The Plymouth Monster

74ok · Jan 13, 2015

Fred Luther Tries to Go 200 MPH on a Motorcycle at Bonneville

January 2, 2015

* Updated * Thanks to reader John Root of GeekBobber we now have included more photos of Fred Luther’s motorcycle and the text of an article about the machine in the June 1950 Cycle magazine that can be found at the bottom of the post.

Fred Luther was a motorcycle racer, who competed as early as 1909. Not much more is known about him other than at that time he was from Texas, and was listed as an entrant in a few other races on board tracks in the period. Twenty years later in 1934 Luther was in California where he built this motorcycle to try to go 200 m.p.h. and receive $30,000 worth of contracts from sponsors if he reached the goal.

Rohan · Jan 13, 2015

Putting a ruler across one of those side-on shots shows the sump seems to be lower than the tire contact points with the ground.
Good for aero, but not so good as a salt plough ?!

Thanks for posting.
Monster is right, seems huge for a not especially powerful engine.

acotrel · Jan 13, 2015

I know a guy who has built a bike with a turbocharged V8 Chev engine. So far he and every one of his other friends have hurt themselves on it.

ashman · Jan 15, 2015

Those men on their fast machines, more dare devils, isn't that what its all about, anything to do with speed and you will always get someone willing to give it a go and how many have lost their lives doing it.

Ashley

Bernhard · Jan 16, 2015

I don’t give a flying fig if they fit a 7 litre turbocharger engine, I wouldn’t want to ride it, clearly they are NOT meant to go round corners :!: :shock:

The Plymouth Monster

74ok

Rohan

acotrel

ashman

Bernhard

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