MUSEUM TO SHOWCASE FOUR HISTORIC FLAT-TRACK MOTORCYCLES THIS
WEEKEND IN CONJUNCTION WITH AMA KNOXVILLE NATIONALS
KNOXVILLE, IOWA (September 13, 2010) – As
motorcycle enthusiasts gear up for a two-day racing weekend at the ‘Sprint
Car Capital of the World’, visitors can get a rare and up-close look at the
famed history behind American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Pro Racing.
Starting on Thursday evening, September 16, the National Sprint Car Hall of
Fame and Museum will showcase four completely restored motorcycles dating
back to the late 1940’s. Visitors will be able to view these bikes in the
non-profit museum through Saturday, September 18.
A 1954 Harley Davidson KR,
Flat-Track Speedway Racer will be one of the bikes on display. The bike,
made famous by AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer John Tibben will arrive
Thursday, September 16. It will be here just in time for our free,
open-to-the-public “Sprint Car 101” Third Thursday Series program, beginning
at 7 p.m., which will feature John Tibben talking about his career. The
bike was raced nationally from 1956 through ‘68.
Another bike Tibben made
famous was the original 1961 Harley Davidson CR 250 Short Tracker. It was
built for, and improved by, fellow Hall of Famer Carroll Resweber. After
Carroll’s career came to an end, Tibben raced it for eight years in AMA
Class A short-track competition. Mike Connell later raced it in vintage
competition and was able to win a national championship with it.
A 1957 BSA GoldStar
features a 500cc overhead valve single cylinder engine. One of these racing
bikes, which was owned and maintained by the late Jim Norris of Muscatine,
Iowa, will be on display this weekend, too. Former flat-track riders who
used this bike in competition include Herb Bellinger, Bob Smith, Harry
Bellinger and Duane Buchanan.
The oldest bike on display
will be a 1948 Harley Davidson WR. This racing bike features 1952 KR heads
and cylinders and a 1946 gas tank. The KR heads were only allowed for a
short period of time before being outlawed. The bike has been raced in both
hill climbs and non-sanctioned flat-track races.
Those interested in seeing
the historic bikes can stop in at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and
Museum anytime from Thursday evening, September 16, through Saturday night,
September 18. The museum opens at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and will
remain open until racing action gets underway each night (Classic Flat Track
National Championship Series vintage motorcycle races on Friday; AMA Pro
Flat-Track motorcycle races on Saturday). The National Sprint Car Hall of
Fame is located off turn number two of the legendary half-mile Knoxville
Raceway dirt track and the museum is open seven days a week, year-round.
For more information, individuals can visit
www.sprintcarhof.com.
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