Board Track Racing

[chunky 6,068]

Didn't happen like that though.Both were running side by side with the same riders.You could say that the closing of the Motordromes helped give Dirt track racing the dominance.But "loose surface was soon adopted" gives a totally false picture.Don Johns was winning on the dirt tracks about a decade before many of those Motordromes on gustix wiki link were even built

Absolutely true. The actual "boom" years for motorcycle board racing was in the early-to-mid-teens, with tracks actually being one of two types; the circular, short (usually less than half a mile long) motordromes, and the much bigger (one to two miles) ovals, The first of the great tracks was the Playa del Rey (one mile motordrome) in Los Angeles, which was opened in 1910, although owner Jack Prince had previously built the quarter-mile Los Angeles Coliseum.

 

While these board tracks captured the imagination of participants and spectators alike, it would be foolish to think that most of the riders weren't already engaged in "dirt-track" action, most notably on horse-trotting tracks. It was on such a track (Hawthorne in Chicago) that Charles Balke lost his life when he ran into a horse-drawn roller that was obscured by clouds of dust. That was in June 1914.

 

One particular incident that I am currently researching is the double fatality of Bill Goudy and Frank Montgomery in January 3, 1916. The legendary board-racer Otto Walker was also injured in that incident. It took place in Bakersfield, California, and from what I can see, there are no official records of a board-track in Bakersfield (despite owner Paul Derkum stating that he had previously advised riders to "stay off the boards"). It does appear that it too was a dirt track, so make of that what you will. In addition, the Dodge City 300 (first held in July 1914) was the biggest motorcycle race in the US, and was held on a two-mile oval dirt track just outside the town. That attracted many of the top board racers. Clearly the two disciplines ran side-by-side - or perhaps hand-in-hand - but dirt-tracks certainly came first.

 

The larger oval board-tracks outlasted the motordromes as car racing was becoming more popular, and of course, these tracks were far more suited to cars than the steeply-banked circular tracks. Plus, these tracks were much safer for spectators, as they could watch from the relative safety of the grandstands, rather than peering over the edge of the track and getting hit by machines or splintered wood.

 

One other thing... There is a remarkable similarity between traditional board-racing bikes and the modern speedway machine - no brakes. It was actually considered too dangerous to brake on a rough board track!

 

Steve

Edited April 22, 2017 by chunky

[iris123 20,912]

A couple of great contributions Steve.Thanks for that.

 

I did notice that Barney Oldfield was racing cars on some trotting tracks.You look at the careers of some of the early pioneer bike racers and they rode wherever there was a meeting organised,be it on the boards,dirt or roads.At that stage there wasn't specific bikes and riders for each surface

 

I did post info on another thread that some manufacturers were supplying special bikes made for racing without brakes,so nice to have that confirmed by you

[iris123 20,912]

Not sure of the need for yet another board track thread.Surely this one is broad enough to cover what was a fairly shortlived sport?

[iris123 20,912]

Have to say i have long been a fan of Indian Morotcycles over Harley.Not sure why apart from the red colour,but love them.This is a great article with some technical detail,including stating the fact the bikes had no brakes

 

http://silodrome.com/1913-indian-boardtrack-racer/

 

Edited April 23, 2017 by iris123

[iris123 20,912]

Some links to board tracks forwarded by gustix in anticipation that the other threads get deleted

 

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

http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/articles/category/85

http://www.readex.com/readex-report/thrills-and-funerals-researching-board-track-era-motorcycle-racing-americas-historical

http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/origins%20of%20motorcycle%20racing.htm

[iris123 20,912]

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-early-deadly-days-of-motorcycle-racing-787614/

[Vince 9,454]

Have to say i have long been a fan of Indian Morotcycles over Harley.Not sure why apart from the red colour,but love them.This is a great article with some technical detail,including stating the fact the bikes had no brakes

 

http://silodrome.com/1913-indian-boardtrack-racer/

 

 

That is pure porn!! So good that if I quote it then it will be seen twice. I've got quite a few dream bikes but that is the absolute top of my list.... at the moment anyway

[Guest]

More historical data about the pioneer days of Board Track racing and its modern equivalent transition in Germany.

https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/european-board-track-revival?fb_action_ids=459660837706777&fb_action_types=og.likes

Edited April 23, 2017 by Guest

[chunky 6,068]

There were some great looking bikes around back then! In fact, there are quite a few board-racers tucked away in numerous motorcycle museums around the United States, and I am going to try to visit some of them. The first museum I want to visit is the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and that's only a couple of hours from me. Of course, that also includes some speedway stuff. Hope I can get some good pics,

 

Steve

[Guest]

Recalling the dangers that Board Track riders faced in the early 1900s.

http://www.smithsoni...-racing-787614/

[chunky 6,068]

Recalling the dangers that Board Track riders faced in the early 1900s.

http://www.smithsoni...-racing-787614/

Why have you simply reposted the link that iris posted less than an hour and a half ago (post 51)???

 

Steve

[Guest]

My thanks to John Skinner of DEFUNCT TRACKS who has alerted me to this thread on his excellent website:

http://www.defunctsp...ycle racing.htm

​This is another early days Board Track Link that could deserve some debate on this thread:

http://www.readex.com/readex-report/thrills-and-funerals-researching-board-track-era-motorcycle-racing-americas-historical

There were some great looking bikes around back then! In fact, there are quite a few board-racers tucked away in numerous motorcycle museums around the United States, and I am going to try to visit some of them. The first museum I want to visit is the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and that's only a couple of hours from me. Of course, that also includes some speedway stuff. Hope I can get some good pics,

 

Steve

 

AMA Hall of Fame images. The album includes Board Track bikes as well as machines from other racing disciplines:

 

Images for AMA Hall of Fame Board Track bike

Edited April 23, 2017 by Guest

[Guest]

Motorcycle Board Track racers were active on the USA's East Coast in the early 1900s. The Sheeps Head Bay race track was one of the most famous at this time.

https://en.wikipedia..._Bay_Race_Track

LA REY in California at the turn of the last century. One of the first 'purpose built' circuits.

http://www.firstsupe...les/category/85

https://en.wikipedia...eles_Motordrome

Edited April 23, 2017 by Guest

[iris123 20,912]

There were some great looking bikes around back then! In fact, there are quite a few board-racers tucked away in numerous motorcycle museums around the United States, and I am going to try to visit some of them. The first museum I want to visit is the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, and that's only a couple of hours from me. Of course, that also includes some speedway stuff. Hope I can get some good pics,

 

Steve

Lucky to have something like that not too far away.Don't think i have anything similar to visit nearby.Went to a US car and general vintage car/motorbike rally last month.The vintage part was presented by Egon Müller.Some old German motorbikes a modern speedway bike and a very old motorised bicycle made in London around the turn of last century.But nothing like some of those great US track bikes.Some very nice cars in the US section though with Pontiacs and the like

[Guest]

In the Linked article, Brian Pratt gives a comprehensive summary in regard to Canada's apparently brief association over a few years with Board Track Racing at the start of the last century.

The article also carries some historic photos.

Toronto Board Track

​There's a mention in the LINK of more happenings in Toronto, Canada - and elsewhere at the start of the last century.

Keep scrolling down - there's a wealth of information to be seen.

https://leslievilleh...tos-motordrome/