Board Track Racing

[Guest]

One of the early motorcycle race formulas was Board Track Racing. Its concept could be likened to what eventually became the 'old style' first track racing of the 1920s which in its turn it is reasonable to accept became speedway, grass track, Flat Track and other branches of oval racing.

It would be interesting to read comments from other BSF contributors in regard to Board Track Racing. On my initial search I have found this on Wikipedia, but am certain there must be other informed commentary on Board Track Racing.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_track_racing

Edited April 18, 2017 by Guest

[Vince 9,458]

I'd have loved to have seen this live, proper pioneer stuff. 100mph plus on tyres you wouldn't trust on a bicycle and clothing suitable for a brisk walk.

 

https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/beverly-hills-board-track-racing-1921

[racers and royals 8,723]

I'd have loved to have seen this live, proper pioneer stuff. 100mph plus on tyres you wouldn't trust on a bicycle and clothing suitable for a brisk walk.

 

https://www.filmpreservation.org/preserved-films/screening-room/beverly-hills-board-track-racing-1921

Vince, that was brilliant- thanks. Whilst watching it I played a game of " spot a person without a hat"

[iris123 20,979]

Sure there are a number of posts and links on here about Board Track racing.Seem to remember posting a very interesting film shot in the US by a Czech motorcycle dealer who was there back in the early days.

 

Still have a few events every year here in Germany,although obviously quite tame with those vintage bikes.Darmstadt and i think from memory Bielefeld

 

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

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCl1u_Mft_w

In fact gustix did a thread with the very same video that Vince has posted last year

Edited April 18, 2017 by iris123

[Guest]

Here's more youtube board track action from the early days:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhRTOZV5yfY

 

From 1921 - board track motorcycle action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj4-eiu6kLQ

 

From 1938 not motorcycle action but midget cars racing on a board track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yATwN7lEuU

 

In modern times - a German version of board track racing:

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

Edited April 18, 2017 by Guest

[iris123 20,979]

Next meeting

 

[Guest]

More early days board track action as seen on youtube:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp-9w7f7c60

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8k12VDMoxc

Edited April 18, 2017 by Guest

[iris123 20,979]

Bielefeld

 

[Guest]

Keeping to the historical side of the thread in regard to the 'good old days' of board track racing, here it's featured at the most famous USA motorsport venue Daytona way back in the early 1920s:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZY-MUx8qk

Edited April 18, 2017 by Guest

[The White Knight 9,039]

Yet another very interesting Topic gustix.

 

I had never heard of this Board Track Racing.

 

It's always great to learn things.

 

Thanks for Posting this - I sincerely hope that it remains on Topic and doesn't drift off on to other things like some of these great Historical Threads have done in the past.

 

Why they have - I don't know - but it ruins it for those of us interested in the actual History.

[iris123 20,979]

Yet another very interesting Topic gustix.

 

I had never heard of this Board Track Racing.

 

It's always great to learn things.

 

Thanks for Posting this - I sincerely hope that it remains on Topic and doesn't drift off on to other things like some of these great Historical Threads have done in the past.

 

Why they have - I don't know - but it ruins it for those of us interested in the actual History.

I agree.I hope i am ok in posting the modern day stuff?Vince did say he wished he could have seen the original racing.I just wanted to show that there is a way to watch it,even though it is more a hobby than competetive racing.But the bikes are originals or copies of the originals on tracks very similar to the original ones.Probably the best chance to get the feel.One or two of the tracks like Bielefeld are actually concrete rather than wooden bards though

 

But apart from just posting links to old film i am not sure how anyone can really answer gustix when he asks

 

 

 

It would be interesting to read comments from other BSF contributors in regard to Board Track Racing. On my initial search I have found this on Wikipedia, but am certain there must be other informed commentary on Board Track Racing.

A very interesting site

 

http://thevintagent.blogspot.de/2008/12/board-track-racing-on-film.html

 

Some photos

 

https://de.pinterest.com/pin/454863631085967448/

[chunky 6,091]

Yet another very interesting Topic gustix.

 

I had never heard of this Board Track Racing.

It had been covered in several speedway books over the years, most notably Cyril May's Ride It : The Complete Book of Speedway. That was where I first stumbled upon it, and although very different from speedway, I am fascinated by the sport. In fact, I have included a number of board track racing fatalities on my In Memoriam website, and more than any other motor sport, board track racing was robbed of so many of its really top stars.

 

Here in the US, it was a hugely popular - but short-lived - motorcycle discipline. The main reason for that - as cited on the wikipedia article - was the danger. Not only were riders at risk, but the spectators too. Unlike the beautiful little cement track pic posted by iris123, most of the tracks were monsters of over a mile in length, and with the spectators peering down on the track from above, it was asking for trouble.

 

While Eddie Hasha's fatal accident at Newark (where four spectators were killed, in addition to Hasha and Johnny Albright) was well publicised, how about this one in Ludlow, Kentucky - just over the river from where I now live? In July 1913 Odin Johnson lost his life when he crashed, but his fuel tank ruptured and ignited, and seven spectators were burned to death. Instead of "Velodromes", these tracks became known as "Murderdromes".

 

Yeah, no wonder they didn't last long...

 

Check out these links:

 

http://dlmracing.blogspot.com/2013/11/motordrome-racings-darkest-days-newark.html

 

http://imgur.com/gallery/LER6e

 

Steve

[salty 2,202]

Interesting stuff. Particularly Chunky's insight and also the posts from Germany about the modern day set up.

[Guest]

Interesting stuff. Particularly Chunky's insight and also the posts from Germany about the modern day set up.

 

I agree.I hope i am ok in posting the modern day stuff?Vince did say he wished he could have seen the original racing.I just wanted to show that there is a way to watch it,even though it is more a hobby than competetive racing.But the bikes are originals or copies of the originals on tracks very similar to the original ones.Probably the best chance to get the feel.One or two of the tracks like Bielefeld are actually concrete rather than wooden bards though

 

But apart from just posting links to old film i am not sure how anyone can really answer gustix when he asks

 

A very interesting site

 

http://thevintagent.blogspot.de/2008/12/board-track-racing-on-film.html

 

Some photos

 

https://de.pinterest.com/pin/454863631085967448/

 

This is to advise that following the information that a 'modern day version' of Board Track racing is active in Germany, a thread has been started in Grasstrack, Sidecar, Short Track and Cycle Speedway to give coverage of this aspect of the formula. It will allow - hopefully - for more dedication here to the 'good old days' of Board Track racing.

Here is the direct Link to modern Board Track racing:

 

Board Track Racing Activity

Edited April 18, 2017 by Guest

[salty 2,202]

Surely there is no need to create another thread?