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ORIGINAL PHOTOS  .....continued 05......
The Flying Merkels racing to victory.

Famous and legendary riders gained successes with Merkel. See below DePalma, Jones, Balke, Pineau, Whittler, Gast and others.

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Harry Nixon was a young and successfull racer on Flying Merkel untill his tragic accident on the Hawthorn race track in 1911. (see the news section for more information)

Harry Nixon was a young and successfull racer on Flying Merkel untill his tragic accident on the Hawthorn race track in 1911. (see the news section for more information)

Front row on bikes, left Claude Arthur Lyons, center Ernest Hamilton, right William Colegrove. Depicted with their Flying Merkels.  They competed as a team in board track racing.  The date is not known precisely but is probably 1911 or 1912.  The photo was taken in front of Backus Garage on West Waters St in Smethport Pa. By courtesy of Kathryn A. Lyons, from Hamburg, NY, granddaughter of Claude. (CC By 4.0).  More historical information can be found at the Semthport website: http://www.smeth porthistory.org /w.waterstreet /backus /backus% 20garage/ earlybackus garage.html <http://www.smethporthistory.org /w.waterstreet/backus /backus%20garage/ earlybackusgarage.html>

Front row on bikes, left Claude Arthur Lyons, center Ernest Hamilton, right William Colegrove. Depicted with their Flying Merkels. They competed as a team in board track racing. The date is not known precisely but is probably 1911 or 1912. The photo was taken in front of Backus Garage on West Waters St in Smethport Pa. By courtesy of Kathryn A. Lyons, from Hamburg, NY, granddaughter of Claude. (CC By 4.0). More historical information can be found at the Semthport website: http://www.smeth porthistory.org /w.waterstreet /backus /backus% 20garage/ earlybackus garage.html

Great uncle Perry Powell. The Powell brothers ran a motorcycle shop in Grand Island, Nebraska around 1910 to 1915. On this photo from 1915 Perry is getting ready for a test run on one of their racing Flying Merkel\'s. By courtesy of Bob Powell, Oregon City, OR; Great grandson of Walter Powell, one of the Powell Brothers.

Great uncle Perry Powell. The Powell brothers ran a motorcycle shop in Grand Island, Nebraska around 1910 to 1915. On this photo from 1915 Perry is getting ready for a test run on one of their racing Flying Merkel\'s. By courtesy of Bob Powell, Oregon City, OR; Great grandson of Walter Powell, one of the Powell Brothers.

Lon Taylor, with his Flying Merkel,  showed his ability to ride a long distance event in remarkably fast time. He won the 50-mile race, at 1914 racemeet held at the Randall one-mile track, from a field of eight riders in 42:27 1/5. Shorty Matthews, on a Thor, was a close second.

Lon Taylor, with his Flying Merkel, showed his ability to ride a long distance event in remarkably fast time. He won the 50-mile race, at 1914 racemeet held at the Randall one-mile track, from a field of eight riders in 42:27 1/5. Shorty Matthews, on a Thor, was a close second.

1906_Merkel_Model_U_Racer

1906_Merkel_Model_U_Racer

Ralph DePalma on Merkel ca. 1910

Ralph DePalma on Merkel ca. 1910

Balke on Merkel ca.1909

Balke on Merkel ca.1909

F.E.Whittler on Merkel ca.1910 From the Digital Collections of the Utah State History,  visit http://history.utah.gov/ research_and_collections/photos/ index.html

F.E.Whittler on Merkel ca.1910 From the Digital Collections of the Utah State History, visit http://history.utah.gov/ research_and_collections/photos/ index.html

Maldwyn Jones

Maldwyn Jones

Jones and Pineau team up for the 1913 great 300-mile Savannah Grand Prize Race

Jones and Pineau team up for the 1913 great 300-mile Savannah Grand Prize Race

Margaret Gast -  courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast - courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast -  courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast - courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast -  courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast - courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast -  courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast - courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast -  courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast - courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast -  courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast - courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast -  courtesy of www.nagengast.org

Margaret Gast - courtesy of www.nagengast.org

The Flying Merkel Racing Team Automobile Journal 1913, showing no less than 3 competitors on Flying Merkel motorcycles

The Flying Merkel Racing Team Automobile Journal 1913, showing no less than 3 competitors on Flying Merkel motorcycles