Racing Comes to the Big Easy - Episode #45

January 18, 2022

By: David L. Morrill
@MototiqueRacing

Ocala, Florida

As a young man growing up in the South, I've heard countless tales of drunken debauchery centered around the Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana, affectionately known as "The Big Easy." The Mardi Gras celebrations in the Crescent City go back to the 1730s. So, you might ask, what does that have to do with early motorcycle racing. Turns out it may be more than you think.

It appears from press accounts that the first motorcycle race to be held in New Orleans was scheduled for September 28, 1902, at the Athletic Park Stadium at the intersection Tulane Avenue and Scott Street in the Mid-City District of the City.

New Orleans Time-Democrat - September 28, 1902

This is very early for an American motorcycle race as Indian Motocycle had only been founded in 1901, and Harley-Davidson would not be founded until 1903. It is unclear if the race took place, as the results were not covered in the local press.

By the early 1908, New Orleans had two one-mile dirt oval horse tracks. One was located in City Park, and the other was located at the Fairgrounds. Both tracks hosted horse racing, and betting on the results was a common occurrence. Over the years, horse racing was seen by many of New Orleans' more devout residents as a corrupting force, full of gamblers, loan sharks, and other unsavory characters. In 1908, the Louisiana Legislature passed the Locke Law banning horse racing in the State for 5 years. With their livelihood threatened, the track operators looked for another use for their facilities.

Diagram of the New Orleans Fairgrounds Racetrack

On this site since 1852
New Orleans Jazz Fest

Automobiles were becoming more common, and the sport of automobile racing was gaining nationwide popularity, so the track operators decided to stage an Automobile Speed Carnival at the Fairgrounds racetrack on during the Banner Day celebrations in November 1908.

The New Orleans, LA. Times-Democrat - November 7, 190

As part of the Carnival, the promoters included a match motorcycle race between professional racers Russ Smith, and Arthur Redfern. They would ride special five-, and seven-cylinder motorcycles. These special bikes were probably built around modified automobile engines.

The Times-Democrat - October 23, 1908

On November 7, 1908, Russ Smith, and Arthur Redfern, raced around the one mile for track five laps. Redfern came across the finish line as the winner of New Orleans' first professional motorcycle race. The event received national coverage in the motorcycling press of the day.

Motorcycle Illustrated - December 1, 1908

The Times-Democrat - November 8, 1908

In 1909, New Orleans decided to hold the Speed Carnival at the Fairgrounds in conjunction with the annual Mardi Gras celebrations. It does not appear that motorcycles would be included in the Mardi Gras Speed Carnival for 1910, but by November there were plans for a winter professional racing series at the City Park racetrack.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - November 12, 1910

For the 1911, Mardi Gras Speed Carnival, it was announced that two motorcycle races would also be run each day of the carnival. Not only would there be motorcycle racing, but top racers from throughout the country would be competing in the carnival at the Fairgrounds racetrack.

Among the racers entering the races was New Orleans native son, Arthur Mitchell, who would be competing in the carnival at the Fairgrounds racetrack. Mitchell was one of the top races in the South and was making a name for himself riding Flying Merkel racers on dirt, and board tracks around the country. This would be his chance to race in front of a hometown crowd.

Arthur Mitchell of New Orleans, LA. with his Flying Merkel Racer

Chris Price @ Archive Moto

Mitchells' chief competitor for the title of Southern Racing Champion, was Robert Stubbs of Birmingham, Alabama. Stubbs was a member of the Indian Motocycle Racing team that set numerous speed records for Indian at the 1909 Ormond Beach, Florida Speed Carnival.

Robert Stubbs - New Orleans, LA. Fairgrounds Racetrack 1911

Chris Price @ Archive Moto

Athur Chapple of Boston, Massachusetts was an established national racing star and a former Indian teammate of Robert Stubbs at the 1909 Ormond Beach Speed Carnival.

Arthur Chapple - Ormond Beach, FL. 1909

Chris Price 2 Archive Moto

Eddie Hasha, a young man from Waco, Texas was an up-and-coming star in the professional motorcycle racing. Known as the "Texas Cyclone", Hasha had defeated Bob Stubbs in a 1910 race in Waco, on a Harley-Davidson racer lent to Hasha by Harley-Davidson co-founder Arthur Davidson.

Eddie "The Texas Cyclone" Hasha

Chris Price @ Archive Moto

The upcoming Mardi Gras motorcycle races received plenty of coverage in the local newspapers.

The Times-Democrat - January 1, 1911

New Orleans native son, Arthur Mitchell, was the first of the motorcycle race competitors to have his photo in The Times-Democrat on January 1, 1911. Others soon followed.

