Trail Gazette - March 2012

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March 2012

President Gene Walker5531 Lardon Rd NESalem, OR 97305-3248(503) 428-6641(503) 371-4363

La

Vice President Gary Kelley20000 NE Jaquith Rd

Newberg, OR 97132-6694(503) 537-0802

(503) [email protected]

Sec

New

sha

A Love Story

I recently got an email from a fellow member

who had just purchased a motorcycle only a real

enthusiast could love.

1918 Indian Racer

He contacted OTC after using serial number data

on the website to identify the year of enginemanufacture as 1918. This motorcycle is of

particular historical significance as 1918 was the

last year Indian used Hedstrom-Hendee engines

in production. None were sold in the US beyond

1915/early 1916. The few that were made in1918 went to Australia, New Zealand, England

Board Track Racing

Bicycle racing on banked, woo

was enormously popular at th

century. Board tracks were coboards and banked up to 45°.

such as Fulford-by-the-Sea an

boasted unconfirmed banks oLater, banking angle was incr

effect of this change was high

and higher G-forces on riders

top of the track looking down

a rider lost control in a corner

off the track and into the crowMany of the first machines ide

motorcycles were built by bicy

used as "pacers" to train bicycmotorcycle race may have occ

pacers where on the track sim

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fulford-by-the-Sea&action=edit&redlink=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-force

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-force

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fulford-by-the-Sea&action=edit&redlink=1



Oregon Trail Chapter

March 2012

The Coliseum in Los Angeles, over a quarter mile

long, opened in 1909, followed immediately by a

one-third mile track in Springfield, Ma. In 1910,full mile tracks in Playa del Rey California and

Salt Lake City opened. Tracks up to two miles in

length were thrown up in 1911 in Oakland,Denver, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, and Detroit.1912 brought tracks to Milwaukee, Omaha,

Houston, Cleveland and Atlantic City.

Board track racing was lucrative. Race promoters

routinely made $10,000 daily in gate receipts.

High speeds and a lack of safety precautions leadto spectacular wrecks on the board tracks, often

Technical competition among

was just as fierce as the racin

for prestige led famous manuIndian, Excelsior, Cyclone, Th

Merkel to develop purpose-bu

with the highest attainable hocould squeeze from their motosuccessful as Indian!

On the Boards in Springfield Massachuse

By the early 1930s, board tra

out of favor, and into eventua

to both the danger and the hi

maintenance. However, severnotable aspects have continue

American motorsports philosoday, including: A technical em

speed produced by the steep track width to allow steady ov

competitors; and the develop

grandstands surrounding man

Rider Profile – Bert le

Herman “

born in Lodescent in

upholster

dealer Alb

Bert's grale Vack, a

locomotiv



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In 1912 Bert competed in the London to

Edinburgh Run and in 1913 was working withanother J.A. Prestwich (JAP) test rider at

Brooklands named John Wallace. At the outbreakof the First World War Burt and John turned their

talents to assembling and testing aircraft

engines.

After the war, Wallace designed a racing

motorcycle engine and sold the design to the

Portable Tool and Engineering Company of

Enfield Highway, who employed Wallace as their

chief designer. Bert le Vack helped withdevelopment and between them created the

Duzmo in 1920.

Towards the end of 1920 Bert moved on to theHendee Manufacturing Co at their London Depot.

In 1921, Bert le Vack set a new record on an

Indian 8-valve with an average speed of 107.5mph. The 8-valve, 61 ci. V-twin racer wasintroduced in 1911 and produced until 1918.

Indian sold these bikes to the public for $350.

Bert le Vack in 1920 on an Indian 61ci , 8-valve v twin

The 8-valve featured overhead-valve heads with

four valves per cylinder and was easily capable of speeds over 120 mph. In various forms, the 8-

valve was raced on dirt as well as boards with

The initial idea behind the fou

design Hedstrom pioneered fowas not gaining horsepower,

valve breakage. Exhaust valvethe extreme heat of racing te

Hedstrom's theory was severa

could better dissipate their hecooler running motor, more li

longer races. Hedstrom's theo

When valve timing was adjust

advantage of increased valve

valve design solved the heat pfaster.

Bert used his experience with

develop their British vee-twin Twin', so called because of its

Although le Vack only stayed

years, he played a significant success. JAP advertisements ishowed Bert on a Brough Sup

976 cc vee-twin JAP engine.

Described as a quiet spoken m

friends, le Vack became some

In a rare interview for The Mowith the title 'The Making of a

described his early days when

himself up by looking into a fu

with a match.

