The Murderdrome! Motorcycle Board Track Racing Part 3.

Archive Moto presents GRIT , Part 3 of a three part documentary series looking at the history of one of America’s most infamous and sensation sports, motorcycle Board Track Racing .
Part 1 • Motorcycle Board Track...
Part 2 • Board Track Motorcycle...
Rise of the Murderdrome!
Within a decade of their American introduction, motorcycles had matured at a frenzied pace, quickly evolving from brittle, finicky gadgets to bruiting, highly specialized machines. A new American industry exploded, public enthusiasm was brimming over, and the world applauded at the rise of an invigorating new sport. By 1912 the American motordrome stadiums offered attendees a new level of exhilaration, anticipation, and thrilling danger.
This was the Golden Age of motorcycle racing. Motorcycles filled the city streets and county roads as fans packed into Prince’s fabulous motordromes by the thousands.
Young and old alike filled the grandstands to witness the electrifying jolt of the night races as men sped around at 90 miles per hour under the glow of arc lights.
1912 marked motorcycling’s crowded hour in America, But just as fast as it had taken hold, the sport began to prove the grim reality of its foundations. The technology had outpaced the precautions, and board track racing quickly became a blood sport too gruesome for an urbane, civil society. These were the days of America’s infamous Murderdromes!
Enjoy Part 3 , Innocence Lost of GRIT , the third and final chapter.
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This video documentary series is a companion to the articles looking back at the history of American motorcycle culture, published exclusively at ArchiveMoto.com.
PATREON
Support this history, consider becoming a Patron at the new Archive Moto Patreon page at / thearchivemoto .
Read more about board track racing, and countless others now, only at ArchiveMoto.com.
Written, Narrated, Edited, and Produced by Chris Price, Archive Moto.
Music: The Road Less Traveled - Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Nocturnal Waltz - Johannes Bornlof, Exile - Lo Mimieux, Awake - Megan Wofford, September Days - Franz Gordon, Le Papillon Solitaire - Franz Gordon, This Delicate Place - Silver Maple
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[@MickOTooleroadglide]

What a amazing insight to early day racing definitely not for the faint hearted

[@ArchiveMoto]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@geneahart5607]

Great story!

[@ArchiveMoto]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@michaeltaylor8835]

Great narrative

[@slavetospeed]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@slewfootsigns6786]

I love the Jefferson Motorcycle in photo at 18:15 minute point. The Jefferson had twin Cams and Overhead Valves and bosted 78 MPH from the factory!

[@ArchiveMoto]

There are a handful of great Jefferson images, I hope to do a series on each historic brand eventually

[@Electriceye1984bySam]

I have to commend you once again for another excellent video, and let me say the images that you present here take me away from the narration as I have to pause, and let my eyes scan every single image.😅😍It is all so interesting and to gain a deeper understanding of the beginning of our beloved motorcycling sport is special. Thank you so much. Please continue these fine works sir.🏆

[@ArchiveMoto]

Thanks man, I appreciate your kind words. It is fascinating, and I am grateful for the images that have survived as they have helped stitch together a history that may very well have been lost.

[@michaeltaylor8835]

Hard men

[@noverguy]

Man, another excellent presentation. You're doing fantastic work here. Glad I found your channel.

[@ArchiveMoto]

Thank you kindly!

[@michaeltaylor8835]

61 ci on a bicycle frame and no brakes insane

[@johnmartin7158]

Or a throttle as we know it today.

[@michaeltaylor8835]

money over lives still relevant

[@magellanicspaceclouds]

Do any of these facilities still exist, perhaps with a different track surface?

[@ArchiveMoto]

None that I’m aware of, the timber was valuable in most cases and repurposed if possible, otherwise the tracks either burned or were abandoned before being scrapped.

[@magellanicspaceclouds]

@@ArchiveMoto That's a shame. I wish they saved at least one as a historical site.