Merkel Motorcycle News
The racers brought their sons with mini bikes and we would cause havoc.
Merkel motorcycle news. Suzuka 8 hour results suzuka 8 hours history. Merkel was among the most innovative of the pioneer motorcycle companies. Motorcycle news motorcycle racing news. Merkel was among the most innovative of the pioneer motorcycle companies.
Looking for the perfect two wheeled companion. By 1905 merkel had decided to engage in competition and produced several racing machines. Suzuka 8 hour winners list results roll of honour. July 12 2019 mcnews leave a comment.
Merkel news and stories previous page. Fred merkel motorcycles class of 2018. For intermission they would have kids races with me jimmy. These machines and their riders enabled merkel to develop a patented spring front fork that was to become the forerunner of the modern telescopic front fork.
By 1905 merkel had decided to engage in competition and produced several racing machines. Merkel was inducted into the ama motorcycle hall of fame in 2001 and is still fondly remembered as the first real character in wsb. Fred merkel was born in stockton california in 1962 to jerry merkel a professional dirt track racer. American duo wes cooley and mike baldwin won that inaugural duel on july 30 1978.
Merkel news and stories. By 1906 a spring frame became available followed by a spring front fork by 1907. Grounded by wwi the flying merkel motorcycle s spirit still soars. History the merkel brand first appeared in milwaukee wisconsin in 1902 when joseph merkel set up shop producing single cylinder motorcycles.
These machines and their riders enabled merkel to develop a. Started out as a bicycle manufacturer but in 1903 joseph merkel already produced single cylinder motor cycles. Started out as a bicycle manufacturer but in 1903 joseph merkel also manufactured single cylinder motor cycles. You would get 400 600 riders for a friday night race at san jose fremont chico oakdale or lodi cycle bowl with races four nights a week fred remembers.
How could this small brand acquire such a high appreciation. When the first motor bike built by bill harley and the davidson brothers was struggling to make it up hills in 1903 the machines made by joseph merkel were zipping down. Merkel in milwaukee wisconsin. Flying merkel motorcycles from ca 1902 until ca 1908.
In october 1908 the most famous merkel in america actually spelled his last name merkle and he was eager to escape the national spotlight. The merkel motor co. This fork became the instrument of choice on racing machines of other. Merkel s motorcycles were to set many performance standards in the emerging american racing scene.
Although surviving merkels are seldom seen these days they are widely recognized as icons of the motorized world. Fred merkle a slugging first baseman for new york giants drew the immediate ire of new york baseball fanatics after his base running mistake cost his team a national league championship. Fortunately for fred a two wheeled savior was. The engine was redesigned and developed a full 3 h p.
Merkel news and stories. It quickly became the most important race for production based bikes in the world. In the few years of its existence the flying merkel became a true motorcycle legend. While the 5 821km suzuka circuit itself was opened in the september of 1962 the suzuka 8 hour first came about in 1978.
The answer can be found in the innovative designs the excellent engineering the great racing successes and the evocative brand name. The merkel motor co. Merkel was an early pioneer among motorcycle companies and in 1905 merkel produced several racing machines. It all originates from the company founder joseph.