I was on "the Google" trying to find race results from Loudon race track, circa 1974.
A bunch of us went up there in a 24' U-Haul with a cooler made from a refrigerator laying on it's back filled with ice and beer.I turned 18 that weekend,in a sleeping bag on the roof of the truck.No real sleep between the "crossroads" I ate and the bikes ripping by all night.This was in the days of roadside camping,so there were miles of campsites up and down the road.We went to the race and I could swear I saw Kenny Roberts,Gary Nixon,Gene Romero,Dave Aldana,Dick Mann and others mixing it up but my memories are sometimes wrong.
Anyways,I came across this article about Gary Nixon,one of the best.The pic of him sideways with his tongue out is great,and captures how many of us feel when we ride.
RIP Gary.
http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/gary-nixon-so-which-one-of-you-sorry-s-o-b-s-is-coming-in-second/