Lee S. Taylor, captain of the Flying Merkel "Yellow Jackets" racing team in Toledo, Ohio, June 9, 1914. Taylor, who had previously piloted machines for Emblem took the checkered flag on Toledo's 1-mile dirt oval winning the 100 mile race for Merkel, but by the end of the 1914 season Taylor left Merkel and became a member of the powerhouse Indian racing team, winning the 1914 Savannah 300 to kick off his run with the Wigwam.
Arguably one of the finest and most recognizable American motorcycle racing legends, “Smokin" Joe Petrali proved more often than not that he was the fastest on any surface; boards, dirt, hills, or sand. A 49 time AMA National Champion, Petrali’s professional racing career spanned nearly 2 decades, and, not unlike superman’s “S,” Petrali proudly bore Harley-Davidson across his chest. However, the iconic Harley-Davidson crusader didn’t begin his love affair of motorcycles with the company, it was a curious mixup, some may even say fate that brought the two together in the summer of 1925.
Like so many great racers, Petrali was born at a perfect time. The pioneers of American motorcycle racing typically were born in the late 1800’s, with 1890 seemingly being the sweet spot. That meant that they could take to the developing machines, and there increasing power while they were still youthful and fearless. The racers born in the last decade of the 19th century cut their teeth on horse tracks as teenagers and created the professional racing culture as we know it on America's fabled board track motordromes. For those who were born in the early 1900’s like Petrali, growing up within a forming culture presented limitless and undeniable inspiration. It was this generation who became young teens at the height of the board track era, able to watch in awe, jaws on the floor, the heroes of the golden age of motorcycle racing battle for first place. Aside from bearing witness to legends, this second generation also had the advantage of more available machinery than their predecessors, being able to hop on the bikes of their friends, family, or neighbors and imagine themselves crossing the finish line.
Petrali, being born in San Francisco in 1904, grew up in the midst of booming American racing culture. The story goes that by the time he was 12 years old Petrali had already begun riding a neighbors Flanders IV. The wide eyed motor head lived near the State Fairground race track and took in every race that came to town. The next year he saved enough money while working at Archie Rife’s shop to buy a old 1913 Indian, and he was off. At 14 he was competing in local economy runs and endurance races, and in 1921 at the age of 17 was given a chance to run a factory Indian against the legendary Harley-Davidson Wrecking Crew at the Pacific Coast Championship in Fresno. Despite his lack of experience, despite having to battle the top professionals of the 1920’s, including a few of his childhood heroes, and despite the fact that he was more or less a guinea pig for Indian’s racing manager who had Petrali run the bike on alcohol (a first in the sport), Smokin Joe crossed the line in second place.
Though Petrali continued to try and find his place in professional racing, it wasn’t until July of 1925 that all of the pieces fell into place. Indian Motorcycles was a wavering company by the mid-20’s. The company that practically invented American motorcycle racing culture, dominated the motordrome era, and produced some of the most seminal and cutting edge motorcycles in the world had lost both of its founders by the mid teens, and lost its market share as well as its track superiority to Harley-Davidson after WWI. Indian was still the second strongest company in America, but it is not hard for one to look back and see the decline of the Springfield company beginning after WWI.
In what could be described as a monumental blunder, Indian sent the machine Petrali was supposed to run at the July 1925 AMA 100-mile championship in Altoona, Pennsylvania to Pittsburg. Without a ride, a distraught Petrali was forced to take in the race from the sidelines until one of the Harley boys intervened. Ralph Hepburn, an original member of Harley's Wrecking Crew took a spill, the story goes that Hepburn approached Petrali and worked out a deal. If Petrali could fix up Hepburn’s damaged machine, he could run it if he agreed to split his winnings. Not only did he win the 100-mile race, Petrali also set an unbroken board track record of 100.36 mph. As agreed the money was split, and Petrali held his head high as he returned to his job in Kansas City at Al Crocker’s shop, the founder of Crocker Motorcycles. Harley tracked down this lightning bolt of a 21 year old and quickly signed him to a contract, but it was a happenstance in July of 1925, on the 1.25 mile long board track speedway in Altoona that a Harley-Davidson legend was born.
This photo was taken of Joe Petrali, on Ralph Hepburn’s Harley-Davidson two cam, quite possibly with Hepburn’s jersey on in the pits of Altoona that fateful day in 1925.
It was the bitter cold on the morning of December 10th, 1904 that kept but a handful of motoring enthusiasts from venturing to the Weequahic Park horse track in Waverly, NJ, but for those bundled few who braved the frigid New England air a great show was in store.
By 1904, the 1/2 mile trotting track, which boasted a 5,000 capacity grandstand had been established as the area’s premier venue for the burgeoning motor culture. The New Jersey Automobile & Motor Club chose the site for their annual event, typically held on Election Day, and as soon as motorcycles made their debut they were given a spotlight in the festivities.
Motorcycles themselves had only recently been introduced, though it was seemingly within the blink of an eye that the first organized race took place. Ralph Hamlin, a former bicycle racer turned shop owner won that first competition, which was held on a similar horse track at Los Angles' Agriculture Park in May of 1901. Hamlin, who recognized the opportunity motorcycles presented became the first motorcycle dealer on the west coast, and it was on one of his Orient motorcycles that he bested the other 3 competitors and won the 10-mile event in 18 minutes, 32 seconds, an average speed of 32.3 mph. Velodrome exhibitions, hill climbs against the clock, and endurance competitions soon became popular events, but it was dirt oval horse tracks, like the ones at Agriculture Park and Weequahic Park that proved to be the perfect venue for spectators to witness the birth of American motorcycle racing.
The cold may have kept the crowds from flooding the grounds at Weequahic on December 10th, none the less three local men took to the frosty dirt and mounted their machines. The competitors were Allen Reid onboard a 4hp Orient, William Cornwell on an early 1 3/4hp Indian, and Roy Geissler sporting a 3hp Tourist. Reid took the first 10-mile race onboard his powerful Orient with an average speed of 38.7 mph. Despite having nearly double the horsepower of Cornwell’s Indian, Geissler’s Tourist simply couldn’t keep pace and he quickly fell out of the running. For the second 10-mile match, Cornwell allowed his friend Percy Johnson to run. Johnson quickly took the lead over Reid, but after leading the first two miles a valve snapped and Johnson was forced to drop out, leaving Reid the only remaining competitor and default victor.
Seen here, Allen Reid onboard his mighty Orient takes a second to glance back at William Cornwell on his Indian nipping at his heels at Weequahic Park, December 10th, 1904.
Almost 106 years ago to the day, on August 14th, 1909 the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, America's internationally renowned cathedral of speed opened its gates and it was motorcycles, not automobiles that lined up at the starting line. Today, the world's best motorcycle racers again take to the line as the MotoGP series returns to the hollowed ground of the Brickyard. One of those first competitors to run at Indianapolis was Ray Seymour, one of America's earliest racing superstars and a true American motorcycle racing pioneer. Captured here with his Reading Standard in the garage paddock of the newly opened Indianapolis Motor Speedway, opening day August 14, 1909.
