April 2014 - National Motorcycle Museum

Terry Poovey graduated from the bullrings of Texas to become one of the greatest dirt trackers ever in Grand National Championship racing. Following in brother Teddy’s footsteps, Terry worked his way through the ranks and in 1976 scored his first GNC win riding a Bultaco at the Talladega Short Track as a teenage rookie Expert.
Poovey learned the GNC ropes and took his first big bike win at Columbus, Ohio in 1979. In an amazing career spanning 30 years, Poovey won 11 National victories in 350 starts. Never much for road racing or TT competition, all of his wins came on dirt ovals including victories in short track, half-mile and mile competition. He is also credited with an amazing 20 wins on the Daytona short track when Junior and Junior/Expert wins are included.

Poovey officially retired in 2005 but began working with Kenny Tolbert as part of Chris Carr’s AMA Grand national race team. (Tolbert is Poovey’s brother in law.) Given Poovey’s first National win came in 1976 at Talledega, his career spanned thirty seasons of racing, and Poovey is one of a handful of riders to have competed in over 350 AMA National main events. Statistics show over 200 top-ten finishes, 80 top-five finishes, 11 National wins and two championship titles!

The bike on display in Allstate Motorcycles Dirt Track Heroes presented by J&P Cycles was ridden by Terry Poovey through the 1980 and 1981 seasons and is now owned by Jim and Tina Oldiges. It features period modifications including a Lawwill frame and Marzocchi forks.

The racing leathers and XR750 on display in the Museum’s exhibit, Allstate Motorcycle Dirt Track Heroes presented by J&P Cycles, were used by Poovey through the 1980 and 1981 seasons. The bike features period modifications including a Lawwill frame and Marzocchi forks. Restoration of the XR750 was completed by Jim Oldiges in consultation with Terry and his family. Poovey’s XR750 is one of thirty dirt track and road race bikes featured in the Allstate Motorcycle Dirt Track Heroes presented by J&P Cycles exhibit. We are grateful to over 60 lenders and our sponsors for help in creating this exhibit which is being held over through May 2015.