At a Paris, France bicycle racing stadium (Le Velodrome du Bois de Vincenes), the Hendee Indian recreates past Board Track glories. In addition, back in the day, motorcycles were once used to “draft” racing bicycles.
You can spot a vintage Indian board tracker racer a mile away thanks to its drooping handlebars as well as spindly “hardtail” bicycle type frame and narrow 2 ¼ inch tires. With clutchless ferocious motors and minus brakes, you counted on your feet when trying to come to a stop after 100+ mph. A splinter lifted up from the well-hammered timber boards could wreak havoc with bike and rider not to mention spectators.
There were two controls, a spark advance and a kill switch both used to control speed while leaving the throttle wide open. Of the “splinter” machines that carved their way across high-banked (65 degrees), oval wooden race tracks in the U.S. circa 1913-1930, they stand out as perhaps the most beautiful motorcycles ever made.
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