Faster than the police, Glenn H. Curtiss
"The fastest man in the world ... bullets are the only rivals of Glenn H. Curtiss, Hammondsport." - 1907 newspaper headline
With the leather cap, a pair of whiskers clean and Glenn Hammond Curtiss, a relentless gaze looks out from a picture postcard when worn in black and white. In the background, foamy waves lapping on the beach, very hard packed sands upon which his experimental V-8 powered motorcycle in traffic wouldthe history books as "The fastest man in the world." The day was on Thursday 24 January 1907, the City, Ormond Beach, on Florida's east coast. The record ... Miles is 136.3 hours, a land speed record for 11 years and was also passed by a car. It would be daring-do, not until 1930 that a bike is the best make-up of Glenn Curtiss and mechanical design.
The setting for the explosion famous Surfside Beach has its origins a few years ago, when1902 influential Ormond Beach residents began promoting races on the local beach with a speed of the opening speech. The sport grew in popularity and even Henry Ford showed an early event in one of his cars, and slept in it, could not afford at this time, the hotel room. Another "celebrity" who could afford all that reside in Ormond Beach, none other than John D. Rockefeller, who decided to live had a 100 and looking for the perfect healthy environmentTo achieve the century mark (he made 97). Ormond Beach became a playground for the rich and famous ... and who feel the Need for Speed. Case in point, one Glenn H. Curtiss was a true American hero and a personality larger than life exploits inspired also wrote a popular series of youth books "The Adventures of Tom Swift" by Victor Appleton. And yes, it was about 1910, a volume entitled "Tom Swift and his bike, or fun and adventure on the road."
Curtiss wasalways looking for new adventures on or off road. He also knew that it would be in the fast lane he needed to beat the existing record for them in Ormond Beach was in 1904 that Charles Schmidt his Packard Gray Wolf went to a world record for the distance rate to 76 mph and where, miles to find a record, William Vanderbilt, Jr., the world record of 92 mph in a 90 horsepower Mercedes. It was this race, set the speed Ormond Beach on the map and brought him fame as the home of 30 years, the ground speedRecord at the end moving towards the now-famous Daytona Beach 500 and the founding of NASCAR.
He was back in 1907, the 29 years, Glenn Curtiss already invented or developed many of the over 500 designs and components to summon to life with one hand in the development of the airplane the Wright brothers' first experiments, and additional air, in collaboration with Alexander Graham Bell would have to develop and patent wing aircraft include universal timeinseparable from controlled flight.
If spiral or rolled on wheels, Glenn was always the limit. While his fame would rest with the aircraft, it all started with the bike. As a result of his experience as a cyclist, Western Union bicycle messenger and bicycle shop owner Curtis became interested in motorcycles. In 1901 he started his own motorcycle engines with single cylinder internal combustion engines, initially made from tomato cans. It is notJust talked the talk, went on the run, he has built and earned the award in 1903 as the "Champion of the First American Motorcycle", reaching 54.6 miles hour. In 1905 he established the world speed record for miles one, two and three events. In addition to pilot its pilot carried out a series of improvements, including the butterfly handlebar throttle and a three-cylinder engine designated the W-3, essentially a V-twin with a third cylinder Curtiss himself called the fastest tinkeredProduction motorcycle in the world.
As such ingenuity arose is one of those mysteries of nature for Curtiss was raised in poverty near and he lost his parents very young, and later, only an eighth class education. As Trafford Doherty, director of the Curtiss Museum explains: .. "Curtiss was incredibly intuitive and incredibly mechanical was also very athletic and in the1890s was virtually unbeaten as a cyclist, was very competitive and the competitive natureappeared first in bicycles, then motorcycles and then in his business. During a serious incident, a man of few words and are not comfortable speaking in public, was also known that she liked among his peers. His contributions were legion and rightly so, has received awards as "The Henry Ford of aviation" and "The fastest man in the world."
But it would be a cold overcast day in 1907 that Glenn Curtis would make his mark, at least in the history booksMotorcycling. It was the design and construction of a variety of engines including singles, V-twins and four in line, but it was his light air-cooled V8 engine which literally leaving their mark. The plant was due to the growing demand for more powerful engines for the burgeoning production of 20 / 1 Century of flying machines. The record is basically a motorcycle was tumbling, but not quite flying, test bed for the new Curtiss 40hp "Monster"Engine.
The configuration was a large square of 3.25 x 3.25 inch bore and stroke that displaced a potent 269 cm cube is based. While his previous engines were primarily single-cylinder, 50 degree V-Twin, Curtis used a 90-degree design in cast iron F-type cylinder heads for engines smaller. Moreover, it need not head gaskets for the quality of its construction and production. Inside the massive piece of metal lurked a solid steel billetCrank while internal lubrication was handled via a dry sump lubrication system and the random splashes. Activated under the valve covers inlet valves were atmospheric pressure, while auctions operated exhaust valves. Powered by twin carbs, also Curtiss designs were concealed inside the handlebar throttle cable. The electrical ignition system to skip the holidays excited by dry batteries. As with its 4000cc engine, which was exposed to a highly embarrassing seasoned with a bicycle frame64-inch step, the overall design of a power to weight ratio (a CV for £ 6.8), which was advanced in every aspect, especially by those who benefit from the year 1907, the bike tips the scales at only 275 pounds .
