USA Tool Supply
Well-known member
I posted some pictures of our grandfather Fred Sathoff 1894-1986, who raced for the Harley Davidson company in the 1920's. They are in the album. Pretty cool, I think. Enjoy !
1920's Motorcycle Board Track Racing
- Thread starter USA Tool Supply
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thundermug
Well-known member
My great-great grandpa raced motorcycles in the 20s. I've got his leather jacket, although the seams are rotting. It just hangs in the closet. No pictures of him racing, that I'm aware of.
Nick Danger
Well-known member
Those board track racers were insane. They removed their brakes to save weight. If they crashed, they didn't get road rash, they got thousands of wood splinters.
Nick Danger
Well-known member
I can see missing boards in the third picture of Boardtrack Racing. Those skinny wheels would have just dropped right into the hole. That would be a sudden stop from 100 mph. 
Your grandfather's pictures are very cool. Thanks for sharing.
Your grandfather's pictures are very cool. Thanks for sharing.
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
My nephew races bicycles on board track velodromes. Not nearly as fast, but his significant other has had to pick splinters out of certain areas of the body !
I still enjoy motorcycle flat track racing, but you can't find it anywhere near where I live.
I still enjoy motorcycle flat track racing, but you can't find it anywhere near where I live.
eborcim
Well-known member
The article of Fred and the copper was good. Thanks for the pics.
djjsr
Well-known member
Great photos!
Anyone know if there are any board tracks in existence today? If there's not, there should be.
Anyone know if there are any board tracks in existence today? If there's not, there should be.
I don't think so...
AMCguy
Well-known member
These are fabulous photos. Thank you for sharing them.
Nick Danger
Well-known member
I think they all went out of business during the Depression.
scaron
Well-known member
i don't know much at all about board track racing but i love that old bruce brown film, on any sunday. any of y'all seen that? if you're into motorcycles and/or motorcycle racing it's a must-see.
OP
USA Tool Supply
Well-known member
Thank you for the replies. Yes, he told us about racers dumping their bikes and sliding down the track. He said he had seen splinters in the forearms nearly a foot long.
As for setting the track record with a sidecar he remarked, "that guy in the sidecar had a hell of a lot more guts than I did". It amazes me to look at those tires and image them on a wood track topping 100mph. When relating stories to us kids about racing back then he would simply say, " it wasn't a sport for the faint hearted " and then laugh.
I have his leather buckle-on shin and thigh protectors, two small round Harley Davidson logo sponsor pins, along with " Motor Cycling and Bicycling " magazines from 1918 to 1923. Great stuff. Thanks for checking the pics out.
As for setting the track record with a sidecar he remarked, "that guy in the sidecar had a hell of a lot more guts than I did". It amazes me to look at those tires and image them on a wood track topping 100mph. When relating stories to us kids about racing back then he would simply say, " it wasn't a sport for the faint hearted " and then laugh.
I have his leather buckle-on shin and thigh protectors, two small round Harley Davidson logo sponsor pins, along with " Motor Cycling and Bicycling " magazines from 1918 to 1923. Great stuff. Thanks for checking the pics out.
shoggoth80
Well-known member
Board track racing ended spectacularly. I think 6 people died in one race, some were spectators. I can't remember what year, or race...but it was a motorcycle race. The motordromes started shutting down after that. I don't think any exist anymore.