There are rare motorcycles, and then there are machines so scarce they blur the line between artefact and mythology. This 1916 Harley-Davidson 8-Valve Board Track Racer is one of those bikes. Just six were ever built by Harley-Davidson, and only for factory-backed racers. Today, this is believed to be the only complete original example still in existence, making it not just rare but arguably one of the most historically important motorcycles on the planet. All of which makes it easy to understand why, when the hammer fell at its most recent auction sale, this Fred Lange Restorations beauty fetched in the six-figure range.
The legend of the 8-Valve was forged on the board tracks of America, where motorcycles thundered around steeply banked wooden ovals at speeds that were outright terrifying for the time. With no brakes, no suspension, and no clutch, board track racing was as pure and as dangerous as it gets. In 1916, this very model won the Dodge City 300-mile race, setting a record time of 3 hours, 45 minutes, and 36 seconds. It was the fastest motorcycle on earth, and Harley’s answer to Indian’s dominance on the track. Irving Janke was the rider, and a hundred years ago, his average speed was 130km/h!
What made it even more shocking was the price. At five times the cost of a comparable Indian, the Harley 8-Valve wasn’t just expensive, it was exclusive. Only Harley’s own factory riders could get their hands on one, making it less a motorcycle for the public and more a weapon for the factory race team. It was Harley-Davidson at its most ambitious and competitive, staking a claim at the pinnacle of early American motorsport. It was one of the original examples of win on Sunday, sell on Monday, and not only was she fast, as you can see for yourselves, she’s absolutely beautiful.
Fast forward to today, and the task of preserving this slice of two-wheeled history fell into the capable hands of Fred Lange. Known around the world for his meticulous restorations, Lange has devoted more than three decades to resurrecting early Harley-Davidsons from the 1900s through 1929. His motto, “resurrecting the past, preserving the future,” isn’t just marketing; it’s a philosophy that runs through every project he undertakes.
At 79 years old, Lange’s résumé reads like a love letter to vintage motorcycles. He’s ridden coast-to-coast in the Motorcycle Cannonball, twice, piloting century-old machines he built himself. He’s run engines at Bonneville. He’s spent a lifetime immersed in the smell of oil, the feel of wrenches, and the pursuit of authenticity. But his true obsession is board track racers. Drawn in by the madness of men risking their lives on 60-degree wooden banking, Lange has made it his mission to keep that dangerous chapter of history alive through his restorations. The truth is, without men like Lange, the stories and bikes of those days would now be unknown.
His shop near Santa Maria, California, is more than a workshop, it’s a cathedral to early motorcycling. With 10,000 square feet of space dedicated to welding, machining, fabrication, and paint, every restoration can be handled in-house. It’s a one-man war against time, ensuring motorcycles that would otherwise disintegrate into forgotten relics are instead brought back to life in full, running glory. And this 1916 8-Valve Board Track Racer is his crown jewel.
The restoration itself is documented in a bound hardcover book, tracing the process from rusted beginnings to concours-level finish. True to his philosophy, Lange retained every shred of originality possible, fabricating parts only when no other option existed. And as is evident by the end result, his commitment to making parts period-correct is picture-perfect.
And from the sumptuous leather of the seat, to the flawless paint work and the fire-breathing 8-valve, V-Twin, with a big Bosch magneto. The end result is not just a restoration, it’s a resurrection. The bike stands today almost exactly as it did when it rocketed around Dodge City over a century ago.
It’s hard to imagine a motorcycle with more presence. Every line, every rivet, every scar tells a story of Harley-Davidson’s earliest and boldest attempt at racing greatness. One of six built, one of one surviving complete, and restored by the most respected name in antique Harley-Davidsons, this 1916 8-Valve Board Track Racer isn’t just rare. It’s living proof of a time when men, wood, and steel collided in the pursuit of speed, and when Harley-Davidson was willing to risk it all to win. The struggling big American would do well to once again draw on those incredible times, because how can you not love a big like this.
