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Oct 13

Something to learn from 4 failed land speed attempts

By General Posts

This Custom Land-Speed Bike Build Failed 4 Times: Here’s What We Can Learn

You’re going to fail a lot when you try something new, but keep going.
by Janaki Jitchotvisut from https://www.rideapart.com

Have you ever had a project not go exactly like you planned? If you noticed that I didn’t say “project bike” there, that word choice was intentional—because maybe you’re just at the beginning of thinking about your first project bike. However, as a person who has worked on many a passion project prior to ever even thinking about a project bike, I’m here to tell you that some of that precious knowledge you’ve already gained completely carries over into project bike territory.

In this video, YouTuber SuperFastMatt takes us on a detailed breakdown of how he tried to build a custom land speed record attempt motorcycle four separate times—and how (and why) he failed. His analysis is unsparing, hilarious, and incredibly relatable—even if you’ve never personally tried to build a custom land speed record attempt motorcycle of your own.

Why? Probably because, at their heart, most projects—be they bikes or other things—share a number of traits in common. As he spells out toward the beginning of the vehicle, all projects require some mixture of time, money, space, and motivation to complete things—from your individual sub-tasks, all the way up to full project completion.

Most people don’t have unlimited supplies of any (or all) of these things—but if you have motivation, you can usually find creative ways to bend the other three parts to your will. The problems usually happen when motivation runs out. A setback may only seem tiny to an outsider, but if it feels utterly soul-crushing to you, then you may set something aside for weeks, months—or even years until you’re ready to deal with it again.

This video is particularly great because it works on multiple levels. On the one hand, you’re getting a blow-by-blow synopsis of what was clearly years of Matt’s attempts at getting this particular build off the ground—or, at least, more quickly across the ground than was probably advisable for this vehicle. On the other, you’re getting a close-up look at the inner workings of one curious, mechanically-minded person’s thought process in working through failure—which could, ultimately, help you work through your own failures.

The fact is, most of us have to keep trying, falling down, getting back up again, and learning from our mistakes when we attempt new things. Very few people are automatically good at just about anything. Most of us just have to keep trying, keep learning, and keep improving. That stubbornness may not seem like a good thing, but it is. Then again, so is learning to recognize when it’s time to light something on fire and shove it into the sea. Cheers.

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Build Your Own Fastest Motorcycle, get yourself a copy of full-color, high-quality book on 5 Ball Racing Shop, click here.

Oct 05

Nitro Top Fuel Harley Party Returns to Cecil County

By General Posts

event: AHDRA Mid-Atlantic Nitro Showdown presented by Zipper’s Performance Products
when: October 7-9, 2022
where: Cecil County Dragway, Rising Sun, Maryland, USA

Anyone who attended last year’s AHDRA All-American motorcycle drag racing series stop at Cecil County Dragway knows that this is one explosive motorsports event. Nothing beats the violent thrust of a big Top Fuel nitro V-Twin engine, and this is the time and place to see these incredible motorcycles, the burly men who ride them, and the biker lifestyle that surrounds them.

Last year’s winner Tracy Kile and his Bad Apple Racing teammates Dr. Jimmy “Mack” McMillan and Frank “Brother” Capone headline a field that includes 2020 AHDRA champ Rich Vreeland, NHRA record holder Bob Malloy, Billy “Jack” Jackson, country gentleman Ziggy Schwartz and more.

Veteran racer Larry “Grey Ghost” Stanley will be honored at this event for his dedication to Nitro Harley racing.

Hawaya Racing Nitro Funnybike champion Michael Balch will be taking on all comers in the high gear-only class, while the Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel carbureted class will see it’s usual slew of competitors. Milan winner Phil Lower, Rocky Jackson, Jim Martin, and Sam White are just some of the racers expected to attend, and Bad Apple’s Mary Dangrow will make her nitro debut.

Gasoline can be just as exciting as nitro, especially when burned in no-bar, street tire bikes. Charging Charley Douglass took the Milan Dragway GMS Racing Engines Xtreme Outlaw win in an all-turbo final, and expect that kind of action again at Cecil County. If we’re lucky, the seldom seen nitrous badass Mike Motto will make this one.

