Joe Wolters onboard a fresh, rivet-tank Harley-Davidson 11k at Chicago’s 2-mile long board track at Speedway Park, September 12th, 1915. A Chicago native, Joe was one of the first racers in the country to proudly wear the jersey of the newly developed Harley-Davidson factory team. Harley, who were having a strong showing in 1915, the debut season of the factory racing program, was in Chicago to compete in the 300 mile race. Joe, who had been nursing an injured left foot for weeks had to get around with the aid of two walking canes, but it didn’t stop him from missing any chance to race. A local favorite, Wolters was a heavy favorite to win, setting an avg. speed of 92 mph during preliminary time trails. Unfortunately for Joe lost one of his Goodyear Blue Streak tires on the 17th lap, causing the machine to throw its chain and torqued its frame. Reluctantly Wolters retired from the race, but his Harley-Davidson teammates Ray Weishaar and Bill Brier both finished on the podium, coming in 3rd and 4th. Wolters former Excelsior teammate Carl Goudy won the day completing the 150 lap race with a time of 3:29.51, Indian’s Teddy Carroll came in 2nd. A moment that captures a tough-as-nails American racing pioneer onboard a legendary machine, one that arguably created the most beloved motorcycle companies of all time, at the beginning of their transition to dominance on one of the largest wooden speedways ever constructed… hell of a shot!