Cook Neilson (born 24 August 1943) is an American former journalist and motorcycle racer made famous for his win on a Ducati 750SS at Daytona in 1977. He was hired as Associate Editor of Cycle in September, 1967; promoted to Editor in 1969, and is credited for making that magazine successful through the 1970s. While at Cycle Magazine, he authored a series of articles on the cookbook construction of a 160-mph fuel Sportster.
Neilson was inducted into the Ducati North America Hall of Fame[1] and the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2006.[2]
During his racing career, Neilson had thirty-eight starts and nineteen wins; all on the Ducati 750SS. He also occasionally raced for the Butler & Smith BMW team and the Racecrafter Kawasaki team. Neilson had three podium finishes at Daytona: 1975 (First), 1976 (Third), and 1977 (First). Also during 1977, Neilson finished second at Laguna Seca (California), Sears Point, and at Riverside International Raceway (California).
In 2006, [3] Ducati Motor Holdings announced a limited edition replica of Neilson's 750SS winning motorcycle, which he had nicknamed "Old Blue." This motorcycle, named New Blue, will be customized by the NCR racing house based in Bologna. The race replica is in honor of the 30th anniversary of Neilson's win at Daytona.
Cook crashed a Desmosedici RR, one of 1500 produced, at a Ducati-sponsored trackday at Putnam Park Roadcourse on September 15, 2008. He was unhurt.