Sons of Speed 2023 has started Bike Week Off With Record Attendance
Sons of Speed has always been an enjoyable event for me to attend and cover. I really like that people have taken the time to keep these classic motorcycles running and even more to the point, actually racing them. This event is exploding.
I am not the only one who feels that way, the event was packed. Attendance was up and so were the new classes and number of riders racing.
AHDRA All-American motorcycle drag racing is bringing their big-time nitro Harley show to reborn Milan Dragway on July 29-31.
event: AHDRA Southern Michigan Bike Fest when: July 29-31, 2022 where: Milan Dragway, Michigan, USA
The Southern Michigan Bike Fest will see Top Fuel Harleys, Nitro Funnybikes, Pro Fuel, all the gas classes, and even the return of Jr. Dragbikes! Everything a motorcycle lover would want to see, hear and smell will be thundering down Milan’s quarter mile. Feeling racy? You too can thunder your own American-made motorcycle at Milan during the Bike Fest!
It’s been a minute since AHDRA’s weeper-shortened, season-opening Don “DJ” Johnson Nitro Spring Nationals sponsored by MTC and Gainesville Harley-Davidson, and Top Fuel Champion Ryan Peery will be anxious to notch a win and defend his title.
2020 champ Rich Vreeland will seek to regain his title-winning form, and will be joined by “Billy Jack” Jackson, Robert “Ziggy” Stewart, Bad Apple Racing’s Tracy Kile and Dr. Jimmy “Mac” McMillin, and more.
Hawaya Racing Nitro Funnybike champion Michael Balch loves making winning laps on his mean machine. Chris Smith loves doing the same on Peery’s always stout “Big Nasty.” But Smith fractured his thumb in Bowling Green and won’t be racing at Milan. Balch will still have Sam White and Rocky Jackson to deal with, amongst others.
White and Jackson also have Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel carbureted nitro mounts to ride, along with Jim Martin, Jason Leeper and a growing horde of others.
Leeper also is the defending 11.50 index champ. He and his son Jordan race multiple gasoline classes, which form the backbone of AHDRA.
Pingel Modified, GMS Racing Engines Xtreme Outlaw, V-Twin Powersports Hot Rod Bagger, Super Stock Bagger, Horsepower Inc. Pro Outlaw Bagger, MTC Pro Comp Outlaw, Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson Super Gas 9.90, Super Pro 10.30, Universal Fleet & Tire 10.90, Eliminator, Top Eliminator 9.30, Zippers Performance Pro Modified and Trophy classes will all be competing.
Scott Tomsu, Timothy Whitehead, Chuck Ragan, Reggie “Hamma” Elliott, Julius DeManss, Victor Gotay, Donnie Huffman, Gary Degrange, Michael McManus, Kimberly DeShields, Crosby Blair, Charley and Gary Douglass, Dwayne “Smokey” Gee, Greg Quinn, Shane Pendergrast, Jeff Workman, Ken Strauss, Brad Reiss Jr., Robert Willis, Michael Best, Nathan Thayer, Nate Carnahan, Loren Potter and more will enter one or more of these classes, and you can too!
Bringyour own Harley or Indian, along with proper safety gear, and test your skills on the Milan 1320.
Recently reborn itself, AHDRA can’t wait to put on a show at the “New” Milan Dragway. Bill Rowe and his family welcome the whole AHDRA community of racers and fans to the Southern Michigan Bike Fest.
Link to all class rules, including Jr. Dragbike (Click Here)
Test and Tune from 5:00-9:00 pm on Friday, gates open at 10:00am
Qualifying begins at 1:00pm on Saturday, gates open at 8:00am
Raceday opening ceremonies at 11:00 am Sunday, gates open at 8:00am
Admission is $25 per day, $45 for a 2 day pass, or $55 for all 3 days
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.
This report was prepared by Tim Hailey. Enjoy everything there is to read, see and watch about motorcycle drag racing and more at https://www.eatmyink.com ;
Bagger Racing League Partners with FITE for exclusive Live Viewing of First-ever Drag Specialties Battle of the Baggers.
Tune in to Bagger Racing League™ Utah, Sunday June 27th, and watch Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycles Battle
Durango, CO (June 9, 2021) – Race fans and riders alike can tune in live to the first-ever Bagger Racing League, featuring five unique races, most of which are the first of their kind. BRL is proud to partner with the premier pay-per-view provider FITE to broadcast the first ever BRL Sunday, June 27th at 3:00 pm EDT.
