"The machines that ran on board-tracks were as specialized as the racing locations themselves."
The beginning of motorcycling at the turn of the last century brought along with it not merely our favorite form of transportation, but also an array of other fun-based activities that filled and complemented it. Board-track racing was one of those memorable recreation that combined Sport and Enjoyment in the motorbike world, and chiseled out a segment for the brave and bold.
According to the early velodromes, wooden trails used in bicycle racing in the later part of 1800s, this part of history was the rise of this kind of motorbike racing. At its very heart and soul, board-track bike racing involved speed competitions organized on oval wooden tracks made from 2 X 4 planks, and the trails were diversified in length from an 8th of a mile, quarter mile, and 3rd of a mile all the way up to two miles.
The grandstands for viewing were constructed on the top of the tracks, and the people gazed straight down on the competition to take it all in. The motordromes, as they were termed, were banked race tracks, which encouraged and accommodated speeds of over 100 miles per hour. The degree of banking varied by track but may be as intense as 50 degrees. Competition day often see hundreds and hundreds of fans because this was a hugely popular viewing event of the day. The manifestations of speed, bravery, and adrenalin pumped driving made for thrilling experiences. For individuals searching for intrigue and drama, there was nothing greater during the early teens.
The tracks were built close to highly populated locations in order to appeal to the largest potential audience. They needed huge crowds of people and high-volume ticket purchases to justify the cost of these monster tracks. A team of craftsmen was constantly repairing and changing the wooden planks, often in the middle of the race, from below once the competitors had passed over them.
The motors that raced on board-tracks were as specialized as the racing venues themselves. Tailor-made, factory-prepared motorbikes were constructed particularly to go to war on the planks.
These bikes were generally nothing but a body, a motor engine, a compensator sprocket, and a dual roller chain drive that drove the rear wheel. The sprockets widely used on the motorcycles, varied by track and range and came in sets that traveled along with the racers. The motors were factory-built specials; they improved over time to include the most up-to-date in motor racing technology. The F-head configuration gave way to the overhead valve setup, and OHV four and eight-valve motors appeared. These infamous motor engines were the supreme build for board-track bike racing, and these days both Harley and Indian 4 and 8-valve racers are the Holy Grail of motorcycle enthusiasts. Clincher tires, no brakes, and decreased handlebars spell out the design of a board-track racer.
The oldest advertisement I have seen selling a race-ready bike to the general public was for a limited-production 1915 Indian Model D-1 Speedway bike. The text ad bragged about "Dynamometer tested-20 Horsepower," and announced "We make certain this unit will offer a speed of 70 Miles-per-hour when it leaves our facility."
The track problems like oil-soaked boards made bike handling shifty (just like riding on ice in some instances); shooting splinters that felt like arrows kicked up to the rider's faces, eyes, sweaters, etc; chemical like residue from the planks stung their skin; and loose panels did everything they could to knock you off your machine as fast as possible. This gives you some idea of the hardships earned in the name of wining. Death was a continuous friend and occurred frequently that the tracks were occasionally termed as Murderdromes.
The collapse of board-track bike racing was a product of a mixture of events over a many years. The death of the famous racer Eddie Hasha and several youthful spectators at a motordrome in New Jersey, the continual cost and up-keep of the race track, the boost in attention of dirt track racing, and the trend of entertainment alternatives all sounded the death of the sport. By the 1940s, the last tracks were disassembled and board-track motorbike racing slipped into history but its legacy of speed and bravery will continue to encourage and drive us to further evolve the speed racing industry.
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