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Motorcycle Madness at Daytona, 1948

posted March 14, 2012 by Matt Williams

Floyd Emde rests on his Indian motorcycle

Floyd Emde rests on his Indian motorcycle after winning the 1948 running of the Daytona 200. Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

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Daytona Beach, Florida, March 1948. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Floyd Emde rests on his Indian motorcycle after winning the 1948 running of the Daytona 200. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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A racer and his bike violently part company in March 1948. Quite often nothing but a narrow strip of sand separated riders from spectators when the Daytona races were in full swing. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Spectators line the beach during the 1948 Daytona races. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Daytona Beach, March 1948 <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Norman Teleford (No. 161) streamlines himself during a motorcycle race at Daytona Beach, March 1948. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Leg outstretched for balance, a rider steers his motorcycle across the sand during the Daytona 200, Daytona Beach, Florida, March 1948. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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The checkered flag waves as Floyd Emde wins the 1948 Daytona 200. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Fans watch the races at Daytona in 1948. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Low on their bikes, two racers speed neck and neck across the sand during the Daytona 200. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Two members of the South Florida Vagabonds motorcycle club drive on the beach during Daytona 200 weekend, Florida, March 1948. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Two-up at Daytona 1948 <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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A woman helps adjust a neckerchief over the mouth and nose of a participant in the Daytona 200, Daytona Beach, Florida, March 1948. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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A racer takes a little nap on his Triumph. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Babe Gas <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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On matching full-size and miniature Indian motorcycles, a man and a boy ride along the beach, Daytona Beach, Florida, March 1948. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Racers line up prior to the 1948 Daytona 200. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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Riders ready to race. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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A young boy adjusts his helmet while seated astride a miniature Indian motorbike. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>
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A rider does unrehearsed acrobatics when his motorcycle upsets during the weekend's 100-mile race for amateurs. <a href="http://life.time.com/culture/daytona-motorcycle-madness-1948/" TARGET="_blank">Photograph by Joseph Scherschel - © Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</a>

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Motorcycle Madness at Daytona, 1948

Tags: Daytona, Indian, Life, Moto, Moto Photo, Motorcycles, Triumph, Vintage