Customer Reviews

American Racer, 1900-1939

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..pacing, time, and distance. I focus on the starter, centered on his moves, I open the throttle..full. My motor launches, as from a catapult, almost ripping loose from my hold. My timing is of the essence, I see it, a flash from the starters gun, perfect timing. Cutting a hole through the pack of my competitors we have the lead. Full open throttle, and our speed is still increasing. We climb the boards, centrifical force pushing, I use the 62% banking as ammo, in my fight against force, and speed. Wreck ahead, I see both riders going down. Their machines wobble, ones going over the top, the other hits the boards hard. Splinters are flying, I partially close the throttle, and pick my path to avoid hitting downed riders, debris, and the broke-up motorcycle. Having no brakes, transmission, or other means of slowing down quickly I jockey clear of all...

To me, reading this book is like transporting in time. I become there. The year, 1912. The track, St.Louis, Missouri. The sport; Board track racing. Motorcycle racing, performed on tracks of wood. From 1/16mile in length, to 2 miles. Speeds reached in 1912? Lee Humiston, on Dec.30, 1912, at a 1mile board track in Los Angeles, became the first American motorcyclist to travel at 100mph(Excelsior).
This book to me, is a key. This key unlocks many, many, whys.