M. L. Fredericks, nicknamed "Curley" (or "Curly"), was an American motorcycle racer.
Fredericks was born in Denver, Colorado.AMA Hall of Fame Museum (retrieved 11 July 2015) In 1921, he became the American Motorcycle Association's Class A (stock) champion, riding for Indian.
On August 21, 1926, riding an Indian Altoona racing bike at Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire, Fredricks turned a lap in 37.4 seconds."New Speed Mark— Denver Rider Smashes Record in Motorcycle Event", Cleveland Plain Dealer. August 23, 1926, p.14 ("Curley Fredericks of Denver, Colo., established a new world's speed record here yesterday for motorcycles, doing a mile and a quarter in 37 2-5 seconds on the Rockingham Speedway.") In doing so, he set a record of , fastest ever on a board track. The record still stands.Harley-Davidson online (retrieved 11 July 2015)Pioneers of American Motorcycle Racing (Daniel K. Statnekov website; retrieved 11 July 2015)
Fredericks was also 1928 AMA National Champion, on a Indian. His victory on 4 August 1928 would be the last ever recorded on a board track. Fredericks was inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 1998
Notes
Sources AMA Hall of Fame Museum Harley-Davidson online Pioneers of American Motorcycle Racing (Daniel K. Statnekov website)