Neat Video; I thought he might mention the 1913 Boardtracker that was an 8 valve 1000cc V-Twin. People think that 4 valves per cylinder was something from the Modern era but Both Racing Motorcycles and Auto Engines used this feature going back to the early part of the 20th century. I was always puzzled when I look at any of the Boardtrack Racers; not just H-D and Indian , but they all used extremely short header pipes where the flames shot out. When I raced in the 60's most of your Racing bikes had a header pipe at least 30" longer or longer and a megaphone that could be any length from 15" onward. I wish sound had been invented in the Motion Picture Industry before 1927 so you could have heard a horde of these 1 liter V-Twins going around the Boardtracks of the days. These Racers were Daredevils and only a small number came out from either career ending injuries or being killed. Very short career Span for the BT's they all but disappeared in the late 20's. One DT - BT Race Legend that basically ended a career in one piece was JIM Davis who lived to be just shy of 104 yrs old. He is honored with a Plaque at Daytona Speedway wall of Race Heroes ...
steve matz these guys weren't stupid. Virtually everything mechanical that we have now had been tried back then. A lot of it didn't work because they didn't have the materials they needed or they didn't fully understand what was happening inside the engine.
There is a 1915 one in a collection in the Netherlands. There are actually holes drilled in the exhaust valve pockets to allow some of the pressure to escape out the side.
Dale, I just want to say I love what you do and the amount of work, money and time you put into preserving these vintage American classics for all of us to enjoy, especially passing that knowledge onto our younger generations! I always loved old racing machines and something about these old board track racers just piques my interest and I love learning about their history! I've been wanting to visit your museum for quite some time but haven't been able to yet! Love those great old Indian Racers!
I cant wait to go to your place sometime and look all those bikes. What an amazing collection you have. I wish that show you had was still on, unless it is and i just dont know about it.
As far as I know the Indian museum has been closed for a while. But, the Springfield museum has opened a new wing showcasing Springfield's industrial contribution to history. Included is Springfield built Rolls Royces and some of the Indians from the old bike collection. I went to college at the site of the Springfield armory, just down the road from the closed bike museum and up the road from the new.
FIRE! YEAH! I've been in love with Indian motorcycles ever since I saw a couple in a motorcycle museum in my town about ten years ago... This video made my day :)
Great Vid!! There is a really cool Indian museum in Springfield, MA too. I grew up there and went to Baer's Cycle Sales buying parts for my RM125 as a kid. The Baer family was huge in racing the old Indians back in the day. Perhaps they know something about that 1914 custom bike.
Wow there is no way I would ride a bike like that with flames shooting out the side - lol... Those riders back in the early year's of this sport were hellions
Now why in the world, for a vid about (American) Indian motorcycles, would you choose background music of "Deutschland Uber Alles", a revered German anthem ? ? ?
Geezus fucking Christ - forgive my blasphemy O Lord but those words are necessary to describe the work of the monstrous Devil that is this bike. I'm 28, I love speed and trackdays and my next bike is an Aprilia RSV4. Demographically I shouldn't like this bike but I fvcking want one more than my next w@nk
British Dampner ,Sean built to his personal bike the Thor with the Buffallow iron works heads. you should have just kept it on the bike he built, it will neverr be right on any other bike, man, We bult a Wonderfull thing. like the red 27-27 double button Indian that was made from a 1920 hiawatha, Thhey are what they are quit pissing u your originals, and just leave art art!
Because now? you have ruind your original race bike, put hand fabricated and modified forks with british shock dampner modifeid to fit reproduction indian forks, on a good bike of original nature, and totaly disassembaled a Master craftsmans Artissin work , of Masterfull nature, built from remnants, and lovingly hand sculpted in to a rolling Speed Portrait of fully functionalnature! Why? For what cause? Thor Was a gentalmens bike? But Sean made a racer from the broken remnainnts of such a relic.
