From Sicily to Racing Legend
Petralia, Sicily to New Orleans, LA
Joe Petrali's family immigrated from Petralia, leaving Sicily from the Port of Palermo to New Orleans, Louisiana on the Bark Emma sailing ship in 1890.
His grandfather's family and grandmother's family met in New Orleans, his mother and father married, began a family, and moved to San Francisco, CA.
Joe Petrali was born in San Francisco, CA in 1904.
Joe (pictured center) began his life in San Francisco, CA on February 22, 1904. Just before the great earthquake and fire destroyed the city in 1906, the family moved to a small settlement of Italian families in Sacramento, CA.
Also pictured is Joe's father Emanuele Petralia, Mother Maria (Raviotta) Petralia, older brother Manuel.
Early Life in Sacramento, CA
The Sacramento State Fair race track was close by Joe's family home as he was growing up, and Joe would slip into the pit crews to watch the action as young as 7 years old. Before long, the racers gave him tasks to do as a pit boy. Later, at the age of 14, Joe had the opportunity to race in a national economy run competition. He won the competition by going 176 miles on a single gallon of gas. At 17, Joe entered a race in Fresno, CA riding an Indian motorcycle that would have gone unused as it had been prepped for the late Shrimp Burns who had tragically died the week before. After being boxed in by the Harley-Davidson team most of the race, Joe feigned an issue with his bike, got some space, and raced into 2nd place in the final lap. In the next few years, Joe established himself as a very successful racer for Indian.
A Racing Career of Greatness
It was in 1925 that Joe began his career with Harley-Davidson. At a board track in Altoona, PA, Joe showed up to race for Indian. His motorcycle did not arrive, and Harley-Davidson racer Ralph Hepburn broke his hand while practicing. A deal was struck for Joe to race on Hepburn's bike. Not only did Joe win the race, but he shattered the National Championship record. Joe continued to dominate the racing scene, now riding for Harley-Davidson as they developed their next generation of motorcycles. In 1935, Joe won all 13 AMA races in his class and broke four records. Joe did not just dominate on dirt tracks, though. He also won five consecutive national championships in hill climb racing as well from 1932 to 1936, including 47 races. He then broke the land speed record in Daytona Beach, FL in 1937 on a streamliner designed for him by Harley-Davidson with a new Knucklehead engine, at a speed of 136.183 mph.
Post Motorcycle Racing Years
After his racing career, Joe worked for Howard Hughes and was the flight engineer and chief mechanic on the famous wooden Hercules (Spruce Goose) when it flew in Long Beach Harbor in 1947.
Joe was a pit crew chief for the Indianapolis 500, and verified economy and speed runs for the United States Auto Club.
He was also in charge of land speed certifications at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the 60s.
Joe passed away from a heart attack in 1973 at 69 years old while conducting an economy run in Arizona. He was suvived by his wife Florence and son David.