Today in motorcycle history, November 15, 1967

 



     

 The funeral of Thomas Bell,  President of the Road Vultures MC, takes place under the watchful eyes of Buffalo (New York) police.  From the Buffalo Evening News newspaper...

  BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - The slain president of the Road Vultures Motorcycle Club went to his grave Monday, the hearse carrying his casket escorted by 40 roaring cycles.

  Thomas G. Bell, a bearded, 24-year-old shipping clerk, was laid to rest in Buffalo's Forest Lawn Cemetery after a funeral service in which leather jacketed cyclists mingled with persons in conventional dress.

  Members of the Buffalo-based Road Vultures were joined in the crowd by representatives from motorcycle bands elsewhere in Western New York and Massachusetts, Ohio, Connecticut and Ontario, Canada.  Bell's funeral cortege was led by a motorcycle bearing a red flag emblazoned with a Nazi swastika. Next in line was a small flat-bed trailer carrying his flower-bedecked cycle. Before Bell's casket was sealed, someone placed sunglasses on his eyes and a Road Vultures sweatshirt on his chest, atop his blue suit and white shirt.

  At the cemetery, a club member stepped forward and poured the contents of a pint whiskey bottle on the metal casket, then tried to smash the bottle against the coffin lid, but without success.

  A mimeographed eulogy distributed at the cemetery said Bell "was born to be free and died to be free."

  Several plainclothes policemen stood by during the service.

  Also in the gathering were Bell's wife, Regina, and their 2-yearold son, Shane.

  Bell was shot fatally last Thursday night after, police said, he and two other Road Vultures stormed into the apartment here of Jack Edin, to retrieve an inexpensive watch.

  In the ensuing fracas, detectives said, Bell was shot in the back with a pistol by Edin's brother, Walter, 29. The other two motorcyclists suffered leg wounds.

  You know on that Monday any poor bastard on a bike, patch-holder or not, was pulled over by Buffalo's Finest. Tuesday's edition claimed 17 unshaven/suspicious/motorcyclists were arrested, mainly for traffic violations.
 

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Today in motorcycle history, November 14, 2014

  

  

  Priceless trophies snatched in robbery at National Motorcycle Museum near Solihull.  Bosses offer substantial reward for recovery of haul after thieves leave trail of destruction.

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   I wanted to post this story from the Birmingham Mail about the August 27 break-in to the National Motorcycle Museum.  It is an amazing museum that I highly recommend visiting. If anyone knows anything about the dirtbags that are responsible for this please speak up.


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  Priceless trophies were snatched and thousands of pounds worth of damage was done when thieves smashed their way into the National Motorcycle Museum near Solihull overnight.

  The robbers left a trail of destruction and fled with a haul of invaluable trophies - some of immense historical value to the industry and motorsport.

  Museum chiefs are still putting together a catalogue of items missing following the robbery and have offered a substantial cash reward for anyone information leading to the recovery of the haul.

  National Motorcycle Museum director James Hewing offering a £20,000 reward for their return. 

  It is thought the list of trophies, which were taken from glass cabinets situated in the foyer of the museum at Coventry Road, Solihull, include World Championship prizes and items of immense historical value.

  James Hewing, museum director, said the value of the trophies could not be measured in cash terms because many were irreplaceable. He appealed to anyone offered any of the stolen items to contact police.


  He said, “We are desperate to have the trophies returned as soon as possible. The robbery was a rough job and a lot of damage was done. Although the trophies may not have much meltdown value in metal terms, they are priceless when it comes to the heritage of the sport and the rich motorcycle heritage of the UK. We will offer a substantial reward for information that leads to the safe return of all of the trophies.”

  Many of the cups and shields were donated or loaned to the museum by leading motorsport figures.

  It is thought the thieves targeted the haul to melt down*.

  Adrian Rogers, the owner of Stafford-based 21st Century Glaziers, was called to the museum just after midnight to board up entrance panels smashed by the raiders as they broke in.

  He tweeted pictures of the ruined display cabinets in the hope of boosting the search for the stolen trophies.

