Vintage Pics of the Day

[BigLakeBob]

Rare Film of Motorcycle Board Track Racing, Beverly Hills 1921


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ_2lZfGe_E

Great video, thanks!

[Steve Slocombe]

Thanks Duffey, that's interesting. I can understand the 1938/39 Harley Daytona wins being on WLDR or WLDD bikes, but what was Babe Tancrede riding for the 1940 event? The Internet says a WLDR but why would he pass on a first-year 1940 WR? Were there other, less successful, riders on WRs for the 1940 Daytona race?

While we're on it, that must mean Johnny Spiegelhoff was riding a pre-war Indian Scout for his 1947 Daytona win, and was Floyd Emde riding one of the new 1948 Indian big-base Scouts for his 1948 win?

[duffeycycles]

I'm possibly wrong on the 1940, thinking 1941 was 1st WR but not all HD guys were riding WR in 1940. Keep in mind in 1952 KR was not the winner either. Yes on the Indian info, 1938-39, they did make a few pre war Big Base bikes that were different than the 648,maybe Spiegelhoff was on an early Big Base.I think they were called Daytona Scouts. They also made Daytona 80". I have the 1938 Daytona parts list from the back of a Dealer only parts book. Floyd did have a new 648 & the 1948 program is the best for pics & info. I no longer have that one. Daytona programs did not have the motor numbers like many Springfield Mile programs did. Talking to Klamoth, Tuman, Hill, & others, I mentioned that Klamfoth was the spoiler for Indian. Big Base won Daytona in 1948 & Klamfoth won '49 on Norton & Big Base never won again.

[Rubone]

First WR was 1941, 1940 was the WLDR "special" which was the first with the big fin angled valve cylinders.

[duffeycycles]

Thanx Robbie, That's what I thought.
1941 sales book from Des Moines. Frederick Bootz proprietor.
My brother's 1942 Sport Scout "Little Base" racer was built & raced from Des Moines.
"King Delivery" was also in Des Moines using only Henderson & later HD package cars.


img147.jpg img149.jpg img148.jpg img150.jpg

[Steve Slocombe]

Thanks guys, I was thinking a WR would have been available in calendat year 1940, but not in Jan/Feb when the race was run. On the KR, the K model was launched as a mid-1952 model with the KRs to follow, so again would not have been available for an early 1952 Daytona race.

[duffeycycles]

Probably true because of teething problems, from Cycle News....Leonard Andres sits on what could be the first Harley-Davidson KR ever produced at a dealer show in 1951. Andres would go on to become a master of building winning KRs for a variety of AMA Grand National racers, including his son Brad, who won the national title in his rookie season,,,,,[The early Big Base did not do well on shorter tracks because of flywheel weight.]

Andres-Harley-KR-730x529.jpg

[Rubone]

Thanx Robbie, That's what I thought.
1941 sales book from Des Moines. Frederick Bootz proprietor.
My brother's 1942 Sport Scout "Little Base" racer was built & raced from Des Moines.
"King Delivery" was also in Des Moines using only Henderson & later HD package cars.


img147.jpg img149.jpg img148.jpg img150.jpg

I've got a couple of those booklets Roger, they are pretty cool. Same size as an "Enthusiast".

[Rubone]

Probably true because of teething problems, from Cycle News....Leonard Andres sits on what could be the first Harley-Davidson KR ever produced at a dealer show in 1951. Andres would go on to become a master of building winning KRs for a variety of AMA Grand National racers, including his son Brad, who won the national title in his rookie season,,,,,[The early Big Base did not do well on shorter tracks because of flywheel weight.]

Andres-Harley-KR-730x529.jpg

Speaking of flywheel weight the occasional set of WR "light" flywheels (porkchop) show up. I don't know anyone using them.

[duffeycycles]

My brothers Scout flywheels were not porkchop but lots of large holes drilled to make them light. Ernie Beckman was a friend of the original builder & told him how to build it. Many things were done to make it fast for short tracks 1/2 mile or less.

American Iron, Indian Little Base.jpg