Full Name: Eddie Ray Lawson

DOB: March 11, 1958

Birthplace: Upland, California (USA)
(San Antonio Community Hospital)

Parents Names: Patricia Ann (Long) Lawson & Raymond Edward Lawson

Childhood home: 910 Fuchsia, Ontario, California

High School: Chaffey High School, Ontario California

Grandfather: Charles Long

Grandmother: Pat Carlock

First Rode Motorcycle: 1966
First Race: 1968 (event unknown)
Turned Pro: 1975 (17)

Note: Actual first name is "Eddie" and not Edward.

Early racing history: Lawson was tutored in racing by his father and grandfather as a young man, racing motocross and dirt track (primarily dirt track ) in Southern California. Listed Ascot as his favorite track in 1976, because it's a "fast track.

As a novice, Lawson raced a 250cc Cooper in 1975 (competiton number 111R) at Ascot, winning two races. Because the Cooper was not an "approved" motorcycle for the time, Lawson was DQ'd, but did later recieve the AMA advancement points from the races which helped him turn pro.

In 1975 (17) he had already raced TT, half-mile, quarter-mile in dirt track, motocross and roadraced.

Probable first roadrace: Dec 16, 1972 at Riverside Raceway.

Lawson roadraced at Riverside Raceway and Carlsbad Raceway (Sanctioned by the ACA) in late 1972 (age 14) scoring a first and a second in the GP class.

By 1974 Lawson was racing almost weekly; his rider file at the AMA has 39 finishes in 1974 alone by Lawson, including multiple wins in roadracing, TT and Half-mile.

Won Ascot TT twice (3-2-1975) (5-23-1975).

Won 1976 Pacific Coast Regional Championship Series for which he recieved a jacket from Mel Parkhurst, the AMA's then Profesional Competiton Manager.

In 1977 Lawson won the Daytona novice (250cc) race on a TZ250, which enabled him to advance to AMA Lightweight classification.

1978 AMA Dirt Track Rookie of the Year

August 8, 1978 Lawson is injured on lap four of the Indy Mile (still using 11R competiton number). He sufferes a leg injury.