The Class C ranks filled with amateur racers after factory race teams were disbanded .
Class C racing worked out well because it was good for spectators and participants in equal measure and helped sell bikes as the economy improved in fits and starts . In contrast , professional racing was boring , with only one team rider , Joe Petrali , winning every race for H- D on a 350 Single in 1935 , causing the pro ranks to peter out .
Photo courtesy Indian Motorcycle
The rest of the 1930s was a sort of see- saw series of events . E . Paul duPont pulled Indian back from the brink while the MoCo developed something new in hopes of a brighter future . H- D ’ s V- series Big Twin got sorted and was made larger ( 80ci ), and it started selling . The 45ci R- series begat the W- series with many improvements .
Indian made their Big Twins prettier and faster , and the Chiefs outsold the Scouts even though the various versions of the Scout were highly promoted .
KNUCKLEHEAD Bill Harley and the three Davidson brothers were no longer young men when the decision was made to build an all- new OHV Big Twin . Considering the dire straits of their company ’ s finances , not to mention the shaky circumstances of the Depression , it was as foolhardy as it was brave – a gamble that became a legacy .
The 61ci E / EL models were aimed at the experienced enthusiast who wanted something akin to a grand- touring automobile : sophisticated , comfortable , swift , and capable of covering ground effortlessly , even two- up with baggage . After all , new roads were everywhere , with more being paved every year , and the need for a “ Gentleman ’ s Express ” type of motorcycle was burgeoning .
Dealers and a select few others knew about the impending arrival of the new machine , but there wasn ’ t one word about it in the 1936 brochure . Harley soft- pedaled the 61 OHV , letting the bike speak for itself . In its 1937 brochure , the
Harley- Davidson ’ s revered Knucklehead was introduced in 1936 . It was a pivotal moment in American motorcycling and instantly made other bikes ( except for the Crocker that debuted the same year ) look like yesterday ’ s news .
Photo courtesy Harley-Davidson
20 | OCTOBER 2023 | AMERICANRIDER . COM