1924 Indian 45ci Scout Hillclimb Racing Motorcycle

Engine no. 93051

· Alcohol running
· Double carburetors
· Impressive machine

The Indian Scout was a very popular motorcycle model built by the Indian Motocycle Company of Springfield, MA from 1920 through 1949. It rivaled the Chief as Indian's most important model. Designed by Charles B. Franklin, the Scout had its gearbox bolted to the engine and was driven by gears instead of by belt or chain. The engine originally displaced 37 cu in (610 cc), but we suspect a larger displacement and higher compression than stock is in this purpose-built racebike.

This custom-crafted racing machine shows how it evolved over the nearly a century of competition, ending up in this 'as raced' condition. It was built and raced by Paul Pierce (Sammy Pierce's brother) in the Midwest ending in the 1970s after which it spent a few years as an exhibit in the hillclimb display inside Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina.

Motorcycle hillclimbing is as much art as it is science, courage as it is talent. and good sense seems to be permanently absent. There is an official annual climb known as The Widowmaker in Croydon, Utah. It certainly symbolizes all that is good with the sport. One of the organizers is quoted, 'The hill climb features two 300-foot sagebrush-covered hills and one 1,000-foot hill. Instead of being at the Point of the Mountain east of Interstate 15 where the original hill climb began in 1964, organizers found "the perfect hill."' 'It's not so much that it's steep, it's the dirt. It's hard to get traction. If you can't keep your momentum, then you'll just dig a hole in the dirt with your back tire.' Note future competitors: 'It's 98 percent preparing for it and 2 percent doing it.' Thus, building a bike for such an event requires some smarts and ton of experience.

The Indian factory did actually construct hillclimbers in 1925-1926. They built 26 OHV specials. All were 45ci machines, all had roller bearing big ends and two oil pumps, one for each cylinder, and 15 to 1 compression ratios and burned alcohol.

The Indian for sale bears a striking resemblance to the factory racer which adds to its appeal. Hence with this bike everything is custom from the lightweight, rigid-rear frame to 'swingarm-style' leading link front forks as stiff as can be; from the tiny oil and fuel (alcohol) tanks to keep weight down to the 'tight' handlebars and dead man's kill switch to ground out the magneto ignition. At some stage in its life it was modified from a single carburetor to dual carburetors; said carburetors are – both extremely rare today - a mismatched pair of alcohol barrel carburetors: both a Schebler and Linkert mixer. Such a set-up needs to bring full-power low down and remain giving for as long as there's traction. The rider's seat consists of a pair of old pillion pads – ergonomics rather than comfort is the order of the day. And it needs to be easy to bail! Note the oversized rear sprocket to get up the steepest of hillclimb courses!

There's no telling how many times this bike has reached the top, or fallen down, of course. What is clear is that is a perfect hillclimber! With modern tires – surely a massive improvement - you might just make the top.