July 9, 2012
Updated - January 11, 2021
By: David L. Morrill
@ Deadly Dave's Blog
Sylacauga, Alabama
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| Gene Walker (right) Birmingham, AL. 1914 |
http://birminghamhistorycenter.wordpress.com/
The path that led me to it actually started several years before. I've long had a passion for early American racing motorcycles. These early racers evolved from bicycles and racing them was a deadly serious business. A few years back I purchased and early Harley-Davidson that had been converted for racing. A short time later, my friend Johnny Whitsett sent me some pictures of early Birmingham motorcyclists. Among them was a photo of a motorcycle race at the Alabama State Fairgrounds.
I was surprised to find out that Birmingham, AL. had held championship motorcycle races at the Fairgrounds beginning in 1906. As I started to try and identify the racers in the photograph, I ran across Daniel Statnekov's article Pioneers of American Motorcycle Racing. Daniel's work details many of the early racers and is a must read for board track racing fans:
In reading Daniel's article, I discovered the story of Birmingham native Gene Walker. During his 10year racing career, he became one of the top motorcycle racers in the country. In trying to learn more about Gene, I discovered he was all but unknown in modern Birmingham. I decided to try to find out more about him and share his story. The following article is the result of that research.
Gene Walker
Birmingham’s Lost Racing Champion
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John Eugene "Gene" Walker
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| Birmingham News - July 20, 1893 |
1910-1913
Gene Walker got his first motorcycle in 1910 and rode it to deliver mail for the local Post Office. He was run over by a car while delivering mail in January 1912.
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| Birmingham News - January 8, 1912 |
Birmingham had a history of motorcycle racing at the one-mile dirt oval located at the Alabama State Fairgrounds. In October 1912, Walker entered the amateur class of a motorcycle race at the
Birmingham Fairgrounds Raceway.
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| Birmingham News - October 4, 1912 |
Gene finished second in the five-mile race that day, but he would go on to win countless races in his twelve-year racing career.
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| Photo Courtesy of the National Motorcycle Museum 1912 Birmingham Race Trophy National Motorcycle Museum Collection |
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| Gene Walker (right) Stubbs Indian Birmingham, AL. Furman Family Collection |
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| Gene Walker's 1920 Eight Valve Indian Racer R. L. Jones Collection |
Early racing motorcycles were little more than large bicycles, with large powerful engines, and no brakes. They could reach speeds of 90 mph on the racetracks of the day and racing them was a deadly serious business. The races at the Birmingham Fairgrounds drew large crowds, who came to see the top amateur and professional riders lap the dirt track at a blistering pace.
By the fall race of 1913, Gene had established a reputation as the man to beat. His competition was established professional racers. Walker's sponsor, Bob Stubbs also rode for Indian. Joe Wolters and Charlie Balke represented Excelsior, with Arthur Mitchell ridding a Flying Merkel.
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| Arthur Mitchell - Flying Merkel Racer - O.V. Hunt ca. 1913 Georgia Motorcycle History Collection |
Walker won every race he entered during the weeklong fall program, beating all the established professional riders, and set a new lap record for the track. In doing so he earned the respect of some of the top riders in the country.
The following October, Walker
entered his first professional race, the F.A.M. (Federation of American
Motorcyclists) one hour race, at Birmingham. While he didn’t win, he was able
to set a new lap record, and ran with the lead pack throughout the race. Besides his racing, Walker also worked as a Motorcycle Officer for the Birmingham Police Department. He gained quite a reputation chasing speeders on the streets of Birmingham and the story of his police career was featured in a October 1, 1919, New York City Evening World Newspaper article.
In 1915, Walker was hired as a factory rider for the Indian Motorcycle Company, and moved to the company's headquarters in Springfield, Mass.
Walker’s first National win came in 1915 at
the F.A.M. National race in Saratoga, N. Y. He would go on to win several
professional races, and set several track records each year for the following
two years.
In August 1915, Gene Walker was among the eight Indian factory riders sent to the Chicago, IL. Championship race.
1914-1915
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| The Evening World (New York City) October 1, 1919 |
In 1915, Walker was hired as a factory rider for the Indian Motorcycle Company, and moved to the company's headquarters in Springfield, Mass.
