Jay Leno reviews the recreation of Glenn Curtiss’ V-8 Motorcycle that set the speed record of 136 MPH back in 1907.
The man who recreated the legendary V-8 motorcycle, Dale Stoner, shares his passion and details of the recreation in the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. You can watch the full episode below:
We were blessed to meet Dale Stoner here in Miami Springs during the 2nd annual Glenn Curtiss Motorcycle and Classic Car Show. The replica is a fully functioning motorcycle and Stoner gave everyone in Miami Springs a demonstration which we captured below:
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Glenn Curtiss and the 1907 Ormond Beach Speed Record
In January 1907, Glenn Curtiss etched his name into history on the hard-packed sands of Ormond Beach, just north of Daytona. At the time, Ormond Beach was the epicenter of speed—flat, wide, and naturally engineered for record-breaking runs.
The Machine: A Monster on Two Wheels
Curtiss didn’t rely on a factory motorcycle. He built his own:
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Engine: 40-horsepower, 8-cylinder V-8 (aircraft-derived)
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Nickname: The Curtiss V-8 Motorcycle
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Design: Essentially a rolling engine with handlebars—no clutch, no transmission, minimal braking
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Fuel: Gasoline (a key distinction at the time)
This was revolutionary. Most competitors were running far less powerful machines, and many speed records then were held by steam-powered vehicles, not gasoline engines.
The Run That Changed Everything
On the beach, Curtiss made his attempt:
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Speed: 136.36 mph (219.45 km/h)
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Surface: Open sand—no track, no guardrails
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Protection: Virtually none
With that run, Curtiss became the fastest human on Earth, earning the unofficial but widely accepted title of “The World’s Fastest Man.”
Why This Was a Big Deal
This wasn’t just a motorcycle record—it was a technological turning point:
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🔥 Fastest gasoline-powered vehicle ever recorded at the time
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🏁 Proved internal combustion engines could outperform steam
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✈️ Directly launched Curtiss into aviation innovation
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🌴 Cemented Ormond Beach (and nearby Daytona) as the birthplace of American speed culture
The Bigger Legacy
Curtiss used the fame and engineering lessons from this feat to pivot fully into flight. Just a few years later, he would:
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Build record-setting airplanes
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Become a rival to the Wright brothers
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Found companies that evolved into major U.S. aviation manufacturers
His 1907 run is often seen as the bridge between the age of motorcycles and the age of aviation.
Local Legacy
Glenn Curtiss used his incredible fame and fortune to build the three cities we know today as Miami Springs, Hialeah, and Opa-Locka. The closest thing to Glenn Curtiss today might be an Elon Musk who took his automotive prowess with Tesla and pivoted towards the skies with his passion for Space X.
Where Curtiss outshines most of his modern day counterparts was in his daredevil nature to risk his own life. Curtiss never shied away from harm’s way risking his life by pushing his inventions faster, further, and even onto new frontiers. You may recall, Curtiss is the father of naval aviation creating the first flying boats today known as sea planes.
