1911 American Model 61; 450 cc F-head engine; built in St. Paul, Minnesota. by Theim for the Chicago American firm. There were at least two other American brands, one built by the Columbia predecessor in Connecticut. and the other by an independent American firm in Louisville, Kentucky. Bruce Linsday Collection

1949 Ariel Square Four, 1000 cc.  The four cylinders worked through two coupled crankshafts, thus the "square" configuration. From 1936 through 1968, the "Squariel" was the world's only mass produced four-cylinder motorcycle.

"Silent" L. R. Bowen, the meteoric "Merkelite." This circa 1912 Merkel rider sports a helmet that would keep the head parts together for the undertaker.

1947 ca BSA 350 cc and rider Hap Jones. Jones was a dealer in Indians, and then British motorcycles, before becoming a nationwide distributor of motorcycle accessories and clothing. Clyde Earl Collection

Here's another Catalina shot of a BSA and a bathing beauty, by the late Bill Bagnall. Bill's father in law was western USA BSA distributor Hap Alzina. Bill Bagnall Collection

1941 ca, Daytona Beach, Babe Tancrede, winner of the 1940 Daytona 200. Ed Kretz Jr. Collection

1939 Delco military prototype built by General Motors. The rear axle was from a Bantam automobile. Most of the motorcycle was a clone of the BMW 750 cc flathead opposed twin. Fred Crismon collection

1939 Delco. Newsreel and newspaper images of German army combat revealed the Germans relied heavily on motorcycles for message communication and light hauling. In this pre-Jeep era, General Motors saw the potential for producing vast sums of U. S. Army motorcycles. Fred Crismon collection

1920 Excelsior Overhead Cam racer, Los Angeles. Wearing helmets, left to right are riders Wells Bennett, Bob Perry, and Joe Wolters. The other man is team manager J. A. McNeil. Perry was killed on an OHC team bike while practicing for the 100-mile national championship. Frank Smith collection

Nov. 11, 1980. Ed Kretz Sr. in front of his shop in Montery Park, CA. Ed gave an interview that day and with his son Ed Jr., ran up his 1939 Indian Sport Scout racer for Jerry Hatfield's tape recorder. Since at one time Rollie Free had race-prepped the bike, Kretz's motor music and post-run-up commentary are included in the 40-minute audio CD that comes with every copy of Flat Out! The Rollie Free Story. Sam Hotton photo

Feb. 10, Christchurch. Britten headquarters. Mile zero.

Feb. 10, Christchurch. Britten headquarters. Mile zero.

Feb. 14, Picton, ferry port of south island. Mile 234 of 2,411 motorcycling miles!

Feb. 14, crossing from Picton to Wellington on the north island.

Feb. 15, mile 473.

Feb. 17, Napier. Mile 721 of 2,411 miles of motorcycling on the "wrong" side of the road!

Feb. 18, the fifth day of riding; the second day since getting back on the south island. Punakaika, mile 1,179.

Feb. 20, Franz Josef Glacier, mile 1,324.

Feb. 21, leaving Franz Josef, in pouring rain.

Feb. 24, Invercargil, southernmost city in New Zealand. Hatfield tries out the world's fastest Indian! Mile 1,791.

Feb. 24, Oreti Beach in Invercargil, where Burt Munro raced many times. This ex army Indian showed up just by chance. Appropriate!

Feb. 20, Mount Cook, highest point in New Zealand, 12,316 feet. Mile 2,192. Rider is Peter Arundel, who has been electrically timed -- two-way-average -- at over 156 mph, making him the all-time fastest on an un-streamlined Indian motorcycle. He made his record run on a 1924 Indian!

Feb. 27, Lake Tekapo, mile 2,256.

Feb.28, 15th and final motorcycling day. Mile 2,406 of 2,411. For information on next year's New Zealand motorcycle tour, contact eddy.garner@hotmail.com