BART MARKEL
National Number Four
SINCE taking over National Number Four, Bart Markel is having his best year as an expert rider. The Flint, Michigan charger has some famous footsteps to fill, as the previous wearer of the renowned Four was Brad Andres, one of motorcycling's all-time greats who is now retired. But this responsibility has only seemed to whet Bart's appetite for wins; he is the only rider to score more than two national victories this season, having wound up in the winner's circle at Heidelberg, Columbus, Springfield and Peoria ... so far.
Bart's career started off with a bang. He began riding professionally in 1957 — a year or so after he first rode a street machine — and became top scoring novice in the country that season with 222 points as compared with 142 for his nearest rival. 1958 found him grabbing a major share of racing honors as he sped to 37 victories on flat tracks throughout the eastern half of the states, giving him top spot among amateur class riders in flat track competition.
In 1959 Markel rode to a terrific second at Springfield, took a fourth at St. Paul and a fifth at Columbus for a total of 12 national points and a seventh overall in his first expert year.
He compiled a total of 35 national points in both 1960 and 1961. His first championship win came at the last race of the 1960 season — the 80 eu. in. T.T. national at Peoria. He had previously taken seconds at both Columbus and Schererville, Indiana and a third at Springfield. He also snatched second in the 45 cu. in. T.T. race to wind up the season in third place nationally.
In 1961, Markel's performance included seconds at Watkins Glen (150-Miler) and Springfield (50-Miler), a third at Heidelberg, fifth at the Daytona 200-Miler, and victory in the 45 cu. in. Peoria T.T., his second National Championship. By the end of the season he was moving with the best of them, but Resweber had already built a commanding lead and won the point title with 62 points. Markel ranked fourth, behind Resweber, Joe Leonard and Dick Mann.
A two year veteran of Marine Corps service, Markel has the will, the strength and the talent to go all the way. It's obvious that he won't be satisfied until the coveted Number One plate is firmly secured to his rapid Harley-Davidson. •