Jim Davis
1991, Competition
As one of the pioneers in motorcycle racing, it is hard to
sum up Jim Davis' accomplishments in a short, one-page article.
Jim rode for the Indian factory for many years. In 1920,
upon arriving in Pheonix to ride for the Indian factory, it
was discovered that he had been suspended from riding for one
year. Jim refused to let that stop him from racing. He asked
the referee if he would let him ride if he could product a letter
from the Motorcycle and Allied Trade Association ( the
forerunner of the AMA) in Chicago. The referee agreed. Jim
promptly went to the Western Union office, bribed the young
girl with a box of candy, paid a kid on a bike to deliver the
telegram and ended up winning all four events.
After Pheonix, Jim quit Indian and went to ride for Harley
Davidson, who got his suspension lifted. Jim rode for Harley
Davidson for quite a few years and between the years of 1926
and 1938 he rode for either Harley or Indian, whoever would pay
him the most.
During the span of Jim's career he won 17 National Campionships,
received 180 medals (90 gold, 50 silver, 40 bronze). He raced
1500 races in his day and put on 30,000 miles. When asked about
his career as a racer, Jim's comment is always the same, "I wouldn't
take anything in the world for the experience I got". On February
5, 2000 Jim passed away at the age of 103!
« Return to Hall of Fame List