Streamlining in its infancy: The Indian Arrow.

The Arrow with its internals exposed. Pict Via: Strange Vehicles.

Via: The Jockey Journal

"The Indian/Harley sales wars during the early years are well covered and documented. Of course, that same war went down on race tracks across the country as well. In 1938, Joe Petrali held the motorcycle land speed record at just over 136 mph with a Harley powered scoot. Freddie Ludlow thought he could do better on his encased Indian.

Streamlining was in its infancy in 1938. There was no real science to it yet… Folks simply made shapes that looked aerodynamic and then took them to speed hoping for the best. Unfortunately for Ludlow, the Indian Arrow’s shape just didn’t cut through the air as imagined. At right around 135 mph (just 1 mph shy of the record), the Arrow developed a high speed wobble that just couldn’t be throttled around. After just a few attempts, the project was shelved."