G
Graham Smith
Guest
Informal drag races at an airfield in Los Angeles, California back in the day. Photo courtesy: Steve Doherty.
Sad to report that some of the photos (including this one) that supposedly were with the Red/Black Rapide were lost in the transaction. It appears the bike passed through at least two hands and went to auction a couple of times before I acquired it. The Rapide also had a non standard front mudguard and some other speed parts (tachometer, black barrels and heads, D-series distributor, no second sprocket and more)—I might surmise the bikes were regularly raced. It is a great photo of your father!That photo shows my father and his Shadow. He bought it in the fall of 1954, but from the color of the metal tag on the reg plate, I can tell this photo was taken in 1955. In 1956, the color of the reg plate itself changed to be black numbers on a yellow background, so it was definitely taken pre-1956. The way the reg plates worked in California back then, when a given number sequence ran out (for automobiles), California would change the colors and start new sequences for all vehicles, and the vehicles already on the road, owners had to turn in their old plates and get new plates.
Note the rear wheel does not have the secondary sprocket. My father soon after added a 52 tooth sprocket. Also note the non-standard front mudguard. My father was involved in an accident and hit a car. I am not sure if the rim was damaged/replaced, but I guess a standard replacement mudguard was not readily available at the time.
I still have the struts he made, or had made, to make the seat fully sprung.
It’s a Shadow that was built in late 1952, road tested in December, but it was not shipped until Sept 1953, to Indian Sales Corp, San Francisco. Note that it has the round knob for the rear stand. It also has the long hex nut on the hinge, instead of the small tommy bars.
I did not know of these photos taken that day, until after Herb Ailsleger, a fellow 1950’s LA section member, passed away a few years back. Herb had one of the Red/Black Touring Rapides, and kept it until he died. The bike went to a brother, then was sold soon after. That first owner outside the Ailsleger family was given the photos, along with other photos and documents. That owner joined the VOC, and contacted the club to ask about my father’s name, which was written on the back of the photos from that day. The VOC contacted me and told me someone had photos of my father. I assume the photos were taken by Herb.
@ShepFlyLow recently purchased the Rapide.