Eddie Hasha

Racing career Hasha began racing on board tracks in 1911 at Denver. He rode an 8-valve Indian motorcycle. In May 1911, Hasha attained a speed of at the Playa del Rey, California, motordrome, setting a record for the mile. In 1912, Hasha beat all of the established stars at the Los Angeles Motordrome, and set professional records in the process. He then headed from the western United States to the east.

Death Hasha competed at the Newark Motordrome in Newark, New Jersey, on September 8, 1912, in front of 5000 spectators. The now-riderless machine dropped back onto the racing surface into the path of last-place rider Johnny Albright. The motorcycle hit the Denver rider in the shoulder and he slid down the track between the two machines. Albright died four hours later without regaining consciousness. Spectators panicked at the sight of a spinning motorcycle heading their way. Several people had broken bones and flesh wounds as they fought and trampled each other in the rush to get out of the way. It took over an hour to clear the grandstands. Medics came from all parts of the city to attend to the injured and those who had fainted.

Impact on board tracks Hasha's death made the front page of The New York Times. Having opened earlier that year on July 4, the board track was shut down and never reopened. The deaths brought comparisons between board track racing and Roman gladiatorial contests. Short board tracks began to close after they were labeled "murderdromes" by the media.