Not many people have a vintage Aermacchi racing motorcycle parked in their dining room. Fort Langley’s Paul Brodie does. His life has revolved around building two-wheeled vehicles ever since grade 7 when he first fashioned a mini-bike powered by a 2 ½ horsepower lawnmower engine. Later came bicycle frames and his own brand, the Brodie Mountain Bike, which eventually earned him a place in the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. He moved on to motorcycle restoration work and more recently, hand-built vintage motorcycles. Says Paul, “My shop is larger than my house.” His current project marks the 100th anniversary of the Excelsior racing motorcycle.
A century ago, Excelsior was one of the Big Three in board track racing: “Indian, Harley — and Excelsior was the underdog.” Racers roared around tracks made from pine boards that ranged from half a mile to more than two miles long. There were also grudge matches on the U.S. circuit; on occasion the riders would reach out and hit each other.
The Excelsior engine featured an overhead camshaft, quite advanced for its day. But the bike’s development was halted after “Little Bob” Perry was killed during a race in 1920. The company’s owner, Ignaz Schwinn (founder of the popular Schwinn Bicycle Company), was devastated and cancelled the race program. He ordered all remaining bikes be destroyed. With no bikes in existence for reference, Paul has built the 1919 Excelsior based on three photographs — all from the same side. “The challenge was to figure out the outside, and then imagine the inside. Reverse engineer.” In other words, build a motor from the outside in.
Paul started crafting these vintage bikes in 2005. Six have been completed so far, with four sold. “At $129,000 each, I haven’t broken even yet. After I sell one or two more, I’ll be in the black.” Right now he’s working on bikes for the 100th anniversary with a young B.C. builder, Jay Donovan. One racer will look like it’s from 1919, the other will have a more modern look. Both will feature the same throaty motor.
Paul is also planning to race at Daytona Beach, Florida where he’ll be joining other, “Crazy people. No brakes, no clutch, no transmission — what can go wrong?”
Listen to a Valley Voices interview with Paul Brodie HERE. He has also written the book, Paul Brodie: The Man Behind Brodie Bikes