For just $14.99, viewers can watch all the action live and be a witness to motorcycle history in the making. With five epic classes and over 50 riders from across the globe the Harley-Davidson and Indian fight for racing dominance will be seen at every level live on FITE. Order here.
“I am ready to see the score settled between Harley and Indian!” announced BRL founder, Rob Buydos.
Drag Specialties Battle of the Baggers Bagger Racing League™ Round 1 takes place at Utah Motorsports Complex, June 25–27, in Salt Lake City. Tickets, hotel packages, camping and VIP experiences for Drag Specialties Battle of the Baggers are available now at www.BaggerRacingLeague.com.
“FITE fans have really embraced the motorsports we’ve offered,” said FITE COO, Michael Weber. “Battle of the Baggers is another exciting inaugural event for us that we feel will appeal to existing and new fans with some of the top riders in the field competing.”
Each round will be a 3-day event, featuring the world’s largest V-Twin vendor village at a road racetrack, stunt shows, camping, the Arlen Ness Custom Bike Show and much more. Drag Specialties Battle of the Baggers will broadcast live through FITE and will feature a live audience and announcing.
An action-packed highlight video of what to expect from Bagger Racing League can be viewed here: youtu.be/EsNBJW7dk8I.
Drag Specialties Battle of the Baggers Bagger Racing League™ will feature 5 classes of racing, making this accessible to all riders that have put in track time, not just pro-racers:
Class 1 Hooligan GP presented by Icon: Includes American V-twin inspired platforms.
Class 2 Big Twin GP presented by NAMZ: Includes any American large-displacement big twin.
Class 3 Pro-Stock Bagger GP presented by Metzeler Tires: Includes Harley-Davidson or Indian with fairing and saddlebags to qualify
Class 4 Stunt GP presented by Lucas Oil: Invitational. Invited entrants compete in a judged stunt competition Friday night, then take their bike to the track for qualifying on Saturday and the main event on Sunday.
Class 5 BRL’s premier Bagger GP presented by Custom Dynamics: Harley-Davidson and Indian touring bikes duke it out in a fight for dominance.
In addition to the excitement around the Harley-Davidson – Indian Motorcycle rivalry, featuring Tyler O’Hara on an Indian and Ben Bostrom on a Harley-Davidson in the Premiere Bagger GP Class, Bagger Racing League history will be made with the first female racer in a Bagger GP, featuring Patricia Hernandez riding for Saddlemen racing.
“With all the experience that FITE has, they are the perfect partner for the Bagger Racing League,” said Bagger Racing League COO, John M. Oakes. “The excitement of the first race will be history in the making.”
Bagger Racing League has united Harley-Davidson aftermarket parts companies from across the world, including: 31 State, Beringer Brakes, Bridgestone Tires, Continental Tires, Custom Dynamics, CVRD Canopies, Drag Specialities, Dream Rides, Dunlop Tires, Eric Herrmann, Icon, Kicker, Klock Werks, Kraus Motor Company, LA Choppers, Legends Suspensions, LePera Seats, Lucas Oil, Lucky Speed Shop, Metzeler Tires, Moto United, NAMZ, Optimate, Rider Justice, SMT Wheels and Sturgis Buffalo Chip.
Companies, brands and shops building bikes competing in the premier Bagger Racing League Bagger Premier GP presented by Custom Dynamics include: Alloy Art, Barnett, Bassani, Feuling Parts, Performance Machine, Pistol Pete Custom Cycles, Saddlemen, Slyfox, S&S Cycles, The Speed Merchant and Trask Performance.
Harley-Davidson Dealerships from across the country are fielding teams including:
Bumpus Harley-Davidson of Memphis
Durango Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson of Yuba City
Iron Steed Harley-Davidson
Las Vegas Harley-Davidson
Quaid Harley-Davidson
Suburban Motors Harley-Davidson
Timbertown Harley-Davidson
Zion Harley-Davidson
Registered teams include
Blakline Speed Shop
Collective PHX & Leading Edge V-Twin
Fab 28 Industries
Hofmann Designs
Kruesi Originals
Miller Built Performance Cycles
My Garage – Ventura
Ramjet Racing
RPM & Arlen Ness
Speed Kings Cycle
Team Dream Rides
The Chopper Place
The Warrior Built Foundation
TOL Designs
Tucker Speed
Drag Specialities Battle of the Baggers, Bagger Racing League™ Round 1 will take place June 25–27, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah, at Utah Motorsports Complex. Get your tickets, hotel packages, camping and VIP experiences and more at www.BaggerRacingLeague.com.
