Factory Indian Four-Cam Racer
Indian most rare:
This Is one of two
four-cam Indian
Scouts known to
exist In the world
today. The
machine was
originally built by
Dick Gross, the
man who wrenched
Indian factory rider
Bobby Hili to two
CO(lsecutlve
National titles In
1951-52.
(Left) The 45-lnch Scout engine underwent tremendous massaging from the
factory, but the Gross four-cam Is hotter stili. Gross had to design new lifters
and pinions, among other pieces, to fit the new bumpstlcks. The transmission
is a three-speed, though sometimes the team only used a two-speed,
depending upon the track.
By Scott Rousseau
istory does repeat itself after all.
Contemporary dirt track fans are
fully aware that today's Grand
National events are the domain of just
two marques. Harley-Davidson dominates with its venerable XR model while
a staunch few campaign Honda RS750s,
which had their day in the sun when the
factory effort included riders like Ricky
Graham and Bubba Shobert. There were
other riders on Hondas, to be sure, but
the factory team had the trick equipment and the talented riders to get the
job done, keeping the title from HarleyDavidson for four years from 1984-87.
But that wasn't the first time that a
rival marque had come and rained on
Harley's parade. Back in 1948, Indian.
was still a heavy player in the Class C
wars, and that year the factory churned
out a special run of 50 Scout racers to
challenge the Milwaukee giant for the
AMA National Championship. The
Indian folks started out by casting a
sump into the rear of .the "big-base"
. crankcases to improve crankcase breathing. Special pistons and flywheels were
then fitted to the 45-inch motors, along
with an alloy oil pump from the Chief
model and a vertically mounted EdisonSplitdorf magneto. Designated as model
number 648, the big-base Scouts were
supposed to be just the thing to land the
title, which was decided at one race only
- the Springfield Mile, for Indian.
It didn't happen as Indian planned.
Harley-Davidson continued to.enjoy
success as defending champion Jimmy
Chan won the number-one plate aboard'
Harley WRs in '48 and '49 before Larry
Headrick claimed it in 1950. To win the
title would taj
