Speedway Rider - In Memory - California Speedway Announcer

Danny Becker 1955 - November 23, 2013 In Memory R. I. P. Danny "Berzerko" Becker was known for his daredevil style of riding. He died Nov. 23 after a nearly two-year battle with esophageal cancer. HUNTINGTON BEACH – Wide open. It's the way U.S. Speedway Motorcycle Racing legend Danny Becker approached the track. Riding wide open is squeezing the throttle with no intention of letting up for turns, no consideration for the brake and no fear. This racing style earned Becker the nickname "Berzerko." It's why the nights he raced at Costa Mesa Speedway were sold out, some women swooned and some young boys daydreamed of one day learning to ride. More important to his family and friends, wide open is how he approached life off the track – candidly, lovingly and valiantly. Becker died at his Huntington Beach home on Nov. 23 after a nearly two-year battle with esophageal cancer, a complication from a lifetime of struggling with indigestion. He was 58. "He had this grace that settled in him over the last few months, like he knew something that none of us knew," said his daughter, Selina Becker, 36. "He was just so full of strength." Becker is survived by his wife, Jojo Guerin Becker, 48, whom he met in 2006; his daughters Selina Becker and Michaela Becker, 23; his sisters Robin Sandler, Karen Haskell and Kim Klesjtan; and his father, John Jacobson Becker. A memorial event is being planned for January, his family said. THE RACER Selina Becker remembers seeing her dad ride at Costa Mesa Speedway in the final years of his professional career in the 1980s. The announcer would stand on the table to introduce him. He didn't do that for the other riders. She remembers being 4 years old and watching as he'd complete his final lap in a wheelie as the crowd erupted in admiration. "Everyone would have their eyes on him," Becker said. "He was just this raw talent, this daredevil. It was beautiful." And when she returned to school the following Monday, she remembers her preschool teachers reverting to star-struck teenagers. "Danny Becker is your father?" they'd ask. Women fawned over his feathered blond hair that framed green eyes and charming smile. At the peak of his career, the Beckers had to change their home phone number nine times to escape the calls from female fans. Men admired his fearless approach to the track: clenching the throttle and racing on the outside. "On the cushion, that's the outside, was his favorite position to ride in," said longtime friend Ron Stewart, 73. "It was the most difficult for anybody to ride but he had the talent and the fortitude to do that." Stewart, owner of Orange County Welding in Huntington Beach, introduced Becker to racing. At age 12, Becker would ride his bicycle with a wagon in tow filled with old engines to be refurbished and used in Stewart's mini motorcycle shop on Beach Boulevard. Becker, a student at Fountain Valley High School, would watch the men in the shop race go-karts and speedway motorcycles. By age 16, he was riding his own. "He had an unbelievable amount of talent," Stewart said. "From that time on, he became the idol of the kids in the grandstand." Becker started racing in 1971 and quickly gained popularity and international recognition. He raced until the early 1980s, making it to Nationals three times in his career. Fellow racer and friend Bobby Hardison, 61, said Becker was lighthearted and playful until he pulled his bike out onto the track. "He was all business, that's where the friendship ended," Hardison said. "But as soon as the race was over, he'd be the first to laugh about it." Becker had a star quality, but it was one he downplayed. He brushed off words such as "legend" or "influential" that were so often attached to his name in speedway circles, friends said. "As far as racing goes, he was one of the best," Hardison said. "His particular riding style made him incredibly fast and just amazing to watch." Fans remember a thrill-seeker who loved to entertain, but his family said the extrovert the crowd embraced was reserved for the track. "Danny had such humility," his wife said. "He never bragged about himself, his racing or anything." Becker was the type of man who could use "sweetheart" and "sugar" to address women, and it wasn't condescending, family members said. He would empty his wallet for a stranger on the street and pull over to rescue an injured animal on the side of the road. He despised gossip and used the words "I love you" every chance possible, even with new friends. When he said it, he always meant it. Becker's singing voice rivaled Jim Morrison but his laugh sounded more like the bark of a seal – guttural with heavy gasps in between, his wife said. "Just