A Cowboy at a Garden Party

[Words and Photos: Michael Lawless]

“Welcome to Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance, gentlemen.” The guards pointed our van up the manicured gravel drive; we drove past the stately clubhouse, and down the hill by the stables.  As we rounded a bend we were greeted with a chorus of barking.  “Look, doggies!”  “They’re not doggies Bryan; they’re hounds.”  Radnor Hunt, the ‘since 1882’ Fox hunting club in a wealthy Philadelphia suburb, is a long way from the world of flat-track.

The remarkable Howerton Kawasaki EX650, winner of the 2016 Flat Track Championship; a study in good design

My mission for the Radnor Hunt Concours is to procure the extraordinary; that’s how I landed the job as National Champion Bryan Smith’s handler.  I’d asked to borrow Ricky Howerton’s 2016 flat-track Championship winning Howerton Racing Kawasaki, and he not only said yes, but graciously offered to send the winning rider, Bryan Smith, along with the bike. Getting the bike was terrific, but having the Champ was the icing on the cake.

The style of a Champion – Bryan Smith on his Indian

The Kawasaki is called “The Skinny Bike”, and its a stunningly modern interpretation of a flat-track racing motorcycle, a study in minimalism and clever reduction. Motorcycle magazines around the world fawned over this bike, and legendary motorcycle designer Miguel Galluzzi said “The Kawa is what a pure motorcycle should be,” high praise from the man who invented the Ducati Monster. I was surprised no other Concours had ask to display “The Skinny Bike.”

Bryan Smith happy to be a guest of honor at Radnor Hunt

My deal was to pick up the Skinny Bike immediately after the Williams Grove flat-track race on Saturday, and bring it to Radnor Hunt for Sunday’s Concours.  Bryan needed to do well in that race to retain his championship, and his riding was ‘all in’; he was a contender until he pitched it away in turn three. With Smith out, the championship belonged to Jared Mees. Bryan was fine after his spill, but it’s hard to watch a friend do the ‘walk of shame’ back to the pits, on national TV.

The Champ aboard his Indian racer

We loaded the Skinny Bike in the van and started heading east, stopping for a quick dinner on the road.  No tables were available, so we sat at the bar – it was a hard luck day.  Bryan ordered a Moscow Mule (the name says it all); more appeared in short order, courtesy of his fans, whom I think were a little shocked to see him humbly sitting at the bar. Well-wishers stopped for a selfie or an autograph, and he made time for everyone. Flat-track racing is more than a job for Bryan, it’s his life.

Supercharged! An Auburn Boattail Speedster 851 shows the jockey-like stature of a good flat-track racer

As we ate dinner, I reflected how easy it was to load the “Skinny Bike” into the van.  Switching to the bigger Indian flat-track racer must have been quite a change, but when asked, he just shrugged it off, admitting that the Indian was more like a Harley-Davidson XR750, as Brad Baker & Jared Mees raced last season. It’s the mark of a professional  that Smith hopped on the heavy Indian and was up to speed immediately…but Bryan did mention he really liked riding the Howerton Kawasaki.  Perhaps he’ll will race one again?

When necessary, a flat-track racer can be ridden 2-up

Offloading the Skinny Bike, we wheeled it past the big white tents spilling over with Rolls Royces, Ferraris and McLarens. Well-dressed ladies in big hats regarded us curiously, and Bryan understood why I’d forwarded the email on ‘proper attire for a gentleman’. We strolled the show field after a quick breakfast in the clubhouse, and Bryan was impressed with the uniqueness of every car and bike on display, which included his own.  “I’ve never even seen these on Google before!”  Then the red-coated Huntsman’s horn blared as he galloped past with his pack of hounds – the ceremonial start of the Concours.  The contrast in atmosphere between Radnor Hunt and the Williams Grove flat-track couldn’t be greater. Bryan rubbed elbows with the well-heeled Radnor guests, and was surprised to discover they were well-informed regarding flat-track racing, and knew about his Championship, but were more impressed with his X-Games win!  That’s when Bryan Smith relaxed, and the day became a positive experience for the Champ. I think Radnor Hunt has not seen the last of the flat-track scene!

The author and Bryan Smith appreciate a steam tractor A Jaguar XK120 looks good anywhere You won’t find it in Google unless you know to look! The Nigel Bennett-designed Penske PC17-Chevrolet, winner of the 1988 Indy 500 with Rick Mears driving. The 1896 Spiral motorcycle, the oldest internal-combustion motorcycle built in America Not at all out of place in this verdant land of horses and huntsmen…

The World’s #1 Vintage Motorcycle Site