Atlanta's, Johnny Aiken - Episode #20

December 8, 2013

Updated - April 28, 2015

By: David L. Morrill

Deadly Dave's Blog

Sylacauga, Alabama

Johnny Aiken - Birmingham, AL.
O.V. Hunt 1914 - Johnny Whitsett Collection

As, I've said in other stories, my interest in early Southern motorcycling started with some old motorcycle photos taken in 1914 and 1915 by Birmingham, Al. photographer O.V. Hunt. Over the past few years, I've tried to identify many of the riders in these photos. One Harley-Davidson rider appeared in several photos, and I was finally able to identify him, as Atlanta Harley-Davidson dealer/racer Johnny Aiken. Since Johnny played a part in many of these stories, it's time to share his part in early Southern racing history.

John D. Aiken was born in North Dakota in 1887. When and why, he came to Atlanta, Georgia, has been lost to time, but by the early teens he was living in Atlanta, and was a dealer for Thor and Jefferson motorcycles.

In August 1913, word got out that the Atlanta Motordrome was planning a race for black riders. On September 5, 1913, the planned race was the subject of a full page highly critical article under the headline was "Dealers Condemn Atlanta's Colored Races" in Motorcycling magazine.

Motorcycling - September 5, 1913
Scott Bashaw Collection

The article quoted local Atlanta Harley-Davidson dealer Gus Castle, and Johnny Aiken.  Aiken's stated:

"Except that it will popularize motorcycling among Negros and in that way cheapen the sport in the eyes of white men."

After holding the race on October 28, 1913, the tracks race sanction was withdrawn, which caused the track to close, and file for bankruptcy.

1913 Savannah 300 Road Race

Johnny Aikens first appears in the early motorcycle press, as a competitor in the 1913 Savannah 300 Mile Road Race. For some reason early in his career, the S was removed from the end of his name in many early newspaper reports. This continued through most of his motorcycle racing career.

The Savannah 300 was a grueling 5-hour race, held on part of the old Grand Prize Auto Racing Course, used 11 miles of public roads outside Savannah, Georgia.  Aiken was one the riders representing Harley-Davidson. During one of the practice sessions, Aiken was thrown from his motorcycle, and crashed into a tree. His injuries kept him from competing in races for the next several months.

Atlanta Constitution - December 27, 1913

By 1914 Johnny Aiken had gone to work for Gus Castle's as a salesman at the Harley-Davidson Southern Branch at 224 Peachtree Street in Atlanta.



Atlanta Constitution - 1914

Georgia Endurance Runs

While recovering from his Savannah injuries, Aiken became involved in promoting motorcycle endurance runs in Georgia as a member of the Atlanta Motorcycle Club. These races were generally run between major cities on the public roads, with daily runs lasting 5 to 6 hours. By March 1914, Aiken had recovered sufficiently to also compete in the races.

Atlanta Constitution - March 22, 1914

Aikens, riding a Harley-Davidson, was one of only four riders of the original 33 entrants to complete the March 1914 run. Aiken was also mentioned in an Atlanta Constitution article on the upcoming Memorial Day Endurance Run.

Atlanta Constitution - March 29, 1914

Atlanta Harley-Davidson Dealer

Aiken was also a very successful Harley-Davidson dealer. His notoriety, as one of the top endurance riders in the south, drew many customers to the Peachtree Street dealership causing sales to soar. An early example of "Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday."

Atlanta Constitution - April 5, 1914

Aiken continued his endurance riding, when time allowed.

Atlanta Constitution - April 12, 1914

                

The 1914 Stone Mountain Run

In late April 1914, Johnny Aiken made a run up Georgia's Stone Mountain on a Harley-Davidson V twin. This was said to have been the first time a gasoline powered vehicle made it to the top of Stone Mountain's extremely steep 50% grade. The Atlanta Constitution article on the event did not identify the rider as Johnny Aiken.