Bert le Vack rode for Brough S

keep T. E. Lawrence's Brough

rode for the leading manufact

including Indian, New Imperiaa time in Birmingham at the N

Bert went to Motosacoche and

the 1914 Isle of Man Tourist T

Motosacoche built racing moto

joined as a works rider, chief Bert le Vack perished in the S

September 17, 1931 while tes

A50 on public roads near the

http://www.duzmo.co.uk/






March 2012



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Upcoming Events

Check out these upcoming antique and vintage

motorcycle events. Date Event

March 10 OTC Business Meeting, Brooks OR

March 18 Vintage Motorcycle Show & SwapO'Connor Fieldhouse, Caldwell, ID

March 25 ABATE Swap Meet, Monroe WA

March 31 Clubman’s All British Field Meet San Jose, CA

April 14 OTC Business Meeting, Brooks OR

April 28 Mt Vernon Swap Meet. WVM Chapter

April 29 ABATE of Oregon Spring Swap Meet Portland, OR

April 29 Classic & Vintage Show & Swap Tsawwassen, BC

February Meeting Minu

Gene called the meeting to or

Attendees:

Gene Walker, Tom Krise, DonJackie & Chuck Hodson, Tom

Gary Kelley

Correspondence:

Shannon sent 5 email renewawill send one via mail. Droppe

Drouet.

Long time member Howard D

Grove passed away January 2been discussing purchasing m

memory of active members. M

be forthcoming.

Gary received email from a m

serial number data on our wedata to identify a bike he purcit restored locally.

Tony Kirk from Medford has hsigned up with OTC. Shannon

Treasurers Report:

TomR presented the February

Business:

We’re waiting for an AMCA bo2013 bid for a national. The v

Not too soon to think about a

Tom Ruttan reported on the L

The three auctions were well

rules for each, such as havingnumbers at Auction’s Americamarket has continued to softe

three years.

Meeting adjourned at 2:59.

March Business Meetin

The March Business Meeting iPowerland Texaco Saturday, M

Topics we’ll discuss:

http://www.amcaotc.org/events.htm



http://www.idahovintagemotorcycleclub.org/

http://www.bsaocno.org/


http://www.abateoforegon.net/default.html


http://www.classicbikeswapmeet.com/





http://www.idahovintagemotorcycleclub.org/





March 2012

Gold Rush Run July 12~14

Gary has signed a contract with the Village Green

for room discounts, drink vouchers and Saturday

Banquet plans. See the Gold Rush Run web pagefor additional details.

The RV Park is co-located on the site and is the

central location for road run activities. RV spacesare on a first come first serve basis. Reservationsare not taken in advance. The plan is for the first

to arrive to secure spots for the remaining

campers. RV rates are $27.50 per night. We willreserve an additional space for meetings andevening meals. Tent camping is not available.

Standard room rates are $109.00 per night,

$119.00 for a Deluxe. Rates include a continental

breakfast. Rates are based on single or doubleoccupancy. Additional guests are $10.00 perperson per night. City room tax is 10%. Check in

time is 3:00pm and check out time is 11:00am.Guests arriving before 3:00pm are

accommodated as rooms become available.

To reserve a room, call 1-800-343-7666 and

identify yourself as a participant in the Antique

Motorcycle event to receive the special rate.

Reserve your room before June 11, 2012.Members are responsible for their room

reservation, tax, and incidental charges at check-

out. A 48-hour cancellation fee is enforced,

additionally should any guest choose to checkoutprior to their confirmed departure date, a

checkout fee of $25.00 is charged. A deposit

equal to a one night’s stay or credit cardguarantee is required to hold each room

reservation.

Northern Rockies Run July 19~21

The Kaslo Hotel is run headquarters for the

Northern Rockies Chapter National Road Run. The

run officially begins at 1:00 pm on Thursday July

19. However, like most rides, some membersshow up on Tuesday and Wednesday for early

riding and tire kicking Run registration opens

OTC Forum Classifieds

By Our Members

1951 FL, 3 speed and reverse

Very nice outfit, runs great, frinterior of sidecar in nice shap

sidecar. Email gene@roguehainformation and pictures or ca

2 Scouts for sale.

45-inch in a 741 frame. Ne

wiring and misc stuff to gePainted a beautiful, $1500

52-inch in a 741 frame. H

front forks and wheel, TT w

and Jr. Scout tanks.

Contact Ben Beberness, bbeb

Editor’sNote:

OTC Forum Classifieds are ava

members registered on the O Advertisements posted on the

here when space is available. ads from the forum as soon a

the sale.

Board track display at the Harley-Davidso

Deadline for articles advertise

http://www.amcaotc.org/motorcycle_gold_rush.htm



http://kaslohotel.com/



mailto:[email protected]










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O r e g o n T r a i l C h a p t e r , A M C A

2 0 0 0 0 N E J a q u i t h R d

N e w b e r g , O R 9 7 1 3 2 - 6 6 9 4

Northern Rockies Chapter Road Run July 19, 20, 21 Kaslo BC

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Trail Gazette - March 2012