The Times-Democrat - January 18, 1911

The Times-Democrat - February 6, 1911

The Shreveport, Louisiana Times included an article on the upcoming event at New Orleans Mardi Gras in their February 11, 1911, edition.

The upcoming Mardi Gras races also received coverage in the national motorcycling press. The January 28, 1911, edition of Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review reported Arthur Chapple had sailed from New York to New Orleans with a couple of racing machines.

The February 18, 1911, edition of The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review reported that the Fairgrounds racetrack had received state of the art timing equipment. The article also featured a photo of New Orleans racer Val Jensen on his Indian racer.

The Times-Democrat - February 17, 1911

New Orleans, LA. Herald - February 23, 1911

1912, would bring about the end of professional motorcycle races in the Big Easy. With the competitors reaching 100 miles per hour, just feet from spectators, it was only a matter of time before disaster struck. That happened on September 8, 1912, at the Valisburg Motordrome in Newark, New Jersey, As reported in the New Orleans Times-Democrat the horrendous accident killed Eddie Hasha, and another rider. The motorcycles were hurdled into the crowd killing six spectators and injuring numerous others. 

Times-Democrat September 9, 1912

Less than a year later a similar accident happened during a professional motorcycle race at the Lagoon. Motordrome in Ludlow, Kentucky. In this accident, two riders and eight spectators were killed. Flaming gasoline from one of the motorcycle's ruptured fuel tanks doused the crowd burning thirty-five spectators. While these accidents took place on the circular wooden Motordromes, the dirt oval horse tracks had a seen their share of dead riders and spectators over the years. 

The flurry of lawsuits and criminal prosecutions that followed the Newark and Ludlow accidents may have convinced the local promoters that the risk of prosecution and or financial disaster was too great. While an occasional amateur race would take place in New Orleans professional motorcycle racing ceased. The approach of America's involvement in World War One, would cause a near disaster in the American Motorcycle Industry, as their customers were drafted, and new motorcycles and parts went to the war effort. Motorcycle dealers across the country closed their doors, and racing was curtailed. 

New Orleans racer Arthur Mitchell went on to become an official of the Federation of American Motorcyclists, which sanctioned amateur and professional motorcycle racing.

For more information on the tragic Newark and Ludlow accidents see Episode # 19 Motordrome Racing's Darkest Days at the link below:

https://dlmracing.blogspot.com/2013/11/motordrome-racings-darkest-days-newark.html

Sources:

Chris Price @Archive Moto

The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - Smithsonian Collection

Motocycle Illustrated

New Orleans Herald

New Orleans Jazz Fest

New Orleans Times-Democrat

Newspapers.com 

Harley-Davidson's First Racer - The 1910 Model 6E Factory Stock Racer - Episode #42

By: David L. Morrill
@Mototique

Updated: November 2017

Thurman Constable - Union City, Indiana
Motorcycle Illustrated - November 26, 1910

One of the great mysteries of early Harley-Davidson racing history, is the 1910 Model 6E Factory Stock Racer. While Harley-Davidson had been involved with endurance, and reliability competitions from their very beginnings, they had steadfastly avoided direct involvement in the deadly business of professional racing on the early dirt, and board tracks. By 1910, Harley could no longer ignore the value of race wins in driving sales of production motorcycles. With numerous companies offering specialty racing bikes through their dealers to both factory riders, and select privateer racers, there was plenty of competition.

When the 1910 product line was announced by Harley-Davidson, few people noticed the inclusion of the Model 6E in their lineup, but to a few privateer Harley racers, it would be welcome news. When the 1910 model specifications were listed on a two page spread in the edition January 15, 1910 of Motorcycle illustrated, there was nothing that identified this model as a specialty racer. It was one of five single cylinder belt drive bikes with a rated four horsepower. All featured a 30ci. displacement with either magneto, or battery ignition, and were offered for sale through their network of Harley-Davidson dealers.

Motorcycle Illustrated - January 15, 1910
Page 1 (cropped)

The only thing that seemed to separate the Model 6E, from the four other single cylinder models, was a was a list price of $275. This was $25. more than the other single cylinder models.

Motorcycle Illustrated - January 15, 1910
Page 2 (cropped)

But word was already tricking down through Harley's dealers, who were involved in racing that help was on it's way. Within Harley-Davidson the new model was referred to as Model 6E - Factory Stock Racer, 30ci F Head Single.

