EXCELSIOR IN VICTORY LANE

A great archive shot of legendary Lawrence Ray Weishaar on his Excelsior. From the image markings, it looks like he took the victory with a finish time of 2hrs over the 100mile distance.

Image source unknown.

SPORTSMAN FLYER — AUSTRALIA BOUND

A completed Sportsman Flyer Kit rolls out of the shop, and is now headed for Australia. I can't wait to see how this bike turns out. You will also notice our new brass head-badges.

PROTOTYPE PROGRESS

Spent a few hours in the shop working over a few refinements on the Racer Deluxe Prototype this week. Fuel line linked up, pedals installed and front seat mount installed. We are getting close folks. 

RACER DELUXE ENGINE POSITION

Spent a few hours in the shop today making sure the engine position is correct for driveline and exhaust mounting. The Morini S6 engine fills the gap beautifully.

HANK vs. QUICK BRICKS

We are currently looking into tire choices for the new Racer Deluxe build. We have been running the Felt Quick Bricks on our other bikes, but it seems they have temporarily stopped production on this particular tire. Upon searching for other 26" tires we stumbled across the Hank by Bontrager. These slicks are available in 26 x 2.2 with two finishes, simple black or red wall.

More on the Hank here: bontrager.com

MONARCH FORK - REINFORCED

I think everyone agrees that Monark springer forks look great. The originals are rare and expensive. I think everyone would also agree that the new reproduction Monark forks are somewhat underbuilt and lacking in quality control. I looked into the problems and figured out how to properly fix them, making the new Monark fork a safer and stronger option. I use them on motor bikes that cruise at over 30 mph, so I could not accept anything less than completely reliable springer forks. By disassembling a few sets I found consistant problems. The forks are not fully welded (see above) and the steer tube does not have a flared area to press on a crown race. If you can't press this race into place you will always have movement under braking and when hitting bumps. Below are you will see what I found under the polished fork crown cover.

JEFFERSON

The Jefferson motorcycle company was the brainchild of Perry E. Mack, and simply named after the town of it's manufacture. With all its innovation and race wins it wasn't enough to keep this small manufacturer alive, and in those brutal early days of the American motorcycle industry.  Jefferson ceased trading in 1914.

Image source unknown.

FRAME DEVELOPMENTS

Above is a picture of a roughed out Flyer "WZ" frame designed to carry the Whizzer engine. Notice the deeper loop with tighter radius. We are really starting to push the limits of the tube bending equipment.

Here is a shot of two WZ Flyer frames and a Flyer Deluxe. The Flyer Deluxe is the non stretched baby loop for the Grubee engine. These frames still need the welded in engine mounts and a few other small details, not to mention a good cleaning.

TANK & SEAT INSTALATION

A couple new pictures from the Racer Deluxe Prototype build. Tacked up the first new style stretched gas tank and test fit it to the prototype bike.  Also began messing around with a full sized boardie style seat, the standard bicycle seats proportions didn't quite fit with the stretched out frame. You will also notice the widened cranks that clears the 9 1/2" wide engine.

1914 INDIAN

An immaculately restored 1914 Indian is up for sale at Swiss auction site Classic Motorbikes. Starting price... $50K USD. Bike is located in Europe.

Image source: www.classic-motorbikes.com

H-D FINE ART PRINTS

1914 Harley Davidson Board Track Racer prints are available at ART.com.  Prints can be ordered in either stretched canvas, or photographic print quality paper. Artwork sizes range from 16 x 12, to 40 x 29.5 inches.

Image source: www.art.com

AUTHENTIC BOARDTRACKER HANDLEBARS

We have just finished fabricating our first set of authentic board track style handlebars, they're modeled of the bars that graced the beautiful 1915 Indian 8 valve.  At this stage they are still in development, but they will be available for purchase in the PARTS section of the site in the coming months.

Image source: www.yesterdays.nl

INDIAN 1914 500CC

A beautiful unrestored 1914 Indian single cylinder 500 cc OHV on offer at the Netherlands based auction house “YESTERDAYS." This is just one of the many vintage motorcycles that go on the block daily.

Check out their current inventory at: www.yesterdays.nl
Image source: Yesterdays

HARD DAYS WORK

This image depicts a hard days work at the track. Taking a fall was not only hard on the body, but the equipment would take a beating at 100mph+.

Image source: unknown

HARLEY-DAVIDSON "PEA SHOOTER"

This lightweight Harley-Davidson overhead-valve ‘S’ was the racing version of the OHV, with an innovative detachable cylinder head, and that’s what you’re looking at above. The bikes were known as ‘pea shooters’ on account of their distinctive popping exhaust note, and they cleaned up on the flat tracks of the day—both in the US and abroad. Weighing a mere 98 kg (215 lbs), the highly tuned engines nudged the S models towards the magic ‘ton’. Which in those days, was a remarkable achievement. 

How cool is that stand!

Image source: www.loudpopvoyager.com

1914 PACKER SPECIAL

I can't seem to find much background on this Packer Special, other than it runs a 1000cc V-twin and it was manufactured out of Pennsylvania in 1914.

Photo source: unknown.

1916 HARLEY-DAVIDSON

1916 Harley-Davidson Board Tracker.

Photo source: www.motorcyclemuseum.org

1909 READING STANDARD

Built in the hills of Eastern Pennsylvania, the Reading Standard (1903-1922) maintained the slogan "Tested in the Hills." Early Reading models were of the side valve configuration under the design of Charles F. Gustafson before he transferred to the Indian brand.

