Hill Climbing like jazz is an American invention. The idea is to get to the top of a very steep hill faster than the next rider. And you and the bike must arrive together.
It seems a fellow named Jack Fletcher got himself remembered when he rode his 1919 Harley-Davidson W Sport to the top of Mt. Baldy clearing some 10,000ft. That’s a hill.
So how did a 21-cubic-inch single cylinder motorcycle become a mountain climber? Initially designed as a “cuddly” 350cc single for the street in 1926, the versatile “Peashooter” could take on the personality of a Howitzer when formulated for Hill Climb competitions. While they were introduced in the hopes of bringing down speeds on board and dirt tracks to “safer” levels, that concept disappeared in a cloud of dust as tuners got to work. Capable of scorching 85mph on a flat track, these bikes were more inclined to a near vertical attitude as their massive chain clad rear tires chewed up 200-600 ft. hillsides preferably with their riders still on board.
“Fast and furious” was the name of the game and Harley played it to win. So popular was the sport that movie theater newsreels often included hill climb action especially the spectacular falls of bikes and riders back down the hill in question. One of the greats of Hill Climb was Joe Petrali who rode to many victories aboard his Harley “Peashooter” including National Hill Climb Championships for 1932-39.'
Introduced in 1926 the 350’s were Milwaukee’s response to Indian’s Prince of the same displacement. They came in two flavors, an economical sidevalve or flathead, the former for general lightweight transportation and the more ferocious race-oriented OHV version being the Motor Co.’s first OHV engine since the Sport Twin and the first OHV offered for sale to the public. A popular machine, exported Peashooters showed up in European speedway events and as well as daily riders for lightweight sportbike enthusiasts.
The standard Peashooter’s 350cc engine, with choice of magneto or battery ignition, was rated at 8 HP while the OHV version produced 12 and came equipped with magneto. This new single gained its performance advantage thanks to the special combustion chambers designed by British engineer Harry Ricardo. A design feature called a “squish band” created turbulence in the fuel charge resulting in a fuller burn and thereby greater horsepower. In addition the competition Peashooter engine featured pressure oil feed to all bearings except the wristpin and had a sodium-cooled exhaust valve.
As to the derivation of its nickname “Peashooter” that seems to have been inspired by the distinctive sharp crackling sound issuing from the exhaust, the name tagged when the OHV ran its first race in 1925. The following year the Peashooter had won six of 14 national championship 350cc races. In 1929 the first C-model, 500 cc Peashooter was introduced and ran neck and neck with the 350cc B-models until the factory pulled the plug in 1935. The lightweight sportbike was also seen as the right candidate for Hill Climb competitions and this example, built in homage to the heyday of the sport, is outfitted appropriately right down to the chains.
How much is it worth? At the June 2008 Joes Garage/MacPherson Collection auction it sold for a total with fees of $52,250.
Specifications:
Engine: 350cc (21 cu.in.) OHV Single
Weight: approx. 215 lb.
Top Speed: 85+ MPH
Secret Sidebar: According to historian/collector Daniel Statnekov, writing in his “Pioneers of American Motorcycle Racing,“Harley-Davidson did not have a motor with which to compete in the new 45 cubic inch class of racing. The company's initial effort was to modify their 21 cubic inch “Peashooter” OHV top end and combine it with their race-proven, 61 cubic inch 2-cam motor. The result was a hybrid 2-cam overhead-valve 45. Although the Milwaukee company fielded several examples of this motor in 1928, the H-D “hybrid” was not competitive with the Excelsior and Indian entries.” He goes on to report that in July 1929 Harley's new overhead 45 aka the “DAH,” made its debut in Pittsburg. It would go on to win the hillclimb event , Milwaukee scoring their first big win in two years.
The Bikernet 5-Ball Racing team is building a sleek Peashooter for Bonneville in 2009. Watch for reports in the near future.
