Today in motorcycle history, August 20, 1963

 


                                           
                                          

  For the third time in nearly four years, Charles Fehn applies for a patent for his Rokon Trail-Breaker motorcycle.

  The tale of the Trail-Breaker two-wheel-drive motorcycle can be traced back to 1958 in San Bernardino, California, when Charles Fehn began work on his invention, a "Motorcycle for slow cross-country travel over obstructions and in mountainous regions, and over snow and soft ground".   A bit of a long-winded title but, it was the birth of the Trail-Breaker.

  Charlie applied for his first patent on April 13, 1959.  No go.  His second application, abandoned like the first, came on August 31, 1962.  It wasn't until his third patent attempt, now trimmed down to "Motorcycle having two driven wheels", filed August 20, 1963, that Charlie would finally get his patent.  By the date of the third filing, the bike was in full-fledged production but, yet it would be August 23, 1966 before the patent would be granted.

  Many myths follow the story of who solved the Trail-Breaker's original steering problem. Well, I'm here to tell you that contrary to popular belief, it was Fehn who solved the steering problem (inherent in a two-wheel-drive motorcycle) by developing a driveline over-ride mechanism.  He developed the over-ride clutch and incorporated it into the original patent but, the early mechanism used a complex ball-bearing-on-ramp system (a bit Rube Goldbergesque), so it was simplified in 1962 to a one-way spring-on-collar device, which is basically the same over-ride spring assembly that is still in production today.  This one-way clutch allows the front wheel to travel faster than the back wheel, but not vice-versa.  This is what allows you to turn corners without having bike and body driven to the ground, the result of having both wheels turning the same speed when the front wheel needs to travel farther in a corner.  Another of his patents was the hollow aluminum wheel, which holds 4.5 gallons of liquid ballast or fuel.  Conversely, with the wheels empty, the bike can be thrown into a body of water and will float just fine enabling you to date Kelly Mathewson at the camp across the pond.  Two ingenious ideas, one great motorcycle, the Trail-Breaker. 

                        

Today in motorcycle history, August 19, 1975

 

                                      

 

  Norton announces a recall for the Commando Mark III due to faulty rear brake linkage.

 

  In the midst of competing with the Triumph Trident T160 for England's supreme machine Norton makes an unexpected stop.  It announces a recall for the Commando Mark III due to faulty brake linkage resulting in one minor problem - the ability to stop.  An essential with an 850cc motorcycle capable of 115 mph.

  The problem originated because they had to change to a left-side gear shifter and a right-side foot brake to comply with United States vehicle regulations, and a rear disc brake.

                                 

      

Recall Date	AUG 19, 1975
Component	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
Motorcycle Affected	T160
Potential Motorcycles Affected	3600 Recall Details

                

Today in motorcycle history, August 14, 1938

 

  The Black Hills Classic kicks off on a Sunday afternoon in Sturgis, South Dakota on August 14, 1938.

 

  What is known today as the Sturgis Rally actually began in 1937 when a local motorcycle club, the Jackpine Gypsies, invited the Rapid City Pioneers Motorcycle Club to Sturgis for a field day.  The Gypsies rode the Indian motorcycles that Clarence "Pappy" Hoel sold at his Sturgis shop and the Rapid City group, known as the RPMs, were almost all Harley-Davidson riders.

  Sturgis businessmen took notice with the number of people the event brought to town, and over the winter they met with Pappy and the Gypsies to secure an AMA sanction for a similar meet, with dirt track races to be held at the old half-mile horse track at the county fairgrounds, in the summer of 1938. 

  The Jackpine Gypsies held the first sanctioned rally on August 14, 1938.  They dubbed it the "Black Hills Classic" and it consisted of a single race with only nine participants, various motorcycle stunts and daily rides, Gypsy Tours, to take in the beauty of the surrounding land such as the sacred Bear Butte.  

  It wasn't until 1961 that the rally was expanded to include the Hillclimb and Motocross races.

