T-Shirt Inquires

Harley Davidson Sales
Napoleon OH

Ph 419 592 7123
mike.yagel@h-dsales.com

Ask for Mike

Going to Daytona

One year when Harley (early 70's) Davidson put on a big show at Daytona they rented all of the lobby and one big room at the Daytona Hilton and put all their new bikes in the lobby area and the room was used for their racing stuff...We were invited to bring the Double and put it on display, we didn't get in the room for the HD racers, they put me and the Double at the end of this long/wide hall way that led to that room, my bike and I were just in front to the side of the big door that went into the race room...Al and Bobby Unser (Indy Car Drivers) were the big attraction, signing pictures and posters...everybody that came down that hall way stop to get the same from me and ask question and it held up the crowd from the Unser and they got really mad and wanted me out but Harley wouldn't do it...AMF/Harley had some sponsor money in the Unsers...

Saying that, they had a big get together on the parking lot Saturday evening, drinks and food...and they had a special guest, Roy Clark...He stood around in his cowboy suit with a drink in his hand and greeted the people...I remember I shook his hand and told him how much I liked his music...the next day I was told it wasn't the real Roy Clark, it was an impersonator...

Another weekend in the career of Granddaddy Joe Smith and how his main sponsor, Harley Davidson put it over some people...

NHRA All Bike Meet at Irwindale Raceway

1970, Irwindale Raceway, First NHRA All Bike Meet ever.

http://hotrodsbikeworks.automotive.com/62025/0603-hrbp-1970-nhra-irwindale-raceway/index.html

I'm not all Harley

My Grandson Mike, has a Motorcycle.

It's not a Harley though.

The Most Influential Person in My Life

My Father,

Saying that has nothing to do with Motorcycles or Drag Racing, he did neither, I don’t think he ever rode a Motorcycle…But he had such a hard life becoming who he was that I can’t do anything but admire and love him very much…

Born in the State of Kansas when it was a time of hardship all over the Midwest, well before there was a Financial Crash, when a Dollar was worth just that and would buy Bread, Milk, and other staples that would feed you for three or four days, what made the hardship was earning that Dollar…Most jobs he had paid a Dollar a day at that time, but he continue to tough it out and feed his family…

As the years past and I grew into Manhood he taught me many things, he was an Auto Mechanic his whole life, his last years of work was for the School District repairing their School Busses…
After I became interest in Motorcycle Drag Racing he encouraged me in every thing I did at the start and through out my Career…He was so well like and known at Irwindale Raceway that when he showed up at the gate into the pits they would said to him, “Joe’s already inside go on in”…He was never charged to get in at Irwindale and he was there every day or night that I was testing or racing…He love to stand by the fence about the 1000 foot mark and would always tell me how the motor sounded when I past that point…

He’s been gone now for a long time but there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of my
Pop.

Smitty, is what every one called him…

High Voltage Drag Bike

Sent to me by Aussie Baz.