hearing it made everyone laugh," she said. "There was no mistaking that laugh." Guerin Becker met her husband at a dive bar in Costa Mesa. The two were engaged New Year's Eve 2011. Just a few weeks later, Becker was diagnosed with stage III esophageal cancer. The wedding was postponed because of the treatment, but Becker wanted a ceremony in front of their family and friends before he died. They were married Sept. 14 in the backyard of their Huntington Beach home. "It may have been his goodbye to a lot of people," his wife said. "We didn't want anybody to be sad. It was beautiful." His family said Becker never complained throughout his illness and continued to express gratitude for his family, friends and fans until he died. "A few days before he died he said, 'I'm the luckiest man in the world,' " Selina Becker said. "He knew he was loved." He approached death the same way he rode the track and lived his life: wide open. "That's how he took everything," his daughter said. "He had that same kind of bravery. He wasn't afraid." By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Contact the writer: 714-796-7953 or jfletcher@ocregister.com Nickname: "Berserko" Rider Number:22 Hometown:Fountain Valley, California - USA Place of Birth: Date of Birth: 1955 Occupation: Marital Status: Children: Relatives in Speedway: E-mail: Web Site or Facebook Page: Date Started Speedway:1971 - ~1980's Reason to Race Speedway: Goals or Ambitions for Speedway: Photo by: Dennis Greene Fan favorite for his "go, blow or put a hole in the fence" style. Danny Becker could do it all.. ride high or low and mix it in traffic with anyone. Bike: Godden Tracks Ridden: USA: Costa Mesa - Ascot -Bakersfield (Oildale) - Irwindale - Ventura - and many others Achievements: 1974 US Nationals 1973 US Nationals 1972 US Nationals Scott Daloisio's Favorite Photos First Night at Costa Mesa Speedway: Who is this Danny Becker? Discovering the Thrill of Speedway Racing in 1980 My first night shooting at Costa Mesa Speedway was the regular season opener in 1980. Before that night, my exposure to Speedway was limited. I had seen some demonstration Speedway races at indoor Flat Track events in the Coliseum in my native Detroit in the early 1970s. Additionally, I attended one Thursday night race at the Ascot quarter mile in 1979. That was the extent of my experience. Other than recognizing Mike Bast’s name from Shav Glick’s columns in the LA Times. I also knew the name Lance King as Cycle News photographer Dennis Greene pointed him out as a promising rider during my visit to Ascot. However, I was unfamiliar with the other riders. My knowledge of the sport was virtually nonexistent. One thing I learned on that first night was who the top riders were and who they were not. There was a rider’s parade before the show started, and the “Voice of Speedway,” Bruce Flanders, let each rider introduce themselves to the crowd. The parade began with Division 3 riders, followed by Division 2, and finally, the First Division. As the parade progressed, the crowd’s energy grew. By the time the First Division riders were being introduced, the excitement was palpable. The top riders were at the end of the line, and the crowd’s enthusiasm reached a fever pitch. When it was Kelly Moran’s turn, the crowd erupted even louder. When Mike Bast introduced himself, he was greeted with loud cheers and boos. That indicated to me that he was the “top dog” and he won a lot as those guys always get some boos. Then Flanders approached a rider who was noticeably taller than the others. When it was his turn to speak, he said, “My name is Daniel Becker.” The crowd’s reaction was deafening; it felt as though the roof would have blown off if we had been inside an arena. I made a mental note to keep an eye on him. It was my first-night covering Speedway, and by then, Danny was past his prime, but his thrilling and somewhat “Berzerko” style was still evident. Over the years, I witnessed that style wheeling through the cushion mere inches away from the unforgiving boards. Off the track, Danny was quite the opposite of his riding style. Friendly to one and all. He was a genuinely nice and friendly guy who was happy to talk with everyone. Today, Speedway holds a special place in my heart. The thrill of the races, the camaraderie of the community, and the excitement of capturing the perfect shot are experiences I cherish. My first night at Costa Mesa Speedway was just the beginning of a journey filled with unforgettable moments and lasting friendships. And the sound of Danny Becker introducing himself still echoes in my brain. I took the accompanying photo of Danny at Costa Mesa in 1983. Scott Daloisio

Danny Becker

1955 - November 23, 2013

In Memory
R. I. P.

