Topic: How About Some Speedway History?

[HavocTurbo]

Ok... Maybe a modified Super X engine in an excelsior type frame??

[HavocTurbo]

Perhaps a better comparison???

[754]

Bottom end looks right, but look at the front cyl on the sepia pic, it comes out on the side, not closer to the front.. may just be earlier or a big port racing model.

The tank is strange though, pretty big and a bit short, Indians had long slender tanks


I should hit my books and look around, but its looking like an "X"

A 15 or so X had a similar tank, but the ports are not looking like the ones I am finding.

[HavocTurbo]

The only downside to looking for some obscure teen motorcycle is that factories could and would make a single or pair of motorcycles specifically for racing depending on the rider's requests.

By 1920 there were so many "one off" racers that it was hard to find parts for them to go racing each year. Hence the desire for a real "factory" racer. Almost all of them were one of a kind.

My opinion?

Based on what I can find, and read, this is most likely an X. Modified and chopped up by either the company itself (quite possibly for a specific kind of track) or the race team that it was supplied to. I have been scouring my old photos and descriptions of my great grandfather's trips to the races, looking for something similar. This was all I could find.

The downside is one may never know what this bike truly is. And I find that sad most of all.

[Ecosse]

You're right havoc' as any kind or race effort is a 'one off' or two off (of)...  and if it's something someone crafted in a privateer's own shop vs. the factory it makes it harder but you might have the linage right. I see what 754 pointed out on the lower end. I'm still searching for my source.

[754]

I would not worry too much.
 In the hands of privateers, it could be a mix of everything..

 whatever you can scrounge up, then like today, there was often stronger desire to ride, than available cash to buy the lastest equipment....

.. so if I get working on that 14 Twin HD I have laying around, I will use the 16 -19 forks I have and maybe an oddball hub I have for the rear (or I make one). I have a neck with tubing nearly to the end of the gas tank and downtube to near the mag, and rear sections off a 17 frame.. I think run what you brung has been around for about a century..


Sure would like to get a copy of American Racers part 1 though,
.. think that is the name.. fantastic book with huge pics of early racers..
 

[HavocTurbo]

http://s715.photobucket.com/albums/ww151/HavocTurbo/Speedway%20History/

Because I'm lazy..... 

If any of you have anything to add..... I'd love to add it to my collection.


Please??

[Ecosse]

Thought this a humorous shot.


And I'm not sure if this qualifies as 'history' but it is powered by an Excelsior.

[Ecosse]

Can we let this one in? I mean, it is French, but someone once went really fast on a speedway somewhere with it.
1907 NLG Peugeot 1000cc

[HavocTurbo]

OK time to add....

