A poem published in Motorcycle Illustrated in August 1921 after the death of Albert “Shrimp” Burns, the star of the Indian factory racing team and one of the most beloved champions in American motorsport. The photograph is of Shrimp’s machine following the crash, an 8-Valve Springfield factory special that just so happened to be the same motor No. 50 on which one of his idols, pioneer racer Charlie Balke had died in 1914.
Four gentlemen from the Milwaukee Motorcycle Club posing on their new, top of the line Harley-Davidsons in the Sumer of 1916. Featuring several unique design features, including a new rounded tank profile, the 1916 lineup seemed to anticipate the coming Art Decco movement of the 1920’s. 1916 marked the final year for the iconic Renault Grey Harley and the new, all-electric, three-speed grey fellows were adorned with beautiful factory pin striping and gleaming with nickel plating...
Here we have a moment captured in the final days of the American motordrome, a rare glimpse inside the Omaha Stadium Motordrome in the Fall of 1914. The godfather of the American motordrome, Jack Prince came to the United States a British high wheel bicycle champion in the late 1800’s, and it was in Omaha, in 1889 that he won the title of World Champion. Twenty-five years later...
This week's post marks the beginning of a new aspect of Archive Moto! Not much film footage has survived since the earliest days of American motorcycle competition, but the rare treasures that have made it to the digital age deserve just as much care and attention to the history behind the events as our photographs do. I am happy to announce the additions of the Archive Moto Film Vault to my website, as well as the creation of the Archive Moto Youtube page.
