Prewar Big Base Club Mag Nov-Dec 2025

[duffeycycles]

Cool article by Rick Giles about cover bike, Andy Drobek pre war Big Base Indian Scout racer. Reminded me of this 1938 Indian Daytona parts list. Often companies would use wins at Daytona or other tracks to name some special bikes. Iron Man Ed Kretz won first Daytona 200 in 1937 riding an Indian sport Scout. Indian made special Daytona motors for both Scout & Chief in 1938. This is from the back of a dealer parts catalog.

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[T. Cotten]

That's priceless, Duffey!

Because I love mysteries: Why is there no 74 Chief carb?

..Cotten

[duffeycycles]

I wondered about that, maybe the same as another Chief carb. I don't know much about Indian parts ! The article says they didn't have the Big Base Cases until 1940 or later. There is a '38 or '39 with Big Base cases that came from Ed Kretz but maybe those cases were replacements. It would be cool to see the difference between stock parts & Daytona parts. This paper came from Louis Bartley collection in Illinois City

[duffeycycles]

My take on the other early Big Base in the mag with questionable serial numbers that sold at Bonham's some time ago. This was written by Buzz Canter. Bill Tuman's tuner, Erwin "Smitty Smith" Indian dealer from Rock Island told me that Big Base motors were not stamped at the factory. Tuman's FDH108 was sent directly to Tuman & the spare motor was sent to Smitty along with a set of stamps. Neither motor was stamped. Smitty said the number FDH108 was assigned to Tuman's bike but riders were allowed to stamp whatever on the VIN pad. Smitty said some stamped their name. I think the prewar Big Base motors were probably stamped by the rider or the sponsor dealer. In the case of EXP 3 HB it was most likely sent out not stamped. I asked Bobby Hill & Tuman if they remembered who stamped their motors & neither remembered but agreed that Smitty's story was probably correct. Bobby Hill received the first Big Base after the Springfield area racers got theirs. Bobby got 2 of them FDH105 & FDH109. The story that Bobby Hallowell may have stamped EXP3 HB or assigned that number to the rider to stamp if he wished.

[T. Cotten]

This raises so many questions, Duffey!

85604 is listed in the 40 catalog as DLX108 for '36 to '39 74s, whereas 85609 DLX110 is listed for SSs, TC (traffic cars instead of Dispatch Tow?), and such.

"Daytona" is not listed, but "Bonneville" is: 86154 for '39 SS and 74, and then became 86260 "Bonneville" 1 1/8" for '40 .
Beware, however, the 1 1/8" venturi is only listed for '39, not '40!

I have never encountered any Schebler with a Bonne stamping, only Linkerts. Anyone?

The two manifolds also have the "Bonneville" label, as well as the cylinders, heads, pistons, valves, lifts, and cams. I don't see "Daytona" anywhere in the '40 catalog...

....Cotten

[duffeycycles]

This paper is for race parts ADDED to a parts book.. Apparently the '38 Daytona Scout had larger exhaust valves but not intake.The manifolds,cylinders & cams indicate high flow. A Chief carb may have been needed..... Kretz won Daytona in '37 & Ben Campanale in '38 & '39, Babe Tancrede in '40, both on HD. My statement that companies used the name Daytona after wins suggesting 1938 may have been the year for Indian to use Daytona for their race parts. I think Triumph had a '67 Daytona after winning in '66 [Robbie?] & Yamaha? also used Daytona after a win.Maybe Bonneville was the name that followed Daytona. Did Indian do something at Bonneville to use that name? ...There are probably some Scouts out there with these parts but who has a '38 Chief with Daytona parts ???

[T. Cotten]

This paper is for race parts ADDED to a parts book.. Apparently the '38 Daytona Scout had larger exhaust valves but not intake.The manifolds,cylinders & cams indicate high flow. A Chief carb may have been needed..... Kretz won Daytona in '37 & Ben Campanale in '38 & '39, Babe Tancrede in '40, both on HD. My statement that companies used the name Daytona after wins suggesting 1938 may have been the year for Indian to use Daytona for their race parts. I think Triumph had a '67 Daytona after winning in '66 [Robbie?] & Yamaha? also used Daytona after a win.Maybe Bonneville was the name that followed Daytona. Did Indian do something at Bonneville to use that name? ...There are probably some Scouts out there with these parts but who has a '38 Chief with Daytona parts ???

The '40 book lists Bonne both inlet and exhaust valves for '39 on, Duffey,

If we can believe the book!

....Cotten

[duffeycycles]

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1946 Springfield Mile Race Program to go with the history of Andy Drobek's Big Base.
Amateur are with Pro, notice Bobby Hill #110 instead of his pro #71

[russellmilburn]

In 1941 the AMA awarded 30 permanent numbers to various riders. In 1946 when racing began after the war much of that system went out the window and promoter event signed number were used in many cases. For 1947 a new set of "straight numbers" were awarded to various riders.

[ihrescue]

In 1941 the AMA awarded 30 permanent numbers to various riders. In 1946 when racing began after the war much of that system went out the window and promoter event signed number were used in many cases. For 1947 a new set of "straight numbers" were awarded to various riders.

Welcome Russell and thanks for this contribution.

Mike Love

[duffeycycles]

The Springfield rider numbers are similar from 1939-1946.
Woodsie Castonguay was #1 in all of these programs.
Woodsie had won the 1938 Springfield race.
I don't have the 1937 or 1938 programs. Here is 1941...Bobby Hill not listed pre war.

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[duffeycycles]

1947 is the 1st year that numbers without letters were used to separate Pro riders from Amateur.
Letters indicate locations the riders were from.
Chet Dykgraff won 1946 Springfield & is listed as #1 in 1947...instead of Woodsie.
Bobby Hill is pro #71


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[russellmilburn]

1947 both Expert and Amateur riders were issued numbers with lettters indicating the district the rider was from. The elite Experts recieved straight numbers with no letter. The numbers ones with a letter did not last very long.

[duffeycycles]

I had a 1957 AMA booklet & I think listed as Pro-Expert-Amateur. Here is 1966 Springfield with numbers & letters... & motor numbers

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