The Harley-Davidson 11K was the American company’s first purpose-built V-twin racer – it was developed by Bill Ottoway, an early engineering genius who had been poached from Harley-Davidson’s rivals over at Thor. Harley-Davidson 11K Board Track Racer Although Harley-Davidson motorcycles had been used in competition previously, including a first race win in 1904 at The Milwaukee Mile with the…
This original 1918 Indian Twin Board-Track Racer is a good reminder that back in the early 20th century, American motorcycle manufacturers were one of there world-leaders in the design and construction of racing bikes. In 1911 the Indian factory racing team took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy – beating…
Project bikes don’t get much more interesting than this, although some may not consider it a project at all, preferring to keep it exactly as it is with its hard-earned patina in place. Despite the fact that over 102 years have passed since this Indian was manufactured, it still retains its original frame, engine, and…
Indian Motocycle Back in the early part of the 20th century, Indian Motocycle were one of the most successful and prolific builders of both racing and road motorcycles in the world. Most people don’t typically associate Indian with racing, but the Indian factory team took the first three places in the 1911 Isle of Man…
This Triumph Board Tracker is a motorcycle that was built far more recently that you might guess, utilising parts and engineering practices that were common back in the heyday of the board track racing revolution – from the 1910s till the late 1920s. It uses a vintage Triumph bicycle frame that was sourced by New Zealander…
These two Indian board track motorcycle sculptures were developed by Serge Bueno of Heroes Motorcycles and Xavier Parent – they’re made to 1:2 scale from steel, aluminum and bronze. Each sculpture weighs in at 190 lbs and does a remarkable job of capturing the look of a board tracker at full throttle, the choice to…
Indian introduced the Scout in 1920, the model quickly became a fixture at race tracks, board tracks, hill climbs and the “Wall of Death” sideshow attraction at county fairs. Those who couldn’t afford an automobile could often afford a base model Indian Scout, and so they became daily transportation for teachers, factory workers, farmers and…
This 1912 Indian Board Track Racer is one of the few remaining unrestored originals, it was discovered in the ’70s and disassembled by the new owner who intended to fully restore it. As so often happens, life got in the way and the disassembled Indian Board Track Racer spent 30 years sitting in baskets before…
The Ducati 900SS is a motorcycle that’s rapidly becoming a bit of a modern classic, custom bike builders have been discovering the raw mechanical beauty that lies just beneath the original fairings but no one has quite showcased the 900SS as well as Old Empire Motorcycles with the example you see pictured here. The bike started…
This 1912 Indian Board Tracker is a 102 year old survivor from the formative and exceedingly dangerous years of two-wheeled motor racing in the United States – the board track circuits were (as the name implies) made from millions of wooden boards hammered into banked ovals up to 2 miles in length and riders would…
Andre’ Wänman is a humble Swedish gardener and welder with a deep love of vintage board track motorcycles, before the onset of each long Scandinavian winter he looks to find something to keep him entertained in his garage when the mercury is low. Last winter he decided to set about building a board track motorcycle…
Updated with information from Ralph R: This is W. E. Cook. In 1909, he set a speed record of 90 m.p.h. (144 km/h) on the Brooklands track in England aboard the behemoth, which carried a huge 165.62 c.i. (2714 c.c.) engine. The motorcycle is the 1909 North London Garage record breaker. The image above features…
