This Curtiss air-cooled V8, with builder Glenn Cutiss riding, went 136.3 mph over the measured mile at Ormond Beach, Florida, on Jan. 23, 1907. It was not only the fastest speed ever attained by a motorcycle, but the fast by any vehicle. Curtiss’ run on Ormond Beach was astonishing for the time. His outright speed record held for 12 years and it took 23 years for a motorcycle to go faster. Curtiss’ massive V8 was essentially a 4000cc beast built on a beefy bicycle frame. Can you imagine riding this thing on a fairly narrow beach reaching close to 140 mph? It boggles the mind.
The 1907 Curtiss V8, the fastest motorcycle from 1907 to 1930. On display at the Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, N.Y. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Rider Files 
While roadracing my Honda MTR 125 at an AAMRR Bridgehampton race in 1981, a friend and former AAMRR 125 champion, Rob Fairburn, took me to one of the Curtiss brothers estate on Long Island where I was introduced to a Mr. Curtiss. He came motoring up in a 1920’s Dusenberg race car with a big number in the radiator grill and big wooden spoked racing wheels! This car was BAD! I was in awe and did not realize the importance at the time.
We asked if he was coming out to watch the bike races. This gentleman was quite old, but still enthusiastic and said that he would try on Sunday.
When I saw this bike on display in New York at “The Art of the Motorcycle” in 1998
it triggered this past racing memory. Glad to see it again.
Thanks Larry.
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Roger
One of the neat little side stories that makes this sport so damn fun.
Thanks
Larry
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