As I lazily scrolled Instagram, the algorithm fed me something I’d never seen in my decade of involvement in motorcycle racing. Instead of two racers and one sidecar motorcycle, there were two motorcycles and one human. The driver was in a chariot, deftly controlling two motorcycles ahead by ropes. And then I knew: I had to figure out how to become a motorcycle chariot racer.
Chariot racing with horses was born in ancient Greece. The motorcycle chariot racing video above is from the 1940s, but I found records of events going back to the 1920s. The horses were replaced by Harley-Davidsons, and the chariots and drivers’ garb looked period-specific. Also notably period-correct is the complete lack of safety gear. This is Sparta!
The video below is more current. It’s from an annual motorcycle chariot race in Australia, and yes, there is a pro class. I can’t make out the bike models, but the chariots look to be fabricated from modern steel and aluminum stock, and the drivers have somewhat modern motocross safety gear. I was astounded at the number of fans! This is Sydney!
