Ray Abrams: “The Man Behind the Curtain”

Ray Abrams

Ray Abrams racers 90y - John Gennai

Ray Abrams racers 80y - Kenny Roberts and 7 - Mark Brelsford

Ray Abrams on a Triumph

Ray Abrams racers Chris Carter of Motion Pro

Ray Abrams racers Chris Carter of Motion Pro

Ray Abrams racers Gene Romero

Ray Abrams Ray rides at Tulare on his 65th birthday

Ray Abrams on a BSA

Ray Abrams racers Rick Hocking on a TZ700 at Ascot

Ray Abrams racers Bob Goodman

Ray Abrams racers Jim Odom on a 750 Yamaha

Ray Abrams racers Jimmy Felice

Ray Abrams racers Bruce Hanlon

Ray Abrams racers Rick Hocking

Ray Abrams racers Mike Yarn

Ray Abrams racers 46z - Mike Yarn, Houston

Ray Abrams racers Randy Mamola on an A&A bike

Ray Abrams racers 80y - Kenny Roberts

Ray Abrams racers Gary Scott, Kenny Roberts and Mike Kidd

Ray Abrams

Ray Abrams team bus

by Lorin Guy

Every great racing champion will admit that it takes a lot of people, cooperation and support to make a winning team. It does not happen overnight, and sometimes takes years to reach that pinnacle of success, along with countless heat races at many different tracks. Racing support comes in many forms; it could be cash, parts or even a whole bike or it could be mentoring and advice. But whoever or however it comes, in racing you need sponsorship, no one does it alone.

Racing brings you in contact with many people—some you meet and never see again—others you meet and they become a part of the vision. Some, like “tuners”, are up front and in the spotlight and others, like sponsors, are behind the scenes. A friend of mine once called it “the man behind the curtain” after the Wizard of Oz scene where “Toto”, the little dog pulls back the curtain, exposing the “wizard” himself, who’s just a man.

One such “man behind the curtain” is Ray Abrams of A&A Racing in San Carlos, California. Ray’s shop has been the support behind a long list of Grand National riding stars and champions over the years. The list reads like a who’s who of the sport. His love of motorcycle racing, especially flat track, his unique understanding as an ex-racer and his good nature are the winning formula for many who have passed through his shop.

A&A started as a hobby go kart and motorcycle shop in Redwood City, California called A&A Motors. Ray was into bikes and his brother Bill was into go karts. They both did some riding and racing as young men and decided they needed a more convenient way to buy parts and a place to work on their bikes and karts. As part of the go kart/motorcycle shop they sold Royal Enfield and Capriolo motorcycles. Out of necessity, they opened a small machine shop for manufacturing some of the parts they needed and called it A&A Machine.

The shop was enough to keep them in their hobby-turned-business for a few years. Ray continued to race, work the shop and the machine works along with his brother. It was soon evident that, although good racers and pretty successful, Ray or his brother were not going to turn professional. If this shop was going to work out they’d have to quit their own racing programs and concentrate on the business They opened A&A Racing in 1961 as a full time enterprise. Ray, being an ex-racer had a good understanding of what it took to be a promising racer and although many asked for A&A help, Ray kept a keen eye for young riders who showed the poise and skill.

One of A&A Racing’s first sponsored riders was Gene Romero. Racing out of southern California Gene would ride an A&A built bike at all the Nor-Cal races and based his operation from the A&A shop. Ray built him a TD1 two stroke twin and Gene won on almost every trip north.

In 1963 Ray saw an opportunity to become a Yamaha Dealer. After a brief visit by Yamaha representatives, a big truck arrived with a dealer sign and a bunch of bikes and parts. Ray said there was no real contract and no cash changed hands—it just happened. Ray’s brother was not excited about expanding the hobby business and did not like the new Japanese motorcycles. He soon left the business selling his half to Ray.

