1953 Triumph Flat Track Racer

There is a particular sound that defined American dirt-track racing in the 1950s and '60s, and more often than not it came from a Triumph parallel twin run flat-out around a counterclockwise oval. In an era of raw, mechanical, minimally protected machines, the British 500 became the weapon of choice for a generation of American racers.

Configured as a 1953 Triumph flat-track racer, it is powered by a 498cc OHV parallel-twin fed by dual Amal carburetors with a computer free kick-start, paired to a four-speed gearbox and routed with right-side exhaust for the counterclockwise nature of American flat-track competition. 

The bike wears a silver tank with traditional black branding and detailing. It has beautiful black leather sprung solo saddle with striking patina, telescopic front fork, friction steering damper, low-slung exhausts, and wire-spoke wheels wrapped in block-pattern tires to complete complete the picture. It was recently shown privately at the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum alongside collector and enthusiast, John Lutsch.

For those drawn to mechanical purity and the golden age of two-wheeled motorsports, few objects tell the story as honestly as this Triumph flat-tracker.