In a rivalry that has lasted over a century, America’s two most iconic motorcycle brands Harley-Davidson and Indian have battled for supremacy on both the race track and the salesroom floor. An Archive Moto exclusive, #TeamWreckingCrew and #TeamWigwam coming soon to The Archive Moto Store!
Heavyweights of a well established and dominating Indian Wigwam racing team John U Constant, Charlie Balke, Eddie Hasha, and Frank Hart captured here at the Fort Erie track on July 27, 1911.
In a rivalry that has lasted over a century, America’s two most iconic motorcycle brands Harley-Davidson and Indian have battled for supremacy on both the race track and the salesroom floor. An Archive Moto exclusive, #TeamWreckingCrew and #TeamWigwam coming soon to the Archive Moto Store!
Founding members of Harley-Davidson’s legendary post-WWI factory racing team the Wrecking Crew Fred Luther, Ralph Hepburn, Albert “Shrimp” Burns, and Otto Walker captured here at Ascot Park on January 12, 1920.
The motorcycle was born on the race track. Its creation resulted from globalized industrial innovation combined with an unrestrained passion for bicycle racing at the turn of the 20th century. The introduction of the internal combustion engine in Europe generated a flurry of new mechanical applications, including the invention of the tandem motorized pacing cycle. Used to create slipstreams for the cycling stars of the day, the sight, sound, smell, and speed of these motorized pacing machines made them an instant sensation at the country’s wildly popular bicycle velodrome races. A new industry exploded as spirited engineers and ambitious entrepreneurs began adapting and marketing the latest technology for everyday use; the motorcycle had arrived.
For the second year in a row I took my little '41 Scout up to the Jersey coast to run with the big boys at the annual Race of Gentlemen held on the beach in Wildwood. The event has become one of the highlights of my year and I can never fully express how much I appreciate the good times and great people that come together on the sand. This year was especially significant for me as I was honored to have been asked to curate a special exhibit. I put together a 12 part series detailing the history of automobile and motorcycle racing in America which were placed throughout the event grounds. The prints turned out better than I could have expected and I was truly humbled by the amount of positive feedback I received from the crowd and racers alike. In an environment full of excitement I was pleasantly surprised that my little displays were able to capture the attention of folks. Amidst the sights, smells, and sounds of the raucous racers blasting down the beach, the vendors and live music, and the spectacle of the Wall of Death happening from dawn til dusk, the fact that some old photos with my long winded, heavily romanticized captions caught the attention of anyone fills me with pride and happiness. A handful of messages have come in asking if I would share the project with those who couldn’t make it to Wildwood this year, so over the coming weeks I will be posting the series here. I would like to sincerely thank everyone involved in putting on the Race of Gentlemen for creating such a wonderful event and for thinking enough of what I do to include it. Also, a special thank you to Alan Glanfield of Blackburn and Foster for taking the time to get a shot of this speckled ginger with one of my displays.
Stay tuned for "A Brief History of Speed.”
