1903: Indian Motorcycle enters racing with Indian Motorette

Indian Motorcycle History the Beginning

Here’s timeline for the beginning collaboration of the founders of Indian Motorcycles, George Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom.

• 1901: Oscar Hedstrom builds the Indian Motorette in his Springfield, Massachusetts, workshop.

• 1902: George Hendee meets Hedstrom and is impressed by the Motorette’s potential. They form a partnership and officially establish the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company.

• 1903: Hedstrom wins a local race in Readville, with the Motorette, putting Indian Motorcycle on the map.

George Hendee and Oscar Hedstrom Indian Motorcycles a Perfect Match

So, while Hendee wasn’t involved in the initial creation of the Motorette, he recognized its potential and played a crucial role in turning Indian Motorcycle into a major player in the industry. He brought his business and marketing expertise to the table, helping to develop and sell Indian motorcycles to a wider audience.

Together, Hendee and Hedstrom formed a winning team. Hedstrom’s mechanical genius and racing talent continued to drive innovation, while Hendee’s business savvy ensured that Indian motorcycles were not just fast, but also commercially successful.

The Indian Motorette may not have been a direct collaboration between Hendee and Hedstrom, but it served as the catalyst for their legendary partnership and the birth of a motorcycle powerhouse. It was a testament to Hedstrom’s individual ingenuity and laid the groundwork for the incredible success that Indian Motorcycle would achieve under the leadership of both men.

The Indian Motorette is ‘born’

It all started with Oscar Hedstrom, a young Swedish immigrant with a passion for speed and tinkering, had set up shop in Springfield, Massachusetts. His creation? A groundbreaking contraption he called the “Indian Motorette” – a single-cylinder beast with a belt-driven rear wheel and a tiller for handlebars. It was clunky, loud, and smelled like burnt hair, but it had the soul of a champion.

1903 The Indian Motorette Finds its Place in History

Hedstrom knew his Motorette needed a proving ground. So, in 1903 he entered it in a local race in the nearby Readville Racetrack in Hyde Park, Massachusetts. The competition was fierce –  men on gasoline-powered bikes with names like “Rambler” and “Peerless.” But Hedstrom, with his Indian Motorette and fearless spirit, defied the odds. He tore through the dust, leaving his rivals in his wake. When the checkered flag finally fell, it was Hedstrom and his Indian Motorette crossing the finish line first..

The victory of that Indian engine at Readville went far beyond the racetrack. It was a declaration of intent, a promise of speed and excitement. It was the sound of a new era dawning, where American ingenuity and the thrill of the race would be forever intertwined.

Indian’s racing success in 1903 was just the beginning. In the years that followed, the brand would dominate the American racing scene, racking up victory after victory and etching its name into the annals of motorcycling history. But it all started with that dusty track in Readville, with a young man named Oscar Hedstrom, and a machine that dared to dream of leaving its mark on the world. So, the next time you hear the unmistakable rumble of an Indian motorcycle, remember that it’s not just a machine – it’s the echo of a revolution, born in the dust and glory of 1903.

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