About FITE: FITE is the premier global platform for live sports and entertainment offering many of the industry’s marquee PPV events and SVOD packages with over 4.6MM registered users. FITE is available worldwide through its iOS and Android mobile apps, Apple TV, Android TV, ROKU, Amazon Fire TV and Huawei apps. In addition, FITE supports Samsung, LG, Cox Contour, Vizio SmartCast™, Foxxum, Chromecast, PS4, XBOX, ZEASN, Netrange, Vidaa/Hisense, VEWD, Netgem TV, Virgin Media, Comcast’s Xfinity 1 and Xfinity Flex as well as 7,000 models of Smart TVs. Available online at www.FITE.tv. Follow FITE on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. If it Happens, it’s on FITE.
Mile-long burnout video that broke Instagram | Bagger Racing League Competitor C-Bear:
Later this month Brad Binder will become the fifth South African rider in the history Grand Prix motorcycle racing’s elite class, here we look at those that went before.
Formerly classified as the 500cc class before it was transformed to MotoGP, Grand Prix motorcycle racing has not been an environment inhabited by South Africans very often.
Before 2020, just four South African riders had made it into the elite class with all three competing during the 500cc era.
SA riders in Grand Prix motorcycle racing’s elite class
Here we will only look at riders who have reached either the 500cc class or MotoGP.
1 Paddy Driver
The first South African to reach the premier class, Driver competed on the Grand Prix motorcycle racing circuit from 1959 to 1965. His best result came in his final year on the circuit when he rode a Matchless to a third-place finish in the 500cc world championship behind Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini.
Having lined up in two Formula One Grand Prix Driver is part of a very small club of men who have raced in both the Grand Prix motorcycle World Championship and Formula One. That group also includes legends John Surtees, Mike Hailwood and Johnny Cecotto.
2 Alan North
North made his Grand Prix motorcycle racing in the elite class when in the 1975 season riding for Yamaha.
The Durban-born racer spent three seasons in the 500cc class scoring nine world championship points in that time. He won his only Grand Prix race in 1977 when he claimed the 350 cc 1977 Nations Grand Prix at Imola
SA riders in Grand Prix motorcycle racing’s elite class
Prior to Brad Binder’s 2016 Moto3 championship, Ekerold was the last South African to win a world title in Grand Prix motrocycle racing claiming the 1980 350cc championship as a privateer. Without the benefit of a motorcycle manufacturer’s support Ekerold defeated Kawasaki factory racing team rider Anton Mang to win world championship.
Ekerold appeared on the 500cc circuit in three seasons, racing in eight Grand Prix in the elite class.
His best race finish in the 500cc class came in his debut on the elite division’s grid in the 1976 Isle of Man TT where he placed sixth.
4 Kork Ballington
A contemporary of Ekerold, Hugh Neville “Kork” Ballington was born in what would become Harare in Zimbabwe but raced under the South African flag winning four Grand Prix motorcycle World Championships.
Ballington raced in the elite class in three seasons including the 1982 season when both he and Ekerold raced in the elite class. That would be the last time until 2020 that a South African rider took up a place on the grid in the elite class.
He finished on the podium twice in the 1981 season claiming third place at both the Dutch TT and the Finish Grand Prix.
In 1978 and 1979 Ballington won both the 250cc and 350cc championships, making him the most successful South African rider in terms of championships on the circuit.
5 Brad Binder
The 2016 Moto3 champion makes the step up to MotoGP as South Africa’s first representative at the pinnacle of Grand Prix motorcycle racing since the 1980s.
Binder’s younger brother Darryn is also a racer and joined Red Bull KTM’s Moto3 team in 2018.
The MotoGP season gets underway in Jerez later this month and will see Binder compete for Red Bull KTM alongside the best riders in the world. He will be the first South African rider to compete in the championship since it became the MotoGP.