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| Paul Braun Collection |
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| Pittsburg, PA. Daily Post - July 11, 1915 |
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| Motorcycle Illustrated - July 15, 1915 |
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| Chicago Daily Tribune August 25, 1915 |
1916
On July 4, 1916, Walker competed in the biggest race of the year, the 300 Mile Coyote Classic in Dodge City, Kansas. Walker's fifth place finish in the race was mentioned in this Harley-Davidson factory ad.
1917-1918
The next few years were quiet ones for Walker, as professional racing was curtailed for the duration of World War 1. As his mother’s sole support, Walker was not subject to the draft. He returned to Birmingham in 1917, working as a motorcycle machinist for William F. Specht Jr. at the Harley Davidson dealership on 3rd Avenue North.
Walker continued to compete in the races run during this period on a Harley-Davidson. On July 4, 1917, Walker traveled to Atlanta for the opening races at the new Lakewood Speedway.
Walker won two July 4th races at the one-mile dirt oval south of Atlanta. He returned to Lakewood for the Labor Day races, and claimed his first Southern Dirt Track Championship, and finished second in two other races. The day's first race was marred by the death of Atlanta Indian rider Ed Wilcox, who crashed into the fence on the outside of the first turn, while jockeying for position on the first lap.
At the end of 1917, Walker returned to work at the Indian factory in Springfield, MA. Walker remained there through 1918, working in the testing room. During the next year, Walker would help develop, and test, Indian's newest racers
With the end of World War 1, professional racing resumed in the United States. Walker returned to racing for the Indian factory in 1919 in grand style, winning six National Races.
In June 1919, Walker traveled to Atlanta to compete in the Championship Races at Lakewood Speedway. In the pre-race Atlanta Constitution publicity, Walker appeared with Atlanta Indian Dealer/Racer Harry Glenn Sr., Glenn's five-year-old son Harry Glenn Jr, Atlanta racer Nemo Lancaster, and black racer, Bones the Outlaw. Bones worked for Harry Glenn SR as a mechanic. He was one of Atlanta's famous Black streak Racers.
Walker dominated the Atlanta Races. He won the one mile, Five mile, and Twenty Mile National Championships races at Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway.
Walker also reclaimed the Southern Dirt Track Championship from Atlanta's Nemo Lancaster, and set a new Lakewood track record.
On July 4, 1916, Walker competed in the biggest race of the year, the 300 Mile Coyote Classic in Dodge City, Kansas. Walker's fifth place finish in the race was mentioned in this Harley-Davidson factory ad.
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| July 1920 Harley-Davidson Ad |
1917-1918
The next few years were quiet ones for Walker, as professional racing was curtailed for the duration of World War 1. As his mother’s sole support, Walker was not subject to the draft. He returned to Birmingham in 1917, working as a motorcycle machinist for William F. Specht Jr. at the Harley Davidson dealership on 3rd Avenue North.
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World War 1 Draft Registration
Ancestry.com
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| Atlanta Constitution - July 4, 1917 |
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At the end of 1917, Walker returned to work at the Indian factory in Springfield, MA. Walker remained there through 1918, working in the testing room. During the next year, Walker would help develop, and test, Indian's newest racers
1919
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| Atlanta Constitution May 31, 1919 |
In June 1919, Walker traveled to Atlanta to compete in the Championship Races at Lakewood Speedway. In the pre-race Atlanta Constitution publicity, Walker appeared with Atlanta Indian Dealer/Racer Harry Glenn Sr., Glenn's five-year-old son Harry Glenn Jr, Atlanta racer Nemo Lancaster, and black racer, Bones the Outlaw. Bones worked for Harry Glenn SR as a mechanic. He was one of Atlanta's famous Black streak Racers.
Walker dominated the Atlanta Races. He won the one mile, Five mile, and Twenty Mile National Championships races at Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway.
Walker also reclaimed the Southern Dirt Track Championship from Atlanta's Nemo Lancaster, and set a new Lakewood track record.
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Atlanta Constitution - June 4, 1919 |
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| Gene Walker leads Shrimp Burns - Atlanta 1919 Furman Family Collection |
In September, Walker returned to Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway for the Labor Day races.
Walker won four races, and set a new track record.
