First Motorcycle Fatality in History

Ultimately, this guy may be to blame for all the recent motorcycle deaths being reported in the news. Sylvester Roper, gunsmith, inventor, builder of the first "self-propelled two-wheeled machine" in America, dead on the track at age 73. Not quite a blaze of glory; more like a puff of steam.

Roper made a few exhibition laps around the track and several bicycle racers attempted to keep up with him but were unable to do so. Initially, Roper covered a mile in two minutes and 12 seconds. He was so elated, that he decided to try for an even better time. He scorched around the 1/3-mile wooden track, but he went into a big wobble on the back straight and was thrown off the track and into the sand surrounding it. When the spectators rushed up, it was apparent that Roper was dead. It was later determined that he had died of heart failure, not as a result of the accident itself.

Check out this video of a Roper steamcycle replica. Entertaining and full of cool facts. Also see Antique Motorcycle Club of America.