An except from the book �Brooklands bikes in the twenties� by Peter Hartley (Argus Books Limited), which tells how in 1920 Indian rider Reuben Harveyson went over the top of the Members Banking at Brooklands and up into orbit.
A mixture of car and motor-cycle racing took place at the BMCRC's Second Open Race Meeting of the year on Saturday, October 2nd. Organised in conjunction with the Essex Motor Club, which took charge of the car events, this meeting was the one postponed due to bad weather from September 18th.
The track was wet at the Fork start of the 8 1/2-mile Junior Open Handicap for 500cc solos and the American agent for Indian motor cycles, Billy Wells, who was pushing off Harry Martin (496 Matchless-MAG), slipped and fell as the machine fired - fortunately without injury. The race was won by R. C. Chawner (499 Sunbeam), who had completely fooled the handicappers about his machine's speed capabilities. He averaged 63mph. In the 8 1/2-mile Senior Open Handicap for machines over 500cc, a most spectacular finish high�lighted the dangers of using the Long Finishing Line.
Oliver Baldwin (986 Matchless-JAP), who averaged 75.75mph from a Fork start, scraped home first just ahead of scratch man Reuben Harveyson (997 eight-valve Indian). Harveyson failed to slow down and shot up the Members' Banking into the woods beyond the track. According to the late Laurence Hartley, who witnessed the incident, Harveyson's Indian had no throttle and depended on an ignition cut-out to shut off the engine. This failed to operate, leaving him on 'full chat' at the Long Finishing Line and a sharp left-hand bend ahead where the Finishing Straight joined the Outer Circuit. Harveyson tried to lay the Indian over to negotiate the bend but, as his speed was too great, he went 'over the top'.
George Tottey, another witness to the incident, saw it all from the Paddock by the BARC clubhouse. He says that the Indian shot into the air and was practically cut in two when it hit a tree beyond the track rim. Harveyson was much luckier, for when the ambulance was called out, much to everyone's amazement he suddenly appeared out of the woods beyond the track and 'right as rain' slid down the concrete of the banking on the seat of his trousers. On arrival at the Paddock his only injuries proved to be a dislocated shoulder and torn leg muscles.
Some photos of the section of track where Harveyson went "over the top" show that the banking here is very steep. After travelling up this take-off ramp at about 90mph under full power, Harveyson would have gone a long way airbourne before coming back down in the woods. Lucky to live.
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