Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
President Gene Walker 5531 Lardon Rd NE Salem, OR 97305-3248 (503) 428-6641 (503) 371-4363 Vice President Gary Kelley 20000 NE Jaquith Rd Newberg, OR 97132-6694 (503) 537-0802 (503) 860-6442 garyk@amcaotc.org Treasurer Tom Ruttan 3761 SW Olson Ct Lake Oswego, OR 97034 (503) 638-1746 tgruttan@earthlink.net Secretary Shannon Kelley 20000 NE Jaquith Rd Newberg, OR 97132-6694 (503) 537-0802 (503) 784-0760 shannonk@wildriders.org
Oregon Trail Chapter April 2012 By the fall race of 1913, Gene had established a reputation as the man to beat, winning every race he entered during the week long fall program and setting a new lap record for the track. That record became the center piece of Indian Motorcycle Companys advertising that year, and a 1920, Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated magazine declared Walker a Champion of Champions.
The following October, Walker entered his first professional race, the F.A.M. (Federation of American Motorcyclists) one hour race, at Birmingham. While he didnt win, he was able to set a new lap record, and ran with the lead pack throughout the race. By 1915, Walker was hired as a factory rider for the Indian Motorcycle Company and moved to Springfield, Mass, the companys headquarters. Walkers first National win came in 1915 at the F.A.M. National race in Saratoga, N. Y. He would go on to win several professional races and set several track records each year for the following two years. The next few years were quiet ones for Walker, as professional racing was virtually curtailed for the duration of World War 1. As his mothers sole support, Walker was not subject to the draft. He continued to race in local events around the south and worked as a motorcycle machinist for William F. Specht Jr. at his Harley Davidson dealership on 3rd Avenue North. According to one newspaper account, he even performed duties of a motorcycle cop during the winter. Walker returned to professional racing in 1919, winning six National Races. In April 1920, Walker, riding his Indian Power Plus racer, set the first official motorcycle land speed record of 115 m.p.h. on the sands of Daytona Beach, Fla.
Despite that success, Indian released Walker in 1922 for his refusal to ride in the dusty track conditions at the sports biggest race of 1921 in Dodge City, Kansas. The company reconsidered that decision when he continued to win races on privately owned Harley-Davidsons. Walker rejoined Indian for the 1924 season, winning the Championship race on the board track at Los Angeles, California. On June 7, 1924, Gene was practicing for a race on the half mile dirt track at Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. While taking practice laps he swerved to avoid a woman crossing the track and crashed. The severely injured Walker was transported to Rosenkrans Hospital where his condition seemed to improve, but on June 21, 1924, Walker died of his injuries. He was 31 years old, and was survived by his wife Eunice and three young daughters. His youngest daughter was born seven months after his death. A few days after Genes death, Birmingham News Sports writer Zipp Newman, eulogized the hometown celebrity under the headline: MOTORCYCLE RIDING HAS LOST ITS GREATEST STAR IN THE DEATH OF WALKER Throughout his career, Walker always claimed Birmingham as his home and continued to send a portion of his earnings to his mother in Birmingham. He made the name Birmingham a household word. He saved his money and looked after his family.
Oregon Trail Chapter April 2012 I'm glad I did, because it gave me the opportunity to talk with so many AMCA members about anything and everything related to our sport of antique motorcycling. Most rewarding were my chats with many of the senior members of the Club who attend this meet. There are so many interesting stories these members have to tell, going back to the early days of the Club. And if there was one theme to all the stories I heard from these senior members, it had to do with the fun theyve had over the years, interacting with other members and just talking about and riding old bikes. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and it continues in spite of their age. I mention this subject for a reason. While sitting around the table at the Meet banquet on Friday night, the AMCAs Assistant Chief Judge, Don Dzurick, suggested that the Club should record the history and stories that our Senior members have to offer, so that these are available in the future. This would be similar to the history being recorded from members of the U.S. armed forces who served in World Wars I and II, along with the Korean and Vietnam wars. I announced this project to the members attending the banquet, and I will recommend it to the Board at our meeting in Daytona. What the Club needs to get the project started are members who have the skills to make digitized recordings and archive them for access on the Club website or some other location that members can access. This is a worthy project. If you can help, please email the Operations Manager at AMCAoperations@gmail.com There were 35 motorcycles entered for AMCA Judging at Fremont and many more offered for display. Considering the size of the meet, I think the turnout was excellent, and it demonstrates that members continue to be enthusiastic about the AMCA Judging Program. The owners enjoyed the process, and the satisfaction with the program was consistent with the survey the Club compiled that is reported in the spring issue of The Antique Motorcycle magazine. Chief Judge Carl Olsen, his assistant, Don, and all the volunteer judges are to be commended for a great job. Special thanks go to Omaha Chapter Deputy Judge Paul Shedd, who made all the prejudging arrangements and is a testament to the importance of Chapter Deputy Judges in our system. Again, thanks to all.