Johnny Aiken - Stone Mountain, Georgia
Chris Price@Georgia Motorcycle History

Atlanta Constitution - April 26, 1914

 The 1914 Birmingham Ledger Endurance Run

In April 1914, the Birmingham Ledger Newspaper announced they would be sponsoring a Motorcycle Endurance Run from Birmingham, Al. to Atlanta, GA., and back. The race was billed as the Southern Championship Race. It started at the Ledger Office in downtown Birmingham at 4 am on July 4th. Aiken was one of the riders selected by Harley-Davidson to ride for them in the race.

Atlanta Constitution - June 14, 1914

O.V. Hunt photographed a group of the Harley-Davidson and Indian riders entered in the Ledger Endurance Run in front of the Birmingham Ledger Office as part of the pre-race publicity. Johnny Aiken is the Harley-Davidson rider at the far left of the photo.

O.V. Hunt 1914 - Johnny Whitsett Collection

At the end of the first day's 211-mile leg from Birmingham to Atlanta, Aiken was one of eight Harley-Davidson riders to arrive in Atlanta, with a perfect score. A controversy arose on the next day's return leg to Birmingham. The Harley-Davidson Team accused the Indian Team of using trained mechanics, who followed their riders in an automobile, and assisted their riders with needed repairs.

A protest was filed, which Harley-Davidson lost. Harley then withdrew their riders from the final legs of the race. Harley claimed they won the race, and ran several ads, which appeared in newspapers around the country.

Atlanta Constitution - May 3, 1914

With the withdrawal of the Harley-Davidson Team, Indian rider Gail Joyce won the race, and his Indian teammate, Gene Walker, finished 2nd.


The 1914 Birmingham F.A.M. Championship Race


In October 1914, Johnny Aiken, and his friend William F. Specht, Jr. played a small, but important part in an important event in the Harley-Davidson Racing Team's early history.

Prior to 1914, Harley-Davidson had limited it's racing to mostly endurance runs, and hill climb competitions. These events required production motorcycles, which were available to the general public. Harley felt these races were a better marketing tool for the strength and endurance of their motorcycles. They avoided the costly dangerous world of professional track racing popular at the time. These board, and dirt track races, required special purpose-built racing machines in the hands of the best professional riders of the era.

Harley reversed course, in 1914. They built special 11-K racers and hired several professional riders to ride them. Their first major race was the Dodge City 300 Mile Road Race. The July 4th race did not go well for Harley, and mechanical problems forced most of the bikes to retire. The Harley Team returned to Milwaukee and re-evaluated their racing efforts.

In October, Harley dispatched a single factory rider, Red Parkhurst, to Birmingham, Alabama for the F.A.M. One Hour Championship Race. They also supplied riders, Johnny Aiken, and Arthur Mitchell, the new Harley racers through the Birmingham dealer. Aiken suffered mechanical problems, and did not compete in the Championship race, but he and William F. Specht, Jr. acted as Parkhurst's pit crew for the Championship race.

Johnny Aiken - William F. Specht Jr. - Gray Sloop 
 Specht Harley-Davidson - Birmingham, AL.
O.V. Hunt 1914 - Johnny Whitsett Collection

The pre-race activities at the Alabama State Fairgrounds Raceway in Birmingham were captured by local photographer O. V. Hunt. In the photo below, Birmingham's Gene Walker on his Indian 8 Valve racer, is on the far right. Johnny Aiken is seen with his arms crossed standing behind, and to the left, of Gene Walker. This was Walker's first professional race, and O. V. Hunt was a close friend of Walker's sponsor, Birmingham Indian dealer Robert Stubbs.

Alabama State Fairgrounds Raceway - Birmingham, AL.
O. V. Hunt 1914 - Johnny Whitsett Collection

Walker led the first few laps of the race and set a new track record. Parkhurst later took the lead and won the race.  Joe Wolters on an Excelsior finished second, while Gail Joyce finished third, and Walker fifth on Indians.

