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Brittney Olsen, champion American antique motorcycle racer and founder of 20th Century Racing, debuted her recently completed 1928 Indian Chief Class A Board Track Racer at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed, bringing her love for the history of early American motorcycle racing to the international crowd. Held in the beautiful English parkland surrounding Goodwood House, the event is one of the most anticipated motorsport festivals on the international calendar and celebrates all aspects of the sport from two wheels to four, from the earliest racing machines to the very latest.
Inspired to become a racer at just three years of age after meeting three-times NHRA World Champion drag racer Shirley Muldowney, Brittney has racked up an extensive racing career since starting out in ATV racing at just 11, competing in drag racing at 14 and moving into motorcycle racing at 23. Career victories include three AMA-sanctioned Class A wins at the Sturgis Half Mile, winning the Class A race at the Black Hills Half Mile and becoming the very first champion of the inaugural Sons of Speed event during the 2017 Daytona Bike Week.
Born and raised South Dakota, Brittney says she had a deep appreciation for Indian Motorcycle early in life because of the local Sturgis Motorcycle Races and Rally, founded back in 1938 by local Indian Motorcycle dealer, J.C. “Pappy” Hoel.
“I am beyond thrilled and honoured to be among the international racers to be invited to Goodwood,” says Brittney. “I have never been to the United Kingdom, or Europe as a matter of fact, so I’m excited and humbled that my very first time travelling overseas is by invitation to such a prestigious, world class motorsport event. If you had told me back in 2012 that I would be invited to ship over my early 20th Century race bikes to participate in the Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb I wouldn’t have believed you and most likely replied ‘Maybe In my wildest dreams!’”