TODAY’S BIRTHDAY BOY: THE PAUL NEWMAN STUNT DOUBLE

Adolf Weil was a 14-time German National Champion and finished second in the 250 World Championship in 1973 (and third in the 500 Championship three times). He looked a lot like actor Paul Newman.

Adolf Weil was born December 25, 1938, and passed away on May 12, 2011, at the age of 73. He would be 85 years old now.After he retired from racing, Adolf he opened a motorcycle-business in 1975 and focused completely on his new profession, selling Maico and then Kawasaki Motorcycles. His two sons, Frank, born in 1959, and Jurgen, born in 1960, helped him from the beginning and are still running the company. Adolf’s sudden death in 2011 was unexpected as he had worked in his motorcycle shop the day before.

Adolf is remember by most Americans for his dominating performance in the 1973 Trans-AMA series.

Adolf Weil was a loyal Maico racer for most of his career and, after retiring in 1975, went on to become a Maico dealer, which remained in business as a Kawasaki dealership until his death in 2011. He would be 87 years old on this birthday.

Photos: Justyn Norek