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| Atlanta Constitution - September 14, 1919 |
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1920
In April 1920, Gene Walker, and amateur rider Herbert McBride traveled to Ormond Beach, Florida for a speed record run. McBride was also from Birmingham, AL., and was picked by Walker to be his amateur teammate. Between April 12, and April 15, Walker, and McBride set twenty-four new National, and International motorcycle speed records. Walker was credited with the first official
F. I. M. World Motorcycle Speed Record of 104.12 mph. on a "stock" 61ci. side valve Indian Scout racer.
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| Gene Walker on Indian Scout Racer - Ormond Beach, FL. in April 1920 Don Emde Collection |
Walker also set a new National Motorcycle Speed Record of 115.79 mph. on a 61ci. eight valve racer.
All of McBride's amateur class records, where faster than the previous professional class records over those distances.
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| Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated - May 1920 |
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| Oregon Daily Journal - May 9. 1920 |
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| May 1920 Wigwam News Furman Family Collection  |
The speed records set by Walker, and McBride became
the center piece of Indian Motorcycle Company’s advertising that year. After the record runs, the Indian Power Plus side valve racers referred to as Daytona Indians."
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| April 1920 Indian Motorcycle Company Ad |
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| Motorcycle Illustrated - February 17, 1921 |
The record runs were filmed and presented at theaters across the country. No surviving copy of the film is known to exist.
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| Santa Ana, CA. Register - May 26, 1920 |
In June 1920, Walker won the half mile Championship race at Greeley, Colorado.
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| Greeley Daily Tribune - June 1920 |
On July 3, Walker set a new track record at the year's biggest race, the Coyote Classic at Dodge City, Kansas. In the race, Walker finished second, behind his former Indian teammate Jim Davis, who was now riding for Harley-Davidson.
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| Gene Walker Dodge City Kansas - July 1920 |
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The Hutchinson News - July 3 & 6, 1920 |
On September 12th, Gene Walker won every professional race at the newly opened Logansport, Indiana half mile dirt oval.
Logansport Pharos Tribune
September 13, 1920
At the close of the 1920 season, Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated magazine declared Walker a “Champion of Champions”.
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1921
The 1921 season started well for Gene Walker, who won all the races at Greeley, Colorado on May 3, 1921.
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| El Paso Herald - May 31, 1921
Controversy soon followed Walker's wins at Greeley. Indian insisted that Walker again compete in the Dodge City race in July. Despite his success at Dodge City the year before, Walker did not like the dusty conditions of the Dodge City track, feeling it was unsafe. Indian thought Walker had committed to Dodge City, but he notified them at the last minute he would not race at Dodge City.
Instead, Walker entered a race in South Bend, Indiana two weeks later. Walker was involved in an accident in the race, after another ride fell in front of him. This was his first accident in several years, but he was not seriously injured. Rumors began to appear in the press that Walker had been released by Indian for refusing to compete at Dodge City. Indian accused Walker going "Pot Hunting". They felt Walker sought an easy payday, against lesser competition.
In the June 13, 1921, issue of Motorcycling and Bicycling, an article on Gene's firing appeared under the Headline:
"Gene Fired From Indian Wigwam".
"Your refusal at the last moment to ride Dodge City after agreeing through Butler to do so has seriously embarrassed this company, consequently you deserve no consideration at our hands. Under circumstances, will require your services are no longer and thank you to turn machines over to Indian dealer, Mr. Schaub, to whom we are wiring today."
(Signed) HENDEE MFG. CO.
The article went on to state:
"Mr Franklin, and in fact the entire Indian organization, dislike very much to lose Gene Walker. They realize that he is beyond a doubt one of the finest dirt-track riders in the world, but this action , coming on top of two very similar cases a year ago, forced drastic action.
Gene Walker was an employee of the Hendee Company and as such was was subject to their orders. Therefore, to maintain discipline, the Hendee Company have been forced to sacrifice the services of a very valuable man in their racing Organization."
The article does not mention details of the previous incidents. Regardless of the bad feelings on both sides, Walker continued to ride Indians through the end of the 1922 season.
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| Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette - December 11, 1921 |
1922
July 1922
In July, 1922 Gene Walker broke Maldwyn Jone's World's Record for half mile tracks at Signac, New Jersey.
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| Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette July 21, 1922 |
Jones reclaimed the half mile record later that year, but that did not deter Walker. He finished out the 1922 season by reclaiming the half mile World record for Indian at their home track in Springfield, Massachusetts.
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| El Paso Herald - November 4, 1922 |
1923
Despite that success, Indian released Walker from their team for the 1923 season. The reason given to the press was Walker's refusal ride in the 1921 in Dodge City race. Walker returned to Birmingham. He continued to race and win races around the country on his privately entered 4 valve Harley-Davidsons.
