bikes now!
Featured in this film is a mix of mainly
color footage as well as some black and white
racing footage. Watch bikes such as the
Harley 45 WR, WLDR, WL, WLA, Indian 101 Scout,
Scout, and Chief battle it out! Please take
a look at some of the great images below
from this film.
The movie starts out with a segment at the
1948 Milwaukee National Mile race. I am not
sure who won this year, but I know that Chet
Dykgraaf finished 3rd. I believe some of
the riders that raced in this race are Bill
Miller, Joe Weatherly (#4), Greg Sassman,
Bill Huber(#7), Bobby Hill (#71), Johnny
Speilgelhoff, Turner (#77), George Strahle(#66)
and Bill Tuman (#51).
The 1948 Daytona footage is amazing! Who
would have thought anyone would get the chance
to see amazing color film footage of this
famous post-war running of the Daytona National
200 Beach Race. This was just the 2nd running
of the Daytona race since the war was over.
153 racers entered the race this year including
such famous riders as Ed Kretz, Canadian
Billy Mathews (Norton) , Ben Campanale and
the 1947 winner: Johnny Spiegelhoff. I young
rider that had not won this race before led
the race from the start. Floyde Emde led
the first batch of riders down the beach
straightaway on his fast Indian Sport Scout.
Billly Mathew gave it his best on his Norton,
Phil Cancilla pushed his Triumph to 6th place
and Rody Rodenberg raced on a BMW to 10th
place. He was riding one of only 50 factory
built Indian メbig base 641モ Sport Scouts
and raced with the #99. You can see him
clearly streaking by on the straight and
in the corners too. Floyd led from the start
and went on to win the Daytona Road-Beach
Title. The Indian factory estimate his top-speeds
in the strait sections as around 115mph!!
This race marked one of the last years where
Indians and Harley Davidson made bikes dominated
the winners circle. Using the メpauseモ option
on this DVD you can stop or slow-motion watch
bikes or sections of interest.
By watching the Daytona section of this movie
carefully, the following riders are identifiable
by watching their # plates: #99 Floyde Emde,
#9 Woody Simmons, #93 Phil Cancilla, #171
Walter Balchuna, #37 Rody Rodenberg, #7 Billy
Huber, #19 George Glass, #117 Paul Goins,
#155 Billy Armstrong, #118 Doc Savage, #
139 Richard Rodman, #116 Clarence Gordon,
#14 Lee Christian, #124 Stan Newton, #94
Frank Curry, #25 Babe Tancrede, #36 George
DeLong, #71 Bobby Hill, #22 Pete Chann, #46
Clem Murdaug, #186 Maurice Heffner, #67 Art
Keith, #162 Albert Weterberg, #189 Gene Warnell,
#57 Leo Anthony, #48 Leon Newhall, #54 Don
Smith, #57 Tex Luse, #88 Nich Pultorak. Some
of these riders and their bikes you can see
quite clearly, others are just a flash as
they race past the camera. If you know any
of these riders or their famous factory race
bikes, this is invaluable historic footage.
Fans of vintage motorcycle hillclimbs will
enjoy short color film footge of the York,
PA Motorcycle Hillclimb held in the summer
of 1947. See a number of what look like
Cheifs or Scouts blasting up the hill. Also
amazing to check out is a single run on a
rider riding a very distinct Harley Factory
Hillclimber. Only a few of these were ever
made. This is looks to be the 8valve DAH
motor in the twin-down-tube frame.
Other color and black and white racing film
footage all from 1948 at the Williams Grove,
KD Raceway, Richmond dirttrack, Millville
Raceway rounds out this amazing movie. Also
BONUS FOOTAGE!!: See some funny and crazy
motorcycle action from the 1956 Meriden,
Connecticut 'Great Eastern Championship
Enduro'. Lot of muddy guys out having way
too much fun on their mainly English built
bikes: Triumph, AJS etc.
That is it! Have a look at some of the still
photos below from this great movie. You won't
be dissapointed. The DVD is just over 1/2
hour in running time. When is the next time
you are going to see your favorite bikes
racing in color??!! The quality is quite
good, but please remember this is not a modern
professional hollywood movie this is original
family home film that is almost 60 years
old so please keep that in mind with regards
to quality. OK back to the garage for me!
All images and film footage are copyrighted
Disaster Productions with all rights reserved.
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