In April, 1910 the new racer made it's first foray to the winner circle on the 1/3 mile banked dirt oval tack Tuileries Park dirt track in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Harley-Davidson dealer, and privateer racer, Walter Whiting, rode one of the new racers to a win in the  Five Mile Amateur Race for Stock Machines. The event results were published in the April 16, 1910 edition of Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review, however Whiting was miss-identified as "J. Whiting" in the article.

Bicycling World & Motorcycle Review - April 16, 1910

On Decoration Day 1910, a grueling 112 Mile Road Race was held from from Denver to Greeley, Colorado that was open to both amateur, and professional riders.  Walter Whiting, again grabbed the spotlight finishing first, followed by his business partner, W. S. Wunderle  also riding one of the Harley-Davidson dingle cylinder racers. What made this win most noteworthy, was that both Whiting and were amateur riders riding single cylinder machines. Whiting, and Wunderle, beat the top finishing professional rider Joe Wolters time, who rode a twin cylinder Flying Merkel, by just short of ten minutes.  The event was covered in an article in both the June 4, 1910 edition of Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review, as well as the June 15, 1910 edition of Motorcycle Illustrated.

Author's Note: These large articles are more easily read by clicking on the article to enlarge it.

Bicycling World & Motorcycle Review - June 4, 1910

The Motorcycle Illustrated featured one of the few photographs on the new racers.

Motorcycle Illustrated - June 15, 1910

Harley-Davidson was quick to tout their victory over an established professional racer on a twin cylinder bike in their advertising. An ad in the June 11, 1910 edition of Bicycling World & Motorcycle Review mentions the wins at both the Tuileries track and the Denver to Greeley Road Race.

Bicycling World & Motorcycle Review - June 11, 1910

There was also an ad touting the the Denver to Greeley Road race win in the July 1, 1910 edition of Motorcycle Illustrated.

Motorcycle Illustrated - July 1, 1910

In September 1910, a little known event involving the the Model 6E Factory Stock Racer, took place. Out in Waco, Texas a young rider named Eddie Hasha, was making name for himself winning races in the Dallas on both an Indian Single, and an Indian twin.

Eddie Hasha - 1912
Chris Price @ Archive Moto

Hasha's chief competitor, was the acknowledged Southern Champion Robert Stubbs, who was a former member of Indian's Racing Team, that set several new speed records for Indian at Ormond Beach, Florida in 1909.

Robert Stubbs - Ormond Beach, Florida - 1909
Chris price @ Archive Moto

As the Birmingham, Alabama Indian dealer, and a former Indian Racing Team member, Stubbs had access to the latest versions of Indian racing bikes. This was making it tough for Hasha to compete with Stubbs, especially in the single cylinder race.  Harley-Davidson co founder Arthur Davidson had befriended Hasha, early in his career. Davidson shipped one of the 6E single cylinder racers to Hasha in Waco.  How this came to pass, has never been revealed.  Over a three day event starting on August 29, 1910, Hasha cleaned house against Stubbs, and the other competitors. Hasha won all three single cylinder professional class races with the Harley-Davidson, and a couple of professional class races on his Indian twin. The event was reported in a short article in the September 15, 1910 edition of Motorcycle Illustrated.

Motorcycle Illustrated - September 15, 1910

The fact that Arthur Davidson had provided Hasha a single cylinder racer was not picked up by the press. It may not have been lost on Stubbs, who would have passed it on to Indian's Race Department. This appears to have been the only time, Hasha rode the Harley single, as returned to riding an Indian single in the remaining races that season. Whether this was due to pressure from Indian, or the fact Harley did not have a twin cylinder racer is unknown, but Hasha would remain an Indian rider for the remainder of his career. Over the next couple of years, Eddie Hasha rose to the top ranks of professional racing on the newly introduced steeply banked circular board tracks known as Motordromes.

On September 8, 1912, Hasha was killed, along with fellow racer Johnnie Albright, and six young spectators in an horrendous accident at the Vailisburg Park Motordrome in Newark, New Jersey.  In the aftermath of Hasha's death, Arthur Davidson penned a memorial editorial to his friend, which appeared in the Harley-Davidson Dealer's News in October 1912. In that editorial, the story of the 1910 Waco race was finally revealed:

"The News that Eddie Hasha, John Albright and six spectators met death at the Vailisburg Park Motordrome, at Newark, N.J. on September 8th, was no doubt startling to everyone, but to non more than the writer for the reason that a close friendship had existed, for some time, between Hasha and myself, dating back to the time at dallas, Texas, when Hasha was starting his racing career. At that time we had a racing machine shipped to Dallas, and Eddie Hasha was given a chance to ride against Robert Stubbs, and defeated him. From then on his entry into the racing game was fast and remarkably successful. Not very long ago, Mr. Hasha took up the selling of Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Dallas, but the race track fever got him again and he went back to it. And, while it was with very deep regret that I heard the story of his death, as well as that of John Albright, I was not a great deal surprised, as I had expected it to come in the course of events. But to cause the death of spectators was more than any of us had predicted."

