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Motorcycle Madness at Daytona, 1948

posted March 14, 2012 by Matt Williams

A racer and his bike violently part company

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. 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