Bloodsport Pt. 3: A New Direction

   After Eddie Hasha's horrific crash in New Jersey, racing continued on the boardtracks despite the outcries, which meant that the deaths continued as well. The next tragedy to make nationwide news came less than a year later. 

  Odin Johnson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1889. He was working as a lineman for a telephone company when the racing bug caught up with him. He left his career in 1911 to pursue his fortune on the boardtracks, quickly earning the title of, "The Salt Lake Marvel." During his brief career as a motorcycle racer he was involved in several fatal accidents. At the end of a race in 1912, Johnson cut the power to his machine and steered toward the bottom of the track. A local police officer and amateur racer named Potter hit him sending them both flying... Potter was killed. About a month later, during a race, Johnson's motorcycle was clipped by racer Harry Davis and Johnson was sent crashing into the stands. A local girl named Grace Cunningham was killed and her four companions were injured, including Elizabeth Jensen. Odin Johnson and Miss Jensen became acquainted and built a friendship after the accident, and eventually were married. In July of 1912, it was Johnson's track owned motorcycle that Mat Warden borrowed and was found to have the axle sawn partially through, narrowly avoiding tragedy (discussed in the previous post). Despite his numerous close calls, Johnson wasn't deterred.

(Johnson is second from left)

  On July 30th of 1913 Johnson was racing at the Lagoon Motordrome in Ludlow Kentucky. The Lagoon Motordrome was a new track, having just opened on June 22nd, and was heralded as the safest of all the boardtracks. It was a circular track, 1/4 mile in length, with continuous 60° banking.

Running at the top of the boards, Johnson suddenly lost control of his motorcycle and veered towards the crowd. He struck a light pole, snapping it in half and splitting his skull, killing him instantly. The force of the blow burst the fuel tank of the motorcycle, which was immediately ignited by the live wires of light. Burning gasoline was thrown into the crowd...

"Mothers with babies in their arms were showered with blazing gasoline." -The Washington Post 

According to reports, a total of eight lost their lives, the youngest of which was 5 years old, and 35 more were burned. Earlier that same day, Odin Johnson had written home boasting of making the first payment on he and his young wife's first home.

  As city governments and newspapers began to condemn and restrict the "murderdromes", more and more racing events were beginning to be held on oval dirt tracks. The oval dirt tracks had been some of the earliest tracks used for motorcycle racing, but it's popularity had been eclipsed by the boardtrack craze. The appeal of dirt tracks climbed as the boardtrack death toll rose. 

  In 1921, at the Toledo Ohio Motordrome, the boardtracks claimed the life of one of the era's most popular stars, when Albert "Shrimp" Burns suffered a severe head injury in a crash. It was about this same time that the AMA began to bring formal structure to the dirt track circuit. The boardtracks were in decline. The maintenance costs to keep them operating was enormous. The attendance of the crowds was slipping. In 1928, one crash claimed the lives of eight riders, driving another nail into the coffin.

(Look at those twisted machines)

Then the stock market crashed in 1929. Numerous motorcycle companies folded. The public couldn't afford the luxury of attending  the races anymore and track owners could no longer afford the upkeep. By 1931, 20 tracks had been abandoned. The last of the boardtrack races was held in 1932. The bloodiest era of racing was over. 

  After the Great Depression only two motorcycle companies were left standing. Harley Davidson and Indian. Their rivalry wouldn't die with the boardtracks, nor would it be killed by the Great Depression. The two brands would continue battling head to head for dominance on dirt tracks, dried lake beds, in endurance runs across desserts, and pretty much anywhere else that two or more motorcycles could pair off. The competition sparked a rivalry that still stands. Later joined by manufacturers from around the world, Harley Davidson and Indian still battle it out on the AMA dirt track circuit to this day.