Wells Bennett onboard his trusty Henderson DeLuxe 4-cylinder as equipped during his 1922 campaign of long-distance record runs. The photo is composited onto a separate shot of the Tacoma Speedway, the saddle bags were removed during the 24-Hour record set there in May 1922, but his machine remained stock and equipped as seen here for each of his records that year.
The following is an original account Frank Richardson Pierce, the official referee in charge of the 24-Hour Record set by Wells Bennett on Memorial Day, 1922 as printed originally in Motorcycling and Bicycling magazine. On May 30-31, 1922, Bennett traveled a record of 1,562.54 miles in a 24 hour period at the 2 mile long board track speedway in Tacoma Washington onboard his stock Henderson DeLuxe 4 cylinder motorcycle. His 24-hour record set in Tacoma would stand unbroken for 15 years. Later in 1922 Bennett piloted the very same Henderson DeLuxe to a new record on the 1,650 mile Canada to Mexico Three Flag Dash, making the trip in 43 hours that September. The very next month, in October 1922, Bennett again rode his trusty Henderson 4 across the country, covering the 3,400 mile trip from Los Angeles to New York in a new record time of 6 days, 15 hours, and 13 minutes. The thousands of miles Bennett covered onboard this Henderson DeLuxe in 1922 alone earned him his place as one of the greatest cross country motorcyclists of all time.
“At the old dilapidated Speedway, Tacoma, Washington, May 30-31, 1922, Wells Bennett rode continuously for 24 hours, traveling farther than any other motorcycle rider in the world in that length of time, and incidentally establishing a whole new list of intermediate records. Commenting on Bennett's performance, Motorcycling & Bicycling said:
The new 24-Hour Record by Wells Bennett settles the mooted question of how far and how fast a four-cylinder machine can go without overheating. Theorists have maintained that there is insufficient cooling for the rear cylinder, but an ounce of fact is worth more than a ton of theory, and Wells Bennett has supplied the convincing facts. In 24 hours he rode a greater distance than from New York to Omaha, averaged 63 miles an hour for the first 1,000 miles, then hit it up to 66 mph for 1300 miles and averaged better than 65 miles an hour for the entire 1,562.54 miles, including six stops to change rear tires which were "treated rough" by a wild and wooly track surface.”
It is noon. The sun is beating down on the board track, making the temperature considerably hotter than the 84 degrees (28.9 Celsius) outside. The keys of the type writer are hot to the touch. Beside me are three men, tired and heavy-eyed, who mark down on a square sheet, each lap made by a fleeting man on a motorcycle. We hear the faint drone on the left turn, then the angry roar, increasing louder and louder until there is a flash; then the roar decreases until the rider vanishes around the lower turn. He is dead tired, yet he rides sitting straight up because to rest over the tank would mean relaxation-and sleep. Once he stops, a tired, begrimed fellow, asleep on his feet, yet awake. Like a flash men help him from his machine and assist him to the water tap where he bathes his head in the cool water, then off again he goes on the seemingly endless grind.
Suddenly the little group of watchers go wild with delight. They cheer frantically as he passes. Exhaustion seems to slip from his shoulders. He grins happily and waves his hand. He has won his goal-has ridden 1,535 miles, and the 24 hours are not yet up.
More riding, then the timers bend over their watches. “Flag him down this lap!” cries a voice. "the 24 hours are up.”
He comes coasting into the pits and the cheering crowd makes up in enthusiasm what it lacks in numbers. It was a dramatic finish of a dramatic ride and thus was born a new 24-Hour Record. Making allowance for the 324 feet the speedway lacks of being two miles, the new record is 1562.54 miles.
When Bennett informed us some time ago that he intended to take a crack at the 24-hour record on the Tacoma Speedway, we frankly said we didn’t think either a man or machine could stand the gaff for 24 hours and keep up the pace necessary to break the record. The Tacoma wooden track is mighty rough in spots and both the rider and machine take punishment every minute of the time.
Bennett decided to tackle it though, admitting many things were against him. Waiting for favorable weather, used up several days. Then on memorial Day he set off. After a ride of several miles, he picked up a spike the put a tire out of commission. Determined to shake off the Hoodoo, he started over again as 12:15 p.m.
Elaborate plans had been made, including the necessary checkers, a certified clock, cooking and mechanical equipment, etc. Bennett started off at a clip that was far over the 75 miles an hour mark, but soon found that this pace required considerable fighting around the turns, due to the roughness of the track, all of which was tough on tires and rider. Cutting down the speed to around 70-74, much of the fighting was eliminated.
Watching Bennett ride the straightaways, it was noticed that his arms and shoulders were taking heavy punishment from the rough track, and it was not surprising that when he came in at the end of 348 laps, he complained of aches and numbness in his back, arms, and shoulders.
The 500-Mile mark was passed in 7:15:27, and a darkness was on. The spectators watched him pass lap after lap, a speeding phantom detaching itself from the gloom to roar by and vanish into more gloom. Later came the red lanterns on the turns and the white eye of the headlight and spotlights picking up the inner edge of the track and following the white line of chalk on the turns for nearly 7 hours.. The combination of S&M Headlight, K.B. Spotlight, Wico Battery, and Splitdorf Generator did yeoman service and permitted Bennett to hike up his speed a bit. Then the day, which seemed as if it never would come, broke and the watchers were relieved of the worry that Bennett might become lost and ride off a turn.
Bennett passed the 1,000 mile mark in 14:27:12, an average of 66 miles an hour. A lot of excitement happened in the 741st lap. Bennett came out of the turn at better than 70 and the rear tire hopped off the rim. Masterful riding alone prevented a nasty spill. The mechanics raced a full third of a mile around the track after him and three minutes later, Wells was off again.
The great moment of the entire grind came when the former record was passed. It was a deserving moment for a game rider who had fought unfair physical obstacles all the way.
The motor was taken down immediately after the finish and found in perfect condition. There was a little carbon present and there was much admiring comment from the crowd when they peeked inside. The cylinder walls revealed a beautiful polish and rings and bearings were all O.K. The equipment standing the test credibly and doubtless selected by Bennett because he knew it would, follows: A-C Spark Plugs, Zenith Carburetor, Simms Magneto, S&M Headlight, K.B. Spotlights, Wico Battery, Splitdorf Generator, Thompson Silchrome Valves, Corbin-Brown Speedometer, and Valvoline Oil. One Duckworth chain served without breaking throughout the grind.
Splinters and loose nails caused seven punctures during the 24-Hour Record. More records possibly. Ten quarts of oil, 45 gallons of gasoline were used.”