former polaris racing manager to be ama racing guru

n the "golden days" of early to mid-1970s Polaris racing, Gary Mathers directed a snowmobile racing team of legendary proportions. He was race team manager in the years of Hall of Fame racers Bob Eastman and Jim Bernat. His successes at Polaris led Kawasaki to secure his talents for its short-lived professional snowmobile racing team that included Jac Villeneuve.

With successful snowmobile race team management as a background, plus his motorcycle-racing career aboard a BSA 650 dirt-tracker, Mathers moved on to eventually head up Kawasaki's motorcycle road racing and motocross teams.

Again he developed a talented pair of racers - Wayne Rainey and Eddie Lawson - who were to become road-racing superstars. In 1985 Mathers joined American Honda in the capacity of race team manager, overseeing their burgeoning flat-track, road racing and motocross teams.

In his new role with AMA, Mathers' responsibilities encompass the planning, budgeting and field operations for all AMA Pro Racing road-race events. As Operations Manager he attends each event and directs the activities of all AMA operations staff, including full-time, part-time and volunteer staff, plus local labor hired for the event. He works with racing teams, track operators and promoters to ensure the smooth operation of each event.

In his years as a race team manager, his teams captured 76 national motorcycle and snowmobile championships. His record makes him the winningest team manager in the motorcycle industry.

And to think it started in the freezing tundra of the North American snowbelt. Congrats to Gary Mathers, an all-star from the snowmobile ranks!