This beast appeared on the starting line at the Union Grove, Wisconsin track one day years back. Yes, that is a blown V-8 Chevy in the frame of this unusual ride. Note the “chopper style” front fork, they may work all right on the highways, but it seems they are best left off high speed drag bikes. This “one hit wonder” was on the Union Grove starting line just long enough for our ace photographer Steve Reyes to snap this photo, it then made a blast down the quarter mile with less than the desired result.
Near the finish line, the “chopper style” front fork got a serious high speed wobble going, and proceeded to fall apart! The resulting crash was spectacular! The wayward rider survived, while the bike did not. The riders wife drove a pickup truck down to the top end of the track to check on her wounded husband, and she was overheard by the EMT’s referring to him as “idiot” and “stupid” repeatedly, that is the only rider name we have on this one.
Photo by: Steve Reyes (SB.Reyes@cox.net)
Caption by: Aaron Green
thats a funny story….not the part about the crash, but the wife calling her husband names
What did it run?
No time. It did not complete the run with the tires on the pavement. Sort of did the “road rash slide” at the end. Super tech at that place too, note the lack of any gloves on the ill-fated rider. Hands turn into hamburger real quick when you bail with no gloves………..
Just found this article by accident, had to comment. No memory of the crash (May-1982) but still got the bike and the scars (Wife is long gone) http://www.v8sidewinder.com
He survived, dumped the wife, returned to build the bike…bigger and better, and a small block street bike only to crash it 22years later, survived and rebuilt that one too. Now working on a Kieth Black Hemi bike…..check it out. One hit wonder MY ass. THIS GUY HAS DEDICATED HIS WHOLE ADULT LIFE TO HIS PASSION!!!He is selling plans to build them INTERNATIONALLY and there are at least Three (other than his) running and streetable!! with four more at last count being built by others!! Alive and well in AZ.http://www.v8sidewinder.com/
One hit wonder MY ASS! This guy has dedicated his whole adult life to his passion and is selling plans Internationally. Five have been built not including the two he has wrecked and rebuilt and a Kieth Black Hemi in the Jig at this writing. AT LEAST THREE MORE BEING BUILT BY other. LOOONG GONE is The wife commented about. TOM Novak is alive and well in AZ!! Still killin it bigger and better every day. He is a personal friend of mine for over 30 years. Check Him outhttp://www.v8sidewinder.com/