  

  Little known fact-  it was Pappy Hoel’s ever- chipper, gracious and dedicated wife, Pearl, more than anyone else, who probably deserves credit for the early success of this event.  It's fair to say that without her reputation and support the Sturgis Rally would probably never have happened.  In the formative years of the event, 1936-1941, Pearl’s reputation in Sturgis and Meade County helped sell his idea to influential leaders in the community.  As a county official and an outstanding citizen of great stature in the community, Pearl lent credibility to the event.  She was active in her church, served as an officer in her lodge, and was regularly involved in the bridge club and other community societies.  The local powers that be, and especially their wives, were Pearl’s friends.  If Pearl thought a motorcycle rally was a good thing, how could anyone disagree?  And what a rally in has turned into. 

                                                                      *****

  Somehow, somewhere, things have changed in this old school man's eyes.  I find it really fucking odd that when Harley's weren't known as the most dependable bikes they were still ridden from places such as Portland, Oregon and Blackduck, Minnesota to Daytona Beach and from NYC and Presque Isle, Maine to Sturgis but, when they became more dependable (and hip) the fewer miles they actually get ridden by the $$$ crowd that buys them.  Spend unfathomable amounts of money on a custom-built "chopper" or a "garbage-barge" and then put in a trailer to go to a bike rally/meet.  Ride their motorcycles just the last few miles to be seen/scene.  From Wikipedia - "...the director of the rally estimated in 2005 that less than half the attendees actually rode there.  Shipping companies transport thousands of motorcycles to Sturgis for attendees who arrive via airline."  Excuse me while I puke.

 

   Sorry.  I had to vent.  Mind you, I know there still are many real bikers who actually ride to Sturgis and points beyond.  I wish I was sharing a stretch of blacktop with them. 

 

 

Today in motorcycle history, August 13, 1977

                                


                                  

  The 1977 British motorcycle Grand Prix is held at Silverstone Circuit.

 

  The British motorcycle Grand Prix, officially known as the John Player British Grand Prix, was the thirteenth and final round of the 1977 GP motorcycle racing season.  More importantly 1977 marked the beginning of a new era as, it was the first time the event was held on the British mainland after the Isle of Man TT had represented the United Kingdom on the FIM Grand Prix calendar for the previous 28 years since the championship's inception in 1949.

  Once the most prestigious race of the year, the Isle of Man TT had been increasingly boycotted by the top riders, and finally succumbed to pressure for increased safety in racing events.  Safety?  In motorcycle racing?  Since when?  

 

  The return to the mainland proved to be good for British racing with a 5-6-7 showing in the 500cc and a 3-4-5 finish in the 350cc class, plus George O'Dell and Cliff Holland would win the Sidecar World Championship (the first of 5 for British-built Windle sidecars).

 

  Silverstone Circuit is near the villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury in East Midlands.  If your planning a trip the nearest towns for hotel accommodations are Towcester, Brackley, Buckingham, Northampton and Milton Keynes. 

                              

      

Today in motorcycle history, August 12, 1997

                                    



 

 

  After hearing nine days of testimony from several witnesses who invested their life savings and saw all or most of the money vanish, a federal jury in Springfield, Massachusetts, took about an hour Monday to find Philip S. Zanghi II guilty of 23 counts of securities fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.

  1990, Zanghi approached officials in Springfield about finding a suitable plant site promising jobs and vowing to begin production of Indian Motorcycles, the iconic brand and rival of Harley-Davidson, and by 1992 turned his focus to a vacant, 276,000-square-foot building that at one time was used for the growing of mushrooms (the non-magical variety) in East Windsor, Connecticut.  Without ever signing a lease, he built gates there emblazoned with the Indian logo.

  All the while, Zanghi was selling stock in his company and selling licensing agreements to the old- fashioned, cursive "Indian'' logo for tens of thousands of dollars.  Swindling investors from as far away as Sweden, Greece and Austrialia.

  Prosecutors charged Zanghi with bilking more than 30 investors of $830,000 through fraudulent stock sales and licensing agreements.  Among the victims were Zanghi's stepfather, who invested $32,000, and an uncle and aunt, who invested $50,000.  I think it's safe to say he got scratched from their Christmas list. 

  In mid-1993, Zanghi gave upon his plan to use the East Windsor building, moved out of the $600,000 house he was leasing on Wyngate Drive in Avon, Connecticut, and moved to North Carolina with his wife and three children.

