1914 Harley-Davidson Board Track Racer
Offered by Classic Motorcycle Consignments (Owner is open to Trades)
Few machines capture the danger, innovation, and spectacle of early American motorcycling like a board track racer. This exceptional example, built in the spirit of Harley-Davidson’s pioneering competition machines, represents one of the most thrilling chapters in motorcycle history — when racing speeds climbed, technology advanced rapidly, and riders became national heroes.
Based on a 1914 Harley-Davidson Model 10 series, this racer reflects the era when Harley-Davidson began formally committing resources to professional racing — a move that helped establish the brand’s performance reputation for generations to come.
The Dawn of American Motorcycle Racing
By the early 1910s, motorcycles had become powerful enough to compete on purpose-built wooden racetracks constructed across the United States. Known as motordromes, these steeply banked oval tracks were constructed of wooden planks, allowing racers to achieve astonishing speeds for the period — often exceeding 90 mph on machines with no brakes and minimal rider protection.
Crowds packed grandstands to watch fearless riders compete wheel-to-wheel at full throttle. The sport quickly became one of America’s most exciting spectacles.
In late 1914, Harley-Davidson officially entered professional competition, fielding purpose-built racers similar in layout and engineering to the machine offered here. Riders such as Leslie Parkhurst, Joe Wolters, and Otto Walker became early racing icons, piloting stripped-down machines engineered purely for speed.
These motorcycles eliminated unnecessary weight and complexity, focusing on raw performance and rider skill. Brakes were removed, transmissions discarded, and engines tuned for maximum output, resulting in some of the most visceral racing machines ever built.
Mechanical Configuration & Racing Features
This motorcycle faithfully reflects the form and function of period board track machines:
• 61 cubic inch air-cooled IOE (Inlet Over Exhaust) V-Twin engine
• Schebler carburetor
• Bosch magneto ignition
• Direct drive — no clutch or transmission
• Push-start operation only
• Fixed pedals for rider bracing and control
• Short-coupled racing frame geometry
• Rigid racing fork
• Large diameter 28-inch paint-matched spoked wheels
• Brown leather Mesinger racing saddle
• No brakes, consistent with board track competition machines
• Gray finish with period-correct blue, red, and gold pinstriping
The overall layout emphasizes speed and minimalism — low handlebars, narrow stance, and aggressive riding position all designed to reduce wind resistance and maximize control on steep banking.
A Machine Built for Speed — and Survival
Board track racing was thrilling but incredibly dangerous. Riders wore minimal protective gear and raced inches apart on splinter-prone wooden tracks. Mechanical failures, crashes, and fires were common. Yet these risks only added to the mystique of early racing heroes and the machines they rode.
Motorcycles like this helped cement Harley-Davidson’s reputation for performance engineering, eventually influencing the development of street motorcycles and racing programs well into the 1920s and beyond.
Display History & Collector Appeal
For many years, this striking racer served as the centerpiece of a private collection, displayed indoors as functional mechanical sculpture. Positioned proudly within a living room setting, it became a conversation piece embodying the romance and danger of early American motorsport.
Its combination of authentic racing aesthetics, mechanical simplicity, and historical significance makes it equally suitable for:
• Museum or exhibition display
• Prominent private collection placement
• Vintage racing or motorcycle events
• Investment-grade collector acquisition
Early competition machines rarely survive, making accurate representations such as this increasingly desirable among collectors focused on the pioneering era of American motorcycling.
Investment Perspective
Interest in early racing motorcycles continues to grow as collectors seek machines representing milestone moments in motorcycling history. Board track racers stand among the most iconic machines ever built, symbolizing the raw beginnings of speed competition.
Whether displayed as functional art or preserved as a tribute to the sport’s early heroes, this motorcycle commands attention and respect wherever shown.
Offered by Classic Motorcycle Consignments
This exceptional example is now available to a new caretaker who appreciates the heritage, engineering, and daring spirit embodied in early Harley-Davidson racing machines.
Serious collector inquiries invited.
