Today in motorcycle history, January 3, 1963

     Mustang Motorcycles introduce a Heavy Duty Dellorto air cleaner (D-1874) to their new bikes for 1963.   

   Mustang Motorcycles were the two-wheeled brain-child of engineer John Gladden, whose Glendale, California, company manufactured aircraft parts during World War II.

When the war came to an end and Gladden had to figure out what to do with his now-quiet plant, his thoughts turned to his favorite pre-war activity: motorcycles. What was needed, Gladden decided, was an inexpensive, lightweight bike that could serve as a transition between a motor scooter and a full-sized motorcycle.

   The bike, scheduled for sale in 1945, was to be powered by a 125cc Villers two-stroke Single. A few of these machines, called the Colt, were produced, but with limited availability of the British-built Villers engines prompted a redesign of the Colt to accept Gladden's own engine.

The result was the Model 2, which became available in the fall of 1947. It featured a single cylinder, 320cc side-valve engine, a three-speed Burman transmission, a tubular front fork, a solid rear suspension, disc wheels and 4.00x12 tires. Mustangs also placed well in the lightweight division at the Catalina Island Grand Prix, ridden by Fulton, Jim Phillips, Tom Bizzari and Ed Kretz, Jr.

The little bikes were active at drag strips, as well; and in the hands of a racer named Tom Beatty, a highly modified Mustang routinely turned 90 mph, with clocking in the low-12-second range.

   By the 1960s, Mustang had an expanded model line. There was the basic, front-suspension-only, solid wheel, three-speed Pony, backed up by the Bronco and the Stallion, which sported wire wheels and front brakes. Top of the line was the Thoroughbred, with a swingarm rear suspension and a Burman four-speed transmission. They were available in various paint schemes, such as Brilliant Red, Rocket Green, Lustre Black and Galaxy Blue.

   Though the marques continued to sell well in the early 1960s, the clock was running. Gladden continued to rely on the British-built Burman transmission, a steady supply of which became impossible to obtain. But by then, Honda's toehold in the American Motorcycle market, was so strong that Gladden's simple little post war design didn't have a chance. As a result, though new Mustangs were sold until 1965, the last one to roll off the production-line in Glendale was 1963. 

Today in motorcycle history, January 2, 2003

  Patsy Quick beomes the first ever British woman to enter the Dakar Rally.
It turns out to be a real baptism by fire for Patsy as she crashes her XR-650 hard in the desert, where she is temporarily blinded and unable to walk. Fortunately she is spotted by a media helicopter which transports her to a makeshift hospital. She is then flown to Cairo where she underwent life-saving surgery to remove her spleen.
   Despite her harrowing experience in 2003 she is desperate to compete again. She enters in 2004, one of only 2 women to enter, sadly after Day 9 she is unable to continue due to treacherous weather conditions. In the 2005 Rally her KTM has mechanical failures forcing her into early retirement. Despite all the setbacks, her strong will and determination won through and in 2006 Patsy Quick becomes the first ever British woman to finish the grueling 5,314-mile Dakar Rally.

Today in motorcycle history, December 31, 1967

  In one of his most famous, or infamous, stunts, Evel Knievel, attempting a year-ending jump at Caesar's Palace Fountain, Las Vegas, Nevada, crashes hard. The landing doesn't quite goes as planned crushing his pelvis and femur, fractures his hip and a wrist, both ankles and rattles his brain giving him a concussion.
   The injuries would only sideline Evel until May of 1968 (five months?!) when he jumps at Beeline Dragway in Scottsdale, Arizona. The result? Keep your dial tuned in on May 25th...

"...There is a fundamental difference, however, between the old Vincents and the new breed of superbikes. If you rode the Black Shadow at top speed for any length of time, you would almost certainly die. That is why there are not many life members of the Vincent Black Shadow Society."

Today in motorcycle history, December 24, 1977

  The final episode of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon "Wonder Wheels" airs on Saturday morning as part of "The Skatebirds".
  In case you're wondering (and I'm sure you are) it's the crime-fighting tale of a young journalist named Willie Sheeler (voiced by legendary drummer Micky Dolenz of The Monkees) and his girlfriend Dooley Lawrence (voiced by Susan Davis) who solve crimes with the help of his superhero motorcycle, Wonder Wheels. Whenever Willie goes into action, he utters his catchphrase: "This looks like a job for Won-won-won-won-won-won-won-won-won-won-won-won-wonder Wheels!". Then at the press of a button, Willie's beat-up motorcycle transforms into a pimped out version with a mind of its own.

 Hmm, pretty good peyote back then, Micky?

Today in motorcycle history, December 21, 1962

  Gary Hocking, Grand Prix motorcycle champion dies.

  Born in Caerleon, near Newport, Monmouthshire, in south-east Wales, Hocking was brought up in South Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) learning to race on grass tracks as a teenager.  He moved to Europe in 1958 and began racing for Manchester's Reg Deardon aboard 350cc and 500cc Norton Manx racers.  In 1959 he was offered a ride for the East German MZ factory and he finished second in the 250cc championship.  Impressed with his riding MV Augusta offered him full factory support for the 1960 season and he rewarded them for their belief in him finishing second in 125cc, 250cc and 350cc classes.

  Following the retirement from motorcycle racing by defending champion, John Surtees in 1961, Hocking became MV Agusta's top rider and went on to claim dual World Championships in the 350cc and 500cc classes, in a dominating manner against little factory mounted opposition.

  Gary Hocking was deeply affected by the death of his friend, Tom Phillis at the 1962 Isle of Man TT. After winning the Senior TT, he announced his retirement from motorcycle racing and returned to Rhodesia. He felt motorcycle racing was too dangerous and decided a career in auto racing would be safer.        

  Ironically, later that year he was killed during practice for the 1962 Natal Grand Prix. His car, a Lotus 24, went straight on a fast curve and somersaulted after hitting a ditch. There is speculation that he blacked out on the long back straight because he made no attempt to slow down or steer into the corner as the car carried on into the bank at full speed. He was 25 years old.

Today in motorcycle history, December 20, 2008

  A Ferrari motorcycle?! I can own it?!  Yessiree, Bob...  According t the auction house Bonhams Switzerland, this 1995 built-from-scratch motorcycle was the brainchild of MV Agusta guru David Kay, who conceived of the bike as a tribute to Enzo Ferrari. In a letter enclosed with the motorcycle which will be auctioned soon, Enzo's son Piero granted Kay "the approval to place the Ferrari badge on your motorbike".
  The product of 3,000 hours of labor, this one-off bike features:
a tubular chassis constructed of Reynolds 531 alloy, 900cc four-cylinder engine that produces 105 horsepower, a dry weight of 379 lbs and a top speed of 165 mph.
  The engine is a 900cc, transverse, double overhead camshaft, four cylinder, eight valve unit with magnesium and alloy casings, driven through a five speed gearbox. The tubular chassis is made of Reynolds 531 tube, engineering on the motorcycle is irreproachable and the detail is quite astounding. The attention to this is quite incredible, with the master cylinder built into the obviously one off digital instrument panel and is again portrayed with the exquisite steering damper. Terry Hall, who also produced the double curvature reverse cone megaphones, made the entire bodywork out of aluminium. In Kay's own words these are too beautiful to merely funnel exhaust gases from engine to atmosphere; 'the noise is like a Messerschmitt chasing a Spitfire'.
  OK, just let me take it around the block, just once.
  I'll be careful.   I promise...