Drag racers—especially during the sport’s early and less restrictive years–would try anything that made sense. And not surprisingly, they looked in all sorts of places to find them. While motorcycle guys have often borrowed technology from car guys, some have…
Remembering Boris Murray and The Greatest Motorcycle Drag Racing Photo of All Time
From the mid-Sixties through the early Seventies Southern Californian Boris Murray held both the NHRA and American Motorcycle Drag Racing Association (AMDRA) records for elapsed time and top speed, as well as those of the AHRA, International Drag Bike Association,…
The First Twin Engine Dragbike
Motorcycle drag racers were no different from car drag racers. In addition to looking for ways to increase the performance of their engines, they also looked at ways of adding a second one. The car guys had done it as…
A History of Motorcycle Drag Racing’s Sanctioning Bodies
Before motorcycle drag racing could grow, it needed visionary individuals who recognized its potential as a spectator sport. If races among bootleggers barreling down country roads could become NASCAR, wasn’t there also potential for those racing motorcycles from stoplight to…
The Great Rivalries in Dragbike Racing
Rivalries are inevitable. Any time money and ego are at stake, strong and unchecked emotions often find their way into the equation. Technically speaking, those involved in a rivalry don’t have to dislike each other. But, as we’ve seen…
The Pioneers of Pro Stock Motorcycle: 1973-2000 – Part 2
Motorcycle drag racing journalist John Stein is back with his multi-part series dedicated to the Pro Stock Motorcycle class. Click here, if you have not checked out Part 1 yet. It’s great reading. Bob Carpenter In many ways Bob Carpenter…
The Birth of Pro Stock Motorcycle: Part 1
Although not the fastest or loudest or flashiest form of motorcycle drag racing, Pro Stock Motorcycle has nevertheless become synonymous with the sport. News organizations as prestigious as the “New York Times” cover it, and companies as large Fortune 500…
The First Dragbike Slick
Motorcycle drag racing historian John Stein offers this interesting lesson. Racing tires sure have come a long way. The Long Beach Night Drags in 1956 marked the appearance of a new type of tire from the Cadet Tire Company of…
The First Funny Bike, and First Wheelie Bar in Motorcycle Drag Racing
Ray Price has had an enormous impact on the sport of motorcycle drag racing. Where a number of people have been really gifted racers or tuners, the North Carolina Harley-Davidson dealer and legendary drag racer actually came up with two…
Vintage Top Fuel Drag Bikes Come To St. Johns
For more than three decades, the Concours d’Elegance of America at St. Johns has showcased some of America’s finest vintage cars. This year, they’ll also be showcasing some of the country’s finest vintage motorcycles. Not just any motorcycles but Top…
The Birth of the “Modern Era” Top Fuel Motorcycle
While evolution implies a continual movement in one forward direction, it can mean returning to where you began if that proves better—which is exactly what happened with Top Fuel motorcycles. When Marion Owens’ twin-engine Harley-Davidson didn’t win at Bowling Green…