Bike Drag Races!

[Irish]

A few days ago , I watched the Australian Drag Races. In Pro-Stock Bikes , the winner turned 289MPH. I was wondering if anyone had done any Drag Racing? In the 70's I turned 12.2 with my street bike. (slightly modified) That isn't that fast now but it was then. That was over 100 mph & holding on was a B**tch. I can't imagine holding on at that speed! Has any members done it?:thanks::nuts: Irish:scoot::nuts:
P.S. At 71yrs , I wouldn't even attempt it! I still have good reflexes but not that good!:nuts:

[wheelbender6]

I haven't done any racing, but I have attended a few NHRA events. Unfortunately, they were not doing pro stock bike back then. I used to like to watch Angel Sampey drag race her pro stock bike on ESPN. I think she is still recovering from ankle surgery.

[Irish]

Times have really changed! When I built my 1st bike , a 5.10 X 16 Goodyear was the largest rear tire that you could use & you still had to watch chain clearance!:shrug::clap: Irish:scoot::nuts:
P.S. That was with a 16" rear wheel & Custom Spokes! Spoking(sp?)a wheel is a tedious job!

[wheelbender6]

Here is the pro-stock bike wrap-up for this season.
http://blog.motorcycle.com/2015/11/16/motorcycle-news/hines-wins-nhra-championship-aboard-harley-v-rod/
http://blog.motorcycle.com.vsassets.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Krwaiec-Final-Pomona_feature-633x388.jpg

[Irish]

Thanks for the article! One of the biggest things that I hate about getting older , is that I can't Drag Race anymore. Even my hands used to shake when I pulled up to the lights! Once I was staged , it was like someone poured cold water over me. I was completely calm then & paying attention to what I was doing. Irish

[wheelbender6]

I know what you mean, Irish. I used to be able to work circles around the young guys but time is catching up with me. We just have to learn to appreciate our strengths and short-comings at each age.
I do so enjoy the elimination aspect of drag racing. If you lose a round, you load the trailer and go home before the next round.
I love NASCAR races but most of them are just too long for my attention span. I will watch an entire Camping World Truck series race because they normally last only an hour or so.

[Irish]

I know what you mean, Irish. I used to be able to work circles around the young guys but time is catching up with me. We just have to learn to appreciate our strengths and short-comings at each age.
I do so enjoy the elimination aspect of drag racing. If you lose a round, you load the trailer and go home before the next round.
I love NASCAR races but most of them are just too long for my attention span. I will watch an entire Camping World Truck series race because they normally last only an hour or so.
My problem is that my head still thinks that I'm 21 but my body knows that I'm 71! It constantly reminds me.:hmm::sIrish:scoot::nuts:

[Irish]

Last night , I was watching the same channel again. They were showing motorcycle races on ice , with studded tires! Can you imagine going down & getting run over by the person behind you? When I lived in N.H. my buddy used to belong to a group that had races on a lake , when it iced over. He had special tires that were only for that. Those studs remind me of small ice picks! I'd hate to get run over by one of those tires!:tdown::ugh: Irish:scoot::nuts:

[Irish]

I was watching it again last night & I have to say that I miss it. The only problem is that (like most things) it's crooked. It used to be that on Sundays , the winner of each class , had a runoff , with a handicap start given to the lower classes. Somehow , the track owners son always won "Top Eliminator". You don't suppose it was fixed do you? It happened so much that I stopped racing there! I worked 6 days a week & who wants to bust their A** at night getting their bike to run the best that it could , when they knew that they would lose "Top Eliminator" anyway? I found that there's a lot of $ to be made on Street Racing anyway! (If you don't get caught!):tup::shrug: Irish:scoot::nuts:

[wheelbender6]

More money in street racing, but more dangers, like big oak trees close to the pavement.

[Irish]

I found that in Street Racing , the thing to do is have an independent person hold the money , before the race. You also use the same rules as at the track (in other words-if you miss a shift-you lost , etc) The reason that you have someone hold the money is that it's amazing the excuses that people come up with when $300-$500 is at stake!:tup: Irish:scoot::nuts:

[wheelbender6]

Victory Motorcycles has manned up (with a female rider) for a second season of NHRA Pro Stock Bike Racing. Not easy to put a dent in Harley's and Buell's dominance of Pro Stock Bike.
http://blog.motorcycle.com/2016/03/24/motorcycle-news/victory-motorcycles-prepares-for-second-season-of-nhra-drag-racing/
http://blog.motorcycle.com.vsassets.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/angie_feature-633x389.jpg

[Irish]

Victory Motorcycles has manned up (with a female rider) for a second season of NHRA Pro Stock Bike Racing. Not easy to put a dent in Harley's and Buell's dominance of Pro Stock Bike.
http://blog.motorcycle.com/2016/03/24/motorcycle-news/victory-motorcycles-prepares-for-second-season-of-nhra-drag-racing/
http://blog.motorcycle.com.vsassets.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/angie_feature-633x389.jpg

That is not a "part-time" hobby! Besides all of the money to build a bike like that , you also have to travel to different "strips". That means , no job , a transportation vehicle , tranquilisers(sp? , parts , etc. :thanks::yay: Irish:scoot::nuts: