Wabash motorcycle races
There were four of us. It was a warm day in June and we all met at Preston’s place. Preston was the local dealer for Matchless/AJS, Norton, and Panther. He also was the instigator of numerous pranks and we had to watch him closely.
Everyone was on time and we mounted up .
The ride through Ft. Wayne was uneventful.. Traffic was almost nil and we made short work of this Northern Indiana city.
In just a short while we were on highway 24 going toward Huntington. The four lane road with its concrete roadway, was new enough that there were no frost heaves, or cracks to make the travel rough. I was following Preston with two others trailing me.
We were kinda ambling along an easy 55 mph enjoying the sights and smells. Up ahead was a Harley rider doing the same.. As we approached the rider I knew that Pres was up to something. He pulled out to pass and gave the Harley rider a friendly wave but at the same time he reached over , turned off the Harley’s ignition switch on the gas tank and pulled out the key. It was a good thing that all of us were in the passing lane as the Harley fast disappeared behind us.
Holy S###!. Pres has done it now! However, at the next crossover, Pres turned around and rode back to the Harley riders who’s now stranded at the side of the road, and slowed down enough to gently throw him the keys. Since we wanted no part of that, Pres had to speed up to catch us just as we were approaching Huntington.
Riding through Huntington was also easy and found us on a very nice curvy two lane road as 24 continued on to Wabash. As we approached Wabash, Preston lead us into a maze of county roads until at last we came to the Wabash Cannonball Motorcycle Club’s property where the races were to be held that day.
We parked our bikes in the dirt parking lot and were just in time to see the start of the first race. All of the bikes were Harleys especially fitted to run that dirt course. Knobby tires, lower gearing, etc. The spectators were scattered all along the course and we found a place closest to the humongus hill that was one of the obstacles in the race. Since we were at the top of the hill ( and off to one side) it was interesting to hear the sounds of those unmuffled Vtwins roaring at the bottom of the hill, and then suddenly appearing flying up over the hill as if shot from a cannon. There was a good share of those that didn’t shut down as they reached the peak and appeared only briefly as they went over backward back down the hill. Luckily none got hurt as their protection gear wasn’t all that great.
It was a very fun filled afternoon as I remember…………….62 years ago.
Our bikes were two Matchlesses, one Norton, and one Panther. The Harley rider was riding a Harley 61. Even though our Brit bikes were smaller in displacement, he couldn’t have caught us even when he had the Harley running again. I believe that the races were called TT races, maybe the forerunner to motocross, I’m not sure...
I’m enclosing a photo taken that day. I had moved away from that big hill as it got too interesting as the day wore on
 it was interesting to hear the sounds of those unmuffled Vtwins roaring at the bottom of the hill, and then suddenly appearing flying up over the hill as if shot from a cannon. There was a good share of those that didn’t shut down as they reached the peak and appeared only briefly as they went over backward back down the hill. Luckily none got hurt as their protection gear wasn’t all that great.It was a very fun filled afternoon as I remember…………….62 years ago.Our bikes were two Matchlesses, one Norton, and one Panther. The Harley rider was riding a Harley 61. Even though our Brit bikes were smaller in displacement, he couldn’t have caught us even when he had the Harley running again. I believe that the races were called TT races, maybe the forerunner to motocross, I’m not sure...I’m enclosing a photo taken that day. I had moved away from that big hill as it got too interesting as the day wore on. There were four of us. It was a warm day in June and we all met at Preston’s place. Preston was the local dealer for Matchless/AJS, Norton, and Panther. He also was the instigator of numerous pranks and we had to watch him closely.Everyone was on time and we mounted up .The ride through Ft. Wayne was uneventful.. Traffic was almost nil and we made short work of this Northern Indiana city.In just a short while we were on highway 24 going toward Huntington. The four lane road with its concrete roadway, was new enough that there were no frost heaves, or cracks to make the travel rough. I was following Preston with two others trailing me.We were kinda ambling along an easy 55 mph enjoying the sights and smells. Up ahead was a Harley rider doing the same.. As we approached the rider I knew that Pres was up to something. He pulled out to pass and gave the Harley rider a friendly wave but at the same time he reached over , turned off the Harley’s ignition switch on the gas tank and pulled out the key. It was a good thing that all of us were in the passing lane as the Harley fast disappeared behind us.Holy S###!. Pres has done it now! However, at the next crossover, Pres turned around and rode back to the Harley riders who’s now stranded at the side of the road, and slowed down enough to gently throw him the keys. Since we wanted no part of that, Pres had to speed up to catch us just as we were approaching Huntington.Riding through Huntington was also easy and found us on a very nice curvy two lane road as 24 continued on to Wabash. As we approached Wabash, Preston lead us into a maze of county roads until ay last we came to the Wabash Cannonball Motorcycle Club’s property where the races were to be held that day. We parked our bikes in the dirt parking lot and were just in time to see the start of the first race. All of the bikes were Harleys especially fitted to run that dirt course. Knobby tires, lower gearing, etc. The spectators were scattered all along the course and we found a place closest to the humongus hill that was one of the obstacles in the race. Since we were at the top of the hill ( and off to one side) it was interesting to hear the sounds of those unmuffled Vtwins roaring at the bottom of the hill, and then suddenly appearing flying up over the hill as if shot from a cannon. There was a good share of those that didn’t shut down as they reached the peak and appeared only briefly as they went over backward back down the hill. Luckily none got hurt as their protection gear wasn’t all that great.It was a very fun filled afternoon as I remember…………….62 years ago.Our bikes were two Matchlesses, one Norton, and one Panther. The Harley rider was riding a Harley 61. Even though our Brit bikes were smaller in displacement, he couldn’t have caught us even when he had the Harley running again. I believe that the races were called TT races, maybe the forerunner to motocross, I’m not sure...I’m enclosing a photo taken that day. I had moved away from that big hill as it got too interesting as the day wore on.Wayne, Solo1[ftp=ftp://[img width=800 height=542]http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy243/solo9899/TTrace1948-1.jpg)
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