Danny Becker

Danny "Berzerko" Becker was known for his daredevil style of riding. He died Nov. 23 after a nearly two-year battle with esophageal cancer.

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Wide open.

It's the way U.S. Speedway Motorcycle Racing legend Danny Becker approached the track.

Riding wide open is squeezing the throttle with no intention of letting up for turns, no consideration for the brake and no fear.

This racing style earned Becker the nickname "Berzerko."

It's why the nights he raced at Costa Mesa Speedway were sold out, some women swooned and some young boys daydreamed of one day learning to ride.

More important to his family and friends, wide open is how he approached life off the track – candidly, lovingly and valiantly.

Becker died at his Huntington Beach home on Nov. 23 after a nearly two-year battle with esophageal cancer, a complication from a lifetime of struggling with indigestion. He was 58.

"He had this grace that settled in him over the last few months, like he knew something that none of us knew," said his daughter, Selina Becker, 36. "He was just so full of strength."

Becker is survived by his wife, Jojo Guerin Becker, 48, whom he met in 2006; his daughters Selina Becker and Michaela Becker, 23; his sisters Robin Sandler, Karen Haskell and Kim Klesjtan; and his father, John Jacobson Becker.

A memorial event is being planned for January, his family said.

THE RACER

Selina Becker remembers seeing her dad ride at Costa Mesa Speedway in the final years of his professional career in the 1980s.

The announcer would stand on the table to introduce him. He didn't do that for the other riders.

She remembers being 4 years old and watching as he'd complete his final lap in a wheelie as the crowd erupted in admiration.

"Everyone would have their eyes on him," Becker said. "He was just this raw talent, this daredevil. It was beautiful."

And when she returned to school the following Monday, she remembers her preschool teachers reverting to star-struck teenagers. "Danny Becker is your father?" they'd ask.

Women fawned over his feathered blond hair that framed green eyes and charming smile.

At the peak of his career, the Beckers had to change their home phone number nine times to escape the calls from female fans.

Men admired his fearless approach to the track: clenching the throttle and racing on the outside.

"On the cushion, that's the outside, was his favorite position to ride in," said longtime friend Ron Stewart, 73. "It was the most difficult for anybody to ride but he had the talent and the fortitude to do that."

Stewart, owner of Orange County Welding in Huntington Beach, introduced Becker to racing.

At age 12, Becker would ride his bicycle with a wagon in tow filled with old engines to be refurbished and used in Stewart's mini motorcycle shop on Beach Boulevard.

Becker, a student at Fountain Valley High School, would watch the men in the shop race go-karts and speedway motorcycles. By age 16, he was riding his own.

"He had an unbelievable amount of talent," Stewart said. "From that time on, he became the idol of the kids in the grandstand."

Becker started racing in 1971 and quickly gained popularity and international recognition. He raced until the early 1980s, making it to Nationals three times in his career.

Fellow racer and friend Bobby Hardison, 61, said Becker was lighthearted and playful until he pulled his bike out onto the track.

"He was all business, that's where the friendship ended," Hardison said. "But as soon as the race was over, he'd be the first to laugh about it."

Becker had a star quality, but it was one he downplayed. He brushed off words such as "legend" or "influential" that were so often attached to his name in speedway circles, friends said.

"As far as racing goes, he was one of the best," Hardison said. "His particular riding style made him incredibly fast and just amazing to watch."

Fans remember a thrill-seeker who loved to entertain, but his family said the extrovert the crowd embraced was reserved for the track.

"Danny had such humility," his wife said. "He never bragged about himself, his racing or anything."

Becker was the type of man who could use "sweetheart" and "sugar" to address women, and it wasn't condescending, family members said.

He would empty his wallet for a stranger on the street and pull over to rescue an injured animal on the side of the road.

He despised gossip and used the words "I love you" every chance possible, even with new friends. When he said it, he always meant it.

Becker's singing voice rivaled Jim Morrison but his laugh sounded more like the bark of a seal – guttural with heavy gasps in between, his wife said.

"Just hearing it made everyone laugh," she said. "There was no mistaking that laugh."