This bike was sold to the Wheels Through Time Museum in 1990 and was restored by Steve Huntzinger during 1992 & 1993. It is presently in operating condition and is started and ran occasionally. This 1909 Reading is probably the most elegant early board racer in existence.  To read more on this bike and other Board Track bikes, please visit the “Wheels Through Time” website.  And if you are lucky enough to be in North Carolina, why not stop through the museum and see the complete collection in the flesh.

Image source: www.wheelsthroughtime.com

BOARD TRACK (MOTORDROME)

The banking in the corners of a common board track started at 25° and run upwards of 60°.  This allowed the bikes to maintain speeds of around 100mph. Due to these high speeds, and the dangerous nature of these tracks, the fans often referred to them as “Murderdromes”.  By 1931 there were 24 operating board tracks, including tracks in Beverly Hills, California, Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Brooklyn, New York. 

Image source unknown.

c.1919 INDIAN POWERPLUS

The famous POWERPLUS model ridden by Erwin ‘Cannonball’ Baker, and Edward "Teddy" Carrol.

Image source unknown.

1920 INDIAN

Pictured above: 1920 Indian 'Boardtracker' 61ci (1000cc) four stroke V-twin.

Image source unknown.

EXCELSIOR TEAM RIDERS

Factory Excelsior riders at St.Louis boardtrack circa 1914.  Top: John B. Hoefeler, Middle: Paul Schmidt, Bottom: Wells Bennett.

Image source: www.jalopyjournal.com

1912 INDIAN

Text here, don't know the year of this bike,  PAT any ideas and I'll add a description. ????

THE EXCELSIOR PROJECT

A very interesting backstory and process diary for this 1919 Excelsior tribute build. Number 4 has just been completed, and number 5 is in the works. Pictured above is bike No.# 2 — Simply stunning.

For an in depth look at this bike and build see: www.flashbackfab.com

B67 BROOKS SADDLES

Quality builds, require quality components. We have just ordered a few of these fine leather saddles that will be installed onto the prototype Racer Deluxe, and Racer models. The saddles come in a variety of finishes including; aged brown leather, honey brown, and black.

For more visit: www.brooksengland.com

2010 MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is a celebration of motorsports history that reunites authentic race cars with a world-class track.  This is where automotive history comes alive with such marques as the remarkable pre-war Bugattis, Alfa Romeos, and Talbot-Lagos to the more powerful Ferraris, Corvettes, Cobras and Porsches racing through the corners and down the famed corkscrew. The Rolex Monterey Reunion enters a new dawn of historic racing by honoring one of the true legends of motorsports- Dan Gurney- the Cars He Built, the Cars He Drove.

Truly a week-long social happening up and down the Monterey Peninsula, vehicles from every corner of the globe converge on Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and allow race fans young and old to see motor racing as it once was.

The above images were taken at this years vintage motorcycle auction, that ran in conjunction with the Monteray Motorsport Reunion. Top: 1915 Indian, Bottom: 1911 Indian.

BARBER VINTAGE MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM

The Barber Vintage Museum is home to one of the world’s best motorcycle collections, the museum now has over 1200 vintage and modern motorcycles and racecars. The collection is the largest of its kind in the world. There are approximately 600 of the 1200 motorcycles on display at any given time. These bikes range from 1902 to current-year production.

Pictured above is one of the bikes on display at the museum, a 1912 Indian Board Track Racer.

for more visit http://barbermuseum.org

POST RACE CELEBRATIONS

Found this fantastic image of a post race celebration, great to see this age old ritual hasn't changed.  It almost looks like it could be a scene from Death Race 2010 maybe?

THE ORIGINAL

A great clip showcasing a couple of early Indian Board Trackers.  The unique rumble of the exhaust combined with the raw flames, these bikes aren't messing around!

Video source: Wheels Through Time.

H-D BOARD TRACKER

 

An image from one of the many calendars published by Fast Dates. For more see www.fastdates.com

RACER DELUXE CHAIN ALIGNMENT

This represents a big step forward.  Both chains are test fit for length and alignment

UNDER SEAT GAS TANK

Introducing our new Under Seat Gas Tank. CAD designed, laser cut stainless and formed parts, tig welded, stainless bung with machined aluminum cap with check valve. Check back soon, as we'll be offering these Tanks in our PARTS section.

MORINI FRANCO S6-S SPORT

We have chosen the MORINI FRANCO S6-S SPORT for our RACER DELUXE prototype build.

ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
— Kick Start
— 50cc – 2 stroke - air cooled
— Carburetor Dell'Orto PHBG 19
— Digital ignition system
— Automatic adjustable racing 3-shoe clutch
— 9,4 Hp at 11000 rpm
— 6,4 Nm at 10000 rpm

For more specs on this engine, please visit the Morini Franco USA wesbite / Engines are available for purchase at Pirate Cycles

THE RACER DELUXE IN PROGRESS

After working through the geometry and design of the new Racer Deluxe model, we finally hit a design that suited the Morini 2 Stroke engine and utilized the Worksman bike frame. Next steps will be mounting the side chains, configuring the idler sprocket, and custom fabricating the crank arm widths to clear the engine.

WORK BEGINS ON THE NEW KITS

With a stockpile of frames on hand and the CAD designs locked in, I begin the task of breaking down the frames into sections for the stretch and loop process. On the yellow bike above, you will notice the rear triangle has already been widened to suit the moped rear hubs.