Terry Vance
Encyclopedia
Terry Vance is a fourteen-time National Drag Race Championships before retiring in 1988. He was inducted into the American Motorcyclist Association
Hall of Fame in 1999, and along with partner Byron Hines, developed an extremely successful aftermarket parts business Vance & Hines.
top 50 Drivers
Terry Vance became the most popular rider in the sport of motorcycle drag racing during the late 1970s and 1980s. He earned a total of 14 national drag racing championships before retiring as a rider in 1988. Vance, along with engine builder Byron Hines, parlayed their drag racing fame into a highly successful aftermarket business called Vance & Hines.
Vance & Hines also became involved in road racing in the 1980s, becoming one of the top AMA Superbike teams and winning championships and numerous prestigious races, including the Daytona 200
and the U.S. round of the World Superbike Series.
Born in Bristol, Virginia, on November 26, 1953, Vance's family moved to Los Angeles
when he was 3 years old. Vance was raised in the nation's hotbed of motorcycling and hot-rod activity. In the mid-1960s, Vance saved money from his paper route and bought a mini-bike frame in which his dad installed a small engine from a lawn edger. Vance spent countless hours riding his mini bike up and down the gravel road next to the railroad tracks near his home in Lawndale. From there, Vance moved up to a Honda 90, later a Honda 350 and finally one of the new Honda 750 Fours in 1970.
About as soon as he earned his driver's license, Vance began going to the local drag strips to race his Honda. He started winning right off the bat and was making a couple of hundred dollars a weekend from his hobby. Russ Collins of R.C. Engineering approached Vance about riding one of the company's new bikes and Vance signed his first professional contract in 1972. It was while working at R.C. Engineering that Vance met a young Byron Hines, who was building Vance's race bikes. The two became best friends and would soon become the most famous pairing in motorcycle drag racing.
After Vance's successful stint at R.C. Engineering, Suzuki approached him about racing its new GS 750 in 1977. Vance, with Hines tuning, continued winning with Suzuki. Suzuki capitalized on Vance's success in its advertising. Both Vance and his partner were featured in numerous national print and television ads and became two of the most recognizable figures in motorcycling.
In January of 1980, the duo formed their own company, Vance & Hines. At first, the company built customer motors and by 1983 began producing its famous exhaust systems, not only for drag racing
, but for street applications, as well. The company rapidly expanded and much of the credit could be directly attributed to Vance's outstanding drag racing results.
Vance concluded his racing career at the end of 1988. He won the final five events that he entered that year. He was considered the most successful motorcycle drag racer of his era, having set numerous milestones in the sport and winning championships in the Pro Stock and Top Fuel classes. Due in large part to Suzuki's involvement and Vance and Hines' name recognition, the National Hod Rod Association (NHRA) included motorcycle drag racing
as part of its national championship series in the mid-1980s. Vance is credited with 24 NHRA national victories during his career.
By the mid-1980s, Vance & Hines, under Vance's direction, had grown to the point that it began expanding into road racing
. The company sponsored numerous club-level racing events and offered contingency money for riders running Vance & Hines exhaust systems. Through the late-1980s, Vance & Hines Suzuki fielded an AMA Superbike team at select national events. The team fielded riders such as Doug Polen, Scott Gray, Mike Baldwin and Randy Renfrow with promising results. From the beginning, the team always had a very polished and professional look which other teams emulated.
In 1990, Vance & Hines signed with Yamaha
to become its official factory AMA Superbike entry. The team would be the most impressive in the paddock, complete with full-sized tractor-trailer rigs hauling the distinctively painted equipment. In Vance & Hines Yamaha's first outing, rider David Sadowski won the prestigious Daytona 200. The team went on to win the AMA 600cc SuperSport championship that year with Sadowski at the controls. It was an incredible debut for the new team.
Vance always seemed to have a great personal relationship with his riders. Sadowski, Thomas Stevens, Jamie James and others credited Vance with being able to help focus their talents and help them become better racers.
During this time, Vance also expanded his company into publishing. Vance became publisher of American Roadracing for a period during the early 1990s. The company also briefly produced a fashion clothing line catering to motorcyclist.
In 1991, Thomas Stevens rode a Vance & Hines Yamaha to the AMA Superbike championship by two points over Kawasaki's Scott Russell. Vance & Hines continued winning through the 1990s, including SuperSport titles and another Daytona 200 victory with Eddie Lawson in 1993.
Vance & Hines switched its affiliation to Ducati in 1997 and the next year began winning AMA Superbike races again with Australian Anthony Gobert riding the Italian machines. On July 11, 1999, the Vance & Hines Ducati team had perhaps its single greatest day when riders Gobert and Ben Bostrom each won the two legs of the U.S. round of the Superbike World Championships at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California
. Terry Vance had put together one of the best racing teams in the world.
When Vance was inducted into the Motorcycling Hall of Fame in 1999, he continued to head up his growing company in Santa Fe Springs, California
, with nearly 200 employees. The company continues to sponsor racers in all levels of drag racing and road racing.
Vance contributed to the direction of the sport by being a driving force behind a professional team owners group during the 1990s, which had as its goal to raise the level of professionalism in the sport of motorcycle racing.
Vance lives in Southern California with his wife. He has a daughter.
American Motorcyclist Association
The American Motorcyclist Association is an American not-for-profit organization of more than 300,000 motorcyclists that organizes numerous motorcycling activities and campaigns for motorcyclists' legal rights...
Hall of Fame in 1999, and along with partner Byron Hines, developed an extremely successful aftermarket parts business Vance & Hines.