Super popular Baggers are expected in force, including Jason Broski and his all-motor Horsepower Inc. Pro Outlaw Bagger Milan winner, and Super Stock and V-Twin Powersports Hot Rod Baggers

Pro classes MTC Pro Comp Outlaw, Zippers Performance Pro Modified, and Pingel Modified will see V-Twins stretching their connecting rods to the max, including riders John Price, George Futch, Kimberly DeShields, Gary Douglass, Shayne Pendergrast and more.

Sportsman classes are the backbone of every drag racing organization, and AHDRA welcomes gobs of them. Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson Super Gas 9.90, Universal Fleet & Tire 10.90, 11:50 index, Super Pro 10.30, and Eliminator will all throw down. Racers Brad Cronenberger, Chris Phipps, Cody Rozeski, John Terry, Clayton Danford, Heather Van Fleet and many more will be cutting lights and taking stripes.

Dreaming of drag racing your own American made V-Twin for the first time? Then Trophy class is for you! Put on your appropriate safety gear and get prepared to stage your beast!

And the coolest thing that has happened at AHDRA in 2022? That would be the return of Junior Dragbikes!

Download the “Cecil Dragway” App from either the Apple or Android App Store and follow each round live. Your friends and family can follow your progress through each round.

Test and Tune from 6:00-10:00 pm on Friday, gates open at 10:00am. Qualifying begins at 11:00 am on Saturday, raceday opening ceremonies at 11:00 am Sunday. Admission is $25 for a day, $45 for a 2 day pass, or $55 for all 3 days

Bill and Chrissy Rowe look forward to welcoming the AHDRA family to one of their most popular stops on the calendar—Cecil County Dragway. Do not miss this event!

The AHDRA website is at http://raceahdra.com/

For more information, email AHDRA’s Bill Rowe at bcrowe92891@gmail.com

AHDRA is owned by Pulse Marketing, the motorsports promotion company run by veteran drag racer Rowe and his family.

AHDRA thanks Cox Double Eagle Harley-Davidson, Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson, Gainesville Harley-Davidson , MTC Engineering , Hawaya Racing, Pingel Enterprise, GMS Racing Engines, Zippers Performance, Horsepower Inc., Vanson Leathers , Universal Fleet & Tire, IHDRA, V-Twin Powersports, Daryl Coffin Motorsports, All-Harley World Shootout, Axtell Cylinders and Racers For Christ.

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Build your own Race Machine – Click to view 5-Ball Racing Shop for books, drag racing history DVD and cool leathers

How to Build a Bonneville Salt Flats Motorcycle documents the construction of “The Worlds Fastest Panhead,” conceived and assembled by Keith Ball, former editor or Easyriders magazine and current owner of Bikernet.com, the most popular biker stop on the internet.

 

Aug 20

XDA Heads to Virginia for the 2022 Bike Bash

By General Posts

On August 26-28, XDA takes Motorcycle Drag Racing back to Virginia Motorsports Park for the 4th annual Bike Bash.

XDA offers a quality show with over 700 professional, sportsman, and grudge motorcycle drag racers in competition. This season XDA will payout over $500,000 in purse money and a $130,000 contingency fund that spans all classes. This event alone will pay out over $80,000 in cash purse, making it a must-attend event for any east coast drag racing enthusiast.

The event features the Orient Express Pro Street class that run speeds over 230 mph in only 6-seconds! And on Saturday Night, the action will be electric as the fastest grudge racers on the east coast will fly down VMP’s perfectly prepped track. The HTP Performance Afterdark Underground Grudge Program will feature the “Running of the Bulls” Grudge Shootouts and all the Grudge Racing you can handle. Even with the scoreboards off, it’s clear who is fast and who is faux fast. Bring your dollars, because once the action starts, you will be picking lanes and betting on your favorites all night long.

Orient Express Racing Pro Street
The World’s fastest and quickest street tire motorcycles will mobilize once again for the Orient Express Pro Street class. With a track smooth as glass, these 650+ horsepower motorcycles running at speeds over 230mph in the quarter-mile in only 6-seconds will have you saying damn all weekend as their performance numbers will shock you on their DOT tires. You do not want to miss the thrilling racing action served up by these all-stars next weekend.