After the race, protests were filed by both Joe Wolters of the Excelsior Team, and Walker's Indian teammate Gail Joyce, who finished fourth.  Wolters claimed he had been shorted a lap and had actually won the race. A later check of the scoring revealed Wolters had been scored correctly. It was also found his protest had not been filed in a timely manner, and it was dismissed.  Gail Joyce claimed Parkhurst had received assistance from a spectator in cleaning his goggles during a pit stop.

The investigation into Joyce's protest stated, that Johnny Aiken, and Bill Specht, were refueling Parkhurst's bike during the pit stop. Parkhurst attempted to clean his dirt caked goggles, with a handkerchief, which was tied to his handlebars. He asked a spectator to borrow a clean handkerchief, and the excited spectator, helped Parkhurst in clean his goggles.

The F.A.M., who sanctioned the race, determined the spectator had provided a clean handkerchief to Parkhurst, and assisted him with cleaning his glasses. They ruled Parkhurst needed to see to race safely and dismissed Joyce's protest. This was the Harley-Davidson Racing Team's first Championship Race win.


1914 Savannah 300


The Savannah 300 was scheduled for Thanksgiving Day 1915. Harley-Davidson announced they were sending a full team of riders to compete in the race. Maybe it was the more experienced competition, or the memory of his painful injuries he sustained in the 1913 race, but Johnny Aiken decided not to enter the race.

Aiken's friend, Mooresville, NC. Harley-Davidson dealer Gray Sloop was chosen for the Harley-Davidson Team. Gray Sloop appears in the O.V. Hunt photo taken in front of the the Birmingham Harley-Davidson dealership in 1914, along with Aiken, and Specht.

Sadly, in an accident eerily similar to Johnny Aiken's 1914 crash, Sloop Gray was thrown from his bike at high speed on the second lap of the race. Gray stuck a tree and was instantly killed. Later in the race another of Aiken's friends, Savannah ride Zeddie Kelly, also hit a tree, and was severely injured. He died in the hospital the next day.

Gray Sloop
O. V. Hunt - Johnny Whitsett Collection

New York Times - November 27, 1914

1914, was the final year for the Savannah 300 Mile Race. Accounts of the deaths in the race appeared in newspapers around the country. The Savannah City Fathers cancelled any further motorcycle races on the course.

Wild and Woolly Georgia - 1915

In March 1915, Johnny Aiken, and five other riders, were involved in an event, none would forget. They were on their regular 150 ride, when a local farmer accused them of frightening his mule. The farmer pulled a gun on them and forced each of them to cough up five dollars in compensation. Motorcycling in Georgia back then, could be a very dangerous business!

Atlanta Constitution - March 30, 1915

The 1915 Birmingham Ledger Cup Race

The 1915 Birmingham Ledger Cup Endurance Run would take place on Easter Sunday. The race would follow the same course between Birmingham and Atlanta as the 1914.  Once again, Johnny Aiken was one of several riders representing Harley-Davidson in the race. When the first day's run to Atlanta was finished, Aiken was one of 22 riders with a perfect score.

Atlanta Constitution - April 5, 1915

Aikens's time of 5 hours and 30 minutes broke the previous record by 30 minutes. Aiken's Harley-Davidson teammate, W. E. DeGroat of Birmingham, took the overall win in the race, and claimed the Birmingham Ledger Cup.

Atlanta Constitution - April 11, 1915

World War I

As the United States became involved in World War 1, Johnny Aiken enlisted in the Army. His skills as both a motorcycle rider, and mechanic, were badly needed by the Army's Motorcycle Dispatch Unit. First Lieutenant John Aiken, served in a Motorcycle Dispatch Unit overseas from March 1918 until August 1919. He was then assigned to Camp Jesup, GA. Lt. Aiken was honorably discharged at the end of January 1920.

Automobile Racer

Upon his return to Atlanta, Johnny Aiken went to work at the Dodge Brothers garage. Aikens also began to race a Dodge race car on the one-mile oval dirt track at Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway.

Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway

Atlanta Constitution - August 6, 1921

Bob Luton. Glenn, who was also Atlanta's Indian Motorcycle dealer, had started racing cars in 1918, but continued to ride motorcycle races at the Speedway.

Atlanta Constitution - June 16, 1918

Aiken, Glenn, and Luton would compete against each other in automobile races for the next several years. In July 1922, a photo of Aiken at the wheel of the Stutz racer he was going to drive at the Speedway appeared in the Atlanta Constitution.

Atlanta Constitution - July 2, 1922

Aiken won the five-mile race, on July 4th, but was involved in a crash with fellow competitor Joe Lancaster, in which his car's rear axle was bent, and was unable to complete the race.

Atlanta Constitution - July 5, 1922

In September 1922, a match race was scheduled at Lakewood Speedway pitting Johnny Aiken against his rival Bob Luton. The race consisted of three heat races and The American Legion, who was sponsoring the day's events, put up a $1000. winner takes all purse.

Atlanta Constitution - October 15, 1921

Atlanta Constitution - September 10, 1922

Luton won the first three lap race, and Aiken won the second race. When the dust settled on the final race, Johnny Aiken crossed the finish line first, and walked away with the $1000. purse.

Atlanta Constitution - September 18, 1922

Epilogue:

After his automobile racing career, Johnny Aiken owned and operated an automotive garage in Atlanta for many years. He passed away in Atlanta in May 1973, at the age of 86.

Sources:

Ancestry.com

Atlanta Constitution

Birmingham, Alabama Public Library Archives

Chris Price@Georgia Motorcycle History

Johnny Whitsett Collection

Newspapers.com

New York Times

Henry Hammond Springs of Augusta, GA. - Episode #15

June 13, 2013

Updated - June 12, 2015

By: David L. Morrill
@Deadly Dave's Blog

Sylacauga, Alabama

Atlanta's Henry Hammond Springs -1921
Don Emde Collection

The idea for this article came to me, while I was researching the death of early Birmingham, Alabama racer Gene Walker. The June 1924 issue of Motorcycling & Bicycling had an article on Walker's death, but also included a photograph of the dedication of a memorial to Atlanta racer Hammond Springs on the second anniversary of his death.

As I looked around for information on Springs' racing career, I found there was little information available. Springs rose from a local Atlanta racer to ride an Indian factory prepared racer in the most prestigious national race of that time. At the time, he was the youngest professional racer in the country. While much of Hammond Springs' story has been lost to time, it is time to share what remains.

Henry Hammond Springs was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1902. Tragedy came early to the Springs family. On December 26,1909, Hammond's father, Augusta Fire Fighter Edward Springs, was killed responding to a fire. Edward Springs was driving a steamer fire truck to the scene of a fire, when he was pulled from the driver's seat, and run over by the wheels. Several years later Hammond's widowed mother Mary remarried, and the family moved to Atlanta.

Growing up in Atlanta, which was the southern capital of motorcycle racing, Hammond Springs was drawn to motorcycle racing. Racing a Harley-Davidson, Springs began honing his racing skills at Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway. The one-mile oval dirt track, which was located south of downtown Atlanta, held its first motorcycle race in front of a crowd of twenty-three thousand spectators on July 4, 1917. 

Lakewood Speedway

Atlanta, GA.

Professional motorcycle racing had been curtailed throughout the country during America's involvement in World War 1.  Some local racing continued during this period, which allowed amateur racers like Hammond Springs, to compete with more experienced professional racers. Springs first mention in the press was as an entry for the Lakewood Races held on July 4, 1918.

Atlanta Constitution - July 4, 1918

He is not mentioned in the results. There were no motorcycle races held at Lakewood Speedway on Labor Day. The event sponsors dropped motorcycle racing in favor of Automobile races. It was probably due to the death of Atlanta rider Ed Wilcox on the first lap of the 1917 Labor Day race at Lakewood.

