SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - “Zip, Speed, Sport, Thrills.” These four words describe a sport which came roaring into the Sacramento area in the early 1900s bringing with it ready-made participants, audiences, and prominent men and women ready to become involved in its success in Sacramento and beyond.

The quote, printed in the Sacramento Bee on May 16, 1929 is from Frank J. Murray, the first exclusive Harley Davidson dealer in Sacramento.

The newly released book, “Sacramento Motorcycling: A Capital City Tradition,” written by Kimberly Reed Edwards, a native Sacramentan, is a page turner, full of local cities and addresses, sports venues, places of business, and residents from many walks of life who helped put Northern California on the map as one of the biggest motorcycle hubs in California.

As the author explains, this distinction was bound to happen. Sacramento had always been a racing town and its residents had a love affair with spectator sports.  Before this “motorized bike” arrived on the scene, bicycle races put on by the Capital City Wheelmen brought audiences for competitions at Agricultural Park at G and 22^nd, eventually moving to the new State Fairgrounds Riverside and Stockton. There, Sacramentans were roused by exciting motorcycle races more thrilling than ever seen here.

A love of the sport quickly developed that crossed ages, jobs, education, occupations, and social standing.

In 1913 two clubs merged to become the Capital City Motorcycle Club. The Capital City Wheelmen, formed in 1886, was the second oldest bicycle club in Northern California. But as their membership aged and became more social, their sights turned to the Sacramento Motorcycle Club, holding races as early as 1910. Members from both clubs realized that the Wheelmen had the political connections while the new club would provide new blood.

Two decades later, the Fort Sutter Motorcycle Club was formed primarily for Indian riders, but welcoming bikes of all makes and models.

Group rides travelled to destinations including Elk Grove, Folsom, Auburn, and Delta towns.  Hill climbs, races, and scrambles took place from Placerville to Stockton, Carmichael, Roseville and Orangevale and many others.

By December, 1919 Frank J. Murray had become Sacramento’s first exclusive Harley dealer at 508 J Street. A rider himself, he brought credibility to his new business along with his many contacts which included the police department and newspaper reporters.

Murray’s sister-in-law Irene Kaminsky was one of three sisters who started the women’s motorcycle club, the Sacramento Cyclettes. She and her husband Julius loaned money to the Cyclettes and the Capital City Motorcycle Club to build their respective clubhouses. At age 45, she learned to golf after attending a driving range clinic on Auburn Boulevard, now known as Haggin Oaks Golf Course. With practice and determination, she became a consistent golfer. In 1953, she was elected to the Sacramento Golf Council, where she served as treasurer. By some accounts, she was the first female council member. Elected as a charter member of the Sacramento Women’s Golf Club, she served as president for two years. She helped to organize tournaments and banquets for area golfers and became known as the “Mother of Junior Golf.” Edwards’ book has a myriad of photos of women riders, prim and proper when not competing.

Norris Rancourt, a well-known West Coast competitor who rode the famous Orrin-Hall built “Gadget” in the 1960s, later became Sacramento’s first Honda dealer and the 29^th in the United States, located on Fair Oaks Boulevard.  

One element of society that the motorcycle industry impacted a great deal was law enforcement.  In preparation for World War II, police officers trained for a possible invasion with steel helmets, gas masks and machine guns on their eighteen-inch wheeled Harleys.