With only two races left in the season, the pressure will be applied as these pro racers are competing for a championship and a spot to be invited to the 26th annual Haltech World Cup Finals presented by Wiseco at Maryland International Raceway on November 2-6, 2022. Racers will be fighting for a top ten finish in points for the chance to compete in front of 50,000+ fans in November. But of the ten that qualify, only eight will compete in the $5,000 to win Pro Street Shootout sponsored by Platinum General Services. Rodney Williford, Justin Shakir, Greg Wallace, Jason Dunigan, Darion Payne, Gaige Herrera, James Waugh, Curtis Brown, Ryan Hable, and Rickey Wood are currently qualified for WCF. Several racers will be fighting hard to bump into these coveted spots this weekend, and no one will be working harder than Jordan Haase!

Williford is leading the class by one hundred and forty-five points, but after taking a semi-final round loss at the last event, he has opened the gate and let the wolves in. Shakir, Wallace, Dunigan, and Payne all have a chance at the championship title. Williford will have to be at the top of his game next weekend to keep the bloodthirsty at bay.

DME Racing Real Street
The DME Racing 7-second, 190mph Real Street class is designed for street‐legal sportbikes with limited modifications and a hand clutch. Next weekend’s XDA Championship points chase will heat up as Rickey Gadson and Mark Hylton battle to climb to that number one spot that class champion David Stewart is holding on to by only sixty-five points over his competition. Unlike Hylton, Gadson has never held a Real Street championship title, and he will be laser-focused on the win lights next weekend as he looks to put some distance between himself and Hylton and knock Stewart off the top spot. Brittany Bohne had a stellar showing at the last race, and she will be a formidable obstacle in the way of these guys earning points next weekend if they have to line up next to her.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme
MaxxECU Pro Xtreme features the World’s quickest turbocharged, nitrous injected, or injected nitro drag bikes. This is the quickest and fastest 1/8 mile category in the XDA, and there is nothing better than first to the finish line, heads up racing. John Collins leads the points chase, but the class championship is wide open and still up for grabs for the team working between races to show up and put down the performance numbers for green lights. Procopio was the only rider to lay down a three-second pass at the last event, but next weekend we expect to see these numbers from most of the field as they all have the horsepower under them to produce big numbers. MaxxECU Pro Xtreme is presented by Billy Vose Racing, Fast by Gast, Dunigan Racing, DME Racing, Grothus Dragbikes, Harley Haul, Rob Bush Motorsports, Robinson Industries, Schnitz Racing, Timblin Chassis, and Worldwide Bearings.

HTP Performance Super Stock
The stock wheelbase HTP Performance Super Stock class features strict modification rules, stock wheelbase, stock motor, MR12 spec fuel, no air shifters, no dataloggers, etc. Darion Payne has been the class leader all season but only holds a minuscule six points over the field of 4‐stroke naturally aspirated production machines. Mike Davis is due for a win at this event; he has been runner-up at the last four events, missing wins by mere inches! A rule change between races has been implemented, allowing all liter bikes to go back down to 2″ of ground clearance for all size riders. With this change, class representative Cecil Towner is hoping to see more diversity in the class next weekend.

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Click & Check out 5-Ball Racing Salt Torpedo effort for Land Speed Record. The first streamlined Trike to race for such a record. Built by Keith Ball and the 5-Ball Racing Crew.

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Vance & Hines 4.60
The popular 1/8th-mile sportsman index category of Vance & Hines 4.60 class is the World’s quickest index class and next weekend that class will be massive with fifty-three riders already on the pre-race roll call list! XDA increases this purse as the entries go up; based on the current pre-entry, a $1,000 bonus will be paid out to the winner. The first 660 feet of the Virginia Motorsports Park will be on fire next weekend as the championship chase comes down to the wire. The top ten riders in points all have a legitimate shot at the championship, but as the field grows, so does the level of competition. Every round won will matter as the points chase typically comes down to the last few rounds of the season.

1 Stop Speed 5.60
Nick Noble will be working hard at the 4th annual Bike Bash to snag the 1 Stop Speed 5.60 championship points lead away from current leader Dustin Lee next weekend. Only four points separate the two from the top spot. The top ten contenders in the class still have a shot at the championship, but it’s not going to be an easy path for many of them. Only one hundred and eighty points separate number ten from number one. Next weekend’s event could shake up the order, giving many racers hope for a championship title at the season’s last event.

Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman
The quickest ET bikes at the track will be showcased in the Mickey Thompson Top Sportsman class next weekend. Jimmie Miller has not taken a win this season in the class, but his steady stream of win lights has earned him a nine-point lead over the class. The chase for the championship is wide-open at this point; with a different winner every event, there is no guessing where the order will shake out by Sunday night. The winner of this thirty-two bike field not only takes home a $2,000 payout but also advances into round five of Pro ET competition for a chance at a second win and a potential $7,000 payout for the weekend.

MPS Racing Pro ET
The MPS Racing Pro ET points leader, Jimmie Miller, is coming off a win and looking to build on that momentum as he leads the point chase by a mere twenty points. There are still a lot of racers that can grab the championship in this class, but they will need to turn on a lot of green lights next weekend to firm up their chances before the season comes to a close next month back at Maryland International Raceway.

Brock’s Performance Street ET
The Brock’s Performance Street ET class is a tight race at the top of the leader board, with only twenty points separating Mark Blake and Derrick Milbourne. But even though they sit at the top, the top twenty racers still have a chance at a 2022 championship. Anyone can win on Sunday! New racers are welcome at all XDA events; come out and learn how to drag race with us next weekend!

The XDA will also hold competition in the Saturday VooDoo Bracket Bash and Friday night Hard Times Parts & Service Gambler’s race giving sportsman racers another $9,300 in payouts to be earned over the weekend.

Load up and head out to Virginia Motorsports Park in one week for an exciting weekend of motorcycle drag racing action. This will be our last time at VMP this season; you don’t want to miss the best motorcycle drag racing show on the east coast. Gates open on Friday at 8am, and the action doesn’t stop until Sunday night!

Visit www.xdaracing.com for event information, class rules, schedule, and more.

About XDA Racing
The Xtreme Dragbike Association (XDA) is an east coast motorcycle drag racing series with 700+ motorcycle racers competing at each event. Every XDA event hosts professional classes, sportsman classes, grudge racing and a vendor midway. Lifestyle activities such as bike shows, bikini contests, DJ and live bands are also held at select events. For more information on the XDA, please visit www.xdaracing.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @xdaracing

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Jul 23

Bandit’s Salt Torpedo: Prepping for Bonneville 2022

By General Posts


Chapter 25 of latest Bonneville Effort by 5-Ball Racing
by Bandit

Getting Ready for the Salt
We’re beginning to prep the Salt Torpedo for the BMST event from August 27 until September 2 in Bonneville, Utah on 65-square miles of salt.

This event will take place just a couple of weeks after the historic Bonneville Speed Trials for everything on wheels. The BMST was developed by Dennis Manning solely for us grubby bikers.

I had to dig up and test various chain hoists and trolly apparatus to work with our new gantry in Sturgis, South Dakota.
–Bandit

CLICK HERE To Read this Photo Feature. Latest Action from 5-Ball Racing.

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Check Out 5-Ball Racing success & build your own Land Speed record (click here)

How to Build a Bonneville Salt Flats Motorcycle documents the construction of “The Worlds Fastest Panhead”

Jul 19

AFT FTR750: Indian Motorcycle crushes competition at Port Royal

By General Posts

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE RACING CRUSHES THE COMPETITION AT THE PORT ROYAL HALF-MILE
WITH BAUMAN, VANDERKOOI AND MEES SWEEPING THE PODIUM FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE WEEKEND

Win Marks Briar Bauman’s Third of the Season and Closes Championship Chase to 8-points

Jarod Vanderkooi Continues to Impress with Back-to-Back Second-Place Finishes

Minneapolis, MN. (July 18, 2022) – Indian Motorcycle Racing, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, had another outstanding night of racing at the Port Royal Half-Mile in Port Royal, Pennsylvania, with Briar Bauman riding unchallenged throughout the 26-lap Mission SuperTwins Main Event to claim his second consecutive victory. In another FTR750 podium sweep, Bauman was joined by privateer Jarod Vanderkooi in second and current points leader, Jared Mees, taking third.

In the main event, Bauman was swift off the starting line, getting the hole shot and an immediate lead over Mees, running close behind in second. Despite early attempts by Mees to overtake him, Bauman remained unphased, opening up a gap on Mees and the rest of the field. Bauman led wire-to-wire, ultimately taking the checkered flag for his third win of the season. Meanwhile, Mees was entangled in a heated battle with Vanderkooi for second. With less than a minute and two-laps remaining, Vanderkooi made a bold move, taking the higher outside line to pass Mees and secure his second-place spot on the podium.

