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The Best of of the EJ Cole Motorcycle AuctionMarch 20-21, 2015 - Las Vegas, Nevada |
Sold for $385,000 on March 21, 2015 No examples of a 1911 twin factory racer were known to exist until this one was discovered by Bob Clifton, a Richmond, Virginia collector who acquired it in the 1980s Owned since it was new by the Suttle family who were Flying Merkel dealers in Newport News, Virginia Raced by Mr. Suttle on the East Coast until World War I when it was stored, not to be seen for 70 years When it was found that it still had good spark from the magneto, gas and oil were added and it was fired up, the ancient rear tire disintegrating from the wheel speed it hadn’t seen in several generations. After new tires were added, it was ridden and exhibited at events throughout the country including an antique half mile dirt track race at Davenport, Iowa in 1989 |
| 1911 FLYING MERKEL BOARD TRACK RACER | |
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In 1908, Merkel merged with the Light
Manufacturing and Foundry Co. of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and all the
engine internals now ran on German-made ball bearings. ‘Merkel-Light’
was emblazoned on the tank by late 1909. The factory began racing in
earnest, hiring Charles Balke and Stanley Kellog as professional riders.
To confuse matters, factory advertising in ’09 referred to the ‘Flying
Merkel,’ but a logo by that name didn’t appear until 1911, by which time
they’d flown indeed, with Fred Whittler averaging 74 MPH over 50 miles
on a Los Angeles board track. By 1910, the famous Merkel telescoping
girder fork became standard on all but the cheapest models. In May 1911,
the Miami Cycle and Manufacturing Co. (builder of the Racycle) purchased
Merkel-Light, and moved production to Middletown, Ohio. The expense of
running a factory race team was too great, but they supported two
factory workers who had talent, one of whom was Maldwyn Jones. The
racers now bore the name ‘Flying Merkel’ on their orange tanks, and
Jones immediately established a name for himself, and the brand, beating
Erwin ‘Cannonball’ Baker in a 10-mile race. Jones eventually became the
National Champion with the Flying Merkel, although race wins, quality
engineering, and an amazing factory rider weren’t enough to keep the
wolf from the door in 1917. Still, in their 15-year history, the Merkel
and Flying Merkel established an amazing reputation as roadsters and
racers, which persists to this day. This 1911 Flying Merkel board track racer is in remarkable, original condition, and is the gem of the entire E.J. Cole collection, being a testament to the pioneering years of American racing ingenuity, which you can smell and feel on the machine. It simply oozes character and cool. |