  After his Indian Motocycle Co. went into bankruptcy and authorities there impounded Zanghi's Rolls Royce, Ferrari and six other cars, prosecutors say Zanghi went to Marbella, Spain.  He was arrested at a luxury hotel in New York City in June 1996.

  On December 17, 1997 the rat-bastard was sentenced to 7 1/2 years. 

                                              

Today in motorcycle history, August 9, 2002

     

 

  One of the coolest but, highly under-publicized bike runs, the Southern California Motorcycling Association's (SCMA) annual USA 4-Corners Tour 2002 kicks off. 

  This is a self-directed motorcycle tour and the entire distance must be ridden on your motorcycle.  Ferry rides are acceptable over rivers and lakes.  Motorcycles with side cars and trikes are considered motorcycles for this event.  No other vehicles are permitted on any part of this event.

 

  The four official checkpoints for the USA Four Corners Tours are: San Ysidro, California, Blaine, Washington, Madawaska, Maine and Key West, Florida.

 

  You start the event by visiting the first checkpoint of your choice and taking a photograph of your motorcycle in front of any of the USA Four Corner landmarks.  The rider is allowed 21 days total time to complete the run.  The ONLY exception to this rule are hurricanes.  If the state of Florida has the road to the Keys blocked; you may use that barrier as the Key West Hurricane Corner.     

  You need to have computer generated gas receipts with date, time, location from each of the four corners (write your license plate number on receipt).  If no stations are open, a receipt from the nearest open gas station will be accepted.

  The SCMA estimates that the average rider can expect a MINIMUM of 8,500 miles on the shortest route (this figure DOES NOT include the distance from your home to the first corner and back).  If you want to see more than countless miles of boring-ass interstates plan on adding on another 1,000 miles or so.

 

  SCMA also provides other challenging long distance motorcycle-only rides including the butt-numbing, Three Flags Classic (Mexico-USA-Canada). 

 


                                                

Today in motorcycle history, August 7, 1972

 


 

  Legendary Irish TT racer Arthur James "Artie" Bell dies at his home in County Down, Northern Ireland.

 

  Known for his short, yet brilliant, post-World War II Isle of Man TT career that came to notice with his second place finish in the 1947 Isle of Man TT on an old, used 500cc Norton he bought himself and on which he managed to lead three of the seven laps.

 

  Riding his 1939 Norton, he participated in several races in the immediate post-World War II period including County Tyrone's 1946 Cookstown 100 where he recorded the fastest lap time of 76.60 mph and winning the 1947 500cc Ulster Grand Prix race (averaging 91.25 mph) in a time of 2 hours 43 minutes 1 second, while setting a new lap record of 94.79 mph.  Bell also won the 1947 North West 200. 

  After his kick-ass performance in the 1947 Isle of Man, Norton picked him up as a works rider for the following season.  The '48 season was full of mechanical failures and tough luck but, Artie returned in the 1949 season determined to prove Norton made the right choice putting him in the saddle.  He would place third and fourth in the TT as well as taking the North West 200 again.  

 When Norton introduced the Featherbed frame in 1950 he rode it to a first place finish in the 350cc Junior race and second place in the 500cc Senior race.  Bell also claimed the North West 200 for a third time.

  Unfortunately, his promising racing career came to an end following a high speed crash during the 1950 season at La Source Hairpin during the 1950 Belgian Grand Prix at the extremely fast Spa-Francorchamps circuit.  Although Artie survived serious injury, he was unable to race again.

 

 

  In 1996 the Irish Post Office issued a set postage stamps of notable Irish motorcyclists that included a stamp depicting Artie Bell.

Today in motorcycle history, August 6, 1983

 

                                                  

  1983 Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix was held at the Scandinavian Raceway in Anderstorp, Sweden.

  The eleventh race of the GP season turned out to be one of the most dramatic races in one of the most dramatic Grand Prix seasons in recent history.  And as we would've expected it ended in controversy as the championship's two stars of the show, Honda's Freddie Spencer and Yamaha's Kenny Roberts , both having won five of the season's ten previous races. 

