Motorcycle Rider News, Revues & Events

"Charles and his First Love"

So reads the caption penned in the margin of this early 1930's photo taken by my paternal grandmother, Elsie, of my father. Apparently this photo was taken shortly after Dad had returned to Denver, CO, from a road trip to Toledo, OH.

As a kid, I was always intrigued by the expression on his face (notice the ear-to-ear grin?). Only later in life did I understand why this was.

I would imagine every rider can remember how that felt and the trepidation every rider's mother must have felt. (Not without good reason.)

My Dad's younger sister, Penelope, has kept this original photo safe and secure all these years. Any time we younger members of the family wished aloud about motorcycles, out would come the family album, this picture and all the cautionary tales she could remember.

One of these tales circulated through the family was about the time Dad had proudly ridden up to his father's farm house and asked him if would like to "take her for a spin."

As Dad began to explain how to shift gears and which grip was throttle and which was spark advance - Granddad cut him off saying, " I was operating machinery long before you were ever thought of" and promptly threw his leg over the saddle.

Well, Granddad kicked over the motor, shoved into gear and when she lurched forward he accidentally rolled BOTH grips wide open! Bike and rider shot through the barnyard, panicking the family goat who bolted across his path - stretching her tether like a taut clothes line that caught Granddad by the throat - pulling him off the careening motorcycle which continued onward, scattering livestock before crashing through the barn wall.

After recovering the wind that had been knocked out of him...Granddad stood up, dusted himself off and said sternly to my father, "AFTER you fix the barn, that infernal contraption is NOT to be seen on this property EVER again!"

Dad said from that day on, when ever he road out to "see the folks", he would have to lean his bike against the gate post at the bottom of the lane and hike up to the farmhouse.

I guess our parents did have good reason for rolling their eyes at us whenever we started talking about getting a motorcycle.

Enjoy your ride!


"Mother"


P.S. Any help anyone can provide me with identifying the year and model of my Dad's Harley-Davidson and any visible modifications anyone might spot would be greatly appreciated.

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