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TOM McDERMOTT |
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Born in Glen Galls New York in 1931 Tom first got interested in bikes when he was 8. On Sundays he would sneak out still dressed in his Sunday best to watch scrambles in nearby fields. He first started riding a bike at the age of 11 when he borrowed a 350 BSA single from a local dealer and learned to ride by racing around a local field. For the next few year he rode as much and as often as he could and by 1946 was accompanying his older brother who was riding in flat-track events in Canada. Only a year later at age 16 Tom had an AMA membership and was racing a 350cc BSA in the Novice class against larger British bikes and 750cc bikes Harleys and Indians. The capacity difference meant that Tom was never going to win but the did manage some seconds and more importantly enough points to move up to the amateur class in 1948. But he didn't stop there for long and by the end of the season had moved up to Expert. After getting his first road bike - naturally a BSA - Tom wanted to try his hand at enduros - he wanted to race everything. But for his first race went straight to the top riding the legendary Jack Pine race - 500 miles over 2 days - and came 3rd where the lighter weight of the BSA paid dividends. Tom's interest in enduros wasn't at the expense of other races and his first time at Daytona was in 1949 when he finished 6th. This result brought him to the attention of BSA and Bert Perrigo, BSA's competition manager. If McDermott could pay his own way to Britain, he could provide a subsistence wage (a work permit and employee status wasn't possible) a road bike, a race bike and freedom to 'hang-out' in the factory and at races as a kind of team apprentice. For an 18 year old so early in his racing career it was a dream opportunity.
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In England, his first event was at a scrambles race near Coventry along with BSA 'aces' John Draper, Fred Rist and Bill Nicholson. Although he didn't compete his practice laps on a works bike impressed the 'aces' so much that he was included in the works team for the rest of the summer. For the rest of the summer it's not exaggerating to say he took England by storm! In a golden period for UK scrambling where the reigning champions were all his BSA colleagues he managed a fourth at the Peveril in the Isle of Man, followed by a 2nd at the Cotswold scramble in June, then another 2nd at Shrubland Park. He even found time to qualify for the British Speedway league where his US-style foot-dragging must have helped.
This young American caused a sensation, with 'The Motorcycle' describing him as "... an American over here to see how we do things. If he stays much longer he will be showing us!". But the highlight of his UK adventure was a gold in the ISDT in Wales. Despite a crash that damaged his rear wheel he completed the six day trial without being late for any check points. Very few have managed a gold first time out and he was the first American to do so post-war. By October he was back in the US, winning the New England Championship at New Hampshire. He rode at Daytona again the following March getting a 3rd but Military Service in Korea from 51 to 53 meant that he didn't race there again until the big BSA victory in 1954. At the 54 event Tom came 3rd again on a Gold Star. Tom continued to be one of BSA's mainstays in the US, finishing 4th in '56 and 5th in '57. In 1957 he started working as a mechanic for a
Volkswagen dealership and was eventually promoted up to Service Manager.
He kept up his interest in bikes by selling and repairing them in his spare
time. But in 1974 he opened a dealership in Fort Ann NY which by 1978 became
Harley Davidson exclusively. The dealership prospered, is still doing business
and can be found at |
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