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Last edited by JoJo357; 06-02-2026, 09:36 PM. -
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Great pics JoJo! I love old bikes and pretty much all old bike photos, even the ones that seem like they're from the Dark Ages.
I have to say though, that those Daytona pics bring back memories of my younger days.Comment
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Fantastic pictures of Daytona, JoJo. I had a small 35mm camera that I could have taken many pictures with, but alas, I didn't. Even today, with the ease of digital cameras it never occurs to me to take pictures. So, I have to deeply thank you, and everyone else that takes the time, and makes the effort to post pictures that everyone can enjoy. . . And it is very much appreciated.Eric Smith
AMCA #886Comment
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"Miny" Waln
Minard Haak Waln, born in Cedar Rapids 1901, died in California 1991.
Known as Miny Waln, Mighty Might, Minor Waln, & the Worlds Greatest Racer.
Waln's first race was at Marion Interstate Fairgrounds, Marion Iowa.
Dubbed,; Marion Interstate War Fund Fair in August 1918.
The man to beat was "Peanuts Spurgeon"
Clyde Thomas Spurgeon 1894-1933
Peanuts told the crowd that he would lap this hot young rider, Miny Waln.
Waln was riding a Pope racer, maybe riding Frank Whitley's bike.
Miny Waln almost beat Peanuts Spurgeon at the end of the race.
There was a Cedar Rapids motorcycle cop named Spurgeon at that time.
Officer Spurgeon & another cop arrested a local man for bootlegging in 1918.
Waln became a star racer winning most of the races &
was the Iowa State Champion 1922-1923
Waln was winning every race in 1924.
At the Anamosa 1924 Memorial weekend races with 10,000 spectators,
Miny Waln won his races that day.
These were short dirt tracks, mostly 1/4 mile or less, later known as speedway racing.
1924 Miny was winning all of his races when he went to Los Angeles.
Miny then tore up the west coast tracks.
In 1930 Miny won the National Championship in front of 90,000
spectators & he followed it up in '31 & '32.
That is when they started calling him the Wolds Greatest Racer.
Miny quit motorcycle racing in 1938.
AMA Hall of Fame...AMA Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame | Miny Waln
Waln 3.jpg Waln 1.jpg Waln 2.jpg Waln, Minard speedway racer.jpgLast edited by duffeycycles; 06-04-2026, 06:57 PM.Comment
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