“The machines that raced on board-tracks were as specialized as the racing venues themselves.”
The birth of biking at the turn of the last century brought with it besides the most popular sort of transportation, but also a plethora of other fun-filled activities that filled and complemented it. Board-track racing was one of the memorable sporting activities that joined Sport and Amusement in the motorbike community, and etched out a segment for the brave and bold.
As per the first velodromes, wooden tracks used for bike racing in the later part of 1800s, the stage was set for the rise of this kind of racing. At its very essence, boardtrack races involved speed competitive events held on oval wooden trails made from two-by-four planks, and the trails were varied in lengths from an 8th of a mile, quarter mile, and third of a mile right up to 2 miles.
The area for watching were built on the top of the race tracks, and the people gazed down on the race to take it all in. The motordromes, as they were labeled, were banked tracks, which motivated and covered speeds of over 100 mph. The degree of banking varied by track but they can be as intense as 50 degrees. Race day could see tens of thousands of viewers as this was a exceptionally popular viewing event throughout the day. The demonstrations of velocity, bravery, and adrenalin pumped driving manufactured for exhilarating experiences. For individuals seeking intrigue and drama, clearly there was practically nothing much better in the early teens.
The tracks were built close to hugely populated regions in order to appeal to the largest feasible audience. They wanted massive crowds of people and high-volume admission profits to compensate the cost of these colossal tracks. A team of craftsmen was constantly repairing and swapping the wooden planks, often mid-race, from below once the competitors had passed over them.
The vehicles that competed on board-tracks were as distinct when compared to the racing locations themselves. Tailor-made, factory-prepared motorcycles were constructed particularly to go to war on the boards.
These motorcycles were in essence nothing but a framework, a motor, a compensator sprocket, and a dual roller chain drive that driven the backside wheel. The sprockets used on the bikes, varied by track type and distance and started in sets that traveled along with the racers. The motor engines were factory-built specials; they advanced eventually 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 popular motor engines were the supreme set up for board-track bike racing, and these days both H-D and Indian four and eight-valve racers are the Holy Grail of bike enthusiasts. Clincher wheels, no brakes, and dropped handle bars clearly define the design of a board-track racer.
The earliest ad I have seen promoting a race-ready bike to the public was for a limited-production 1915 Indian Model D-1 Speedway motorbike. The text ad bragged about “Dynamometer tested-20 HP,” and announced “We make certain this design will offer a speed of 70 Miles-per-hour when it leaves our factory.”
The track problems like oil-soaked planks made bike handling treacherous (almost like driving on ice sometimes); flying splinters that seemed like arrows kicked up to the rider’s faces, eyes, sweaters, etc; chemical residue from the planks stung their skin; and loose boards did everything they could to knock you off your bike as fast as possible. This offers you some idea of the sacrifices earned in the name of success. Death was a frequent companion and occurred frequently that the race tracks were occasionally termed as Murderdromes.
The end of board-track motorbike racing was a result of a fuse of events for a duration of many years. The death of the famous racer Eddie Hasha and four young spectator boys at a motordrome in New Jersey, the continual cost and maintenance of the race track, the boost in popularity of dirt track racing, and the evolution of entertainment options all appeared to be the death of the sport. By the 40s, the last tracks were taken apart and board-track motorbike racing slipped into history but its heritage of velocity and bravery continues to motivate and push us to further evolve the speed racing industry.
When upgrading your bike, make sure you install high quality parts and accessories like, brake cables, Z bars, chains, rims, and a lot more. This gives you the confidence and comfort knowing that you’re safe riding with products that will not fail on the road.
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