During his 10-year professional career, Walker won 19 championship and numerous nonchampionship races on both board and dirt tracks. He set track records on many of the tracks as well as several motorcycle land speed records. His lap record at the Birmingham Fairgrounds Raceway was not broken when the track stopped racing for World War 1. In 1998, Gene Walker was inducted into the American Motorcyclist Associations Hall of Fame. About the author: David L. Morrill of Sylacauga, AL. is a retired Orlando Police Officer, former racer, motorcycle racing enthusiast and Florida State University graduate.
Ongoing emails with chapters and national regarding AMCA policies. WVM Chapter sent a Swap & Show flyer for their event in April Ishi Chapter sent a Swap & Show flyer for their event in May Business: Were waiting for an AMCA board decision on our 2013 bid for a national. The vote occurs in March. Not too soon to think about a location. Gene reviewed the roster and plans to reach out to members who haven't been in contact recently. Gene would like to speak with each member to get their input on club activities. Gene led further discussion on memorial bricks. We agreed to establish selection criteria to evaluate member-submitted nominations. Selections would occur during our Business Meetings on an as needed basis. Gene cited several examples of member dedication we could use as guides in determining criteria. Well continue discussion of selection criteria in future meetings. Memorial nominations should include nominee background information, their participation in club activities, length of membership, a photo and at least two member testimonials describing the nominee's service to the club. Gene reviewed the Antique Motorcycle and Special Interest license plate information he has collected from the DMV. Gene mentioned the main DMV office in Salem has all the plates on display. Color matching is made easier by viewing the originals when repainting a plate. 2012 Gold Rush Run: Gene asked if additional help would be needed for this year's road run. Gary said we need a few volunteers. Contact Gary if you'd like to help out. The current list: Jim & Rosie Singhose - Routes / Road Captain Tom Krise - Assistant Road Captain Norlene - Thursday snacks, Friday Dinner Pat Smith, Chase Truck Ben and Niki Beberness - Registration Carol Smith, Hospitality Shannon Kelley - Beverages Need run staff volunteers for: Awards, coffee & doughnuts, run packets and RV site coordinator Meeting adjourned at 2:50.
Upcoming Events
Check out these upcoming antique and vintage motorcycle events.
Date April 14 April 28 April 29 April 29 May 5 May 6 - 8 May 12 May 19 Event OTC Business Meeting, Brooks OR WVM Vintage Motorcycle Swap Meet Mt Vernon WA. ABATE of Oregon Spring Swap Meet Portland, OR Classic & Vintage Show & Swap Tsawwassen, BC Quail Lodge Motorcycle Gather Carmel, CA Los Angeles Chapter Road Run Buellton, CA OTC Business Meeting, Brooks OR Hanford Motorcycle Show & Swap Kings Fairground, Hanford, CA
May 19 - 20 OVM Motorcycle Swap & Show Corvallis, OR May 27 Ishi Chapter Show & Swap Meet Chico, CA
Oregon Trail Chapter April 2012 If youre restoring an antique plate and cant make it to the main office in Salem, theyve put images of each years plate online HERE.
Oregon State License Plate Colors Year No year 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926-27 1928 1929 19301 1931 1932 19332 19333 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943-454 19465 1947 1948 1949 1950-55
1 2
Numerals White Black Black Black White Black White White Black Black White White Black White White Black White Black White ----Orange White Ivory Black Black Yellow Black White Black Black Blue White White White Black Black Red Black Black
Background Maroon Yellow Light Green Aluminum Blue Yellow Red Green Light Blue Orange Red Green Yellow Blue Red Yellow Black White Black ----Black Dark Blue Black Orange Gray Black Aluminum Black Aluminum Light Yellow White Green Blue Blue Gray Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Editors Note:
OTC Forum Classifieds are available to all AMCA members registered on the OTC Forum. Advertisements posted on the forum are listed here when space is available. Please remove your ads from the forum as soon as possible following the sale.
Deadline for articles, advertisements or other submissions to the Trail Gazette is the 20th of the month. Send submissions to garyk@amcaotc.org
1929 plates were issued with windshield sticker for 1930. Issued June 30, 1933. 3 Issued December 31, 1933. 4 1942 plates were used with windshield sticker for 1943, 1944, and 1945. 5 Single plates were issued in 1946 only.