Motorcycling book includes Auburn's history on two wheels

Kimberly Reed Edwards has been a writer for 40 years. Her latest book – Sacramento Motorcycling – A Capital City Tradition – honors the racers, enthusiasts, dealers and mechanics for what some called The Greatest Sport in the World, she wrote in an email to the Auburn Journal. Says Edwards, who serves as president of the California Writers Club Sacramento, "I wanted to learn about the people and their habits, influenced by the roaring two-wheeler that came to town. This is our history – the pathfinders, many of whom we've never heard about, but who played important roles in retail community, the chamber of commerce, civic positions, the police department – even the judicial system." Edwards has a motorcycle background and knowledge. Her dad "had a small shop near the railroad track at 16th and R. When I was little, I wore a T-shirt that said, My Daddy Rides Indian. When we were in elementary school, our mother was terminal with cancer, so Dad would take us on long motorcycle or sports car rides. Though it didn't ease the confusion of a child, it made us forget for a while. To this day, there's something reassuring about the sound of a motorcycle or a fast sports car." Edwards, who will talk about her book at a celebration in Old Sacramento on Saturday, July 17, uncovered several ties to the Auburn area through her research for the book. Here are her thoughts on Sacramento Motorcycling's ties to Auburn: A long history exists between Sacramento enthusiasts and Auburn. The Capital City Wheelmen biked there in the late 1800s and early 1900s. When motorcycles became popular, endurance "runs" or races passed through town frequently, with Auburn often designated as a "checking" point along the way. Checking points were a place, often a dealership or a repair garage, where competitors were required to "check in" before continuing on in the next leg of the route. Riders were penalized for being early or late by even minutes. Always welcoming were the Auburn residents, and once they even held a parade for the visiting cyclists. Early newspapers describe motorcycle outings that brought Capital City Motorcycle club members through the fruit country of Auburn and Placerville. Two decades of success in hosting and participating in bicycle races provided a built-in network of companion motorcycle riding towns: Stockton, Fresno, Bakersfield, Tracy, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, Marysville, Woodland, Galt, Auburn and Chico, to name a few. In 1911, an employee of Kimball-Upson Sporting Goods named Frank J. Murray, who would become Sacramento's first exclusive Harley dealer 10 years later, mastered the Pope motorcycle early on, acing many endurance runs. He reported his success in a 1911 Motorcycle and Bicycle Illustrated: … Having confidence in my little Pope, I entered in the Placerville-Auburn contest. You know what a mountainous rough country road that route takes you through. Two forks of the American to pass. Three mountain divides to cross by Ricky Mountain roads. The little Pope was there every minute and made Sacramento to Placerville, 47 miles, was one hour and fifty minutes. Some grades and rough roads, too. … I was told that my machine would not pull its own weight up by some of the grades. It pulled its own and mine as well, and I was in the saddle all the time. The distance was 27 miles, which I made in 1 hour and thirty minutes. On the five mile grade from the river to Auburn, I started even with a twin 7-horsepowered machine and beat him to it … Yours truly, Frank Murray Not long after Murray's ride in the Placerville-Auburn contest on a Pope, Chester Scott, one of Sacramento's best riders, placed first on his Jefferson at a hill climb at Rattlesnake Bridge and Auburn Road. His time, 5:48, was a minute faster than that of his nearest rival on a Thor. A charter member of the Sacramento Motorcycle Club, Scott started his own business in 1913, Sacramento Motorcycle Company and Sacramento Motorcycle Exchange, at 1234 J in Sacramento. Scott took on the Jefferson. He was a prolific racer and hill climber. Motorcycles became a means for residents to express themselves as individuals while enjoying conformity through group rides. Elk Grove, Folsom, Auburn and the Delta towns ranked high on the list of popular destinations for Sacramentans. Although newspapers reported motorcycle accidents— many driven by teenage boys — most riders appreciated the bikes for relaxed enjoyment rather than speed. In 1913, the Capital City Motorcycle Club sponsored an endurance run. The route covered Sacramento to Jackson to Placerville to Auburn to Sacramento. The first half of the run went well, but Placerville to Auburn proved to be a nightmare scenario. One rider broke his front spring and his muffler came loose. Excelsior dealer William A. Langley took his share of spills. He hit a culvert and was thrown 10 feet over his handlebars, leaving him with bent forks. But he jumped back on the bike and continued. One rider broke his chain and tore his clutch apart. Four other riders hit a pig, a rooster, a sheep and a dog. In July 1915, as 700 motorcyclists poured into Sacramento for a national convention, city leaders rolled out the carpet for 100 delegates at the Traveler's Hotel at 5th and J. The Sacramento Chamber of Commerce treated guests to moonlight river rides, theater parties, swimming at the Riverside baths and sightseeing trips by automobile to the "fruit country" of Fair Oaks, Loomis, Newcastle, Lincoln, Auburn and Penryn.