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Whizzers

Climb aboard and whiz on down memory lane. Grown men and women recycle their youth with a motorbike from the past.

By Steve Sanders, Anchor/Reporter

July 9, 2007

There's a vehicle on the market today that can get over 150 miles a gallon and costs about $1,500 brand new.

It's called a Whizzer, a name that may be ringing a bell.

The two-wheeled bikes with motors have actually been around since World War II.

Now, more than a half century later, the Whizzer has grown men and women rolling down nostalgia lane.

They might just be the most well behaved motorcycle gang that ever thundered down a highway.

Actually, they're a motorbike gang. Not hell's angels, heck's angels... Riding vintage vehicles that lets them recycle their youth.

"I totally forgot about Whizzers, I left them behind with my childhood," says Reggie Williams, of Serena, Illinois.

"I bought it in 1947 when I was a sophomore in high school," says Gene Zoss.

"I had 'em when I was about 14," says Terry McAllister.

In the late 1930's and 40's, $97.55 bought you a Whizzer, motor bike in a box. A kit ready to be mounted on any balloon-tired bicycle with a frame cavity large enough to hold it.

"It would give you a ride and a feeling of riding a motorcycle, even though the speed was much lower, it felt fast!" Reggie says.

And it impressed the girls...

"She lived in Elmhurst, I lived in Villa Park, which were adjoining towns and I used to drive over there to date her," Reggie says.

"He came over on that Whizzer and I climbed on and I thought what is mom going to think?" Carolyn Williams says.

"Just warms me to think about all the things all the fun I used to have on one and now I'm doing it again," Reggie adds.

"She must have thought it was OK cause how much mischief can you get in when you're riding on the back of one of these things?" Carolyn says.

Gene Zoss was the envy of his schoolmates who used to "borrow" his Whizzer, a motorbike he still owns.

"I was in study hall and I heard this motor and I thought it sounded like my bike so I looked out the window and here a guy was riding it away and he would take it about 11:30 and go home and eat his lunch," Gene says.

Now, more than a half century after these men parked their Whizzers and moved on, they've reconnected with these relics.

Whizzers were the rage in the late 1940s and 50s every boy had to have one. They were easy to ride, easy to maintain, but by the mid 1950s they'd begun to fall out of favor.

"Car insurance, license requirements, all these things killed the Whizzer for the kids," Reggie says.

It's a lot safer riding Whizzers in the country.

"These will get 125 miles to the gallon, the gas tank holds five quarts so you could actually go a little further than that," Reggie says.

And Williams' collection has grown to 35 Whizzers, some extremely rare. He had so many bikes and parts they had to build a new barn.

"To have these and to be able to come out and look at 'em every day and to pick one to ride one if I want or just to tinker with, it's just a great joy," Reggie says.

"He's met so many great people through this hobby and I don't know you show me a woman whose husband has a hobby and that's a happy person," Carolyn adds.

With his tattoos, pony tail, and chunky jewelry Terry McAllister looks more Hell's Angel than motorbiker. He rode his Whizzer all the way to California on Route 66.

"I have as much or more fun on the Whizzer doing 30 mph than I ever did on the Harley doing 100 laughs and I feel much safer. You get to look at the world go by instead of just zippin past ya," Terry says.

"I just enjoy riding on the home out there in the country why Sunday afternoons and evenings I'll just take it out and just look around and look at the crops," Gene says.

"There's something about a Whizzer, it doesn't have to be beautiful, it doesn't have to be all spit and polish, and to find one to make it operational again, that's the joy," Reggie adds.

So, as they leave Whizzer drive they enter nostalgia lane where there's only one rule of the road... Fun!

"I think I'm gonna just continue as long as I can and take 'em all with me," Reggie says.

The National Vintage Motor Bike Club is meeting this week in Portland, Indiana and runs through Saturday. That's where many of these guys re-discovered their love of Whizzers and where they go now to buy more.

RESOURCES
www.whizzermotorbike.com
www.woodstockwhizzer.com
www.moped2.org
WHIZZER FUN INC. 815-758-0977
www.mybiketinley.com