Of Sidecars & Such
Of Sidecars & Such
When Goulding was golden
G OULDING FAMILY LORE HAS IT that eldest daughter Dot was born in one of her father's sidecars. But that's not true. Here's what really happened: When the time came, Jimmy Goulding bundled his very preg nant wife Olive into his Harley Davidson sidecar rig, and carted her off to the doctor. After the baby's arrival, all three returned home.. .you got it, in the sidecar!
Hardly your run-of-the-mill reminis cence, but then again, the Goulding was hardly your run-of-the-mill sidecar. Unlike the sport sidecar restored by Harlan and Sharon Bielefeldt, most Gouldings were larger and designed for comfort. Springed seat cushions, a con toured backrest and tapered arm pads were standard.
From the beginning, the frame, too, was designed with a plush-for the time, at least-ride in mind. Early hacks were rigidly suspended, which led to broken frames and busted axles, but Goulding recognized the benefits of car-like leaf springs. An Australian home-builder at the time, he constructed his first sidecar in 1910 to haul tools. The chassis was further refined in endurance runs around Melbourne. Ten years later, he had most of the Australian and New Zealand sidecar markets, and set out for America. Before Goulding sidecar pro duction ceased in 1956, the Saginaw, Michigan, factory provided setups for Harley, Indian, Excelsior-Henderson and Ace. Detailed records weren't kept, but most estimates put the number of U.S.-built Gouldings at 5000. Today, a restored, top-of the-line Rocket model can cost a buyer up to $5000.
Obviously, Jimmy Goulding was a good businessman, but he was an even better father. As such, he encouraged his children in the sport that he loved so dearly. Daughter Dot and son Claude became proficient at off-road enduros, and both regularly competed, and won their classes, in races such as the two day, 500-mile Jack Pine Run.
"My brother Claude was my fiercest competitor," says Dot Robinson, née Goulding, today. At 85, she lives in Florida and still rides her custom Harley. In fact, after years of racing, running a Harley dealership and becom ing a founding member of the Motor Maids, Dot has earned the moniker most often applied to her: The First Lady of Motorcycling.
But she gives credit where it's due: "My parents were always encouraging. It was really a wonderful life and I lived it fully," Robinson says. "I still do." Wendy F. Black
