MTFCA Forum

Someone emailed this to me today.

Looks like a T axle in the front, not sure about the rest.

That is a slung under, under slung car

I think those were referred to as "cyclecars" and/or 'cyclecar racing" in Briton and much of Europe. While cyclecars had a very short popularity in the United States from about 1913 to 1915, their popularity began earlier around Europe and continued well into the 1930s there. Part of the reason was due to the vehicle taxes that were based upon engine displacement. Even a model T Ford was a high displacement automobile, with significant annual taxes for use. Therefore, lightweight cycle cars with motorcycle engines were an economical option for the "less well-to-do". And, because the cars were popular, the racing of such cars was also very popular. Some of those cars, especially with slightly oversize motors, were crazy fast! Some were underslung, others were over axle, more than a few cantilever springs, and a few had some really bizarre looking suspension.
I really like the look of this one with the motor hanging on the side of the car that way! It must handle a bit crazy on road races (also more popular in England and Europe than in the USA) with that much offset weight making it turn differently right than it does left?

Thank you John E G for sharing this here.

Wayne, what do you think, Harley? It is way cool simple with the engine mounted there. Good for circle tracks, easy to tune while driving Ha ha. Thanks for your comments, always love reading them.

Hey there John W, I don't know enough about motorcycles to give much of an opinion on the motor. There is a good chance it may be European as well. I did blow the picture up quite a bit (my computer skills aren't great, but a "right click", choose "open image in new tab", and even the undersized images posted can be blown up some). I can see the magneto, and the clutch, I can't be certain, but I think it is only a single cylinder as well. Hopefully a few of our motorcycle hobbyists can check it out and enlighten us?

Seems to be an early Indian "Hedstrom" engine, give aways are the narrow V angle and the inlet tube over the two heads, picture is just sharp enough to show this.
Interesting racer !

Clearer version on here:

http://cdm17061.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ ... 1/id/18073


Description ca. 1914. This young driver, sitting in his unnumbered race car, is believed to be Walter Grossman of Los Angeles. He and thirteen other racers had brought their "cycle cars" smaller and less powerful than regular race cars, to the Tacoma Speedway for special Labor Day competition in 1914. Mr. Grossman was also photographed in a "Red Devil" car of his own design and construction (see G51.1, image 120) which was far different from the car he is pictured in above. Although the boys were able to get in practice and speed trial times, rains on the actual day of competition cancelled the race. Mr. Grossman, part of a large contingent from Southern California, returned to his home after a second postponement.


Description Walter Gossman of Los Angeles poses in his cycle car, the Red Devil, at the Tacoma Speedway. Cycle racers, primarily from California, were in Tacoma in September of 1914 for the first "junior race" to be held north of California. Gossman was participating in his first race ever. He had designed and built the unique looking Devil. Outside of practices and speed trials, Tacomans were never able to see it race. The actual races were rained out. Speedway-061 (Tacoma Tribune 9/13/1914, pg 2B)

Thanks for the engine ID Leo. That helped track down the car.

Related article here:

http://hsrca.com/wp-content/uploads/201 ... 7Print.pdf

Here is some more on cyclecars for anyone interested. Walter's is the third photo down.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/thr ... 1/page-238
Thanks for bringing this up John. They look like great fun.
Rich

Thanks for the article John, loved it, specially one sentence; in the first page third row two lines from the bottom : a car that was described as... "chiefly engine and smell" that gave me a good chuckle !