For several seasons it has been rumored that longtime Top Fuel Motorcycle racer Chirs Hand had been working to find a replacement rider to keep his “Redneck Express” Nitro program going while he continues to recover from back issues. For years, former NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer GT Tonglet and family has been rumored to be the frontrunners to join the Redneck Express Team.
At the Man Cup Finals from South Georgia Motorsports Park the long-awaited dream became a reality for Tonglet.
Tonglet and the Redneck Express set out to make some test passes on what proved to be a chilly weekend by South Georgia standards.
“It’s supposed to be warm in south GA, guess not this weekend,” longtime crewman Dick Boxell said. “Chris has been super busy during the downtime with the high work load at his business.”
Hand has still had time to improve the legendary motorcycle by performing an extensive weight balance analysis on the Redneck Express.
Team Hand had three complete power plants ready for action, with Patton in the bike.
With three engines at their disposal the team dove into the ice-breaking weekend for Tonglet, who was also competing in the Real Street class.
“We got heat in the engine and after cool down got setup to pull GT through the pit area to see how he felt on the bike,” Boxell said. “GT held the bike flat as they negotiate the first turn up the pit area and and Chris commented that he is a natural.”
With a tight track prep and cool temperatures the team headed to the lanes to make test pass No. 1.
“We ready the bike and tow up to the staging lanes. Sharon runs the starter while I run the squirter, start the bike, GT rolls through the water box, the tire gets wiped by Steve does a good straight burnout out to where Chuck and myself are waiting,” Boxell said. “We start to push back with visual guidance from Chris, and Gary (Tongelt) on the head set with GT, but the bike is so stuck to the track it won’t move at first and we get it moving slowly. Then Hollywood (Broderick Jackson) comes out to give the reverser some extra horsepower. We get it back and as I am trying to step away , I fall on my butt and roll away from the bik and Chad Otts and others gather me off the ground.”
“GT lined up and the beams are on , lights flash and in a flash of power and clutch dust he is gone to a 1.065 60ft time, runs through the 330 and the bike wiggles a little and he backs it down and proceeds to the end of track and makes the turn. I see smiles all around, none bigger than Chris and Garys” Boxell said. “This had to be hard on Chris, as this is the first time ever he has ever viewed his bike disappearing down track. They get the bike back and we do the blowout , leak down and all is good!”
This set the stage for pass No. 2, this time in the left lane.
“We perform the now normal again between round preparations of the bike. We have the bike ready the bike and tow up to the staging lanes. Sharon runs the starter while I run the squirter, start the bike, GT rolls through the water box, the tire gets wiped by Steve does a good straight burnout out to where Chuck, Chad Otts who graciously offered to push back, and myself are waiting. We start to push back with the guidance from Chris and Gary on the head set with GT . The track has cooled off significantly after a delay and not as stuck as before. Chuck and Chad push the bike back as I mirror Chris’s direction from behind the bike as well as Gary on the headset,” Boxell said. “GT lined up and the beams are on , lights flash and in a flash of power and clutch dust he is gone on another good straight pass but no flames from the pipes? GT shuts it off and gets the Redneck Express to the turn off.”
They get the bike back and we do the blowout , leak down and all is good!!
“It was definitely something I was looking forward to but also something I was nervous to do. On the first run I had a lot of jitters, just hoping that everyone would be alright,” Tonglet said. “As soon as the bike fired up I felt right at home. It was definitely more power than I have ever experienced.”
“Special thanks to Hollywood and Jay Regan for letting us run the bike at their event,” Boxell said.
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