Arthur Davidson Editorial - Harley-Davidson Dealer News - October 1912.

The fellow who appears to have had the most success, with the Harley single cylinder racer was one Thurman Constable of Union City, Indiana. The 1910 Racing Season, was Constable's first season as a professional racer, he logged 52 First Place finishes, in 56 events. His photograph appeared in the November 26, 1910 edition of Bicycling World & Motorcycle Review. This maybe the only photograph of the Model 6E Factory Stock Racer in track racing trim.

Bicycling World & Motorcycle Review - November 26, 1910

He also appeared in an article in the December 1, 1910 edition of Motorcycle Illustrated.

Motorcycle Illustrated - December 1, 1910

Despite the fact, that only a handful of Model 6E factory stock Racers were produced, it appears to have been highly successful. Although, it was always billed as "stock" it's success against highly developed single cylinder racers ridden by seasoned professional riders, leads one to believe that the rated stock 4 horsepower, was a a bit of an understatement. The internal secrets of these early racers have been lost to time. However, they allowed both privateer amateur, and professional racers to purchase a competitive Harley-Davidson racer through their local dealers.  The race wins gave Harley-Davidson a performance image to go along with their reputation for endurance and reliability. As racing improves the breed, surely the lessons learned with these racers, were incorporated into the later production singles.

The Model E single racer did not appear in the 1911 models. The emphasis in racing was moving to twin cylinder racers. They could reach much higher speeds of the newly popular Motordrome boards tracks, and the ever increasing speeds, and subsequent danger, filled the stands with paying spectators. It is clear from Arthur Davidson's editorial on Hasha's death, that Harley-Davidson had no interest in being involved in Motordrome racing.

I am not aware of any surviving Model 6E racers. The identifiers, that would separate them from a normal 1910 Model 6 single are pretty much unknown.  If one of these early racers did turn up, with a verifiable provenance, it would surely command a princely sum.  If that racer could be verified as  the one Eddie Hash rode in the 1910 Waco race, it would be the rarest bit of early Harley-Davidson racing history.

Sources:

Bicycling World & Motorcycle Review

Chris Price @ Archive Moto

Google

Harley Davidson Dealer News 

Motocycle Illustrated

Tech's Web Harley-Davidson VIN Info 1903 - Present

Montgomery, Alabama's Van Diver Park Race Track - Episode #40

By: David L. Morrill
@ Mototique

Updated - February 17, 2017

This episode is a continuation of my search for early Alabama motorcycle racing history.

In the early 1900s, motorcycle racing was sweeping the country drawing large crowds of spectators to local horse tracks, and the new wooden  motordromes. By 1909, Birmingham, Alabama was the established motorcycle racing capital of Alabama. The Alabama State Fairgrounds Raceway began holding motorcycle races in July 1907. Birmingham Indian Motocycle dealer, Robert Stubbs, was recognized as the Southern Champion. Stubbs was a member of the Indian Factory Racing Team, that set several speed records at Ormond Beach, Florida in March of 1909.

Robert Stubbs - Ormond Beach, Florida - March 1909

Chris Price @ Archive Moto

Montgomery, Alabama's Capital City, would soon follow Birmingham in embracing the motorcycle racing craze. In 1907, the legislature of the State of Alabama passed a bill funding upgrades to fairgrounds around the State of Alabama. The Montgomery County Fairgrounds was the recipient of $8,500. to up grade their facilities. Among the improvements added in the next year, was a large horse track. The exact length, and dimensions, of the Montgomery County Fairgrounds track at Vandiver Park are lost to time, but from the few surviving photos, it appears to be a 1 mile oval dirt track. Horse racing was a popular fair exhibition, and with the increasing popularity of automobile racing, the Vandiver Park track also began hosting automobile meets. Motorcycle racing was soon to follow.

In May of 1909, a motorcycle race was included at the Fairgrounds race track Automobile Meet. Bob Stubbs traveled to Montgomery, and "easily won the 5 mile handicap." Stubbs also rode a 5 Mile Exhibition for the crowd that day.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - May 5, 1909

When the professional motorcycle races held in conjunction with the 1910 Montgomery County Fair during October rolled around, Bob Stubbs again dominated, and his win received coverage in the national racing press.

