John Tom Sifton
1997, Industrial
In the 1920's Tom Sifton was a top hill-climbing competitor. Reportedly, he developed more national cycling champions than any other individual in the United States and helped make San Jose, California what many be considered the motorcycle racing capital of the world.
Born in Ebenezer, New York, Tom moved to San Francisco in 1920, learned the tool-maker trade in night school and started a Harley Davidson dealership there. He also competed in hill-climbing events and in 1929 won the Pacific Coast championship.
He moved to San Jose in 1933 and set up a dealership, Sifton's Harley-Davidson, which he operated until selling it in 1954. Mr. Sifton then entered business as a financier of others' motorcycle dealerships.
Crippled by arthritis, at his home he began turning out the engine parts that helped spell success for many drivers. Grinding, welding and regrinding cams of his own design. From his home he sold these parts to motorcycle racers for 10 years, then sold the business. Today, it is still operated as Sifton Cams in San Carlos.
He was known by many as a mechanical genius because he would do such things as put two cams into an engine built for only one. He was 50 years ahead of everybody else in design of cams and valve train parts.
John Thomas Clifford "Tom" Sifton, 86, a builder of championship motorcycles and coach of their riders, died in late February 1990, of arteriosclerosis.
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