Los Angeles, CA; Coliseum Motordrome; 63rd & Main; 3&1/2-laps to the mile; 1909-
Los Angeles, CA; Stadium Motordrome; 35th & Hooper St., 1/3-mile; circular board track; 1912-
Los Angeles, CA; Playa Del Rey; Culver and Jefferson Blvd., 1-mile oval; 20 degrees, first track built by Prince, 1910-1913
Beverly Hills, CA; 1&1/4-miles; 1920-1924
Oakland (Elmhurst), CA; 1/2-mile circle; 40 degree, 1911-1912
Culver City, CA; 1&1/4-miles; 1924-1927
Fresno, CA; 1-mile; 1920-1927
San Carlos, CA; 1&1/4-miles; 1921-1922
Cotati, CA; 1&1/4-miles; 1921-1922
Salt Lake City, UT;
Denver, CO; Lakeside Park,
Springfield, MASS; 1/3-mile; 1909-
Omaha, NB; 1&1/4-miles; 1915-1917
Des Moines, Iowa; 1-mile; 40 degree, 1915-1917 Iowa link
St. Louis MO;
Kansas City, MO, 95th & Holmes Rd., 1&1/4-miles; 35 degrees, 1922-1924
Chicago, IL; Riverview (adjacent to Exposition Park); 1/3-mile circular; 1911-
Chicago (Maywood) NW, IL; 9th Ave. & 12th St., 2-mile; 17 degrees, 1915-1918
Detroit, MI;
Cincinnati, (Sharonville)OH; built by Harry Hake, 2-mile oval; 17 degrees, 1916-1919 Cincinnati link
Akron/Cleveland, OH; built by Paul Turtin, 1/2-mile oval; 45 degrees, 1926-1930
Columbus, OH;
Philadelphia PA, Point Breeze,
Altoona, PA; 1&1/4-miles; 32 degrees, 1923-1931 Atoona link
Uniontown, PA; 1&1/8-miles; 34 degrees, 1916-1922
Bridgeville, PA; 1/2-mile; 35 degrees, built by Paul Tustin,1927-1930
Brooklyn, NY; (Sheepshead Bay) 2-miles; 1915-1919
Atlantic City, N.J.; 1&1/2-miles; 45 degrees, 1926-1928 Atlantic Speedway web site link
Newark, NJ; ?-miles; Great Electric Park, Vailsburg; July 4,1912- September, 1912
Woodbridge, N.J.; Woodbridge High school, 1/2-mile; 38 degrees,1928-1931
Salem, New Hampshire;(Rockingham)1&1/4-mile; 38 degrees, 1925-1928
Laurel, Maryland; 1&1/8-miles; 48 degrees, 1925-1926
Charlotte, North Carolina;(Pineville)1&1/4-miles; 40 degrees, 1924-1927
Atlanta, Georgia;
Fulford, Florida;(Miami-Biscayne Bay)1&1/4-miles; 50 degrees, 1926. Destroyed by hurricane same yr. Stood six months. built by Carl F. Fisher
Omaha, Ne; 1&1/4 mile oval, 41 degrees, 1915-1917

[Ecosse]

havoc you da man! or woman, hard to tell from your avatar.

[HavocTurbo]

havoc you da man! or woman, hard to tell from your avatar.

Not to be taken seriously but...

If I looked like that I'd most certainly crash on purpose to try to fix it.

P.S. - I'm male and about half your and Bill's age.

[Ecosse]

I don't know if these two first ones were posted before, because, being so old and everything my poor vision and arthritis makes it hard for this geezer to work these new fangled machines.

1926... Hill Climber?






Erle Armstrong with Cort Edwards

Erle Armstrong on the outside. Was Erle brother to Bob Armstrong?

Hill Climber maybe? Dunno if 'Climbers used those handlebars.

1926 prototype.

[Ecosse]

Can't make out the text but pix are nice!

[HavocTurbo]

woohoo check out the speed holes in the Crocker rear sprocket!!!

Mamma put that swiss cheese on a sandwich!!

[gerhed]

fast Indian here !

[Ecosse]

man, what's the shutter speed on that camera?! no blur... almost seems to be standing still!

[Ecosse]

instead of  school work i'm here.

[HavocTurbo]

I'm..... um...... begging for a new tube bender. I just got a line on a suzuki katana that was junked.

I'm thinkin an inline 4. Like a Henderson Big X.

What do you think Bill?

[Ecosse]

serious? any thoughts about how to handle the gear box?

btw: i might get an 'a' for fartin' around.  

[HavocTurbo]

Not a star in the sky at the moment. But I've got a big telescope.

I was thinking of cutting the case and using it as a mold for a completely sealed bottom end. Then have some sort of two speed gearbox. Kinda like the boss hoss bikes.

Speaking of that.... anybody got a Boss Hoss tech manual? I'd love to see the guts on that transmission.

I'm seriously considering building a bike for the specific purpose of going around a circle track.

[Ecosse]

I have the site saved for a company who makes gear boxes, possibly that of the BH. I'll look.

[Ecosse]

Some nice ones here.

[Ecosse]

this then lights out.

[754]

Whoo Hoo,
 must be my Lucky Week !!

 Going to see Spiked Speedway bikes , on ICE tommorow nite!!

 oOooohhh YEAH ..