Today in motorcycle history, December 16, 2002

  


  

  Motorcycle racing legend, dealer and land-speed record-holder, Don Vesco dies.

  From Scrambles and TT races to being a factory rider for Honda, Yamaha and BSA, Don Vesco had the need-for-speed.  A serious need.

  In September of 1970, he set the motorcycle land speed record with a 251.66 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in a streamliner powered by twin Yamaha motors.  Less than a month later, the Harley-Davidson factory broke the record with Don's longtime friend Cal Rayborn in the saddle.  So, you want to play that way...
  ...in 1975, Don piloted the Silver Bird Yamaha, (powered by two Yamaha TZ750's), and broke the 300 mph barrier.  Still feeling the need for a "bit more",  he broke his own record, turning in a speed of 318.598 on a twin-engine Kawasaki.  That record would stand for 12 years.
  You would think he's got to be happy with  300+ mph run.  You'd be wrong.
  Fast-forward to 1999, at the age of 60, he set the land speed record for a wheel-driven car with his "Turbinator" streamliner powered by a Lycoming turbine helicopter motor, which hit 427.832 mph.  Ok, enough?  Not quite.  At Bonneville, in October of 2001, Don Vesco and his "Turbinator" set an FIA World Land Speed Record of 458.440 mph!

  Don Vesco was inducted into AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999.

Today in motorcycle history, December 11, 1922

  


  

  William G. Henderson, co-founder of Henderson Motorcycles and founder of Ace Motor Corporation, dies as a result of injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  In 1911 William and his brother Tom started Henderson Motorcycle Company in Detroit, Michigan.  By January 1912, the Henderson brothers were offering a 57 ci (934cc) in-line four-cylinder, chain drive model.  The in-line four and the long wheelbase would become the trademark of the company.

  On June 13, 1917, Alan Bedell rode his Henderson from Los Angeles, California, to New York City (3,296 miles) in seven days, sixteen hours and fifteen minutes, breaking the record set by "Cannonball" Baker on an Indian Twin.  Such a proud moment for the Henderson brothers that beer was free in Detroit that day.
  Despite their record breaking and endurance racing success, the financial effects of World War I took their toll.  Henderson Motorcycles were officially sold to Ignaz Schwinn, owner and manufacturer of Schwinn bicycles and Excelsior Motorcycles.  Production was moved to Chicago, Illinois.

  After heated arguments over the direction that Henderson was moving, William said, "Screw this.", packed up the truck and moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  In the fall of 1919, he started Ace Motor Corporation producing in-line four-cylinder motorcycles quite similar to the Henderson.
  On December 1, 1922, shortly after 11:00am, while test-driving his new design, the Ace Sporting Solo, he was struck by a delivery vehicle. Thrown from the bike, he was rushed to Frankford Hospital where he died a few hours later.
   Ace Motor Corporation ceased production in 1924.

Today in motorcycle history, December 10, 1962

  
  

  Columbia Studios/Horizon Pictures release "Lawrence of Arabia".  The film is considered by many to be one of the greatest and most influential films in the history of cinema.        Based on the life of T.E. Lawrence. The film depicts Lawrence's experiences in Arabia during WWI.  Lawrence's emotional struggles with the personal violence inherent in war, his own identity, and his divided allegiance between his native Britain and his newfound comrades within the Arabian desert tribes.

                   ***********************************************************

  Two months after leaving military service, T.E. Lawrence was fatally injured in an accident while riding his Brough Superior SS100.

  A very experienced rider (he had owned seven Brough Superior's previously) the crash occurred on a narrow road in Dorset, close to his cottage, Clouds Hill.  A dip in the road obstructed his view of two boys on bicycles, forcing him to swerve hard to avoid them.  Lawrence lost control and was thrown over the handlebars.  He suffered severe head injuries that left him in a coma; he died six days later on May 19, 1935. 

 
  One of the doctors attending him was the neurosurgeon, Hugh Cairns.  He consequently began a long study of what he saw as the unnecessary loss of life by motorcycle dispatch riders through head injuries and his research led to the use of crash helmets by both military and civilian riders.

  Lawrence's last SS100, registration GW 2275, is on display at the Imperial War Museum in London.

  The next time you're flipping from channel to channel and bitching about there being nothing to watch, I highly recommend renting/buying/borrowing/stealing "Lawrence of Arabia".

Today in motorcycle history, December 9, 2005

  


  


  

  The EICMA (Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo e Accessori) "Best of Show" winning concept bike, the Ducati Hypermotard, makes it's only North American appearance at the Long Beach (California) Cycle World International Motorcycle Show.

  Only a few hours after its unveiling, the Ducati Hypermotard, had already won its first important recognition.  The prototype designed by Pierre Terblanche was awarded the prestigious "Best of Show" at the "Designers Night" held by the Motorcycle Design Association.  The new Ducati jewel was chosen from the many new concept motorcycles proposed at EICMA, the 63rd International Motorcycle Exhibition.

