1930 Super X Hillclimber
“Loaned” by Jerry Ottaway

Joe Petrali and Gene Rhyne gave Excelsior the National Hill Climb Championship in 1929 and 1930. Petrali was champion in '29, with Rhyne second, and in 1930 their positions were reversed. This is the special factory prepared machine that was ridden by Gene Rhyne in 1930.

The bike shares the 3" by 3 7/32" bore with the standard Super X, but has special cylinders and heads sporting overhead valves and hemispherical combustion chambers. “Slant Artists” like Petrali and Rhyne would fit chains to the rear tires, and charge up the hill in a most spectacular fashion. Most riders flipped backwards before reaching the top, crashing into the crowds sometimes. Kill switches were attached by cords to the rider’s wrist so the bikes wouldn’t take off on their own.

What’s it like to ride? Frightening, probably. I’ve never been on one, and at this stage of my life will probably wait until the next re-incarnation!

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