Vintage Capistrano Motorcycle Hill Climb Photo Original Snapshot 1920s for Sale

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Vintage Capistrano Motorcycle Hill Climb Photo Original Snapshot 1920s For Sale

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Vintage Capistrano Motorcycle Hill Climb Photo Original Snapshot 1920s:
$47.01

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Estate sale find, vintage originalCapistrano Motorcycle Hill Climb Photo Original Snapshot, circa 1920s.
On the southern edge of town, stood an imposing hill that was often referred to as "Gibraltar of the Pacific Coast." This rugged terrain was first conquered on March 18, 1917 by a fearless group of motorcycle enthusiasts who were adventurous enough to try. It was done one day before the famed "return of the swallows" and people came from all over to witness both events.
With a crowd of about 2,500 people, the inaugural hill-climb competition began Sunday, April 16, 1916 as a contest sponsored by the Orange County motorcycle dealers of San Juan Capistrano.
The steep Capistrano Hill was considered insurmountable.
The foot of the hill was located roughly at the junction of Camino Capistrano and Doheny Park Road. Cleared of weeds and obstructions, the 500-foot hill had a 40 to 50 percent grade incline with a maximum of 72 percent near the top.
There were 26 motorcycles competing in this first up-the-hill event. Myron Warner, of the Herald motorcycle shop in Santa Ana was the winner. He went an average of 327 feet on his new “Power Plus” Indian motorcycle earning a first prize of $50.
It was Cal Lambert on his Excelsior who first laid a tire track over the top of old Capistrano.
Lambert would comment that his old Excelsior would say: “Yes, and you should have been at the famous Capistrano Hill climb in Southern California in 1917—the hill that had never been topped by any motorcycle—even though the boys on the most powerful factory-tuned motors had been trying for years to hit the top of Capistrano.”
The item measures approximately 3" X 3.25", approximate shipping weight 2 ounces.
PLEASE SEE DESCRIPTION AND PHOTOS FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS - The item appears to be in overall Fair to Good Minus used condition, signs of wear, creases, fading, tears, chipping, sunning and age toning, soiling, stains, writing, no odors, please see images.
(PH26-307)