After the machine was unloaded at Ormond Beach, Glenn Curtiss surveyed the salt sprayed on four miles of the course. It 'was in the three miles to reach the maximum speed, one-third mile for timing purposes, and last by not least a "slow down and stop" miles divided. As the bikewithout clutch and a single tree high gear driven, a deal was all or nothing. A twist of the throttle and kept letting the speed of construction, while the cries of seabirds undamped tubes scattered for miles. As Curtiss Museum director comments: "It must have sounded like the wrath of God!"
Curtiss were Thomas Baldwin and support the aptly named "Tank" Waters, used their muscle power to move the start of the machine to life. Mates had to be healthy and happy, and often weremethod since the beginning of shock is often required as many as ten or more attempts, the V8 burbling and barking to get.
Curtiss climbed into the saddle, positioned his goggles and gripped the handlebars, perhaps looked once more at the Goodrich tires biting the beach sand, then nodded. Luckily it was not the horrendously humid Florida summer months, and the two men threw Curtiss and his V8 two-wheeler along the beach and in the history books. Between the two miles to reach their fullSpeed, Curtis was clocked at 136.3 miles in the hour special stage of the course. He would travel the first man, 1 mile in 25.25 seconds, a feat of mechanical design and personal courage earned him the title of his fastest man on earth. Ironically the record was considered unofficial due to a potentially fatal mechanical problem prevented from running the course again under official observation. In other words, the wheel was broken only after a complete throughout the course. Thequalified and prudent driver, who he was, Curtis was able to bring the car to a stop from 90 mph, in which parts of the time she started shaking in fact.
The question was in the 9th February 1907 issue of Scientific American (and we quote) reported. "The American motorcycles faster and more powerful it is without doubt the strongest and the fastest bike ever built in this country has its appearance at the races at Ormond Beach recently, but because ofBreaking a universal joint and subsequent deformation of the frame, this machine is not an official record. It 'was made by Mr. GH Curtiss, a well-known producer of motor bikes, with the idea of breaking all the records made. The machine was equipped with an 8-cylinder air-cooled V-engine 36-40 hp ... The total weight of all but the car was equipped with 275 pounds and 6.8 pounds per horsepower. In an unofficial test miles since stopping the clocks at the start by several people who looked across the fieldGlasses waved a flag in the target, Mr. Curtiss said covered this distance in 26 2-5 seconds, which corresponds to a rate of 136.3 mph should be - a speed faster than ever was made by a man of any type of vehicle. Unfortunately before this could be confirmed by km new record of an official test, the universal joint broke while the car was 90 mph ... "
In addition, experts reported on chair, snorted in disbelief partisanship, his companyBelief that it was a joke or a tale as any mortal man could breathe at the rate indicated. V8 would be the one and only day in the sun, the only time Glenn Curtiss would take up to speed. But once was enough.
In 1930, Glenn Hammond Curtiss at the age of 52, which has so often slipped the surly bonds of earth, in fact, breathing his last breath succumbing unexpectedly to an embolism after successful surgery for appendicitis. His body now rests in his birthplace of Hammondsport, New York.
As for his vaunted V8 motorcycle was a bolt for bolt replica of the wild car built by Mercury Aircraft Co. and is now on display at the Curtiss Museum. If you want to see the real McCoy, you need it with the new Steven F. Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia (www.nasm.si.ed.u) to find. As a poignant postscript, we are told by the Curtiss Museum that several of the internal engine parts were recycled by Curtissother projects, so in some ways life as well as the results almost legendary Glenn H. Curtis.
Sidebars
A man of many releases: Under a junction that would transport to the beaches of Florida to the clouds above, Curtiss in 1910 would be to give up his interest in motorcycles. Although Curtiss produced motorcycles under the name Marvel until 1914 he would chart a new course in the pages of the history of aviation charts. This gain in the first pilot's license1910, when the first flight of a kilometer, produce the first plane into the Atlantic Ocean to carry the passenger first in a seaplane, and the cross before the first American female pilot Blanche Stuart Scott by train. His talent would lead to the development of retractable wheels and thus the first amphibious plane. Add to the list of the design of airships for the U.S. Army and the production and sale of the first private plane. The Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company was thelargest aircraft manufacturer in the world with over 20,000 employees. For a list of Glenn Curtiss milestones, add no les that the invention of the aircraft carrier. In addition to building motorcycles and airplanes, Glenn Curtiss built cities. During 1919-26, has developed Hialeah, Miami Springs and Opa-Locka, Florida. And they visit, he tinkered in his spare time, the streamlined caravans.
Game Name: The "H" Glenn H. Curtiss stands for Hammond, middle namederived from his birthplace Hammondsport, New York, his name in turn derived from the founder of the city. Because it was on Keuka Lake, was also the focal point for the U.S. Navy Curtiss Aviation deserve another award as "The Father Naval Aviation," because he sold the first "plane" to the Navy in 1911. Inventors, engineers and pilots from around the world have been attracted by the common desire Hammondsport design and construction of flying machines, flying ships andAirships. As such, the area for the Arsenal of World War I in the production of the legendary coach Curtiss "Jenny" to U.S. and Canadian pilots earned their wings was busy. Another generation later and the Second World War brought about re-building aircraft for the area where the fletching Mercury Aircraft Co. P40 War Hawk aircraft for many as the "Tomahawk", "Kitty Hawk" and "Flying Tigers".
Curtis Museum: Located on Keuka LakeHammondsport, New York features, 57,000 sqm, the museum the entire spectrum of contributions Glenn Curtiss'. On display are his many airplane designs, and his bicycles and motorcycles with a faithful reproduction of the record-V8. For more information, call (607) 569-2160 or the Director of the Museum on Trafford Doherty trafford@linkny.com.
