Robert Earl Woodson built this Triumph T100 in 1951.
He was a flat track racer in South Carolina, USA, who needed something special to compete with the top racers of the time. Triumph Motorcycles were dominating desert and flat track racing back then, so he went to his local Triumph dealer to get started.
In the parts department, he explained his racing ambitions and asked what they could provide. Triumph had just finished with their famous racing GPs and had surplus stock, which they sold to Robert to fulfil his flat track dream. All the parts, including the unnumbered frame, came from the Meriden Triumph factory and were GP components.
The bike was built, and photos from the American Motorcycle Racing Association show him racing it. By 1955, Robert had moved on to Harleys and the old Triumph was stored in a barn. It remained there until about eight years ago when it was rediscovered. Robert's widow recalled its history and the cost to build it. The bike was bought and shipped back to England just before a famous American TV host tried to purchase it.
Bob Herrick, author of 'A Collection of AMA Pro Racing Dirt Track Competition Numbers,' provided insights into Robert Earl Woodson’s racing career based on the numbers seen in these photos. He revealed:
"Woodson raced professionally out of Piedmont, North Carolina, from the early 50s, likely 1954, 1955, or 1956, through to 1963. During his career, he had three different racing numbers: 109D, 49D and 24D. Although I don’t have records of Novice Rider Numbers from that far back, I suspect his novice number was 109D.In 1957, he advanced to the Junior class and was assigned number 49D, which he used from 1957 to 1959. In 1960, he moved up to the Expert class, continuing with 49D. It seems he didn't race in 1961 but returned in 1962 with Expert number 24D, which he used in 1962 and 1963 before retiring from professional racing."
Triumph T100 Flat Tracker : Technical Details
The frame, is a Triumph GP frame, with GP forks and twin GP mudguard clamps with heavy fork brace, special rear sets with lug for shortened brake pedal. It has a plate welded to where the frame number should be which reads (REW, special “R") which stands for Robert Earl Woodson special GP. It has GP foot rest mounting lugs with the right footrest being crudely reshaped for leaning around corners. There is also another boot rest just off the front engine plate for cornering too.
The front wheel is aluminium by Weinmann, with no brakes!
The rear wheel is standard steel for weight with a massive final drive cog bolted to it and a 4 1/2 inch tyre, again no brakes!
GP rear mudguard stays, alloy guard with leather bum pad which is really really special and historic for on it Robert has painted 6/gas 5/carb 4/get ready 3/position 2/ ok 1/ go!!!!
Triumph Trophy fuel tank, standard oil, Vokes oil filter comes with it.
Lucas racing magneto, which is a giveaway that Triumph sent surplus parts as they only used Lucas racing mags on the last MK3 GPs
Gearbox is, I believe, close ratio judging by the gear lever travel but I haven’t opened it up to see.
The clutch is lightened.
It has the full chain case on the primary side, GP racers didn’t have this but American flat track racers retained it due to racing on sand/gravel to stop the debris going in the primary chain so this is dead right for the bike.
The carbs are twin matched 1 inch Amal carburettors with remote float chamber and pink fuel line! GP racers only used this pink fuel line.
It has its original number boards with evidence of different race numbers being used.
The engine: Well for a start there’s the GP barrels and parallel port close fin pitch head, high compression pistons, solid aluminium pushrods, polished rockers, dished GP timing gears, the dynamo hole has been factory blocked for racing. The Conrods are heavier in build and aluminium, high lift camshafts, the crank appears to be lightened and polished, valves appear bigger too.