Thor hired William Ottaway in 1909, and he led Thor to success in motorcycle racing during his tenure until he left the company in 1913.
Ottaway was noted for his ability to tune engines and Thor set national records with Thor bikes.
At this time much of the racing was on dirt tracks or tracks of wooden boards, and racing was noted as important for of recognition on the motorcycle market. (
see also Board track racing)
An example of a Thor racing bike was the 1912 Thor Board Track Racer, which shipped in special Thor box.
They were called board track racers because in this day, the racing courses were made of planks of wood to make the race track, hence a 'board track'.
The wooden tracks were called motordromes and were quite dangerous to drivers and the crowds.
Most of the sport's stars died racing and its popularity had diminished by the 1920s according to the Smithsonian Institution.
Thor hired William Ottaway in 1909, and he led Thor to success in motorcycle racing during his tenure until he left the company in 1913. Ottaway was noted for his ability to tune engines and Thor set national records with Thor bikes. At this time much of the racing was on dirt tracks or tracks of wooden boards, and racing was noted as important for of recognition on the motorcycle market. (see also Board track racing)
An example of a Thor racing bike was the 1912 Thor Board Track Racer, which shipped in special Thor box. They were called board track racers because in this day, the racing courses were made of planks of wood to make the race track, hence a 'board track'. The wooden tracks were called motordromes and were quite dangerous to drivers and the crowds. Most of the sport's stars died racing and its popularity had diminished by the 1920s according to the Smithsonian Institution.
Thor (motorcycles)