FIRST PERSON/OPINION: Via an e-mail from Roger Lyle: Happy Birthday to former factory Harley Davidson racer and legendary starter Al Wilcox of Trenton New Jersey. Born on January 4,1919 in Trenton, Al Wilcox started riding motorcycles in 1936. After a 3 year stint in Uncle Sam’s Army, Al came back to race motorcycles. In 1946, Wilcox entered the Daytona Beach novice event. Back in those days, racers started in rows, five seconds apart, and Al was on the forth row. A total of about150 competitors were entered in the novice race! Al riding the #4n Harley Davidson placed third in his first attempt! Racing was good to Al. Mr. Wilcox entered thousands of races at 360 tracks all over the country! In 1959 the promoter of the race at Middletown, New Jersey, approached Al and asked if he would be the starter. Al asked, “How much does it pay?” When told the price, he said” I can make more money than that by racing!” The promoter went back to his boss and pitched for more money and that was Al’s first race as a starter. Al started all the races at Middletown and continued to race at other tracks up and down the East Coast. After hanging up his racing leathers, Al continued as starter at all those racetracks. He was also a promoter of the local races near Trenton for many years. Al’s starter outfits were custom made by his loving wife Julia and had AMA or WERA embroidered on the shirts, front and back. His all pink starter suit is the top pick for most race fans. Al Wilcox is celebrating his 89th birthday at home in Trenton, New Jersey. He will be attending the WERA Mid-Atlantic Banquet on Febuary 2 in Aberdeen, Maryland. He starts practicing with his flags in his backyard soon and will be back at Summit Point Raceway for his 49th year as a starter to flag the WERA races and Roger Lyle’s Motorcycle Xcitement Track Days. Back in 2000, Al was honored with the presentation of “The Al Wilcox Start/Finish Line at Summit Point Raceway”