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| Gene Walker - 1923 Harley-Davidson 4 valve Racer Don Emde Collection |
1923 Harley-Davidson Ad
Gene Walker continued to dominate the races he competed in during the 1923 season, and his name on a race flyer still drew big crowds of spectators.
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| Santa Cruz News - December 6, 1923 |
1924
Gene Walker started the 1924 season with a win for Indian at Championship race on the Beverly Hills Speedway oval board track at Los Angeles, California. Then, on April 13th Walker won two races at Ascot Speedway dirt oval in Los Angeles.
During the five-lap race Walker, and Harley-Davidson rider Ray Weishaar, were battling for the lead. Walker's Indian teammate, Johnny Seymour drafted past them. This caused Weishaar's bike to go into a wobble, and then skid into the fence on the outside of the track. Weishaar was conscious after the accident, and did not appear seriously injured, but died a couple hours later at the hospital.
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| San Bernardino County Sun - April 14, 1924 |
On June 7, 1924, Gene was
practicing for a race on the half mile dirt track at East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
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| Fairgrounds Racetrack - East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania Stroud Township Bicentennial Collection |
While taking practice laps, he struck the rear wheel of a tractor that had pulled onto the course, and then collided with a tree stump on the track's infield.
The severely injured Walker was transported to Rosenkrans Hospital. His wife Eunice, who was pregnant with their third child, traveled by train from Birmingham to Pennsylvania, and stayed by his bedside until his condition seemed to improve. Assured by Gene's doctors, that he would recover, she returned to Birmingham. When she got off the train in Birmingham, she was met by an Indian Motorcycle Company representative, who told her Gene had died of his injuries on June 21, 1924.
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| Scranton Republican - June 24, 1924 |
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Birmingham News - June 24, 1924 |
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| Motorcycling and Bicycling - June 25, 1924 |
On June 24, 1924, Gene Walker's family, and friends gathered at Elmwood Cemetery to say farewell to one of Birmingham's most famous sons. Birmingham Police Motorcycle Officers and the Birmingham Motorcycling Community escorted Gene's body to Elmwood. Walkers' friends, and fellow racers served pall bearers.
Gene Walker was 31 years old at the time of his death and was survived by his wife Eunice Harwood Walker and daughters, Ruth Jane, Eunice, and Elizabeth Gene Walker. His youngest daughter Elizabeth Gene was born seven months after her father’s death.
Gene Walker was 31 years old at the time of his death and was survived by his wife Eunice Harwood Walker and daughters, Ruth Jane, Eunice, and Elizabeth Gene Walker. His youngest daughter Elizabeth Gene was born seven months after her father’s death.
The newspaper in East Stroudsburg, PA. started a benevolent fund for Gene's family.
A few days after Gene’s death, Birmingham News Sportswriter Zipp Newman, eulogized the hometown motorcycle celebrity under the headline:
MOTORCYCLE RIDING HAS LOST ITS GREATEST STAR IN THE DEATH OF WALKER”
"Throughout his career, Walker always claimed Birmingham as his home and continued to send a portion of his earnings to his mother in Birmingham. He made the name Birmingham a household word. He saved his money and looked after his family."
In the June 25, 1924, edition of Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review a tribute to Walker. The author is identified only as Eee Bee.
After Gene's death, the Indian Motorcycle Company released a memorial ad dedicated to their lost racing team member.
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| Indian Motorcycle Company Memorial Ad - June 1924 |
In 1998, Gene Walker was
inducted into the American Motorcyclist Associations Hall of Fame.
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| Gene Walker's Headstone Elmwood Cemetery Birmingham, AL. |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZY-MUx8qk
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Atlanta, GA. Constitution
Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives
Birmingham History Center
Birmingham Ledger
Birmingham News
Chicago, IL. Tribune
Dave Dobner
Don Emde Collection
Elmwood Cemetery - Birmingham, AL.
El Paso, TX. Herald
Ft. Wayne, IN. Journal-Gazette
Furman Family Collection
Greeley, CO. Daily Tribune
Hutchinson, KA. News
Johnny Whitsett Collection
Logansport Pharos Tribune
Motorcycle Illustrated
Motorcycling and Bicycling
National Motorcycle Museum Collection - Animosa, Iowa.
