Dopey Question - What Constitutes a Boardtracker?

[Mr_Christopher]

Ok, so far all my bike "builds" have been simple vintage road bikes that I transform into something much cooler than their original state. So now I keep looking at bikes here that are called "board trackers" and I'm seeing a project like this in my future. I'm a sucker for anything with moustache style bars. My question is what exactly is the definition of a board tracker? Thanks!

Chris

 

[Rat Rod]

 

[deorman]

http://thevintagent.blogspot.com/2008/1 ... -film.html

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Good reading ..thanks Deorman

 

[Mr_Christopher]

And thanks for the eye candy! Ok I get it now, thanks for the schooling, fellas! This is the style of a bike that I want to do this year. I just have 1 other project I need to finish first. Well maybe two...

Chris

 

[Anonymous]

This CLASSIC film from back in the day is where it all came from.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZY-MUx8qk

 

[spinman]

So they were called board trackers cause the 'track' was made of wood 'boards' right? At least that what it looks like from the old movie.

It would seem that wood would be kinda slippery for racing around on. Maybe that was before the invention of asphalt?

Spin

 

[Rat Rod]

From what I understand it was some pretty dangerous stuff and wasn't uncommon for people to die in these races quite regularly.

 

[hewey]

My question is what exactly is the definition of a board tracker?

To me its a bike influenced by the old board track motorbikes, the key distinguishing feature being the downswept bars (in much the same way extended forks are the hallmark of a 'chopper' bike). Now to me, beyond that its up to the bike builder what kind of 'look' they want for their boardtracker bike, which is all part of the fun :wink: 8) Theres awesome examples on here of bikes based on modern cruisers, vintage bikes, even motor'd bikes.

If you're into simple vintage road bikes, you might like these from the ratrodbikes gallery:

 

[karfer67]

the elgin is sensor's build off bike and that bike oozes boardtracker. as far as i know a lot of original motorcycle boardtrackers had no brakes, no clutch and i think some just had a venturi not even a carb so they were wide open. and yea it was super dangerous wood track made out of boards (hence the name) at over 100 MPH. i think they stoped the racing when there was a really bad crash in NY when a bike went over the fence into the audience killing some people. they were amazing machines i hope to own one one day.

 

[sensor]

depends on what type of boardtracker you mean(bicycle,motorcycle,or car)...

100+ with no brakes and only a leather helmet,wool sweater,light padding,and boots to protect you :mrgreen:

personally i like the look of the motorcycles best myself some will say if you flip your bars its a boardtracker(PERSONALLY i dont buy into that but too each there own).....mine are period correct parts,fast,and dangerous(the elgin is fixed and with really tall gearing for that danger/speed factor :mrgreen: )with the look of the old motorcycles...
i can dig up some of the real boardtrack bicycle pictures if you want to reference those(theyre basically look alot like 10speeds but minus all the gearing and brakes)....
what ever you decide to do there is no right or wrong since its your bike and your interpretation :wink:
now....have fun building and post some pics when youre done!

 

[karfer67]

thanks sensor for posting those pics i have never seen that crash pic wow brutle. hey where is your pic of your dream bike the excelsior super twin boardtracker, the green one. and agreed there is more to a tracker than flipping bars (hides under table).

 

[Rat Rod]

I guess you're sorta limited with a bicycle.

The key is the word "style" in boardtrack style. :wink:

 

[FunkyStickman]

Most of the original boardtrack racers were based on road motorcycles of the 1910's-1918's but the racers usually did not have fenders, brakes, or clutches, and were capable of upwards of 80+ MPH with the two-cylinder 1000cc engines.

So a boardtracker, compared to a plain old motorcycle, is that it is stripped down, aerodynamic, and purely functional. Some of the early bikes (pre-1914) are very close to bicycles. For some good info/vids/pics of them, check out http://www.wheelsthroughtime.com and http://www.motorcyclecannonball.com

If you can't get ideas from there, I can't help you! :mrgreen:

 

[FunkyStickman]

Here's a 1903 Reading Standard, this would make an excellent candidate for a "tribute" bicycle.

 

[Anonymous]

My three tribute Boardtrackers...

Flying Merkel
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3206

The Silent Grey Fellow-Harley Davidson
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3996&hilit=silent+grey+fellow

The Wild indian-Raked Boardtracker
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=5490&hilit=wild+indian

 

[SSG]

The term can also be somewhat misleading. Bicycles were also raced on board tracks, however they were your typical diamond frame track bikes.

 

[ScurryMurray]

It might be my partiality to the boardtrack style bikes, but this is a great thread with a lot of info. Thanks! I'd like to do one someday.

 

[karfer67]

SSG you are right there were boardtrack bicycles too but that was typically called velodrome racing where as i think the boardtrack motorcycle racing was just that. and personally at least all my bicycles that i ment to look this way were based upon the motor driven versions

 

[sensor]

heres an example of one type(although as stated before most are just basic diamond frames)
http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Board-track ... 4cecd0bbb7

looks alot like a 10 speed huh?(btw neither are my bikes..the last one is redline1968s bike)
theres a reason why i like the motorcycle look better :wink: