The history of the Crocker cycle kicks off in 1882 with the birth of Albert Crocker. Little is known of his earlier childhood days, yet the tale picks up with his engineering studies and subsequent hiring from the Aurora Automatic Machine Company of nearby Aurora, Illinois, within the design and style team of the motorcycle division. They were building the mighty Thor motorbike during that time, and Crocker wasn't only chosen for his engineering acumen, but also doubled as a factory tournament racer from season's 1907 to 1908 and won several tournaments on-board its V-twin machines. It is known that he befriended Oscar Hedstrom and George Hendee, principals of the Indian Motorcycle Company, throughout his racing career, resulting in a long friendship.
As outlined by Harry Sucher's book "The Iron Redskin", Crocker resigned from Thor in 1909 and secured employment with Indian. He was sent to San Francisco to manage a department in the factory under the direction of "Hop" Hopkins, a famous motorcycle personality of the day. The factory relocated him to Denver in 1919 as branch manager; and in 1924 was sent to Kansan City to operate the Indian dealership in the region. He went on to distribute motorbikes throughout the State. Al wedded Gertrude Jefford Hasha in 1925, widow of Eddie Hasha the famed racer, and together they moved to L . A . several years later to take over the pre-owned Freed Cycle Company. In addition to servicing and selling bikes, Al operated a machine shop within the business and offered Indian with crankpins and related parts.
Paul Bigsby,a racer in his own right joined the shop as a foreman. Both men enjoyed a love of engineering, motorcycles, and races. Flat track races started to take off, and they both designed a one cylinder Speedway racer to contend in this category of racing. Estimations vary around the total number of Speedway racers made, but the concluded number appears to be somewhere between 30 and 40.
Bigsby and Crocker went on to produce the popular Crocker V-twin later in the 30s, which gained great praise coming from all those who owned and operated or competed with them. Presently, these are the other Holy Grail of motorcycle collectors. Bigsby also gained fame beyond the bike community with non-motorcycle relevant products.
he motorcycle featured here is a 1933 Crocker Speedway Racer owned by Jerry Gendreau of Illinois. This bike and 33 others enhance the Iron Horse Social Club, prominent bar/museum and biker heaven in town. Jerry gotten serious about classic bikes in the past after reading textbooks linked to vintage speed bikes . He currently owns flat trackers, hill climbers, drag racers, whatever. Jerry can locate the owner of this bikes back to Sam Parriott, a noted racer and motorcycle enthusiast. Jerry has a 1948 picture of Sam with this particular motorcycle and a Crocker twin at the Rosemont, California, dry lakes, where the motorcycle set a speed record of 120 mile per hour, and also the twin set a speed record of 129.49 mph. That's just amazing!
He got the motorcycle about 15 years ago at the AMCA motorcycle meet in Davenport, Iowa, from Glen Bator, who revived it earlier. The motorbike is outfitted with a 30-112", 500 cc, over head valve, one-cylinder engine that puts out approximately 40 horsepower. Jerry's motorbike still holds some of its authentic paint, and yes it appears like its going 100 miles-per-hour simply fastened on its frame. He's very proud of its historical past, and the fact that it's a rare machine just contributes to its aura.
As outlined by Harry Sucher's book "The Iron Redskin", Crocker resigned from Thor in 1909 and secured employment with Indian. He was sent to San Francisco to manage a department in the factory under the direction of "Hop" Hopkins, a famous motorcycle personality of the day. The factory relocated him to Denver in 1919 as branch manager; and in 1924 was sent to Kansan City to operate the Indian dealership in the region. He went on to distribute motorbikes throughout the State. Al wedded Gertrude Jefford Hasha in 1925, widow of Eddie Hasha the famed racer, and together they moved to L . A . several years later to take over the pre-owned Freed Cycle Company. In addition to servicing and selling bikes, Al operated a machine shop within the business and offered Indian with crankpins and related parts.
Paul Bigsby,a racer in his own right joined the shop as a foreman. Both men enjoyed a love of engineering, motorcycles, and races. Flat track races started to take off, and they both designed a one cylinder Speedway racer to contend in this category of racing. Estimations vary around the total number of Speedway racers made, but the concluded number appears to be somewhere between 30 and 40.
Bigsby and Crocker went on to produce the popular Crocker V-twin later in the 30s, which gained great praise coming from all those who owned and operated or competed with them. Presently, these are the other Holy Grail of motorcycle collectors. Bigsby also gained fame beyond the bike community with non-motorcycle relevant products.
he motorcycle featured here is a 1933 Crocker Speedway Racer owned by Jerry Gendreau of Illinois. This bike and 33 others enhance the Iron Horse Social Club, prominent bar/museum and biker heaven in town. Jerry gotten serious about classic bikes in the past after reading textbooks linked to vintage speed bikes . He currently owns flat trackers, hill climbers, drag racers, whatever. Jerry can locate the owner of this bikes back to Sam Parriott, a noted racer and motorcycle enthusiast. Jerry has a 1948 picture of Sam with this particular motorcycle and a Crocker twin at the Rosemont, California, dry lakes, where the motorcycle set a speed record of 120 mile per hour, and also the twin set a speed record of 129.49 mph. That's just amazing!
He got the motorcycle about 15 years ago at the AMCA motorcycle meet in Davenport, Iowa, from Glen Bator, who revived it earlier. The motorbike is outfitted with a 30-112", 500 cc, over head valve, one-cylinder engine that puts out approximately 40 horsepower. Jerry's motorbike still holds some of its authentic paint, and yes it appears like its going 100 miles-per-hour simply fastened on its frame. He's very proud of its historical past, and the fact that it's a rare machine just contributes to its aura.
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