Indiana Motorcycle Historical Society

05/10/2026

On this day, May 10, 1960, Erwin George "Cannonball" Baker, a motorcycle and automobile racing driver and organizer in the first half of the 20th century, died of a heart attack at Community Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, he was 78.

Baker set 143 driving records from the 1910's through the 1930's. His first was set in 1914, riding coast to coast on an Indian motorcycle in 11 days. He normally rode to sponsor manufacturers, guaranteeing them "no record, no money".

In 1915, Baker drove from Los Angeles to New York City in 11 days, 7 hours and fifteen minutes in a Stutz Bearcat, and the following year drove a Cadillac 8 roadster from Los Angeles to Times Square in seven days, eleven hours and fifty-two minutes while accompanied by an Indianapolis newspaper reporter.

In 1924 he made his first midwinter transcontinental run in a stock Gardner sedan at a time of 4 days, 14 hours and 15 minutes. He was so impressed by the car, that he purchased one thereafter. In 1926 he drove a loaded two-ton truck from New York to San Francisco in a record five days, seventeen hours and thirty minutes, and in 1928, he beat the 20th Century Limited train from New York to Chicago.

Also in 1928, he competed in the Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race, and set a record time of 14:49.6 seconds, driving a Franklin. His best-remembered drive was a 1933 New York City to Los Angeles trek in a Graham-Paige model 57 Blue Streak 8, setting a 53.5 hour record that stood for nearly 40 years.

This drive inspired the later Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, better known as the "Cannonball Run", which itself inspired at least five movies and a television series.

In 1941, he drove a new Crosley Covered Wagon across the nation in a trouble free 6,517-mile run to prove the economy and reliability characteristics of Crosley automobiles. Other record and near-record transcontinental trips were made in Model T Fords, Chrysler Imperials, Marmons, Falcon-Knights and Columbia Tigers, among others. He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

Story via: x.com/IMCHSociety
Photo attribution: Josef Lebovic Gallery
Photo details: E.G. Baker With 1916 Model Indian Motorcycle, Outside Art Gallery Of New South Wales, Sydney

05/10/2026

IMCHS.org - Pictured is motorcycle officer A.C. Gibney of the Indianapolis Police Department. Circa 1908

05/05/2026

On this day, May 5, 1914, Indiana native Erwin "Cannonball" Baker began the cross-continental motorcycle trip that would influence the way Americans would think of the "big bike" forever more.

Just three months shy of the First World War, Cannonball Baker, wearing leather riding trousers and carrying a one-gallon canteen, mounted his V-twin 1000cc Stutz Indian motorcycle and headed east toward Yuma, Arizona, with a raging sandstorm at his back. To combat thirst, Cannonball used the old Native American method of carrying a small pebble under his tongue.

On the second day of his trip Baker ran out of gas just a few miles short of Agua Caliente, Arizona, and was forced to push his bike in the 119-degree desert heat. Equipped with a Smith & Wesson .38, Baker fought off a pack of dogs in Fort Apache.

Dogs continued to hamper his trip; in Ellsworth, Kansas, a shepherd dog attacked his bike. "This dog seemed to have a great desire for the Goodyear rubber of my front tire," explained Baker. "The dog took a fall out of me which put me in bad shape, as I slid along the road on my elbows and knees. I kept the tire and the dog lost his life."

In all, Cannonball traveled 3,379 miles across the U.S. Due to the poor roads and primitive "cradle-spring" shock absorption of his bike, he rode most of the way standing up. His feat made him a hero.

Photo attribution: Indianapolis News, May 13, 1914 via Newspapers.com

03/24/2026

On this day, March 24, 1930, Terrence Stephen McQueen was born in Beech Grove, Indiana. His father, a barnstorming pilot, left his son and wife, Julian, when Steve was six months old. During his adolescence, Steve bounced between his uncle’s farm in Slater, Missouri, and the home of his mother and his new stepfather in Los Angeles.

Unfortunately, his stepfather had a violent streak, and beat Steve on numerous occasions, once even throwing him down a flight of steps. Steve began hanging around with a local gang and committing petty crimes.

Shortly before his 15th birthday, Steve was sent to the Boys Republic in Chino, California, a school and treatment center for troubled youngsters. The actor later credited the school with setting him back on the right path. After his release, he planned to rejoin his mother, only to learn that his mother had a new boyfriend and expected Steve to live with a neighbor.

When he was 17, Steve joined the Marines. He got into a bit of trouble at the outset, but he was honorably discharged in 1950.

Using funds provided through the G.I. Bill, Steve began taking acting lessons at Sanford Meisner’s Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. (Actor/director Mark Rydell, who met Steve around this time, said that Steve was torn between using his G.I. Bill money for an acting school or to learn to lay bathroom tile. He chose acting, Rydell said, because “there were women in the acting profession”).

