Rider: Matt Capri
Then: Multi-culti college student
Now: Owner, South Bay Triumph/Norton
"I grew up in the Bronx, New York. In 1962, my buddies and I all went out and bought BSA Super Rockets, five in one shot. We got BSAs because they were cheaper, around $950. Triumph Bonnevilles were about $1400 at that time. Mine was candy apple red.
"I wanted to learn to speak Spanish, so I went to college in Mexico City and took the BSA with me. I had the only motorcycle on campus, and one day the school drama director asked me if I wanted to be in his production of West Side Story. He wanted me to play a Shark and ride my bike onstage. I didn't even have to speak and they gave me an A. Easiest five credits I ever earned!
"I even won a Mexican national drag-racing championship with that bike. A local car club down there was running a big race at an airstrip, and they invited me to join. It was run-what-ya-brung: no classes, cars against bikes. I ended up making it all the way to the final eliminations, and the only thing between me and the $400 prize-which was a fortune down there, especially back then-was a very fast Triumph Bonne-ville. I got a good start-a great start-and crossed the line about 10 feet in front of this Bonneville bearing down on me. They gave me a huge trophy but I didn't care about that. I just wanted the cash!"