Ray had a knack for discovering new talent and was instrumental in getting Kenny Roberts his first major riding deal with a manufacturer. Kenny was just a junior rider looking to advance to the pro ranks. He had been riding a Suzuki supplied by dealer Bud Askland of Modesto, California. At the time, Kenny actually had a professional representative in Jim Doyle, a Pam Am pilot, who teamed with Kenny as his racing partner. Doyle and Roberts came to Ray to ask for sponsorship and Ray suggested that they approach Yamaha. Yamaha’s agreed to the Roberts/Doyle proposal as long as A&A would agree to build the bikes. The rest is history, as they say.

In many photographs of Kenny Roberts you can see the A&A patch on his leathers. In 2009 Kenny rode the infamous TZ700, built by Ray at the Indianapolis AMA Grand National Race as an exhibition. Ray actually built a TZ700 along with Doug Schwerma of Champion Frame, for Rick Hockings to race in early 1975, Rick had “Rocky” (later became Tucker-Rocky) sponsorship and dominated on the west coast tracks, but, alas, AMA chose to outlaw the bike. Rick later rode the TZ350 built by A&A.

Next to come through the door was Scot Brelsford. Scot was young and fill of promise, but in 1970 his first pro-novice year Scot had issues. Ray put together a TD2 in a Champion Frame and Scott went on to win every race he entered. Scot dominated at Ascot winning almost every Friday night, and at the San Jose ½ Mile Scot walked away with the trophy dash and the championship. Scott’s big brother Mark also had some help for a brief time from A&A.

Local riding hero and land speed record holder Jim Odom carried A&A sponsorship on the big bikes, Jim’s vast riding career was supplemented many times by A&A in the form of bikes and support.

Ray’s uncanny ability to find quality talented riders is part of the success of A&A Racing. Riders like Roberts, Hocking, Breslford, Felice, Yarn, Mashburn, Romero, Mamola, Goldthwaite, Gennai, Claudino, Cunningham, Self, Haulon,Turner, Sizemore, Schultz, and Odom, all these riders and more made significant marks in racing. All could not have done it without the help at some point in their careers from Ray Abrams and A&A Racing.

You may have unknowingly come across A&A at US racing tracks, during the “Camel Series” years 1984-1998 as A&A was the Carlisle and then Goodyear tire suppliers and were at all the races in their very cool Camel Racing sponsored bus. I can remember going over to the bus in the paddocks to get a Camel Racing sticker.  The famous bus was painted in Camel racing yellow and was used as a hospitality area for Camel executives and guests. Smoking was of course permitted in the bus, but only if you were smoking Camel cigarettes.

Now coming on 50 years in the business and countless riders from novice to pro, Ray looks back at the high points and some of the low points. Although he is scaling down his sponsorship involvements, Ray still keeps his hands in helping young up and coming riders with talent. Riders like current AMA Grand National competitors Stevie Bonsey, Chad Coast, Tony DeVilla and Sammy Halbert.

Ray has learned and seen a lot during his 50 years in the racing business. His ideas to help young riders for the future may just include a “class room” session. He says riders these days need to learn how the game is played to becoming a pro. It’s still 70% talent, 10% luck and 20% sponsorship. Having some marketing skills are pretty important too. Learning when to mention your sponsor’s names and putting success in their court is still very important.

As for local riders and racers and the state of the motorcycle parts business in general, it seems that with the advent of website based non-brick and mortar businesses Ray says “riders these days lack a sense of loyalty.” They’ll spend with a web-based business before supporting the local shop to save a buck. It seems a sad commentary for businesses that for years supported the local racing at local tracks with local riders. Riders need to support the businesses that support their sport and hobbies. Local businesses are the ones doing it in your communities.

Ray’s expertise is vast and no matter what brand of bike or configurations, Ray can come up with the winning answers. From vintage to modern, Yamaha to Bultaco, Suzuki, Triumph or KTM and on, A&A Racing was, and still is, at the cutting edge of performance. Today, A&A is experimenting with electric motorcycles. If you are in the area, stop in and say thank you to a legend in Grand National Racing, Mr. Ray Abrams.