  Roberts led Spencer led in points 117-115 going into the race.  On the final lap, heading down the back straight, Spencer placed his Honda right behind Roberts' wheel as they reached the second to the last corner, a ninety degree right-hander.  As both riders put some weight to their brakes, Spencer came out of Roberts' draft and managed to get inside of the Yamaha but, as they exited the corner, both riders ran wide off the track and plowed into the dirt.  Freddie was able to get back on the track first, crossing the finish line just ahead of Roberts for the deciding victory.  Kenny Roberts instantly started whining, saying he considered Spencer's pass to be foolish and dangerous and, exchanged, what mom would call "colorful" profanities with him on the podium.

  It was a controversial pass by the young Honda rider and one that the two participants still dispute to this day.   Roberts still insists that it was dangerous, while Spencer maintains it was a calculated risk he had to take to secure the championship and that Yamaha boy needs to get over it.

 

  The '83 Scandinavian Grand Prix is still referred to as one of the greatest of all time.

                                        

Today in motorcycle history, August 5, 1994

                           


            

                                           

  Miramax releases their version of Motorcycle Gang.

 

  A $1,000,000 budget gets them Director John Milius, (Conan the Barbarian, Red Dawn) and Hollywood actor Gerald McRaney (Simon & Simon, Major Dad).  Well, they're off to a good start..er.. now we need a bad guy..hmm..how about Gary Busey, he's a nut-job and once rode a bike...no?...busy?..hey, doesn't he have a kid?...yeah, Jake Busey...looks like the old man but, can he ride a bike?...as good as his old man?..we have insurance.....book him.

 

  Gerald McRaney plays Cal, a retired soldier (a stretch there) driving his family from Texas to California.  As they cross the desert, they are terrorized by a gang of heroin-dealing bikers led by their prez, Jake, (Jake Busey) who kidnap his teenage daughter and take her across the Mexican border.   He follows them to their hideout and devises a plan to rescue his daughter.

 

  An hour and a half you will never get back.  Keep that in mind.

 

 

  In 1966 Roger Corman had up-and-coming Hollywood guys, Peter Fonda and Bruce Dern star in his Wild Angels which he made for $360,000.  It made over $15,000,000 at the box-office.  Just sayin'.

                                                                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

Today in motorcycle history, August 2, 2003

 

 

  The friendly folks at Guinness World Records are on-hand as Billy Baxter sets the Blind Solo Land Speed Record with a speed of 164.87 mph while riding a 1,200cc Kawasaki Ninja at RAF Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, UK, on August 2, 2003. 

 

  Billy Baxter served with the 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (British Army) in Bosnia.  While serving in 1997, he lost his sight after contracting a rare disease.

 

  In 2007 he completed a Blind Solo Lap of Donington Park.  "My biggest challenge yet, I rode my Ducati Monster around the hallowed circuit of Donington, the home of motorcycle racing, raising awareness for Vista, a charity helping blind people in the Midlands, an amazing experience and great fun."

Today in motorcycle history, August 1, 1924

 

 

 The AMA (American Motorcycle Association) is officially established.  "The slogan of the AMA will be: An Organized Minority Can Always Defeat an Unorganized Majority." (Western Motorcyclist and Bicyclist, 1924)

 

  The When the Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) was dissolved after WWI the Motorcycle & Allied Trades Association (M&ATA) was formed.  M&ATA began registering riders in 1919, and by early 1924, it claimed to have about 10,000 members.  On May 15 at a meeting in Cleveland, the directors of the M&ATA proposed to create the "American Motorcycle Association" as a division of the M&ATA.  The new AMA would control rider registration and activities, issue sanctions for national events, and serve motorcycle industry members.

  The registered M&ATA riders were transferred as AMA charter members, while individual AMA membership dues were set at $1 per year.

  The official ratification of the AMA became effective on August 1, 1924, and the first national event operated under an AMA sanction was most likely the second annual National Six Days Trial, held from August 25 through 30 in Ohio and adjacent states.  This was a 1,400-mile endurance run that started and finished in Cleveland.

 

  A "fun, family friendly motorcycle organization" (much like HOG), in an interview with the media after the "events" at Holister, California in 1947 an AMA representative claimed that the problems weren't caused by any of their members, "99% of people on motorcycles are fun-loving, law-abiding citizens."

 

  The 1%er was born that day...