Beverly Hills Board Track Racing (1921)

[steelworker]

Found this cool little film from the National Film Preservation Foundation (may take a while to load). It's a pity they hadn't yet invented the talkies, because this must have sounded awesome!

Albert "Shrimp" Burns falls off at 107mph in the 25 mile race, then "escapes from hospital, swathed in bandages and full of splinters" to win the 15 mile race for Indian at an average of 102.6mph. These were obviously not girls' bikes.

http://www.filmpreservation.org/pres...ck-racing-1921

There's an interesting web article on early American motorcycle racing here.

[wedge]

Thanks for posting that. So, 8 valve? I wasn't aware that they had anything running 4 valves per jug back then. I would like to see those engines up close. Although the Indian wasn't an 8 valve and it won, so I guess the technology wasn't perfected yet. I suppose if the 8 valve was a flathead it would have had lower compression.

[steelworker]

I think the eight valve Indians were ohv, but reading a bit of the article I linked to, it seems they then they produced the Power Plus side valve, based on an ohv Peugeot design, and using more roller bearings (instead of bushes, I guess) which eventually produced more power.

[wedge]

Oh, I gotta read now?

OK, when I get back and have a few minutes I am gonna read that link.

It caught my attention because back in 94 when we were running a Jawa I had that bike keeping up with the 4 valve Jawa's in the rookie division (probably more to do with the rider than engine, but I have been curious about the gains).

[Ireeman]

Originally Posted by steelworker

I think the eight valve Indians were ohv, but reading a bit of the aryicle I linked to, it seems they then they produced the Power Plus side valve, based on an ohv Peugeot design, and using more roller bearings (instead of bushes, I guess) which eventually produced more power.

Word has it, that Myles was in the pits sporting a fresh pork pie hat and hob nailed boots.

You must be shocked at the advancement in technology....it must be such a relief not hand cranking the car every morning.

[Rickyrocket]

Those guys had some serious balls

[wedge]

Originally Posted by Rickyrocket

Those guys had some serious balls

They couldn't loose em, held on with splinters.

[wedge]

Originally Posted by Ireeman

Word has it, that Myles was in the pits sporting a fresh pork pie hat and hob nailed boots.

You must be shocked at the advancement in technology....it must be such a relief not hand cranking the car every morning.

Dunno bout that, I think some of us would gladly crank the car by hand to get back to $.04 a gal gas. Heck, I would get a kick only bike too.

Wadaya think Miles?

[steelworker]

Originally Posted by wedge

Dunno bout that, I think some of us would gladly crank the car by hand to get back to $.04 a gal gas. Heck, I would get a kick only bike too.

Wadaya think Miles?

I'd be happy if gas went under £1 a litre!!

ps: I have worn hobnailed boots before, but never a pork pie hat - that's a Mod thing, not a Rocker thing.

And yes, I think I'd have enjoyed living in those pioneer times. Talk about cojones grandes - that rider stepped off at over the ton and practically got frog-marched back to the pits by the steward.

[khaskins]

I saw this posted on the web last week and took a ride to Beverly Hills to look for the address.

Just a bunch of hotels and businesses. No mention of the Speedway anywhere.

Beverly Hills Speedway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Beverly Hills Speedway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beverly Hills Speedway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia