RACER MAN STAN DISHONG

Originally posted by Buck Lovell on Tuesday, 10 January 2012 in Buck Lovell’s – American Biker Blog

NO BRAKES MAKES IT A RACER

STAN DISHONGS 1946 HARLEY-DAVIDSON WR

Way back in 1946 flat track racing in major East Coast and West Coast cities attracted large crowds. Dirt tracks in the LA Basin and the San Francisco Bay Area pulled in serious money during weekend events. Flat track racing was all the rage due to the high speeds and very competitive nature of half mile and one mile circle track competitions. This Harley-Davidson, rigid frame, flathead motorcycle was restored by Bay area resident Stan Dishong, actually over restored (too much chrome plating) but none the less it’s a handsome machine. If you’ll notice, it has no brakes, front or rear. The rear wheel has two sprockets for quick final drive ratio changes. Simply flipping the rear wheel allows the opposite side sprocket to come into play. Stan was a long time Bay area resident and competitor at local tracks.

It is this writer’s opinion that Mr. Stan Dishong belongs in the National Motorcycle Museum Hall of Fame. He was a West Coast racing phenomenon during the mid 1950s thru the early 1960s. He was an expert drag racer, flat track racer, motor builder, innovator, and restorer. An application was made posthumously for his name to become one of those recognized as a Hall of Fame Member, but was rejected. The reason given was “he was too localized, not national enough.” I must state here that the names of many other riders are in the Hall of Fame that didn’t accomplish half of what Mr. Stan Dishong did during his long motorcycling career. I intend to petition the AMA National Motorcycle Museum to recognize this American motorcycle rider for what he is, a true blue Hall of Fame candidate that should be remembered for his outstanding contributions to American motorcycling. I’m hoping some of you readers will do some web surfing, and find out more about Stan Dishong, then supply me with that information. He deserves to be remembered by American motorcycle riders and bikers. I knew Stan for many years. I know I will never forget him, he was my kind of biker.

Buck