2020 Speedway New and Views

Barn Find

We have all heard the story about the guy who discovers a stash of bikes or parts that have been sitting in some barn in Outer Mongolia for 40 years. Covered in layers of dirt it’s a bonanza that reeks of finding the mother lode.

Now my story is not quite this dramatic but it comes dam close. So kick back and relax cause this yarn of Speedway treasure is no fairy tale.

It started when my buddy Michael DeChampain called me from his home in Detroit Michigan. A Mid-West Speedway racer and collector Michael and I have shared countless stories of races and machines. I never bought a bike from him but came close more than once. And who knows, I still might one of these days.

So anyway Michael says, “Hey Howie, I know where there are a bunch of old Speedway bikes and a 40 foot container full of parts”. Now I’ve heard this more than once when guy’s talk but Michael had a name, email address and a few pictures. Well that’s not totally accurate cause the pictures were so bad it was impossible to tell what was there. Ok, thanks, I’ll email the dude, goodbye.

The next day I do and much to my surprise I get an answer from a guy named Richard Ostrander. He confirms that there are bikes and parts that belong to his good friend Lenny who has them at his ranch in Sacramento California. I’m not a Speedway person so I have no clue what the bikes or parts are Richard tells me. I do know Lenny will only sell if someone takes the entire lot. He tells me the price and I wince. Ouch, that’s a lot of moola and the story stinks but I stay in contact trying to find out more.

For months we exchange emails. I find out the bikes belong to Spectrum Enterprises owner Leonard Miller. A former rider and sponsor he also did some Speedway promoting in 1970 and 80. Now Lenny has throat cancer and can’t speak. He also does not know how to use a computer or email I am told. OK, this should be easy enough to check. Next stop, Bill Cody.

Sure I know Lenny, he was heavily involved in Speedway, is a Trailblazer and use to come down for the banquet every year before he got sick Cody tells me. The bikes are real cause he offered them to me about 10 years ago but I never got an accurate description of what he had so I never checked it out.

Well hell it’s just in Sacramento. That’s only a 6-hour drive and I’ve been going kind of crazy with all this social distancing crap so a road trip might be a good thing. Plan one was to take the Mercedes and go look everything over but then I would have to go back if I bought them. No a better way would be to grab a bunch of Benjamin’s, drive up with a truck and trailer and roll the dice.

I call Kenny “Handful” Hansen. He and I have shared more than a few adventures over the years. Still an active Speedway rider Kenny raced under the RAZ banner for a few years when I was doing some sponsorship, is a hard worker and most of all he’s not a whiner. On our last outing to Auburn with Sammy Tanner we had a blast all weekend.

Sure, count me in Handful told me. I’m not working and have been looking for an excuse to get away. Cool, glad to see I’m not the only one that needs a change of scenery and wants to get out of LA.

Next call, Speedway racer Mike Lupo. Sure Howie, you can use my big trailer. It’s an 18 footer, has new tires and I use it to move bikes all the time. Great, two down, one to go. Now all I need is a truck.

Hey Marcus Monas, you keep telling me that anytime I need a truck to just holler. How about now cause I want to tow a trailer to Sacramento and pick up some bikes. Sure, no problem he replies. Pinch me this is all going way to easy. It sure is nice having friends.

So the spell was cast and on Tuesday May 12 at 3am Handful and I started our adventure. A perfect drive there were no issues other than that Highway Patrolman yelling at me over his loud speaker that two axle trailers have to use the right two lanes and their speed limit is 55. But he didn’t write and I heeded his advice for the rest of our journey.

Driving strait though with only two gas stops we arrived at our Sacramento location at 11am. As planned Lenny’s friend Richard Ostrander was there to greet us. Come on, I’ll show you what we got he yelled once we got the rig parked.

Up a walkway, around a bend, there sat six Speedway machines. Dirty, some parts missing but most fairly complete I could not believe my eyes. A Maely, serial # 2, a Speedway Research 4 valve Jawa conversion, an ESO, a Briggo, a Neil Street Conversion, a JAP. Holy rusted metal Batman, this was quite the find.

We continued to the back of the property where a 40-foot container was filled with Speedway parts. Four complete JAP motors, two dismantled Maely motors, one early one late, two complete Speedway Research 4 valve heads and barrels. Frames, fenders, wheels and everything in-between. It took four of us three hours to load the booty.

Excited and jacked up we headed back to LA. Same perfect scenario as or trip up minus the CHP encounter we arrived back in Pasadena at 11 pm.

It took Hansen and I four days to go though the parts. Some of them very rare I am particularly fond of the Jerry Fairchild engine and front facing magneto mount. Both have his name in the casting. Then there’s the Rudge and the Maely front end with his name on the casting.

Long story longer; the Zechner RAZ museum has a bunch more bikes. Yes, you just never know what’s hiding out there.

Thanks Marcus Monas, Mike Lupo and especially Kenny Hansen for all your involvement. Richard Ostrander and Lenny Miller, I appreciate your willingness to work with me on the price that was of course less than you wanted and more than I had planned to spend. Be advised these machines will be restored to as-raced condition and will have a good home.

And so my friends that’s how the wheel turns in this crazy sport we call Speedway. Stay tuned; I’m sure there’s more to come.

Thanks for listening
Harald “Howie” Zechner
Motor Press Journalist - Trailblazer