New York, NY. Evening World
Paul Braun Collection
R.L. Jones Collection
San Bernardino, CA. County Sun
Santa Cruz, CA. News
Sara Thiem Collection
Scranton, PA. Republican
Stroud Township Bicentennial Collection
The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review
Youtube.com
Wigwam News
Epilogue:
In the month's following the posting of this article on the Birmingham History Center Blog, I made contact with three of Gene's Walker's Granddaughters, and one great granddaughter. While they had some information on Gene's racing career, much had been lost after the death of Gene's wife Eunice Harwood Walker. I was able to share articles and photographs with them. I had the honor of meeting Gene's granddaughter Sara Thiem, and her husband Warren as they passed through Birmingham on their way home to Bozeman, MT. Sara had been searching for her grandfather's grave for many years, and had all but given up on finding it. I was able to take her to her grandfather's grave in Elmwood Cemetery. During that visit, she discovered the graves of several other family members. It was a very touching experience to help her reconnect with her long lost grandfather.
Motorcycle Racing Historian Don Emde, shared this June 26, 1924 Motorcycle and Bicycling Magazine article on Gene Walker's death from his collection. Thank you Don. Without your assistance, this article would not have been possible.
New York, NY. Evening World
Paul Braun Collection
R.L. Jones Collection
San Bernardino, CA. County Sun
Santa Cruz, CA. News
Sara Thiem Collection
Scranton, PA. Republican
Stroud Township Bicentennial Collection
The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review
Youtube.com
Wigwam News
Epilogue:
In the month's following the posting of this article on the Birmingham History Center Blog, I made contact with three of Gene's Walker's Granddaughters, and one great granddaughter. While they had some information on Gene's racing career, much had been lost after the death of Gene's wife Eunice Harwood Walker. I was able to share articles and photographs with them. I had the honor of meeting Gene's granddaughter Sara Thiem, and her husband Warren as they passed through Birmingham on their way home to Bozeman, MT. Sara had been searching for her grandfather's grave for many years, and had all but given up on finding it. I was able to take her to her grandfather's grave in Elmwood Cemetery. During that visit, she discovered the graves of several other family members. It was a very touching experience to help her reconnect with her long lost grandfather.
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| Granddaughter Sara Thiem and Author visiting Gene Walker's Grave |
While researching this article, my wife Kim and I, spent several hours in the Birmingham Public Library searching their microfilm archive of the Birmingham News. We were able to locate the June 1924 article by Zipp Newman announcing Gene Walker's death. This article allowed me to locate Gene Walker's grave at Elmwood Cemetery and to share it's location with Gene's family. Thank you to the staff at the Birmingham Public Library Archive and the folks at Elmwood Cemetery for their assistance.
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| Birmingham New June 24, 1924 |
Motorcycle Racing Historian Don Emde, shared this June 26, 1924 Motorcycle and Bicycling Magazine article on Gene Walker's death from his collection. Thank you Don. Without your assistance, this article would not have been possible.
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| Bicycling and Motorcycling - June 25, 1924 |
Gene Walker is primarily associated with the Indian Motorcycle Company, having worked for both the local dealer and the factory racing team in Springfield, MA. However, when I located a copy of his World War 1 Draft Registration, Walker stated on it he worked as a machinist for the Harley-Davidson Dealer William F. Specht, Jr. at 1714 Third Avenue in Birmingham, AL. It also shows he was the sole support for his widowed mother, Martha J. Walker. He was exempted from military service, and continued to send a portion of his winnings to her in Birmingham throughout his racing career.
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| Gene Walker's World War 1 Draft Registration - Ancestry.com |
This is amazing. I found your article tonight and wanted to thank you for it. Gene Walker was my grandmother's first cousin whom she loved very much. I live in Shelby County, Alabama and have the family history back several generations. My grandmother was born in Birmingham in 1902 and lived there until 1920. She told me about the wall full of silver cups he had won at his races. About 1918 he tried to get her to take a ride around the track with him in Fairfield, Alabama, when she was a teen but she told him she was too afraid. She told me her Uncle John ( Gene's father) was killed when he got into an argument over the property lines of his farm in North Alabama. She knew that Gene rode an Indian. She was just about to turn 22 when he died in 1924. His mother's maiden name was Bridges. There were three girls and one boy, my grandmother's father, John Russell Bridges. Marshel in Montevallo, Alabama. My email is GoneToAlabama@aol.com
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