Killer Yardlong

31 years ago this panoramic was purchased at Hershey for $75! Those were the days. Now that it is in my possession I am attempting to identify some of the race participants and location . It would appear the year is circa 1914. It would also seem to be a fairly major meet as some noteables are present on factory Excelsior race bikes including Bob Perry. There is one Cyclone and one 8 valve Indian. I am thinking the Indian rider is Gene Walker. One major mystery is the id of the tall gentleman with the Harley sweater. I realize Harley didn't officially participate in racing until 1915 but what is the significance of this guy's presence. Not incognito enough for spying . There is a sticker on the back denoting that this picture was framed in Milwaukee. Points of interest on the bikes are the "rivet tanks" on the Excelsiors proving that Harley was not the first to adopt this. Also the carb positioning on Perry's bike is opposite all the others. The Cyclone is also of interest , could it be Carl Escherich or Don Johns?

[Barry Brown]

[Barry Brown]

[Barry Brown]

[vldave]

Awesome Picture!!

Barry - Did all of these fit together as one panoramic picture?? I was looking and it seems that 3 fit together nicely, but I could not figure out one of the photos have it fit??? Was one piece missing?

Very Nice picture - Thanks for Sharing it with us -

David Lloyd

[Snakeoil]

I agree. I cannot get the pic with Fred and Cyclone Carl to fit. Although from the angle of the bikes, it would appear that it probably goes on the end to the right. But it also appears that there is a piece missing between that pic and the one to its left with Bob. I say that because the grandstand suddenly appears in that last photo.

Great pic. That's one that should be carefully scanned on a high res scanner so properly registered prints can be made to reassemble it.

Thanks for posting it.

[HarleyCreation]

Could the photo be 1915 vintage? Carl Escherich had a Cyclone in Milwaukee and was racing it there in 1915. The guy on the Cyclone looks a lot like Carl and could be him. That the photo was framed in Milwaukee makes one wonder if it wasn't also taken in Milwaukee.

[Barry Brown]

That is what I thought too about the possible identity of the Cyclone racer. Thanks for the info. Yes, it is all one large picture , much not shown. Another interesting thing is that there are amateurs lined up as well which I haven't bothered posting. They are mostly on 2 stroke Excelsiors and Indians. The picture may very well be from a little later than 1914 judging by the soldiers and the 2 stroke machines. I will have to check but I thought 1915 the factory Ex racers all had rounded edges on the gas tanks. Maybe the rivetted tanks persisted for a few years.

[bobbyt]

Ex racers

That is what I thought too about the possible identity of the Cyclone racer. Thanks for the info. Yes, it is all one large picture , much not shown. Another interesting thing is that there are amateurs lined up as well which I haven't bothered posting. They are mostly on 2 stroke Excelsiors and Indians. The picture may very well be from a little later than 1914 judging by the soldiers and the 2 stroke machines. I will have to check but I thought 1915 the factory Ex racers all had rounded edges on the gas tanks. Maybe the rivetted tanks persisted for a few years.

There's a picture of Carl Goudy after the 300 miler in September of 1915 on a big-vale Ex in Motorcycling and Bicycling. The machine has what appears to be a 1914 style tank. I've also seen a picture of Bob Perry on what was called a big-valve with a square-edged tank. The shape of the Ex tanks here shouldn't exclude a 1915 date.

--------------------- Bob Turek

[Chris Haynes]

If you can have photographic reprints made I would get in line to buy one.