"Real Wild Ones"

[pem]

Just finished Herb's latest article in our club's magazine and learned something new again. I always thought the reason for the collapse of the motorcycle industry in 1914 was a combination of the start of World War One and the Model T Ford Runabout which only cost $440 in 1914. And in 1924 The Model T Runabout only cost $265 which by then only left Haley-Davidson, Indian and Excelsior as the only motorcycle manufacturers in the US. But Herb has shown it was the "Murderdrome's" which had the biggest impact on the sale of motorcycles. Every newspaper of the day exploited the story of the board track accidents. The cyclecar industry in 1914 almost completely disappeared too. I can't wait to read part 2.

[exeric]

Well stated, Dick. I wanted to say that any issue with a carefully researched, and well written article by Herbert Wagner is a gem.

[Skirted]

That was a very interesting article for sure but I understand how it could be just as it was stated. The headlines satisfied human temptation for seeking negative bad news relative to violence and or death. Still true today.
I couldn't help but make the comparison that in the 70s media said eggs are really bad for us. We will die. High cholesterol, don't eat them, so people quit eating them. Now back yard chicken coups are a thriving big business.

[HarleyCreation]

Thanks guys. Like PEM said, the negative "murderdrome" impact on the early industry surprised me too. From the evidence from the time it's indisputable. Once again, you start deep diving American motorcycle history and new, unknown stuff pops up. First the murderdrome insanity, then WWI, then Ford's Model T. A real Triple Whammy! We're lucky the American motorcycle survived at all.

The attached image didn't make it into the final story but I love it so much I thought I'd share it. It's from Motorcycle Illustrated during the 1912 FAM convention and races at Columbus, Ohio. My caption was something like: "Flush with cash and surrounded by beautiful women is how FAM bosses viewed themselves mere days before the multi death crash at the Vailsburg Motordrome at Newark, Jersey."

Hope it posts right. PS: the color enhancement is my doing.