When professional racing returned to Atlanta in 1919, seventeen-year-old Hammond Springs had already made a name for himself at Lakewood racing his eight valve Harley-Davidson.

Atlanta Constitution - May 29, 1919

In June 1919, Springs had his first serious brush with the danger involved in racing. While chasing Nemo Lancaster at Lakewood, Springs struck the rear tire of Lancaster's machine. Both riders were violently thrown from their machines, with Springs landing on his head. The spectators, who saw the crash, feared both riders had been killed. Both Springs and Lancaster required medical attention, but later returned to the track, to watch the final races. They were a bit banged up, but not seriously injured.

Atlanta Constitution - June 1919
Furman Family Collection

The caption for this photo collage from the Atlanta Constitution states:

"At the top is a scene from the northwest turn at Lakewood snapped a few minutes before the accident occurred. At the left below is Eugene Walker who regained his title as Southern Dirt Track Champion. At the right below are the two principles in the accident. Nemo Lancaster has his right foot bandaged, and Hammond Springs has a cracked dome as a result of the smash-up. Neither was seriously injured as both were back on the track to witness the ten-mile championship."

On July 4, 1919, Springs finished third in the one-mile trial, less than a second behind Indian riders Nemo Lancaster and Tex Richards. Rain plagued the later races, and Springs was unable to keep up his earlier pace on the wet track.

In August 1919, Hammond Springs was involved in one of the more unusual stories of early Atlanta motorcycle racing. Each year, small group of black racers competed in an outlaw race at Lakewood Speedway billed as the Grand Colored Motorcycle Championship Race. The event drew large crowds from Atlanta's black community.

While the Atlanta Indian and Harley-Davidson dealers were not directly involved in the race, several of the racers worked for them, and they often provided back door support. This may not have been purely philanthropic on the dealer's part, as large side bets were often placed between them on the race outcome.

Hammond Springs had recently switched to riding for the Atlanta Indian dealer Harry Glenn, and his mechanic was black racer Hal "Demon" Wade. After Wade complained to Springs that his tired 1912 Indian racer was not up to the challenge, Springs took matters into his own hands. Without permission, Springs and Wade snuck in the Indian shop on the night before the race and removed the new big valve racing engine from Springs' racer. Then they installed it in Wade's 1912 racer.

Atlanta's Hal "Demon" Wade - 1919

The competitive engine allowed Wade to easily win the final race. The story came out in an article in Motorcycling & Bicycling, and in Jim Crow Atlanta, it could have certainly put an end Springs' racing career. Springs' sponsor won a tidy side bet on the race outcome with the local Harley-Davidson dealer, and all was forgiven.

With Hammond Springs success in the July 4th Atlanta races, Harry Glenn was anxious for his young rider to begin professional competition. Glenn convinced Springs' Mom to allow the 17-year-old to enter the Labor Day races at Lakewood.

The Labor Day motorcycle races returned to Lakewood Speedway in 1919. They drew large crowds and a big purse, which attracted the best riders in the South. Hammond Springs race ended with a blown engine on the first lap of the race. Rumors at the time had Hammond springs going to the Harley-Davidson team for the 1920 season.

Motorcycle Illustrated - September 18, 1919.

On July 5, 1920, Hammond Springs won the 10-Mile Race at Lakewood defeating both Tex Richards and Harry Glenn.

Atlanta Constitution 

July 6, 1920

Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated - July 8, 1920

By 1921, Springs was making a name for himself racing in national championship races around the country as a member of the Indian Factory racing team.

Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated - September 1, 1921

Indian dispatched a large team of riders, including Hammond Springs, to compete in premier race of the year, the Dodge City 300. Indian's Shrimp Burns turned the fastest lap in the time trials with Hammond Springs, and Johnny Seymour tying with the 5th fastest lap.

