Inside American Motorcycling and the
American Motorcycle Association • 1900-1990
A book review by John Cerilli
(c) 1995-1996 Motorcycle Shopper. All Rights Reserved.
I recently had the pleasure of pre viewing one the exciting and comprehensive
motorcycle history books ever written. You may recognize the author, Harry
V. Sucher. Mr. Sucher, of Garden Grove, CA is arguably the most widely read
motorcycle author in the United States. His other two books, "The Iron Redskin:
A History of the Indian Motorcycle (J.H. Haynes, England), and "Harley-Davidson:
The Milwaukee Marvel" (J.H. Haynes, England) have been reprinted and updated
numerous time since the 1970's.
Harry has spent a lifetime researching and studying motorcycles and the people
who helped shape the sport in this country. He started collecting data as a
young boy, when many of the motorcycle pioneers were available for personal
interviews. Throughout his life, many of the original people assisted him in
preparing original manuscripts, thus insuring historical accuracy for years to
come. Best of all, there is a great photo on the book jacket of ol' Harry
sitting on a 1936 Norton one-lunger, with a Springer-style front end. He has
this great smile, one of a contented man who has experienced life to the fullest.
Included in this first edition book are over 400 actual photographs and
illustrations dating back to the dawn of the motorcycle sport in the United
States. This is not what I would call a "coffee table" book, although, it would
be attractive there. It is over 398 pages long with full introduction,
acknowledgments, eleven chapters, and full appendix, and bibliography.
The acknowledgments section is a virtual "who's who" of the motorcycle industry.
Names like Erwin G. Baker, J. Floyd Clymer, Dudley Perkins, Edward Turner,
Joseph Petrali, and E. Paul duPont, just to name a few.
The eleven chapters are segmented as follows:
• The Early Years 1990 - 1910
• The Golden Age of American Motorcycling 1910 - 1915
• Chaos and Reorganization 1916 - 1919
• The Great Decline 1920 - 1930
• The Worst Years of the Depression 1931 - 1934
• The Canadian Connection
• The Competition Years 1935 - 1941
• World War II 1941 - 1945
• The Post War Era 1945 - 1955
• The Time of Change 1955 - 1965
• The Later Years 1965 - 1990
Each chapter is superbly written and the accompanying photographs and
illustrations are museum quality. Much of the earlier chapters are dedicated
to the men who risked their lives races early machines at various dirt and board
tracks around the country. With obscure brand names like Cyclone, ACE, Iver
Johnson, Pope, Yale, it describes a bygone era in America's past as rich in
history as this country is diverse. It also chronicles the rise and fall of the
Federation of American Motorcyclists, or FAM from 1903, and how World War I
impacted the industry. It also documents the complete history of the American
Motorcycle Association, or AMA, from its roots as the Motorcycle Manufacturers
and Allied Trade Association (MM&ATA) through its official formation in 1924.
It goes on to discuss in detail how and why the MIC, or Motorcycle Industry
Council came to be, and why this organization, along with the AMA is taking
motorcycling into the next century.
The Appendix is noteworthy because not only does is have actual production
figures from 1920 to 1940 of major brands (Harley, Indian, Henderson, Excelsior,
Super X, Cleveland, Crocker, etc., but there is a detailed description of early
motorcycle manufacturers, from ACE to Yale with years and origin of manufacturer.
But best of all, as I mentioned earlier, are the photos and illustrations.
Many of the riders, racers, and industry leaders are long gone, but thanks to
Harry Sucher, their memory will live on for years to come. You can vividly see
from their faces that these people were dedicated to the sport and doing what
they enjoyed.
The last paragraph of the Author's Preface sums up the book nicely. Harry Sucher
states: "The history of American motorcycling has been by necessity an uneven
and often chaotic entity due to the various economic and social influences that
have occurred along the way, so is that of the concurrent organizations that
supported it. As the story unfolds, the reader will become aware of the many
bizarre and sometimes incomprehensible aspects of the activities both within the
industry as well as its accompanying associations. In this regard it must be
remembered that there is ever public conflict and controversy involving any type
of sporting competition. Then as motorcycling in the United States was but a
marginal industry for many years, those engaging in it were often operating in
a state of desperation in order to survive."
This book is indeed a lasting tribute to all those motorcycle pioneers who paved
the way for what we still enjoy today. In summary, I highly recommend this book
for the ALL motorcycle riders and enthusiasts today.
It is more than just a book, it is our motorcycle heritage, and Harry V. Sucher
is to be commended on an outstanding publication and documentary on the subject.
Reading this book will make you proud to be part of a sport rich in character
and American history. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Until next time, ride safe, and I will see you on the road.
About the author...
John Cerilli has been an active motorcycle rider, toy motorcycle collector, and
enthusiast for the last 25 years. He is a current AMA and Life H.O.G. (Harley-Owners-
Group) member. He has written articles for Motorcycle Collector, The BMWMOA News,
and several other motorcycle magazines.
His e-mail address is: johnc2@cox.net.