  Mr. Rogers said, “Vast numbers of trophies from years gone by were taken. It appeared three or four cabinets were targeted. These items were on display for people to enjoy and the people from the museum were distraught. I tweeted the pictures in the hope that the power of social media would help the trophies be returned. They may well be melted down but all motorbike enthusiasts would want to see them back where they belong. I feel for them - people enjoy these things and pay money to see them. They would be hard items to sell because they are one-offs.”

  A spokesman for West Midlands Police said officers found windows to the museum shop had been smashed but the offenders had not been able to gain access to the main premises.

  Forensic investigators are examining the scene.




  *The clowns that stole the trophies and the medals thinking to make a small fortune probably didn't realize most weren't actually silver but silver-plate or nickel therefore, they had virtually no melt-down value what-so-ever.




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Today in motorcycle history, November 7, 2008

   

    







  The Kings of Wanneroo goes International as a large contingent of overseas riders head to Western Australia to compete at Barbagallo Raceway Wanneroo.  But, it's the sidehacks who steal the show!
 

  According to the Motorcycle Racing Club of Western Australia's press release this is only the second time in the history of motorcycle road racing at Barbagallo Raceway that such a large number of international competitors will compete in Western Australia.  Not since 1972 have WA motorcycle fans seen such a prestigious lineup when the Pan Pacific Series finale came to Perth with the likes of London born, US based Ron Grant riding a works Suzuki 750, UK rider Cliff Carr on a Kawasaki 750, Daytona 200 winner and AMA Hall of Famer Don Emde aboard his 750 Harley-Davidson, Malaysian Sonny Soh on a 500 Suzuki and New Zealander Ginger Molloy straddling his 750 Kawasaki.




  But, to everyone's surprise the most exciting match-up was a supporting act to the Kings of Waneroo - the third and final round of the Australian Sidecar Championship.


  Few people expected anyone to match the blistering pace of veteran World Championship competitors Shane Soutar and passenger Jeff Rowe.  Young local siblings Dean and Darren Walker soon threw that prediction out the window as the two Suzuki powered teams bumped fairings repeatedly throughout the opening laps of the first round.


  Soutar/Rowe eventually managed to break away in the closing stages of the eight-lap race, their fastest lap though being only .02 seconds faster than the Walker brothers best.  This was a first for the Walkers who were unaccustomed to any serious competition in WA, but this new challenge helped them step their game up a little higher.


  The Walker brothers smoked it coming off the line in the second bout and this time around it was Soutar’s turn to give chase. There was no way Soutar was going to be able to pass the home-grown heroes in the corners as the Walker boys virtually took up the whole track, their outfit completely sideways through the turns. Eventually Soutar managed to make a pass and without a broadsided sidecar in front of them at every turn, managed to break away from the Walker brothers to take the win.


  Victory in the second race brought enough points for Soutar and Rowe to claim the 2008 Australian Sidecar Championship.  While the Walker brothers took second at Wanneroo their overall season results placed them third in the Nationals.  At only 20 and 23 years-old the tandem of Dean and Darren injected some much needed young blood into the Australian sidecar scene. 

 
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Today in motorcycle history, November 6, 1921

   

  

  On an overcast Sunday afternoon at Brooklands, Major Frank Halford breaks the 500cc World Hour Record at 76.74 mph aboard a "Riccy", along with the 50-mile standing start record with a speed of 77.27 mph and the one-mile British record at 87.8 mph.

  Similar to the earlier SD model, Triumph's Model 'R', their first four-valve, 500cc, OHV motor was introduced in 1921. 

  The 21 bhp, four-valve head (with twin valves set at 90 degrees apart) was designed by Sir Harry Ricardo and Major Frank Halford with the idea of producing an engine which could maintain maximum power at sustained high speeds using a machined steel cylinder and an aluminum piston. The motor was nicknamed "Riccy" by it's two designers. 

  Sir Harry Ricardo was an engineer who developed the modern understanding of engine breathing and combustion processes.

  In keeping up with the Jones', BSA produces its first motorcycle, a side-valve 770cc V-twin using vertical valves, aluminum slipper-type pistons, one-into-two exhaust manifold, two independent oiling mechanisms. The "secret project" cost over 10,000 pounds and took 18 months. Initial tests at Brooklands had promised speed, but at the TT, it was sidelined by the end of the second lap as the result of melted pistons.  Should have kept it a secret.

