Steve McQueen, a 1912 Indian, and Dan and Kathy Rouit’s Clovis Flat Track Motorcycle Museum
I recently had the privilege of spending an afternoon at the Dan and Kathy Rouit Clovis Flat Track Motorcycle Museum in Clovis, California. My guide for this journey through motorcycle racing history was Kenny Thiebaud, a longtime friend of the museum’s namesake and a wealth of knowledge about the sport.
As I pulled up to the unassuming building on a quiet Clovis street, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But as soon as Kenny opened the doors and I stepped inside, I knew I was in for something special. The museum is a treasure trove of flat track racing history, packed wall-to-wall with vintage motorcycles, memorabilia, and the tangible passion of those who lived and breathed this high-octane sport.
Kenny, a retired Harley-Davidson mechanic, greeted me with a warm smile and an enthusiasm that was contagious. “Let me tell you about Danny,” he said, his eyes lighting up as he began to recount the story of his friend and the museum’s founder, Dan Rouit.
As we walked through the museum, Kenny painted a vivid picture of the flat track racing scene in the 1970s. He pointed to a 1969 Bultaco, a Spanish-made dirt bike, and explained, “This is where it all started for Danny and me. We were just kids, really, when we got into racing.”
A Friendship Born Racing at Chowchilla Fairgrounds
Kenny’s story of meeting Dan was like something out of a movie. “It was May 7th, 1972, at the Chowchilla Fairgrounds,” he recalled with remarkable precision. “My first race, probably Danny’s third or fourth. I showed up without a number on my bike, and Danny lent me some tape to make an ‘X’ for my number plate. That’s how we became friends.”
Visit the Museum: 309 West Rialto Ave Clovis, California 93612-4331 Call for open hours: 559-291-2242
As we moved through the museum, I was struck by the progression of the bikes. Kenny explained how the sport evolved, pointing out bikes without brakes from the 1960s, then showing how brake technology was introduced in the 1970s. “Can you imagine?” he chuckled.
“Racing at those speeds with no brakes. It was a different time.”
But the heart of the museum, and of Kenny’s story, was Dan Rouit himself. As we stood in front of a pristine 650 Triumph, Kenny’s voice softened. “This was Danny’s favorite bike, the one he was racing when the accident happened.”
The accident Kenny referred to wasn’t on the race track as one might expect. In 1978, Dan fell from a cliff in Jose Basin while out hunting, resulting in a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. It was a turning point in Dan’s life, but as Kenny told it, it was also the catalyst for something extraordinary.
The 1912 Indian Steve McQueen Coveted But Didn’t Get
“Danny was always a collector at heart,” Kenny explained. “Even when he was in the hospital, he was thinking about motorcycles.” He recounted how Dan, while still in recovery, purchased a 1912 Indian board track racer for $3,800. “That bike over there,” Kenny pointed, “that’s where this whole museum really started.”
“Bob Stark, the seller, decided to let Danny have (the 1912 Indian). Steve (McQueen) even came to see who was getting the bike. Can you believe it?” — Kenny Thiebaud, Clovis Flat Track Motorcycle Museum
The story of that 1912 Indian included an unexpected cameo from Steve McQueen, who apparently also wanted the bike. “But Bob Stark, the seller, decided to let Danny have it,” Kenny said with a hint of pride. “Steve even came to see who was getting the bike. Can you believe it?”
As we continued our tour, it became clear that the museum was more than just a collection of motorcycles. It was a testament to Dan’s indomitable spirit and the community that rallied around him. Kenny showed me how the museum grew from a makeshift display in Dan’s house to the impressive collection it is today.
“Danny had this ramp built so he could get up to the second floor of his house in his wheelchair,” Kenny explained, describing the early days of the collection. “He just wanted a place to put his bikes and share them with people.”
