Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-17
MOTORCYCLEMEN
MAKE FAST TIME
CLUB MOST SUCCESSFUL IN
AMERICA
RUNS TO SUBURBAN CITIES
PROVE POPULAR
Two Machines Mount Difficult Grade
Without Riders Placing Feet on
Pedals, and Many Join
Association


probably the best attended of all of
the popular events.
Sixty machines were lined up at the
San Fernando railway station for
picture for The Herald, and there were
several more riders than wheels, as
some half dozen or more of the ma
chimes were tandems or tricars.
An excellent chicken dinner had been
prepared at San Fernando hotel, and
after that was over the machines were
started toward the noted Fremont pass,
said to be the worst grade In America
on a main Travelled road of the same
\velative importance as the NeWhall
Nhoroughfare.
No formal arrangements had been
Made to conduct hill climb, and IL
varied from the usual one In that II
was not the fastest time over the hill
that counted, but who could get to the
highest point or go over without ped
aling Many of the machines did not
go more than half way up the grace
on account of high gears or lack OF ad-
justment of the compensating sprocket:
Two machines went over the nil
without the riders having to resort to
tie use of pedals, while three more
made the entire ascent by limited use
Of foot power
The first wheel to make clean
score was an Armac, ridden by w. >.
Carter. Carter had made two-speed
gear which he has installed on his
wheel, and the trip gave good dem
onstration of the feasibility as well as
the desirabil.t.- of such a device on
motorcycles. on the low gear he had
ratio of ten to one, which pulled him
over the grade easily.
rhree.Horse Power Engine
The engine was less than three-horse
power, while the only other machine
that made the climb is rated at fve.
IT Is a twin cylinder Indian of the lat
est model and equipped with a mag
neto. II was ridden by II. White, VINO
after several attempts made the trip
successfully. The machine was geared
a trine less than six to one.
C. Will Risden on an inoian anu
Richard Galloway on like machine
went over by pedalling from the mouth
of the cut to the summit.
Burrill williams made what was
probably the best trial when he went
up the long hill with an old Reading
standard having one and three-quar-
ter horse power motor At one place
where IL was rough and the steepest
mart of ths climb he pedaled about
twenty-fiye feet, and then the motor
carried him on up without further as
sistance.
The Reading Standard had the usual
gear that the are shipped with, ana
was strictly stock.
n has been ridden hard for several
wears. being the second machine OF
that kind sold in Pasadena.
The club is considering another race
meet for the near future, as the two
former ones proved popular and highly
successful from every point OF view.
Attendance Good
The attendance and consequent
profits were good, while records were
smashed several times.
At the present time the club is the
largest in the world and the member
shin is increasing. 1t has always been
fortunate in that the selection or us
officers has been wise, and. they nave
taken a deep interest in making the
club second to none and promoting the
interest of all motorcycle riders Whetn-
err affiliated with the local club or not.
The motorcycle industry has assumed
a position commercially that will not
allow of it's being ignored in the ousl-
ness world.
The development of the motorcycle
40 commercial vehicle is going ahead
rapidly and 1t Is freely predicted That
within two years nearly al! of the rapid
delivery work now done with one-horse
vehicles and on bicycles will be done
with motorcycles.
PASaQend RIOCtiyDldii buE nav
made to order two trailers that he uses
In connection with motorcycles and
loads of 300 pounds are easily pulled
over any of the hills in that city.
At the same time the wheel Is avail
able as a single unit in the soliciting
of orders and for use in carrying small
articles without the trailer
New Models on Market
MANY new models are now on the
market and there is marked tend
ency to standardize in the design or
the frames and the placing OF the
tanks. The Thor is proving to be pop
Mar and deliveries are being made
as fast as Mr.. Scott can get the wheels.
The Excelsior has claimed number
of adherents who prefer the belt drive.
THE three-horse power mechanical in
take Reading Standard stands stronger
than ever, especially as a commercial
vehicle.
mower and a steadier pull than the
automatic intake valve does and the
efficiency of the wheel under heavy
mil ia greater. While 1t is not quite so
fast II has more speed than the aver
age rider can use.
The new Light, with it's long wheel
base and gear driven transmission, mas
just arrived and is on exhibition at
John T. Bill company's.
The Thor engine has been used Wnlcn
has an enclosed gear case to reduce the
speed ratio between the crank shaft and
the counter shaft.
An excellent spring fork is used on
the wheel and the grip control has no
superior It is made up OF RODS ana
universal joi: IS following the line OF
the handlebafs closely until 1t reaches
the head
There the motion is transmitted
through worm and gear to the rods
that pass respectively to the throttle
and the eommutator
wide Standard pedal is another
good feature of the equipment The
handlehars are similar in shape to those
Introduced here by the Thor, and are
very good though they appear awk-
ward until they become more familiar.