Four-time AMA Grand National Champion Carroll Resweber passes away at age 79.
Born in Port Arthur, Texas, Resweber experienced a meteoric rise and fall during a career in which he became the first man to win four AMA Grand National Championship titles, all of them coming in succession from 1958 through 1961. Known for his natural talent and fearless nature, Resweber earned a factory ride with the Harley-Davidson racing team with whom he earned all four titles. It was a record that stood until 1998 when Resweber’s fellow Harley-Davidson factory racer Scott Parker earned a fifth consecutive title. In all, Resweber would win 19 AMA national events on a variety of circuits, including road courses, short-tracks, half-miles and miles.
There appeared to be no stopping Resweber when he claimed his fourth consecutive title in 1961, and he was once again leading the 1962 series standings when he was critically injured in a horrific crash at the Lincoln, Illinois, HaIf Mile. During a practice session on the dusty circuit, Resweber struck a fallen motorcycle that was lying in the racing line and crashed. The multi-rider incident resulted in the death of rider Jack Gholson and also critically injured former Grand National Champion Dick Klamfoth. Resweber never fully recovered from his injuries and was forced to retire from racing.
In the aftermath of his career-ending crash Resweber took a job with Harley-Davidson, where he stayed until he retired in 1992. At the time of his passing, Resweber still lived in his home state of Texas. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and also the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1998.
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