Motorcycle Illustrated - November 1, 1910

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - October 29, 1910

With the formation of the Montgomery Motorcycle Club in mid 1911, amateur racers were ready to tackle the big  dirt oval. The club held a members only session at Vandiver Park in late August 1910, and planned a regular race in September. These events were mentioned in the September 7, 1911 edition of Motorcycle Illustrated magazine.

Motorcycle Illustrated - September 7, 1911

On September 26, 1911, the club hosted it's first amateur race. The proceeds from the race went in support of the Anti-Tuberculosis League of Montgomery.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - September 9, 1911

In October, 1911, the Montgomery County Fair returned to the Capital City, hosting both amateur, and professional motorcycle races. Just a week before the fair, Bob Stubbs, received a serious eye injury during a race at Birmingham. While Stubbs was on his way to a full recovery, his wife convinced him to retire from track racing. This opened the door for one of Stubbs' sponsored riders, Gail Joyce to replace Stubbs.

Bob Stubbs Indian Riders -Birmingham, AL. ca. 1913

Richard Gayle, Gail Joyce, Gene Walker

Furman Family Collection

This would not be a cake walk for Gail Joyce. He would face serious competition at the Montgomery race from Texas rider Eddie " The Texas Cyclone".  Hasha, who was quickly proving he was one of the best riders in the south. In September of 1910, Hasha had defeated Bob Stubbs at Waco, Texas riding an early Harley-Davidson racer loaned to him, by Harley-Davidson co founder Arthur Davidson.

Motorcycle Illustrated - September 15, 1910

This was a rare move for Harley-Davidson, who had up to that point had avoided the deadly business of track racing. For the Montgomery race, Hasha, like Gail Joyce, would be back on his Indian twin cylinder racer.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - October 28, 1911

When Hasha, and Joyce squared off on the track, later that week, Hasha won three races, with Joyce claiming two races. Period press accounts sometimes confuse Gail Joyce's first name, with his Stubbs Indian teammate Richard Gayle's last name.

Eddie " The Texas Cyclone" Hasha - 1912

The next race event held was held in conjunction with an aviation, and automobile exhibition at the Spring Celebration on March 4, 1912.

Motorcycle Illustrated - March 7, 1912

That event was followed up on March 10, 1912, holding the races that had been rained out the previous weekend.

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - March 16, 1912

Sadly, on September 9, 1912, Eddie "The Texas Cyclone" Hasha, along with fellow rider Johnnie Albright, and 5 spectators were killed in a horrendous crash at the Vailsburg Park Motordrome board track in Newark, New Jersey.

Asbury Park, New Jersey Press - September 9, 1912

I have been unable to find any further mention of motorcycle races at the Vandiver Park track in the period motorcycle press. There is however one item I found, which may explain why the track did not hold more races. During the 1912 Montgomery County Fair, Aviator Louis Mitchell was killed in a crash barnstorming over the Fairgrounds track. This followed a similar fatality during the fair in Birmingham a week earlier. Some ten thousand spectators observed the Vandiver Park crash, and City father's may have re-evaluated such dangerous exhibitions, and races.

Greenville, Alabama Advocate - October 30, 1912

The racetrack at Vandiver Park had been used as a training site for Alabama National Guard units beginning in the early teens. With America's build up to entering World War 1, the Vandiver Park racetrack/Montgomery County Fairgrounds site was condemned. It was taken over by the United States Army, as a training site in 1916, and renamed Camp Sheridan. It was just 50 years from the end of the Civil War, and having a U. S. Army camp named after a prominent Yankee general just a few miles from the original Capital of the Confederacy, was probably not very popular with some Montgomery residents.

 While I was unable to locate any period racing photos of the track, a portion of one of the dirt track's turns and straight away can clearly be seen between the building in this photo of Camp Sheridan.

Camp Sheridan @ the old Vandiver Park Race Track - ca. 1917

State of Alabama Archives

Camp Sheridan was mentioned one final time in the February 7, 1918 edition of Motorcycle Illustrated magazine. The article was about a visit by the Goodyear Friars of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. The Friars were entertaining former Goodyear employees, who were receiving Army training at both Camp Sherman in Ohio, and Camp Sheridan in Alabama.

Motorcycle Illustrated - February 7, 1918

The site of the old Montgomery County Fairgrounds and race track is marked by a State of Alabama Historic Marker, recognizing it as the scene of Camp Sheridan during World War 1.

Sources:

Asbury Park, New Jersey Press

Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review - Smithsonian Collection

Chris Price @ Archive Moto

Furman Family Collection

Google

Greenville, Alabama Advocate

Motorcycle Illustrated - Hathi Trust Collection

Newspaper.com

State of Alabama Archives

State of Alabama Historic Markers