Need advice on how to begin a board track racer, please advise

What is your skill level? Can you weld? Fabricate metal parts? How much time are you willing to spend on it?

The easiest and most economical way would be to start with a frame with a similar look, such as a Worksman newsboy or a vintage Schwinn.

Most of the original board track racers had 28" wheels. This is an uncommon size for bicycles in this era so most replicas use 26" bike wheels.

If you are going to cut one up I would use a ols Schwinn girls bike. They have nice curved top tube that can be cut out and added to the bottom tube, gives you a nice stretch and drop loop. Then you can add top tubes after they are good strong old frames,and save a lot of tube bending. Not only that they have the good old strong 26" wheels. Mr.B did that in one of his builds. Study this and the DIY section and it will tell you just about everything you would want to know,read a lot before you start........Curt

The easy way is to start with a boardtrack style frame & tank. A lot depends on your fabrication skills & equipment.

All of these bikes started from Silver State frame & tank kits:

http://motorbicycling.com/showthread.php?t=54897

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If your in Windsor (my home town, raised in T.O.) why don't you get a mail drop off in Detroit and have the frame ect. shipped there and then pick it up. If they charge you duty it will be less than the shipping to Canada. I do it all the time.

Most acceptable wheels and tires are based on 24" or 26". Usually 28" rims are narrow and meant for road bike. You may find some in Europe from early motorbikes but they will be pricey by the time they get here with the proper tires.

Steve.

If it were me and I was looking to modify an existing frame (and didn't have the kind of money it takes to buy a bike from Silver States or Sportsman Flyer I would look for either the Worksman newsboy frame and then modify the front down tube to a drop loop like the Indian in your picture has to give more room for an engine (although a china girl engine will fit unmodified) I would look for a "straight bar" frame from a 1950's Schwinn (commonly referred to as a "Panther" frame). It also has a frame geometry similar to the Indian pictured. Both are well made frames. The Schwinn frame can be found on ebay usually and the Worksman can be purchased either used on ebay or new from Worksman cycles. There are other vintage frames that can be made to work and you may find something by looking up vintage frames on ebay. Good luck on your adventure!
SB

I don't know about the shipping because I pick up the Silver State frames at the factory - but a frame & tank is only 450 bucks.

If you have someone willing to bend the tube & weld all the parts, nearly any donor bike will do. All you need is a serviceable bottom bracket / seat post / stays & drop outs. The you bend the drop loop & top tube.