Vintage Pics of the Day

[duffeycycles]

Paul Goldsmith leading Dick Klamfoth
1953 Dodge City
Everett Schilling collection

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[JoJo357]

*M.A.D.*

'Black Bart'.

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[DEEBS47Chief1991]

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[Rubone]

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[JoJo357]

*M.A.D.*

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[DEEBS47Chief1991]

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[duffeycycles]

#25 Everett Brashear on HD KR, checkered flag, heat race ?
1953 Dodge City
Everett Schilling collection

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[DEEBS47Chief1991]

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[JoJo357]

Thanks Deebs, it's been awhile since i posted this picture. It brings back affectionate memories! Here is the original shot. The arrow is my Father, zooming into the Belle Isle tunnel under the mighty Jefferson Avenue. The brand new Harley-Davidson's were purchased from Dot & Earl Robinson H-D Dealership. My Dad knew Dot & Earl pretty good, and he ended up talking Earl into hiring me. I was a gopher and always made sure there was a fresh pot of coffee for customers, among other important duties~haha. Dot & Earl were total Gems, and the entire dealership was a pleasure to work in.

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*M.A.D.*

[DEEBS47Chief1991]

That's awesome JoJo. I used to look at Dot's memorabilia at the old Indian Museum on Hendee street in Springfield. I would post pictures but Esta Manthos did not allow cameras in the museum. She also claimed that all books written about the Indian motocycle were incorrect and that her upcoming book was the only correct story. That book never came out. Another time I came in and she commented on my American flag on the back of my leather jacket. "Did you know that it's illegal to display the flag on the back of you jacket?" I replied, "So it's legal to burn the flag (which was happening quite frequently in the news of that time) but it's illegal to display the flag proudly on my back?". BTW, her husband Charley wanted to sell me the last Motolamp off the assembly line still in it's original box with the tissue paper for $50.00 for my 47 Chief restoration but Esta stepped in and forbade it. God I hated her.

[duffeycycles]

#2 Dick Klamfoth, Norton at full speed. K with lightning bolt or arrow on his helmet
1953 Dodge City
Everett Schilling collection


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[DEEBS47Chief1991]

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[JoJo357]

Going into the way~back machine after the Dot & Earl story. I have another experience with some of the movers and shakers in the past Detroit motorcycle history. I worked for Bob Leppan's Detroit Triumph while still in high school. Although Dot & Earl H-D Dealership was an eye opener, Leppan's Triumph Dealership was more like an earthquake~to say the least! At that time, it was the largest Triumph dealership in the world by sales volume. I had the pleasure of meeting some interesting characters while i was employed there. Just to name a few, Roosevelt Lackey-AMA record setter, Alex Tremulis--ex-ousted Ford Design engineer, Jim Bruflodt--Leppan's business partner & master mechanic, and 'Wild Man' Betz, who was a Detroit painter, and was responsible for Triumph putting Scalloped gas tanks on their motorcycles. Not to mention all the crazy mechanics & sales people~Haha. This was an experience i wouldn't trade for the world! Although i had the prestigious jobs of cleaning bathrooms, taking care of the dog, helping mechanics, and overall menial jobs, i did manage to work up to unloading the crated Triumph's, and even some test riding of brand spanking new Triumph's. All in all, the two dealerships cemented my bond with the love of motorcycles eternally. Thank You for listening.


*Leppan and Burt Monroe at Bonneville Salt flats. Burt pitted next to Detroit Triumph, when the crew was shooting for the record with Gyronaut X-1. Something not a lot of people talk or even know about is that Detroit Triumph were instrumental with some of Monroe's success at Bonnevillle when they pitted next to each other. By no means am i deterring Burt's achievements, but according to Leppan, Monroe, Tremulis & Bluflodt spent a helluva lot of time together on and off the flats.
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*Double trouble twin in front of Scott fountain on Belle Isle.
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*A full load of New Triumph's.
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*Leppan & Jim Bluflodt.
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* The old Detroit Triumph dealership. Currently a landscape company.
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[JoJo357]

*M.A.D.*

Bob Leppan a couple years ago at Milan Dragway. Old stories & some new ones, with a few friends. * Aaron Thomas still drag races Leppan's old blue Hagon regularly.

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[JoJo357]

That's awesome JoJo. I used to look at Dot's memorabilia at the old Indian Museum on Hendee street in Springfield. I would post pictures but Esta Manthos did not allow cameras in the museum. She also claimed that all books written about the Indian motocycle were incorrect and that her upcoming book was the only correct story. That book never came out. Another time I came in and she commented on my American flag on the back of my leather jacket. "Did you know that it's illegal to display the flag on the back of you jacket?" I replied, "So it's legal to burn the flag (which was happening quite frequently in the news of that time) but it's illegal to display the flag proudly on my back?". BTW, her husband Charley wanted to sell me the last Motolamp off the assembly line still in it's original box with the tissue paper for $50.00 for my 47 Chief restoration but Esta stepped in and forbade it. God I hated her.

Years ago, i believe originator Charlie Manthos ran the museum, because friends of mine went there in the 1990's, and they expressed that Charlie was Great! But, in later year visits, they said Este was a real...'Bugger'.

*M.A.D.*