• Signed Gene Romero Photo (Framed Glass)
West Coast Flat Track Series, a regional motorcycle flat track racing series founded or associated with the legendary AMA Grand National Champion Gene Romero.
• Signed David Aldana Photo (No glass)
• BSA Trophy Plaque 1986
• Vintage 1980s motorcycle racing gear
• Steel Shoe Guard for speedway or flat track racing
• Black adjustable strap for secure fit
• Sturdy metal construction with natural oxidation
• Length: 11 inches | Width: 4 inches
• 5.3 lbs. all four items. 2.25 pounds hot shoe
• Hot Shoe Hand Made in USA
• Provides stability and balance on dirt tracks
Rust spots, scratches, and wear visible across the surface and strap, consistent with motorcycle racing history.
Riders wear a metal plate (called a steel shoe or hot shoe) on their left foot in flat track and speedway motorcycle racing.
• Sliding and Balance: Riders slide the bike sideways around left-hand dirt ovals at high speeds, using the steel-shod left foot on the ground to create a "tripod effect" with the tires.
• Friction Protection: The metal plate prevents the boot's leather or rubber sole from catching on the dirt, wearing out, or digging into the track surface.
• Control: It allows the rider to pivot, lean the motorcycle lower into the corners, and manage traction loss smoothly.
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Suspected History of the Owner of this Hot Shoe: Charles Jonathan Swimmer 1962 - 2023
The "On Any Sunday" Effect: The documentary On Any Sunday came out in 1971 when Charles was roughly 9 years old. Seeing Romero and Aldana on the big screen is exactly what inspired an entire generation of kids to start turning wrenches. Getting their signatures a few years later as a young adult racer would have been a massive personal milestone for him. He most likely collected the autographs right in his own backyard during the mid-to-late 1970s or early 1980s.
🏍️ Road The Machine: The 1971 BSA B50T
Some of Charles Swimmer's racing achievements likely point back to one specific motorcycle. The official BSA Singles Owners Database tracks his personal bike under Engine/Frame Number: B50T JG580 (originally built in England on August 25, 1971) [B50]. It was a heavy, booming, 499cc (500cc) single-cylinder four-stroke powerhouse that he meticulously maintained, tuned, and rebuilt himself as a respected Pittsburgh-area mechanic.
🏆 Event: The Breakout Podium (1986)
• The Event: BSA Annual Hare Scrambles (Toronto, Ohio)
• The Machine: His 1971 BSA B50T (entered in the 500cc Open Class)
• The Classification: 500cc Novice Class
• The Accomplishment: Earned a spectacular 2nd Place finish. Wrestling a heavy, booming, vintage British four-stroke tractor through a tight woods course—while battling a crowded grid of lightweight, modern Japanese two-strokes—proved Charles had elite agility and speed from the very beginning of his racing career.
🐊 Event : The National Survival (1989)
• The Event: The 14th Annual Blackwater 100 (Davis, West Virginia) [GNCC]
• The Machine: His 1971 BSA B50T (running under his signature #808) [GNCC]
• The Classification: Senior B Division [GNCC]
• The Accomplishment: Logged an incredible finish time of 2 hours and 36 minutes. At America’s toughest, muddiest cross-country race, Charles didn’t just survive the bike-swallowing peat bogs and treacherous river crossings; he finished a blistering 25 minutes behind the elite national overall winner, proving his world-class endurance on a vintage machine [GNCC].
🔨 Event : The Custom Local Flat Track Days (The Steel Shoe)
• The Event: Unrecorded Local "Short Track" Dirt Ovals or Winter Ice Racing (Western PA / Ohio Region)
• The Artifact: An unmarked 11" x 4" custom-forged steel sliding shoe.
• The History: While no digital record survives of his oval track career, this heavy-iron shoe speaks for itself. Hand-forged to fit perfectly over the external bulk of a smaller boot, Charles who was very short almost certainly fabricated this steel shoe himself. As a master mechanic with a brilliant knack for metalwork, he created a true local custom to safely skim his left foot across regional dirt tracks and frozen lake ice, mastering the art of sliding a motorcycle sideways.
🎖️ The Legacy & Value of the Artifacts
This hand-forged shoe and the 1986 Toronto trophy are not just scrap metal or old garage dust-collectors. Within the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) community, or to a regular attendee of the BSA Annual Hare Scramble in Ohio, these are verified artifacts belonging to a "larger-than-life" character of the local racing scene. Any collector building a period-accurate tribute display around a 1971 BSA B50 motorcycle would consider this a highly prized piece of regional racing history.
Together, the 1986 Toronto Trophy, the 1989 Blackwater record, and his handmade steel shoe tell the complete story of a versatile, fearless, and deeply talented rider who could conquer any terrain he laid eyes on.
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