Post Listing Update: This Flying Merkel was pulled off of eBay, final sale price unknown.
If you saw the show Sons of Speed last year on Discovery, you should be familiar with Billy Lane, the owner of Choppers, Inc. As part of the series, Billy revived several board track racers – he was able to find a few engines but very few complete bikes. Here’s a Flying Merkel with an original motor but replica frame and gas tank. This beauty has raced at Daytona, Sturgis, and even ran the Goodwood Festival of Speed last July.
Per Billy, he built the frame/tank as a replica of Ralph De Palma’s 1909 Flying Merkel board tracker.
Ralph on his Merkel, photo from 1910.
The fork is original (though it’s internally sprung with 1914 Thor components), the magneto was rebuilt by Mark’s Magneto Service, it’s got a Linkert carb (original Schebler is included), and it’s got Firestone board track racing tires. Remember – these are direct drive, so there’s no clutch or brakes! It’s dangerous and beautiful.
Just look at it…
Find this Flying Merkel for sale in Franklin, Tennessee with bidding up to $52,600 and the reserve not yet met here on eBay.