Bowman's Squaw

 

Hart Hueraine “Hal” Bowman (1893-1972) is shown here seated in his “Bowman's Squaw” cycle car that he owned in the early 1920s.  Cycle cars were the for-runners of midgets utilizing motorcycle engines for power.  This one was fitted with an Indian Daytona motorcycle engine – Al White collection

 

 

 

Hart Hueraine “Hal” Bowman is shown here standing beside his “Bowman's Squaw” cycle car shortly after crashing it as Ellsworth, Kansas late in 1921 – Steve Shackelford collection

 

 

 

 

The photo at left and the article below both appeared on page 7 in the June 15, 1934 issue of Coast Auto Racing News published in Los Angeles, California:

 

Early Day Midget Built in 1920 

     This car was built up by Floyd Clymer in Denver.  Clymer is now a local dealer.  The car was the only one of its kind in the Midwest and for that reason had to be driven on half-mile dirt tracks against big cars.  The funny part of is that Clymer beat the big ones as much as they beat him and he had a record 30 seconds for a half-mile dirt which shows the midgets really traveled even in those days.  It was powered by an Indian Daytona motor the same as is used in straightaway tests at Daytona Beach.

 

 

 

 

The Known Drivers of Bowman’s Squaw:

Driver

Driver’s Hometown

Owner

Owner’s Hometown

Year

Floyd Clymer

Denver, Colorado

Floyd Clymer

Denver, Colorado

1920

Jack “Buck” Weaver

Wichita, Kansas

Hart “Hal” Bowman

Wichita, Kansas

1921

Hart “Hal” Bowman

Wichita, Kansas

Hart “Hal” Bowman

Wichita, Kansas

1921