-- High Voltage - Drag RacingBy,

Trevor HedgeConversation concerning electric powered vehicles is normally the domain of green groups and eco warriors but more recently there has been talk of environmentally friendly motorcycles in drag racing circles. The slightest mention of the words electric powered are normally enough to send just about any revhead into a slumber but a small group of American innovators are turning that around and leaving mouths agape wherever they go.The subject of their passion is not some sort of uninspiring electric scoot that struggles to reach 60km/h but a truly awe inspiring creation they have dubbed the ‘KillaCycle’. That aggressive name alone may not be enough to perk the interest of motorcycle enthusiasts, but mention these numbers and even the most skeptical will sit up and take notice: 0-100 in under a second and a standing quarter mile in 7.8 seconds. And no that isn’t a misprint. The Killacycle can hit 100km/h from a standstill in under a second and the only thing to be heard is some tyre and wind roar as this silent assassin disappears in to the distance. Drag strips are never going to be the same again...Denver based engineer Bill Dube’ designed and built the KillaCycle as a private project largely funded by himself although as the rate of success increases a few minor sponsors have come onboard to lend a hand. A123 Systems provided 1210 of their nanophosphate lithium-ion batteries that powered the machine to its first seven second pass last month at Pomona Raceway. The 85 kilograms of batteries hold enough charge to power the Killacycle to more than half a dozen 7 second passes. And the running costs? Around ten cents worth of electricity is all it takes to refuel the Killacycle and the latest Manzanita Micro charger has the recharge time down to five minutes. Picked your jaw up off the floor yet?While the proven 7 second potential of the Killacycle is amazing, it is still a long way from the 5.7 second world record set by Larry McBride onboard a conventional Nitromethane powered Top Fuel motorcycle. But Top Fuel motorcycles have had many decades of development, need engine rebuilds between runs and cost thousands of dollars in fuel for each race meeting and those costs are continuing to escalate. However in the field of battery power, costs continue to tumble and the rate of improvement continues to accelerate out of sight. That first 7 second pass was achieved not by a well funded major enterprise but is simply the backyard project of a guy that designs pollution measurement equipment for a living with an annual budget around $13,000 USD. That should give the drag racing fraternity a major fright and clearly signals the potential of battery vehicles should anyone put some serious money behind such a project.While the batteries used in the Killacycle are currently state of the art, the actual drive unit is a relatively archaic brushed DC motor. Effectively the KillaCycle is nothing more than a big cordless drill but you certainly can’t buy this one at Target! Plans are afoot to move to a much more modern AC motor and A123 Systems are working on the next generation of their nanophosphate cells that produce twice the amount of power per kilogram as the current Killacycle battery pack. A new frame, bigger wheelie bars and better rubber will be in order to contain the potential of the new power pack but clearly the sky is the limit for the KillaCycle. Given the resources of a regular professional Top Fuel outfit it seems only a matter of time before a battery powered drag bike will be able to run times comparable to a quality Top Fuel field and, when technology allows, perhaps even surpass their fire breathing brethren. How far away is the first battery powered GSX-R? Clearly it’s not just around the corner but that day might be closer than any of us imagine. Either way it is fantastic to see that even an end to fossil fuels will not spell the end for performance and man’s sometimes unhealthy obsession with racing.

http://www.nedra.com/

Double Norton

This is Warren Afflick from down under sitting on TC Christensen's Double Norton at Indy.

This picture was sent to me by Warren and he says he is the good looking one on the bike. That's TC on the right.

Indy 1977, Fringer and TC

Here's a cool picture of Ron Fringer (no shirt) and TC Christensen hiding behind my Tour Truck. This was 1977 Indy, the last year of my Double and Ron was Riding for me.

Picture was taken by Yours Truly.

My Grandson Mike

This has nothing to do with Motorcyles or Drag Racing, it's for my Grandson (Mike).

He build this Bug from the ground up...I can remember back a few years when he had the body pan on saw horses in the drive way making it look like it just came from the factory...You can buy all new stuff for those VW Bugs and that's what he did over a couple years putting it together from the bottom up...Has two complete motors, one stock and one all out get up and go...He still has it and babies it every time he drives it...I spent a lot of time towing it to different places in the beginning when he needed to take it to get something done he couldn't do...In the one picture you can see my Toyota pickup in the back ground, a thing I had been babying since new and got it wiped out by a DUI gal, hauled away in handcuffs, it still never replace what I lost until my Daughter and Son in Law, (Patti & Larry) gave me something even better...By the way he also did the painting, in the open, in the drive way...I couldn't believe how good it looked after he sanded it out and shot it with clear coat...You can't see it in the picture but there are sculls in the blue flames...

A Video by Miss Becky

Here's a great Video sent to me by the Aussie Bazza.
Miss Becky does great work. missbeckysid@gmail.com

http://www.truveo.com/Top-Bike-Nitro-Champs-2008/id/1065692680

Historical Double Triumph

Here is a picture sent to me by Ivy. It's Boris Murray's great Double Engine Triumph and it's in his Garage in the old days, spent many an evening there with Boris and sometimes Gordon Kately...

