a good living at racing. And he claims it is still good to him to this day. (Some guy's have all the luck - movie star good looks and makes a decent living racing motorcycles). So for a few years Terry decided to go racing on a limited schedule and give the 9 to 5 a shot. He worked at Dallas Fort Worth Honda as a service manager for that time. It was there and another Yamaha dealer that have had the distinction of having been the only places that ever employed Mr. Poovey. Other than that, the AMA is where the grocery money came from.
In 1996 it was looking like the season was off to a good start. He was out front and winning the Daytona Short Track National and the crank broke leaving him on the side lines watching the others go by. Unfortunately, this would not be the only bad luck Terry encountered that year. On the way to a race later in the season, Terry's close friend and mechanic, Lou McCory, was killed in an accident involving a truck carrying nitrogen and Poovey's race truck. Along with his confidant, all of Terry's race bikes, spares and tools also perished. This event left Terry wondering about what was to come. Go back to the daily grind, or go back to the sport he loved so much? After some lengthy pondering, Poovey couldn't give up racing. He set out to build up a new batch of race bikes to go back out and give it his all.
It must have been something in the air on those warm Texas nights. Along with the help of his long time sponsors, friends and brother Teddy, he put together the magical combination for the 1997 season. He went off to the season opener at Daytona and proceeded to put a spanking on the competitors at both the Pro Sports race and the Grand National. It was a no brainer to say that this is where Terry Poovey belongs. He belongs on the race track, not punching a time clock. And I'm sure if you looked close those two nights, Lou's spirit was standing in the winners circle, reserving that space for Terry (or Pooh Bear as he is often called).
With racing as his only job and hobby, Terry decided to mix it up a little and give the Formula USA racing a try along with, AMA Grand National racing schedule. With factory Honda backing and some great support from many long time sponsors and even some new ones, Terry dominated the newly founded racing sanction. He won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002.
The racing scene was good to Terry for the years to come. It wasn't until 2002 that he would finally put the RS-750 out to rest. It could have been a different turn of events, but it was time. World renowned racer Nicky Hayden was putting it to the competitors on his factory Honda roadracers, but there was a milestone he wanted to accomplish. I'm sure all of you have heard of the "Grand Slam." It is when a racer wins a short-track, TT, half-mile, roadrace and a mile. The only thing missing from Nicky's record was a mile win. Sure it would have been easy for him to show up at a mile race and borrow about anyone's XR-750 to get the job done. But Honda would not settle for that. If it was going to be done it had to be aboard a Honda. And hands down, the only one to go to for a Honda that possibly could get the job done was Terry Poovey. His 16 years of experience with those beasts is second to none. Terry said he called on everyone that ever helped with his RS program to help. Even though the bike was prepared by the best in the business, Lady Luck would not roll Nicky that winning number. It was kind of electric though that day as Pooh Bear and Nicky thundered around the mile track, sending the RS-750's into retirement. It was heard that Terry said, "If Nicky can't win on one of those, I don't think anyone can. I guess it's back to the Harley."
It can't be said that he doesn't have stamina and sticks to what works. He rode Bultacos and the Honda RS-750 way longer than anyone on the planet. I guess if it ain't broke.
During this interview, Terry sounded as excited as a person could be, even with is what has been said to be his last pro race. He added that if it were not for important people helping him (too many to list) he'd have never made it to his first race or his 348th pro start at Daytona. He say's it like only he can, in that smooth southern drawl. "I think I'm the luckiest person in the world, I love what I'm doing and what I have done. I'd do it all over again, without a doubt. Even the injuries. I wouldn't change a thing."
After his "Hopeful win" at Daytona this year. Terry is not sure where he is going to work. Will it be the daily grind, with the rest of us, The prestigious job of husband and father, who knows? The only thing he is sure of, is the time clock won't be at the AMA sign up trailer. If you're ever in Texas, Make sure you stop and say hi to Terry. He's gotta be one of the nicest guy's you'll ever meet, and he thinks the same of his many adoring fans. He knows he's number 18 for life on the track, but he's definitely number one in the fans hearts.
Even though, you may not see him at every Grand National race anymore, I wouldn't count him out of racing all together. Along with writing this story. I have a real nice Woody Kyle motored, Bultaco Astro that's just waiting for Terry to ride at an A.H.R.M.A. event. After his one year wait, from his last pro race. Should he decide to take me up on the offer.
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