After a few small roles on stage and TV over the next few years, Steve made his Broadway debut in 1955 in the play A Hatful of Rain. He was fired from the play after six weeks, but he was seen in a bit part the following year in his big screen debut, Somebody Up There Likes Me, and two years later, he starred in the sci-fi cult classic The Blob (1958).

Steve was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in December 1979 and died November 7, 1980. He was 50 years old. His cancer was linked to asbestos exposure from the time he spent in the military.

Pictured is Steve on his 1940 Indian 74ci Chief motorcycle. Used as his 'Hollywood' bike, it was sold as part of the McQueen estate when it was auctioned at Las Vegas in 1984 as lot 651.

Photo: Motorcyclism

03/12/2026

On this day, March 12, 1882 , Erwin "Cannonball" Baker was born in an Indiana log cabin. Baker’s family relocated to Indianapolis when he was just 12 years old. It was there that Baker would learn the machinist trade, and it was also where Baker became known for his athletic prowess in a variety of sports.

After proving his skill at racing bicycles (and later, motorcycles), Baker purchased his first Indian motorcycle in 1908. Within a year, Baker would ride it to victory in one of the very first races held at the newly constructed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Baker quickly established himself as the man to beat on two wheels, racking up 53 victories and an additional 20 podium finishes in the following years, setting 11 new speed records in the process.

In 1912, Indian Motorcycles hired him as a factory-sponsored rider (a job he’d keep until 1924), and Baker went above and beyond the call of duty in keeping the Indian name in the headlines.

Learn more: https://www.imchs.net/2025/03/Erwin-George-Cannon-Ball-Baker.html

Erwin George Baker at Find A Grave: Findagrave.com/memorial/1431/erwin_george-baker

02/08/2026

On this day, February 8, 1997, Stunt motorcyclist Corey Scott, of Decatur, Indiana was killed while doing a motorcycle stunt, he was 28 years old. Corey was performing at the Orange Bowl stadium in Miami, Florida at a U.S. Hot Rod Monster Jam.

A crowd of around 30,000 spectators watched Corey attempt a dangerous step-up jump. Corey then drove up a steep ramp on his motorcycle and was supposed to land into a net that was hoisted high into the air. Corey jumped over 70 feet high on his motorcycle.

Corey was meant to grab the net upon hitting it, but he missed, bounced out, and fell to the ground below. Corey landed on his head, broke his neck, and suffered other serious head and chest injuries. Corey was rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The fatality was witnessed by thousands and was caught on camera by people filming in the crowd. Corey had performed the stunt four times before with no problem.

Photo attribution: Public domain
Learn more: cyclejumpers.org/coreyscott.html
Corey Scott at Find A Grave: findagrave.com/memorial/44427891/corey_l-scott

01/28/2026

On this date, January 28, 2000, Titan was named the Motorcycle of Choice for the Indianapolis 500.

Titan named the Motorcycle of Choice for the Indianapolis 500

01/23/2026

On this day, January 23, 1970, Floyd Clymer, a true pioneer in the sport of motorcycling died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California at the age of 74. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana..
Read more: https://www.imchs.net/2026/01/Floyd-Clymer-One-of-Indianas-Motorcycling-Pioneers%20.html

09/13/2025

Indiana Connection: Rollie Free became an Indian dealer in Indianapolis in 1927. While living in Indianapolis, his reputation as an top-notch racer earned him a ride in the 1930 Indianapolis 500. His car blew a motor after 172 miles of racing. Rollie Free raced one more time in the May classic, again ending the race early with mechanical problems.

On this day, September 13, 1948, Roland Robert "Rollie" Free broke the US national motorcycle speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah riding the first Vincent Black Lightning. During test runs Free reached average speeds of 148.6 mph.

To reduce drag, Free stripped to his swimming shorts for the final run, which he made lying flat with his legs stretched out and his head low, guiding the Vincent by following a black stripe painted on the salt bed. The stunt worked as Free covered the mile in 23.9 seconds, passing the 150 mph barrier and on the return run he reached a record average speed of 150.313 mph.

This led to one of the most famous photographs in motorcycle history, known as the "bathing suit bike". The American Motorcyclist Association certified Free's record. Innovative features of the bike included the first-ever Vincent rear shock absorber, the first Mk II racing cams and horizontally mounted racing carburetors.

In 1950, Rollie Free returned to the Bonneville Salt Flats and broke his own record, averaging speeds of 156.58 mph on the Vincent despite a high-speed crash during those speed trials.

He died, October 11, 1984 in Los Angeles, California at the age of 83. He was posthumously inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.

Photo attribution: Wikipedia

09/13/2025

Submitted photograph..