Patti Waggin', Burlesque Dancer and Motorcycle Queen

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The eloquent Patti Waggin’, a burlesque star from the 1940’s and 50’s ripping her little Indian Scout over the hills of Northern California sometime shortly after the war. A welcome sight on the stage as well as at the finish line, Patti was admired for being just as comfortable in the saddle as she was in a pair of pasties. At the time that this photo was taken she was married to a prominent AMA Class C flat track racer and original Booze Fighter named Bill Brownell. Bill was one of the talented members of the Hap Jones racing team, the bay area’s Indian dealer and later went on to run his own shop based in Chico. 

My little red 1941 Indian Scout came from Bill’s garage and is remarkably similar to the one Patti is catching air on in this photo, and thanks to the research of guys like Panhead Jim and Terry Cavender I am fortunate to know a great deal of history behind the machine that I ride. Jim just posted a wonderful article about Patti which can be found at rideapart.com, and Terry put together another great piece on Bill and how his machine came into the hands of a dope like me, you can find that one at thebikersgarage.wordpress.com. 

Helen Glenn, Mercer University ca. 1934

A young sorority girl from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia sitting on top of a tricked out Indian Four ca. 1934. Was she the president of her house at Alpha Delta Pi, or president of the Co-Ed Athletic Association, maybe the head of the cheerleading squad, or the editor of the university newspaper? As a matter of fact she held all of those titles, as well as almost a dozen more during her very active years at Mercer. Now 98 years young, Helen Glenn is the daughter of pioneer board track racer, Indian dealer, and the South's motorcycling ambassador Harry Glenn. Being raised by a man who had a lust for motorcycles and an addiction to speed it is no surprise that young Helen was a quick one in the saddle herself. In fact, it was her father Harry who proclaimed that Helen was a just as fast as Barney Oldfield, just prettier. Not just another sorority girl batting her eyes on someone else's bike, this is the mighty Helen Glenn and her customized Indian Four just before she took off, weaving through the streets of Macon in order to lead the Mercer Homecoming Parade.

See more photos and read the stories of Helen and her family, including those of her father, the legendary Harry Glenn in the pages of Georgia Motorcycle History, available now in the Archive Store Here!

US Marine, Submarine Hunter, Azores, 1918

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It was on this day 241 years ago that the leadership of a rebellious British colony approved a resolution which formed two battalions of fighters specifically trained to fight for our independence on land and at sea. Today all of America celebrates the exemplary men and women, both past and present of our United States Marines Corps.

It was America’s involvement in World War I that prompted the US Marine Corps to begin expanding their aviation division, creating two separate air-based forces. In early 1918 The First Marine Air Squadron was deployed to France to engage in areal combat, the second division, the First Marine Aeronautic Company was deployed to the naval base at Ponta Delgado in the Azores. This unit, comprised of nearly 150 men was charged with the task of hunting submarines in the mid-Atlantic, and the young Marine in this photo, posing proudly with his government issue Indian Power Plus was taken at that base in the Azores during the deployment of 1918. However, by November 11, 1918, the Great War was over, and after only a year long deployment the Marines stationed at the Azores and across Europe returned home, bringing with them the admiration of the world as well as a new nickname, “Devil Dogs” as given to them by their German adversaries at the Battle of Belleau Wood.

“I am convinced there is no smarter, handier or more adaptable body of troops (U.S. Marines) in the world…Always spick and span, ready at an instant's notice for duty, the nation owes them a great debt.” - Winston Churchill, 1917.

Frank Hart, Fort Erie, July 1911

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Frank Hart skirting the rails of the dusty oval at Fort Erie in July 1911. “The Wall Street Comet” was running as part of a well-stocked Indian Wigwam team for the FAM National Championship races held at Fort Erie, Ontario, just over the river from Buffalo, NY on July 14th and 15th, 1911. Having been racing motorcycles a since 1908, Hart had honed his skills in the saddles of Indians, Merkel, Excelsiors, and was even privileged in 1909 to have been given one of only two factory racing specials from Reading Standard, the other having gone to Ray Seymour. However, it was in April of 1911 that the stars aligned for the young New York crack after veteran professional Walter Goerke was injured in a nasty spill and Hart was chosen to take his place on the Indian factory team. On May 5th, 1911 at the Benning mile in Washington, D.C., Hart made his debut with the Wigwam onboard what is possibly the first factory overhead 8-valve racer, a non-direct drive version of the 8-valve machines identified as No. 26. It was on that new factory overhead valve twin that Hart leveled the field at Fort Erie, capturing eight 1st place finishes, one 2nd, and one 3rd, subsequently becoming America’s first ever FAM Amateur National Champion. This is Frank Hart, “The Wall Street Comet” and his milestone Indian 8-valve No. 26 riding the rails in a wool cap from that weekend at Fort Erie, July 1911.