Triumph back in Action

I just got this email from Bazza in Australia... As soon as I get a picture I will post it...

Jay Upton Australia, 1400cc 4V 4cyl Triumph. 6.29 228mph, it also uses a small parachute to stop. Jay said it kept the bike very stable.

SPEEDWORLD RACEWAY, ARIZONA

My Trip to SPEEDWORLD Raceway Arizona

It was a MDRA race on 11-8-08, Saturday. I had contacted MDRA and was giving credentials that could be picked up at the gate. I was to pick up Roy Strawn the past Director of the Original AMDRA. It would have been a great invite except for the circumstance of bad luck I had getting there. Roy and I hadn’t seen each other since the mid seventies and we were looking forward to the renew friendship and bench racing we both knew how to do well.
I left my home in Hesperia California, small community in the Victorville Valley in the High Desert at 1:30 PM on Thursday, with the idea of getting there a little early so we would have time to chat and bench race. I had a map from my computer that show just how to get to Surprise Arizona which was a small City between where Roy lived and the race track, about twenty mile separated the two. It will be the first time out of California for me since my Touring Days and I was looking forward to the drive, driving is one thing I’ve loved doing since I was 14 years old. The trip was on Interstate Highway 10 and everything went smoothly until I reached the area where I would get off the interstate to make my way to Surprise by using the Map. The first problem I encounter was that the Map didn’t show me that the directions was using streets and roads that were under construction, with many detours. And there weren’t many street lights and it was pitch black night time. The road I got off the interstate on was called 303 and I was to go left till I reach Bell Road, according to the map instruction that was about six mile and after going more than that I thought I miss it and turned around to look some again, I did this more than once on this road that was a mess and had lots of traffic, finely I called Roy and told him my trouble and he tells me Bell Road is about fifth teen miles from the interstate. (The reason I’m going to Surprise is to get a Motel Room).

I finally made it to Bell Road which was a busy road with a lot of business along the way. Looked just like the place to get a room, I went both directions for about five miles and didn’t see one Motel, by the way they are now called Inns. By now my Gas gauge is looking toward empty so I pull into a Station to fill up, while there this guy pulls in next to me for Gas and I ask if he could direct me to a Motel. He says to me with an ugly grin on his face that if I could find a Motel with a Vacancy with in a hundred miles I would be lucky. This was NASCAR weekend in Phoenix plus there was a big thing going on at the local Fairgrounds that happens every year. (Now I didn’t know about any of this). But he said if you go out Bell Road about 12 miles or so the other side of Phoenix you might find something. By my Speedo I drove sixteen miles and seen two Inns that were full up. I made trips on other main Streets looking, got lost many time, I mean many times, even went the wrong way on a one way street, boy was that a mess. By now I’m beginning to get very upset and disorientated because of the darkness.

There was no Motels in the area with a Vacancy, that finally sunk in. So I decided to head back to the interstate and head West away from the NASCAR race track looking for a Motel. I got back to 303 and headed for the interstate, now this road is being tore up to be redone, has numerous detours along the way and the speed limit is fifty MPH which is what I’m doing where possible. The Traffic behind me is beginning to get pretty heavy and they are starting to flip there lights off and on and ride my bumper so I pick up speed, the cars behind me began to peel off on side streets and the next thing I know there is a set of Red lights behind me, a Sixty Five in a Fifty was what the little piece of paper said. Now I’m really Pissed.

I get to the Interstate and head West, drove for over sixty miles and seen one motel, it is now after well past midnight and I pull in and go to the after hours window and ask for a room, yea I got one, check out time is 10 AM, I'm reaching for my wallet and he ask if I’m a Senior I say yes and he says our Senior rate is $92.00. Now that’s for eight hours, so back on the interstate and I say to myself FT, I’ll head for a Casino and do a little gambling instead.
As it was I ended up back home. I was on the road for twelve hours and drove 730 miles round trip. At least I got the driving out of my system. I know I and Roy might have upset some for not showing up but I couldn’t stay without a room of my own for that many days. Plus Roy was to ill to make the races and we didn’t have our much needed visit.

