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Vintage Pic of the Day - October 4, 2020
Bennie Campanale a champion flat track racer in the 1930s opened a Harley Davidson dealer in Pomona CA later.
Screen Shot 2020-10-04 at 8.05.35 AM copy.jpg
Richmond Virginia Harley Davidson dealer, racer, mechanic and race team sponsor Eddie Boomhower collected memories of flat tract racing for years. I have been reading the amazing stories of the industry in his book that is available on line. Here is a quote about Bennie Campanale and the photo above. These observations tell a lot about the people, the industry and the cycles and times in pretty succinct terms.
Check out Eddie's book here. https://www.scribd.com/doc/13375495/...Myphc#download
Mike Love
Bennie Campanale a champion flat track racer in the 1930s opened a Harley Davidson dealer in Pomona CA later.
Screen Shot 2020-10-04 at 8.05.35 AM copy.jpg
Richmond Virginia Harley Davidson dealer, racer, mechanic and race team sponsor Eddie Boomhower collected memories of flat tract racing for years. I have been reading the amazing stories of the industry in his book that is available on line. Here is a quote about Bennie Campanale and the photo above. These observations tell a lot about the people, the industry and the cycles and times in pretty succinct terms.
“THE RACERS BOOK”
22
BENNIE CAMPANALE #4 & 25
Bennie was from Providence, Rhode Island. He is the featured rider in this picture [kneeling in front of the racer's front wheel.]. Bennie won the Daytona 200 miler in both 1938 & 1939. After his racing career, he opened a Harley dealership in Pomona, CA. Also the secondary significance of this photo is the fact that back in the early days, before dependable cars, vans and highways, the racers traveled by train and the bikes were shipped in by rail. In each area H-D had race mechanics. The man with thinning hair behind the front wheel of the bike is Harry Kelly from Roanoke who was the Virginians’ wrench. In the background, 5 from left is a youngster known as Buck Brigance, 7 Th head is George Sabine well known racer from Red House H-D in Wash D.C. And the man just above Kelly is Jimmie Lewter, racing wrench for Doug Creech of Charlotte N.C. Who was a world champion boat racer. Judging from the race bikes I would say this picture is probably 1939 since both have early forks.
22
BENNIE CAMPANALE #4 & 25
Bennie was from Providence, Rhode Island. He is the featured rider in this picture [kneeling in front of the racer's front wheel.]. Bennie won the Daytona 200 miler in both 1938 & 1939. After his racing career, he opened a Harley dealership in Pomona, CA. Also the secondary significance of this photo is the fact that back in the early days, before dependable cars, vans and highways, the racers traveled by train and the bikes were shipped in by rail. In each area H-D had race mechanics. The man with thinning hair behind the front wheel of the bike is Harry Kelly from Roanoke who was the Virginians’ wrench. In the background, 5 from left is a youngster known as Buck Brigance, 7 Th head is George Sabine well known racer from Red House H-D in Wash D.C. And the man just above Kelly is Jimmie Lewter, racing wrench for Doug Creech of Charlotte N.C. Who was a world champion boat racer. Judging from the race bikes I would say this picture is probably 1939 since both have early forks.
Mike Love
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