Racing Machines/Scooters
Organized racing burgeoned in the 1900s. Europe had city-to-city road races, while US sport favoured closed dirt tracks and wooden board Motordromes. In Britain, roads were closed for the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT) races and the banked Brooklands circuit opened in 1907. At the other end of the scale, the first motor scooters were being aimed at the general public.
NLG Peugeot, 1907
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 944 cc, V-twin |
| Top speed | 76 mph (122 km/h) |
Purpose-built by North London Garages with a highly tuned Peugeot engine, the NLG won the first motorcycle race at Brooklands in 1908, averaging 63 mph (101 km/h).
Norton 3½ HP “Old Miracle”, 1912
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 490 cc, side-valve single |
| Top speed | 82 mph (132 km/h) |
A1912 speed record holder, this legendary single was ridden by tuner D.R. O’Donovan at 71.54 mph (115.13 km/h) for 5 miles (8 km) in 1913 and bettered 82 mph in 1915.
Indian Track Racer, 1912
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 999 cc, ohv V-twin |
| Top speed | 90 mph (145 km/h) |
This advanced four-valves-per-cylinder twin won on US board tracks. In the UK, Charles B. Franklin covered 300miles (483 km) in less than 300 minutes on one.
Corah 6 HP, 1912
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 746 cc, ohv V-twin |
| Top speed | not known |
The short-lived Corah company fielded this single-speed racing machine with an overhead-valve engine made by JAP, Britain’s most advanced proprietary engine-maker.
NSU 350TT, 1912
| Origin | Germany |
| Engine | 349 cc, V-twin |
| Top speed | not known |
NSU’s 350 V-twin achieved fourth and seventh place finishes at the 1913 Isle of Man Junior TT, despite the machine’s lack of suspension or gears.
Scott Two-speed TT, 1913
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 486 cc, two-stroke twin |
| Top speed | 70 mph (113 km/h) |
The unorthodox two-speed Scott two-stroke was the fastest machine in the Isle of ManTT in 1912 and 1913, winning two Senior races.
Flying Merkel 471, 1914
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 985 cc, V-twin |
| Top speed | 70 mph (113 km/h) |
Notable for its monoshock rear suspension, the Flying Merkel V-twin was prominent in US racing during the marque’s short life from 1909 to 1915.
Harley-Davidson 11KR Roadster Racer, 1915
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 988 cc, V-twin |
| Top speed | 76 mph (122 km/h) |
Successful in speed events in both the US and Europe, Harley-Davidson sold this model as the basis for a competitive privateer racer.
Autoped Autoped, 1915
| Origin | USA |
| Engine | 155 cc, side-valve single-cylinder |
| Top speed | 20 mph (32 km/h) |
Ridden standing up, the novel Autoped with a front-mounted engine was started and stopped by moving the handlebar column, seen here folded down for portability.
Reynolds Runabout, 1919
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 269 cc, two-stroke single |
| Top speed | not known |
The maker of this lengthy scooter took customers’ comfort seriously. The seat was mounted on a combination of coil and leaf springs.
Stafford Mobile Pup, 1919
| Origin | UK |
| Engine | 142 cc, ohv single-cylinder |
| Top speed | not known |
The flimsy-looking Pup had a four-stroke engine driving the front wheel. It was made in Coventry by T.G. John, who later produced Alvis cars.
It is a quote. The Motorbike Book – The Definitive Visual History 2012