Next year it will be a AHDRA race and I will do my driving in the Day Time. That’s the third race I tried to get to this year and something happened each time. I’m two years shy of Eighty, I think next time I will leave my Leathers Home, maybe that’s what is causing all this bad luck or would that be good luck.

There was some comedy in my trip. This is kind of for the guys only.
When I stopped at one of the rest areas for a relief of bladder pressure I noticed there was a candy machine and it was after midnight and I figure some sugar would help keep me awake even thought I didn't get sleepy once during the trip. So I go over to the machine and it is inside a cage but still reachable, I put in my $1.25 and picked the candy I want and it fell in the tray. I have to reach my arm way it there to get the bar but got it. I put it in my jacket pocket and went into the restroom, standing there at the urinal and you know what a man does at the end of that little chore well I look down and there is blood flying every place. I'm glad I was the only one in there because I yelled out pretty loud "Oh my God" jumped back and looked down at my self and then at my hand and evidently I had cut the top of my hand on the candy machine and didn't know it. Man, what a relief, and then again I'm glad there was no one in there but me because I began to laugh, I couldn't hardly stop.

Granddaddy Joe Smith

Amazing Fuel Bike

Just got this email from Bazza in Australia...
Jay Upton Australia, 1400cc 4V 4cyl Triumph, 6.29 228mph.
It also uses a small parachute to stop, Jay said it kept the bike very stable.
Here's Jay make another great pass on Video.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AYCHWAEfXU&feature=related

Drag Racing Film

Agreat Motorcycle Film. Featuring Vance + Hines Pro Stock Racing Team of 1980.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=4595820

Staging and Auto Start

I watch every NHRA race on TV and when I first heard about the auto start I was curious how true that was....I sit one day watching and had a stop watch in my hand and when the Top Fuel and Funny Cars were running there was a few times that it took the second light ten to fifteen seconds to light and no red light....So I figure the Auto Red light can be controlled from either the starter or the tower....

I had a matched race with Boris Murray at the Old US 30 track and we got there early and was invited to the tower and while there we were ask what kind of times we wanted during the race....go figure....

It's not a Rule

Didn't say it was a rule, just that was the way it was to keep every thing fair, on the up and up between riders. I know the seven second rule was to stop burn downs, but it still happens with the first light....even to an extend with the second light, depends on the power of who the racers are....

NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle

Staging lights are made to keep the game fair....as far back as staging goes there has been racers trying to use them for an edge on the guy or in this case girl in the other lane....The first one to light a bulb is the one who is suppose to light the second set of bulbs first ....

I never liked the burn down, usually started by the one that lite the first light, you can usually tell if that is happening to you and the way to reverse and confuse the one that started it is to stage fast and turn it around on the other racer....

The race between Angie and Andrew, who stage the first set of bulbs and that will be the one that started the unfair advandage....Sometimes it backfires....

Wet Racing

This has nothing to do with Drag Racing but involves a good friend of mine who races on the water. This was at Lake Havasu AZ in 1995 at the IJSBA World Finals. Look at the name on the control bar. His name is Mike Yagel.

The picture was taken by Vic Stiles.

http://www.h-dsales.com/default.asp

Gartlits Clutch Explosion

This is something that I think is very important to Motorcycle Drag Racing, it's when Big Daddy Don Garlits driving his front engine Dragster at Lions Drag Strip in California had a Clutch explosion that took off part of one foot. It started Big Daddy thinking more about a rear engine car. It was a time that change Drag Racing and brought more safety rules on the scene, even for Motorcycles. Also, a very interesting Video.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=HVHbzIzKJc4&feature=related