“Tonight was another incredible night of racing and a testament to the talent and grit of our riders. Considering the restrictions that have recently been imposed on the FTR750, it’s all the more gratifying to sweep the podium for the second consecutive weekend,” said Gary Gray, Vice President Racing, Service & Technology for Indian Motorcycle. “Briar’s [Bauman] incredible will has been on display at these past two events, and as a result, he’s back in the hunt as the battle for the championship tightens. It’s looking to be an absolute dogfight over the remainder of the season.”

Mees continues to lead the championship with 173 points, while Bauman now sits solidly in second place trailing by a mere eight points.

In addition to the incredible racing action, the night was filled with emotion for Bauman and the entire paddock, following the tragic loss of a fellow racer, Ryan Varnes, at the recent New York Short Track. Bauman paid tribute to Varnes throughout his winning night, memorializing Varnes’ by donning his number 68 and including Varnes’ girlfriend, Jennifer Hoshauer, with him on his victory lap.

The 2022 AFT season will continue on Saturday, July 30 at the Peoria TT in Peoria, IL.

Sponsors for Indian Motorcycle Racing’s American Flat Track efforts include Progressive Insurance, S&S®, Indian Motorcycle Oil, Mission Foods, Bell Helmets, Drag Specialties and Parts Unlimited.

For more information on Indian Motorcycle Racing, visit IndianMotorcycle.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT INDIAN MOTORCYCLE® : Indian Motorcycle is America’s First Motorcycle Company®. Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycle has won the hearts of motorcyclists around the world and earned distinction as one of America’s most legendary and iconic brands through unrivaled racing dominance, engineering prowess and countless innovations and industry firsts. Today that heritage and passion is reignited under new brand stewardship. To learn more, please visit www.indianmotorcycle.com

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Did you know Bikernet.com Facebook Page has over 10,000 Followers. Check us out by Clicking HERE. Your Feed in Your Control – on our Bikernet.com Official Facebook Page. Stay updated on our Bonneville Racing Project as well !!!

Oct 05

World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer

By General Posts

Valerie on 5-Ball Racing Panhead built by Keith Ball

Valerie Thompson is the World’s Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer and a 10x land speed record holder with membership in the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame as well as eight 200 MPH Clubs and one 300 MPH Club.

She is consistently ranked as one of the World’s Top 10 Fastest Motorcycle Racers.

“The first time I raced at Bonneville, there were only 3 other female competitors, so we really stood out. A lot of people didn’t take me seriously until I established myself as a serious competitor capable of breaking records.” – Valerie Thompson

“I collected my first two records with team owner Keith Ball, who had a lot of faith in me and provided my first two record rides at Bonneville. Now I have Denis Manning, designer of the BUB 7 streamliner and AMA Hall of Fame member, as a mentor and team director.” – Valerie Thompson

Racing the BUB 7 during the 2018 Dry Lake Racers Australia (DLRA) Speed Week competition at Lake Gairdner, she set a new speed record of 328.467 mph (528.616 km/h) to become Australia’s fastest female streamliner motorcycle racer.

2022 Will Be a Busy Year on the Salt for Valerie.

Click Here to Read a Feature Article on Valerie on Bikernet.com

Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today.

Click To See the book on Building the Salt Shaker – a Panhead on which Valerie set her First Speed Record. “The Worlds Fastest Panhead ” by 5-Ball Racing Team.

Sep 16

Harley-Davidson XL Sportster 1957 & the OHV Engine

By General Posts

The XL commonly known as the Sportster.

The original XL Sportster used a lot of parts from the previous K Model, but the real revelation was its new OHV engine. Harley-Davidson was aware of the interest of buyers in customizing.

While the humble XL Sportster had made an impact of sorts upon its initial release in 1957, it was the continual evolution of this lighter-weight V-twin engine that cemented it as a staple in the Harley-Davidson range.

It has truly helped instill the Harley-Davidson name in motorcycle history.

Click Here to Read this Feature Article on Bikernet.com

Join the Cantina for more – Subscribe Today.

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