Atlanta Constitution - June 12, 1921

Harley-Davidson dispatched a large team of riders, with Ralph Hepburn and Otto Walker setting the second and third fastest laps. As the race started, pole sitter Shrimp Burns, pulled out with mechanical problems. The heat, and the length of the race took a toll on several of the other Indian riders, who slowed with mechanical problems. The race was won Harley-Davidson's Otto Walker. The only bright spot for Indian, was Johnny Seymour's second place finish. The remaining top finishers were all Harley-Davidson mounted.

After the Dodge City race, Hammond Springs traveled to the Indian factory in Springfield, Massachusetts. During that visit, he was photographed on his Dodge City racer on the factories roof.

On August 15, 1921, Hammond Springs won the 10 Mile Professional Race on the one-mile dirt track at Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Springs edged out Harley-Davidson's star rider, Jim Davis, by just two feet at the finish. Davis had won the 5 Mile Professional Race, and set a new track record earlier that day, with Springs finishing fourth.

On May 17, 1922, an article appeared in the Atlanta Constitution on local riders Nemo Lancaster and Hammond Springs entering the upcoming race at the Lakewood Speedway. In describing Springs, the article stated:

Atlanta Constitution
May 17, 1922

On May 20, 1922, Springs won the 10 Mile National Race at the Lakewood Speedway. This was Springs first win in a National Championship race, and it came in front of his hometown crowd. He also defeated local Champion, Nemo Lancaster, and his Indian teammate Gene Walker. This was the highlight of Springs career.

Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated - May 25, 1922

Atlanta Constitution

May 21, 1922



But, as fate often has it in the racing game, Springs' greatest triumph was followed only nine days later by tragedy.

On May 30, 1922, Hammond Springs traveled to the half mile dirt track at Springbrook Park in South Bend, Indiana. Springs was leading the last race of the day, with Dayton, Ohio rider Eddie Brinch close behind. They collided throwing both riders from their machines. Brinch sustained a broken collarbone, but Hammond Springs died of his injuries that evening in a South Bend Hospital.

This article from Wichita Daily Eagle contains the last known photograph of Hammond Springs racing. At the time the article was written, it was boot known he had died from injuries.

Wichita, KA. Daily Eagle - May 30, 1922

The death of the daring young Atlanta rider was reported in newspapers across the country.

Atlanta Constitution - May 1922

Wichita, KA. Beacon - May 31, 1922

The coroner's inquest found the death was a racing accident and cleared both riders of responsibility for the fatal accident. Springs was nineteen, when he died. Hammond Springs was returned to Atlanta and buried at West View Cemetery.

On the day of his funeral, Springs received a motorcycle escort to the cemetery from both the Atlanta Police Department and the Atlanta Motorcycle Club. Atlanta motorcycling notables Harry Glenn, Hal Gilbert, Nemo Lancaster, Tex Richards, and Charlie Hages were pallbearers at his funeral. Atlanta's motorcycle shops were closed the day of his funeral, as an act of respect for Springs family.

Hammond Spring's Funeral Notice

Atlanta Constitution 

June 3, 1922

Springs was a hometown hero in Atlanta, and on the second anniversary of his death, an elaborate memorial was dedicated at his grave site. It features a stone reproduction of the loving cup trophy, Springs received for his first race win at the Atlanta's Lakewood Speedway.

Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated

June 1924

Henry Hammond Springs Memorial
West View Cemetery Atlanta, GA.

Bertha Avery Hood Collection - 2011

In the December 1922 Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated reported that Hammond's brother, Clarence Springs, had taken over long time Atlanta Harley-Davidson dealer, Gus Castle's, Atlanta business interests.

Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated - December 28, 1922

Author's Note:

Special thanks to Don Emde and Mike Bell for their contributions to this story.


Sources:

Atlanta Constitution

Bertha Avery Hood Collection

Don Emde Collection

Find A Grave.com

Furman Family Collection

Mike Bell Collection

Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated

Stephen Wright - American Racers 1900-1940

Wichita, KA. Beacon

Wichita, KA. Daily Eagle

Wikipedia.org