Guerin Becker met her husband at a dive bar in Costa Mesa. The two were engaged New Year's Eve 2011.

Just a few weeks later, Becker was diagnosed with stage III esophageal cancer.

The wedding was postponed because of the treatment, but Becker wanted a ceremony in front of their family and friends before he died.

They were married Sept. 14 in the backyard of their Huntington Beach home.

"It may have been his goodbye to a lot of people," his wife said. "We didn't want anybody to be sad. It was beautiful."

His family said Becker never complained throughout his illness and continued to express gratitude for his family, friends and fans until he died.

"A few days before he died he said, 'I'm the luckiest man in the world,' " Selina Becker said. "He knew he was loved."

He approached death the same way he rode the track and lived his life: wide open.

"That's how he took everything," his daughter said. "He had that same kind of bravery. He wasn't afraid."

By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Contact the writer: 714-796-7953 or jfletcher@ocregister.com

Nickname: "Berserko"
Rider Number:22
Hometown:Fountain Valley, California - USA
Place of Birth:
Date of Birth: 1955
Occupation:
Marital Status:
Children:
Relatives in Speedway:
E-mail:
Web Site or Facebook Page:
Date Started Speedway:1971 - ~1980's
Reason to Race Speedway:
Goals or Ambitions for Speedway:
Photo by: Dennis Greene

Fan favorite for his "go, blow or put a hole in the fence" style. Danny Becker could do it all.. ride high or low and mix it in traffic with anyone.

Bike: Godden

Tracks Ridden:
USA: Costa Mesa - Ascot -Bakersfield (Oildale) - Irwindale - Ventura - and many others

Achievements:
1974 US Nationals
1973 US Nationals
1972 US Nationals

Scott Daloisio's Favorite Photos

First Night at Costa Mesa Speedway: Who is this Danny Becker?

Discovering the Thrill of Speedway Racing in 1980

My first night shooting at Costa Mesa Speedway was the regular season opener in 1980. Before that night, my exposure to Speedway was limited. I had seen some demonstration Speedway races at indoor Flat Track events in the Coliseum in my native Detroit in the early 1970s. Additionally, I attended one Thursday night race at the Ascot quarter mile in 1979. That was the extent of my experience. Other than recognizing Mike Bast’s name from Shav Glick’s columns in the LA Times. I also knew the name Lance King as Cycle News photographer Dennis Greene pointed him out as a promising rider during my visit to Ascot. However, I was unfamiliar with the other riders. My knowledge of the sport was virtually nonexistent.

One thing I learned on that first night was who the top riders were and who they were not. There was a rider’s parade before the show started, and the “Voice of Speedway,” Bruce Flanders, let each rider introduce themselves to the crowd. The parade began with Division 3 riders, followed by Division 2, and finally, the First Division. As the parade progressed, the crowd’s energy grew. By the time the First Division riders were being introduced, the excitement was palpable. The top riders were at the end of the line, and the crowd’s enthusiasm reached a fever pitch. When it was Kelly Moran’s turn, the crowd erupted even louder. When Mike Bast introduced himself, he was greeted with loud cheers and boos. That indicated to me that he was the “top dog” and he won a lot as those guys always get some boos. Then Flanders approached a rider who was noticeably taller than the others. When it was his turn to speak, he said, “My name is Daniel Becker.” The crowd’s reaction was deafening; it felt as though the roof would have blown off if we had been inside an arena. I made a mental note to keep an eye on him.

It was my first-night covering Speedway, and by then, Danny was past his prime, but his thrilling and somewhat “Berzerko” style was still evident. Over the years, I witnessed that style wheeling through the cushion mere inches away from the unforgiving boards. Off the track, Danny was quite the opposite of his riding style. Friendly to one and all. He was a genuinely nice and friendly guy who was happy to talk with everyone.

Today, Speedway holds a special place in my heart. The thrill of the races, the camaraderie of the community, and the excitement of capturing the perfect shot are experiences I cherish. My first night at Costa Mesa Speedway was just the beginning of a journey filled with unforgettable moments and lasting friendships. And the sound of Danny Becker introducing himself still echoes in my brain.

I took the accompanying photo of Danny at Costa Mesa in 1983. Scott Daloisio