Okay, first time starting a topic but here it goes. Currently I am in college and I have to give an informative speech on anything I want and I figured since I am around this sport so much with my boyfriend racing, I might as well give a speech on it! (He's a bit excited... finally something about my school work that he is interested in!) I've picked up on a lot of things with being at the track and at home hearing about how the bike is being set up and where we'll be going this weekend or that weekend but I do not know much about how road racing started i.e. When did it first originate, where was the first race etc. So I am posting this checking to see if you guys know of any books or websites that would have this kind of information, if not thanks anyways and for taking a look at what I had to say!
Look Up the history of the Daytona 200. It started back in the 1930's on daytona beach. Back then that was concerted a road. LOL. They have just installed a a granite monument near the beach that has all the winners of the Daytona 200 from then is was raced on the beach (1930s-1960). Always, might be interesting.
I think that Velodrome racing might be a good place to start, so I did a little search and foung a site that might help, Some good pics you can use if you are using powerpoint for the speech. As the author notes the "first race probably occurred the very first time two motorcyclist happened upon each on the road while out for a spin." some things never change. ;D
Link http://www.virginiawind.com/byways/history_03.asp
Quote, Unknown source..
"The first motorcycle race was shortly after the second motorcycle was build"
XIII
Four score and seven years ago, our fore fathers were board racing Indians and Harleys. This was during prohibition which apparently had made them crazy.
I think some of it actually started at the "Brickyard"
http://racing.ballparks.com/Indianapolis/
QuoteFour score and seven years ago, our fore fathers were board racing Indians and Harleys.
It's true. The history of motorcycle racing in the U.S. largely belongs to Harley-Davidson.
Go here for more information.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/EX/RAC/HIS/en/hdracinghistory.asp?bmLocale=en_US
QuoteQuote, Unknown source..
"The first motorcycle race was shortly after the second motorcycle was build"
XIII
I'm stealing this for signatures on boards!
Road racing is kind of goofy.
American racing was really developed around dirt track racing. There were some "road" courses...actual roads. Daytona was on the beach, you turned left, and went down the road, turn left and down the beach.
Grand National Championships required the racer to compete in Mile, Half-Mile, TT, and road races. The champion came from that.
European road racing was done through street courses, cobble stones, etc. Oscar Schindler, of Schindler's List, apparently was a very good road racer from the 20's.
Anyway, both developed in different ways.
Apparently, the first American to go road racing in Europe was Bob Karol of California. He's a former NASA engineer and a good friend of mine. He raced Matchless' motorcycles and Hondas with guys like Hailwood in the late 50's and early 60's.
By the 70's, American's began to migrate to the championships in Europe a bit.
Hope that gives you some ideas...
Important people to look up...
Cal Rayborn, Gary Nixon, Kenny Roberts, Steve Baker
Thanks so much for helping me out! Its nice to get a push in the right direction. Have a good weekend and I'll see some of you at Blackhawk for NESBA track days this weekend.
If you have not yet seen it, watch the video/dvd "On any Sunday", 1 & 2. Get some flavor of the 60s and 70s.
For 1.2 Million dollars, I'll shut up now.
Otherwise, I offer this ...
Yes, I think you have some level of passion for the sport - leading to your choice to talk about it - which I and many others admire.
Yes, the reality of it is this - your objective hopefully is to get a good grade. Satisfying yourself or others in some way may be a factor, but you're not paying tuition to be told you suck.
The ideas here are awesome and true and they speak to the competance of the group here which has suggested them. They truly are all awesome and right.
But ...
Remember - get the grade - emotionally engage the listener with what they want to hear. They want to hear about themselves - everybody does.
If you don't follow me, please keep reading.
A lawyer wins a case by connecting the client with the jury.
A candidate wins the presidency by validating the public's deepest emotional needs and fears.
Paul Harvey convinces you that you NEED the matress he is selling by connecting the product with a resolution to your troubles.
Communicate racing UNIVERSALLY to all of your listeners. EVERYBODY can relate to racing in some way - the craft is to find that connection and communicate it effectively.
That will get EVERYONE what they want.
Please keep us abreast of what you do. This obviously has interested a lot of people.
If you're messed up enough to think that I can help you in some way, feel free to send me kinky email late at night. I'd be glad to offer what I can.
HW
Nice advice, and accurate. Homewrecker is an announcer, so he knows about presentation like few others. Perhaps the history angle is less saleable than approaching it from a "What it is and how YOU can do it" perspective.