Biography
Biography from American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame and National Hot Rod AssociationNational Hot Rod Association
The National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
top 50 Drivers
Terry Vance became the most popular rider in the sport of motorcycle drag racing during the late 1970s and 1980s. He earned a total of 14 national drag racing championships before retiring as a rider in 1988. Vance, along with engine builder Byron Hines, parlayed their drag racing fame into a highly successful aftermarket business called Vance & Hines.
Vance & Hines also became involved in road racing in the 1980s, becoming one of the top AMA Superbike teams and winning championships and numerous prestigious races, including the Daytona 200
Daytona 200
The Daytona 200 is a 68-lap, motorcycle race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.-History:The race evolved from a beach racing venue in 1937 to the Daytona International Speedway course in 1961....
and the U.S. round of the World Superbike Series.
Born in Bristol, Virginia, on November 26, 1953, Vance's family moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
when he was 3 years old. Vance was raised in the nation's hotbed of motorcycling and hot-rod activity. In the mid-1960s, Vance saved money from his paper route and bought a mini-bike frame in which his dad installed a small engine from a lawn edger. Vance spent countless hours riding his mini bike up and down the gravel road next to the railroad tracks near his home in Lawndale. From there, Vance moved up to a Honda 90, later a Honda 350 and finally one of the new Honda 750 Fours in 1970.
About as soon as he earned his driver's license, Vance began going to the local drag strips to race his Honda. He started winning right off the bat and was making a couple of hundred dollars a weekend from his hobby. Russ Collins of R.C. Engineering approached Vance about riding one of the company's new bikes and Vance signed his first professional contract in 1972. It was while working at R.C. Engineering that Vance met a young Byron Hines, who was building Vance's race bikes. The two became best friends and would soon become the most famous pairing in motorcycle drag racing.
After Vance's successful stint at R.C. Engineering, Suzuki approached him about racing its new GS 750 in 1977. Vance, with Hines tuning, continued winning with Suzuki. Suzuki capitalized on Vance's success in its advertising. Both Vance and his partner were featured in numerous national print and television ads and became two of the most recognizable figures in motorcycling.
In January of 1980, the duo formed their own company, Vance & Hines. At first, the company built customer motors and by 1983 began producing its famous exhaust systems, not only for drag racing
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
, but for street applications, as well. The company rapidly expanded and much of the credit could be directly attributed to Vance's outstanding drag racing results.
Vance concluded his racing career at the end of 1988. He won the final five events that he entered that year. He was considered the most successful motorcycle drag racer of his era, having set numerous milestones in the sport and winning championships in the Pro Stock and Top Fuel classes. Due in large part to Suzuki's involvement and Vance and Hines' name recognition, the National Hod Rod Association (NHRA) included motorcycle drag racing
Motorcycle drag racing
Motorcycle drag racing involves two participants lining up at a dragstrip with a signaled starting line. Upon the starting signal, the riders accelerate down a quarter mile long, two lane, straight paved track where their elapsed time and terminal speed are recorded. The rider to reach the finish...
as part of its national championship series in the mid-1980s. Vance is credited with 24 NHRA national victories during his career.
By the mid-1980s, Vance & Hines, under Vance's direction, had grown to the point that it began expanding into road racing
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
. The company sponsored numerous club-level racing events and offered contingency money for riders running Vance & Hines exhaust systems. Through the late-1980s, Vance & Hines Suzuki fielded an AMA Superbike team at select national events. The team fielded riders such as Doug Polen, Scott Gray, Mike Baldwin and Randy Renfrow with promising results. From the beginning, the team always had a very polished and professional look which other teams emulated.
In 1990, Vance & Hines signed with Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
to become its official factory AMA Superbike entry. The team would be the most impressive in the paddock, complete with full-sized tractor-trailer rigs hauling the distinctively painted equipment. In Vance & Hines Yamaha's first outing, rider David Sadowski won the prestigious Daytona 200. The team went on to win the AMA 600cc SuperSport championship that year with Sadowski at the controls. It was an incredible debut for the new team.
Vance always seemed to have a great personal relationship with his riders. Sadowski, Thomas Stevens, Jamie James and others credited Vance with being able to help focus their talents and help them become better racers.
During this time, Vance also expanded his company into publishing. Vance became publisher of American Roadracing for a period during the early 1990s. The company also briefly produced a fashion clothing line catering to motorcyclist.
In 1991, Thomas Stevens rode a Vance & Hines Yamaha to the AMA Superbike championship by two points over Kawasaki's Scott Russell. Vance & Hines continued winning through the 1990s, including SuperSport titles and another Daytona 200 victory with Eddie Lawson in 1993.
Vance & Hines switched its affiliation to Ducati in 1997 and the next year began winning AMA Superbike races again with Australian Anthony Gobert riding the Italian machines. On July 11, 1999, the Vance & Hines Ducati team had perhaps its single greatest day when riders Gobert and Ben Bostrom each won the two legs of the U.S. round of the Superbike World Championships at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
. Terry Vance had put together one of the best racing teams in the world.
When Vance was inducted into the Motorcycling Hall of Fame in 1999, he continued to head up his growing company in Santa Fe Springs, California
Santa Fe Springs, California
Santa Fe Springs is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is one of the Gateway Cities of southeast Los Angeles County. The population was 16,223 at the 2010 census, down from 17,438 at the 2000 census....
, with nearly 200 employees. The company continues to sponsor racers in all levels of drag racing and road racing.
Vance contributed to the direction of the sport by being a driving force behind a professional team owners group during the 1990s, which had as its goal to raise the level of professionalism in the sport of motorcycle racing.
Vance lives in Southern California with his wife. He has a daughter.