 

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Today in motorcycle history, November 5, 1955

 


  

  Suzuki participates in racing for the first time with a special built works racing machine. Suzuki's racing debut is held at Asama. 

  Five riders from Suzuki participated in the 125cc class with the new Colleda SV, a racer based on the 125cc single cylinder 2-stroke Colleda ST.  The course used North Karuizawa as the starting point and was nearly 12 miles (19.2 km) long using unpaved public roads around the volcanic mountain Asama. The course was to be lapped four times.  Two riders started simultaneously at 30 second intervals.

  The first four places in the 125cc class were all taken by Yamaha, followed by Suzuki's team placing fifth, sixth and seventh.  For some unknown reason no lap times or speed were recorded, the results showed only the finishing time differences. Suzuki's Yasmashita was the first to cross the finish line 2.7 seconds after the winning Yamaha's.  Hideo Suzuki and Toshio Kamiya followed their winning team mate by .03 and .05 seconds. When the dust cleared the factory considered it a good first attempt, also Honda finishing last helped to bring a satisfying nod or two.




  It is said that Japanese road racing started at the 1955 Asama race.













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Today in motorcycle history, November 4, 1962

 

   

   

  

  Nearly 100,000 fans turn out for Japan's Suzuka Circuit's inaugural motorcycle race, the All Japan Championship Road Race.

  Ireland's Tommy Bobb, riding a Yamaha, wins the 17-lap, 102 kilometer 125cc Class race in a time of 52 minutes 9.0 seconds, Canadian Frank Perris, on a works Suzuki, finishes second with a time of 52 minutes 42.5 seconds.

   Jim Redman of Southern Rhodesia wins the 350cc Class aboard his Honda by .07 seconds over Homeboy Gen Kitano riding for Suzuki.  Jim Redman would claim Championships in both the 250cc and 350cc Class in 1962.

  

  Suzuka Circuit was originally built as a test track for Honda (at a cost of $15 million) and designed by Dutch racing legend John "Hans" Hugenholtz, the 5.8 kilometer 17-turn circuit is rare in that it features a Figure-8 layout utilizing an overpass under the back straight. This allows the circuit to be used in three configurations.

  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk

Today in motorcycle history, November 3, 2011

  
  

  

  In what was being hailed as the "sale of the decade", Auctions America by RM sells off what is a truly unbelievable collection of motorcycles, cars, parts and memorabilia – including the largest collection of license plates in the U.S., some 10,000! – amassed by collector Lee Hartung over 60-plus years. The collection includes 48 vintage motorcycles.

  Lee Roy Hartung, who died in May, 2011, at the age of 86, was a Chicago-area junk and scrap dealer with a keen eye for the rare and unusual. The scope of the collection, which he had displayed as a "museum" for years, boggles one's mind. Cars included a very rare BMW-powered 1950 Veritas (Latin for “truth”), a twin-grilled 1936 Lincoln Zephyr and a 1950 Edwards Roadster. The majority of the motorcycles were American, with popular names like Indian, Henderson and Harley-Davidson well represented. Among the foreign names is a 1904 four-cylinder Belgian FN in original running condition.



  Adjust your drool-buckets, a small example of the auction follows...

 A 1910 Thor single-cylinder went for $32,000, 1912 single-cylinder belt-drive Harley-Davidson, which the auctioneer claimed was "one of the best examples in the world, drew $100,000, a 1911 Flying Merkel, belt drive, V-twin brought a gasp-causing $175,000, 1904 four-cylinder FN with shaft drive-$48,000, 1913 Thor with the original sidecar - $47,000, a 1911 Pope Model H single-cylinder-$72,000, 1913 Indian V- twin, not running, missing fenders, handbars, controls, etc., still fetched an impressive $15,000, a super-cool 1926 Henderson Glenview Rural Fire Dept bike (even the motor was red), with the original fire extinguisher and first aid kit - $55,000, 1926 Henderson with no motor but, pretty complete frame, wheels, etc. - $26,000 and a 1921 Excelsior V-twin (Lee once told a guy that he called someone up, and asked him to take this bike away, for free) sold for $42,500.




  Then, at the end of the day, an old biker cap sold for $6,250.




  Today in motorcycle history proudly supports the National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). www.nabd.org.uk