  The Ducati Hypermotard was a radical concept bike that took power, aggressiveness, versatility and sport performance to new extremes. Taking advantage of the compactness and agility of a traditional Supermotard, Ducati upped the ante with leg-wetting street power thanks in part to it's 1078cc, fuel-injected, air-cooled,  90 degree twin.

  Supermotard's sexy styling can still make the blood boil.  However, this bike offered what no Supermotard could: speeds of 135 MPH, fuel injection and 100 horsepower and only 385 lbs of dry weight!

  Cycle World's review said it all, "The Ducati Hypermotard is  the most extreme mountain conquering, urban assaulting machine EVER."

Today in motorcycle history, December 5, 1975

  



                                    

  

                              

  On December 5, 1975, the last of the Triumph T150 Trident's are shipped out,  288 are destined for Australia and another 224 for the USA.

  A last minute management decision at Norton-Villiers/Triumph  (NVT) diverts them from those highly competitive markets to fulfill an order of Tridents for the Saudi Arabian police force (sadly, most police forces in the United Kingdom had already switched to BMW's, but some like the Yorkshire Constabulary still used Tridents).  Five shipments, totaling 450 bikes were sent to Saudi Arabia, but the last 130 were still in Britain when the Saudis cancelled the order - so NVT decided to sell them in the UK as the exciting, new Triumph "Cardinal".
  Much to their chagrin, in 1982, dealers in the UK were told to begin bringing the bikes back from Saudi Arabia. These bikes had low mileages, but were very poorly maintained and were totally encrusted in sand. Then in another great management decision, they were restored and sold as 'stock' T160's.  

 Severe thunderstorms rumbled across England as Edward Turner began rolling in his grave.
                              

Today in motorcycle history, December 4, 1988

 

 

 

  Hollywood actor, Reality TV star, human trainwreck, Gary Busey crashes his celebrity-special Harley-Davidson,  whacking his noggin on the Culver City asphalt.

 

  Gary Busey couldn't wait to "get in the saddle".  The mechanics had finished installing a windscreen on his customized $15,000 Harley-Davidson, and Busey wanted the bike right away.  So even though Bartels' Motorcycle showroom is closed on Sundays, salesman Gene Thomason opened the Culver City, California, shop to let another celebrity wannabe pick up his bike.  The actor hit the starter, waved, then wheeled the custom-painted black-and-cream motorcycle into the traffic on Washington Boulevard.

  Barely 100 feet out of Bartels' door Busey tried to make a turn around a bus, his 625-pound Harley went into a skid.  Instead of laying the bike down in the direction of the slide, as he should, "Gary high-sided," says Thomason. "The momentum threw him off.  He landed on the curb on his back and his head hit."

  After the crash, Thomason ran across the street and cradled the star's bleeding head in his arms (People Magazine look at me!). "He kept saying he wanted to get up," reported the salesman. "He's a tough guy."  He was almost not tough enough.  A CAT scan at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A. indicated blood clots between Busey's skull and brain, and that night he underwent 90 minutes of neurosurgery to remove the clots.  According to doctor's, luckily, there was no sign of brain damage.  Really?  Do they still stick to that opinion?

  "Actors go out and buy these bikes because it's become a status symbol," says Marjoe Gortner, a well-known Hollywood Harley rider. "All this macho stuff comes into play. You feel invincible on a bike—you're Marlon Brando.  Because they ride carelessly, I've stopped riding with celebs." Salesman Thomason takes such play-riding philosophically. "We get a lot of celebrities," he shrugs. "They all ride; they all crash."

 

  Did you know that before he was known as "Uncle Lobotomy" he was an actual paid actor who appeared in "Thunderbolt & Lightfoot" and an episode of "Kung-Fu".

Today in motorcycle history, December 3, 2000

 

 

 

 

  On a sunny and cool, 30 degree Sunday morning, approximately 25,000 riders roll up Western Avenue for the 23rd annual Chicagoland Toys for Tots ride. The ride/parade features a Mattel Hot Wheels bike (for the third year), a Santa Fe locomotive car, 12 Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade cable TV shows, and a Harley raffle. Bikers give and give, besides toys, $99,000 is distributed.

 

  But, it all began on...

 

  ....Wednesday, December 13, 1978, Ed "Aminal" Wisniewski, a Viet Nam veteran, organizes the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade in his southside Chicago motorcycle shop, Fantasy Choppers, which at the time was located at 2532 West 63rd Street. 

 

  There were six people involved in the first run;  Aminal, Puppy, Mark-Off, Princess, Namu, and Thor.  On that Wednesday afternoon, three friends, Aminal, Puppy and Thor left Fantasy Choppers and headed to the Glenview Naval Air Station in Glenview, Illinois, with a van half-filled with toys and "Aminal" riding Puppy's Sportster because his ride wasn't "fit for travel".   They had nearly reached their destination when the chain broke on the Sportster.  So, in order to complete the event, as a motorcycle run, Aminal was towed by Puppy arm-in-arm from the van for about three miles. They made it to the Naval Station and dropped off the toys.  36 years later bikers are still riding and donating regardless of the weather (or the occasional breakdown). 

 

  Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.