Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1111003
CN III ARCHIVES I rving Janke was a Harley-Da- vidson factory test rider who, in that position, was often the first rider to get to race the factory's newest creations. Janke was part of Harley's original mid-1910s Wrecking Crew, a group of factory or factory-supported riders who successfully ushered in Harley- Davidson's participation into na- tional racing. Ray Weishaar, Floyd Clymer, Otto Walker and Leslie "Red" Parkhurst became the "big name" riders of Harley's Wrecking Crew, while Janke is often over- looked. But the "quiet" member of Milwaukee's first factory squad was a significant contributor never- theless, becoming the first Harley factory rider to score a podium result in national competition, winning the all-important Dodge City 300 in 1916 and scoring other top-national results, in spite of not being a full-time racer like some of his teammates. P124 BY LARRY LAWRENCE THE QUIET MEMBER OF HARLEY'S WRECKING CREW More than likely, the "Wrecking Crew" name came into association with the 1915 and 1916 teams. Fac- tory riders of those years included carryovers from the 1914 team— Walker, Parkhurst and Stratton—in addition to Ray Weishaar, Floyd Clymer, Harry Crandall, Bill Brier and an 18-year-old Harley test rider named Irving Janke. Janke was actually a factory rider at the very end of 1914 when he was one of the entrants at the big Savan- nah Road Race in November that concluded the racing season. His result there would prove historic. Harley's factory team, gather- ing upon months of racing ex- perience, came into its own in 1915, with Otto Walker winning significant national events that season, including the first-and second-place sweep of Harley- Davidson at the 1915 Dodge City race with Walker first ahead of teammate Harry Crandall. Harley also placed four other riders inside the top 10, and that was against six other factory squads. The Motor Company, which just a couple of years earlier proudly proclaimed its non-support of racing, heralded the Dodge City results with ads Irving Janke was an original member of the Wrecking Crew. There has been debate over the years exactly which riders were part of Harley-Davidson's Original Wrecking Crew. Harley first offi- cially entered a team at the Dodge City 300 in 1914. The factory Harley riders were Walter Cunningham, Paul Garst, Paul Gott, Parkhurst and Alvin Stratton, all riding new 61 cubic inch (1000cc), twin-cylinder Model 11-K competition machines designed by engineer Bill Ottaway. Cunningham actually ran as high as second in the race briefly before a stretched chain and fouled plugs dropped him from contention. Nev- ertheless, Harley being so com- petitive in its first factory outing, generated a lot of excitement. Both William Harley and William Davidson attended Dodge City and were noticeably pleased with their motorcycle's speed. It was very likely the moment the two decided to enter the company more seri- ously into competition.