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Mar 25
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AHDRA Opens Motorcycle Drag Racing Season at North Florida

By General Posts

event: AMA/AHDRA Don “DJ” Johnson Spring Nationals
when: March 17-19, 2023
where: North Florida Motorplex, Fountain, USA

The AMA/AHDRA All-American motorcycle drag racing series opened the 2023 season with the Don “DJ” Johnson Spring Nationals presented by MTC Engineering at Fountain, Florida’s eighth mile North Florida Motorplex.

While all gasoline classes ran to completion, Top Fuel and Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel will finish at the next event in Rockingham after a series of shutdown area incidents were a cause of concern for AHDRA’s Bill Rowe.

The deciding moment was when “Jimmy Mac” McMillan ran off the end of the track in his Top Fuel semi, skipped completely over the sand trap and into the woods when his throttle stuck partially open and his chute failed to deploy. McMillan suffered two broken vertebrae and two broken ribs in the accident.

Waiting at the ready line was 2021 champ Ryan Peery for a bye to the final. Peery had his own shutdown drama in the first round of qualifying when his front tire exploded as soon as he touched the brake. His chute also didn’t deploy and Ryan dug deep into the sand.

Peery will face current champ Tracy Kile—who thundered away to an advantage that he held to the stripe for a 4.25 to 4.38 win against McMillan—when the final is run at The Rock.

The Hawaya Racing Pro Fuel final will also run at Rockingham, with champion Sam White facing “Bad Apple Mary” Dangrow. White’s 4.61 against Jason Leeper gave him lane choice against Mary, who ran 4.91 while beating her teammate Walter Halonski.

Nitro Funnybike was able to run to completion, as champion Michael Balch never had an opponent that could fire the bike and stage.

“It was a good weekend for me and a good weekend for the AHDRA,” said Balch. “There were some great looking and well-running machines there, there was just not a big turnout in my class.

“Nitro is an expensive class to run and it was a far drive for most, so I can understand the turnout. Diesel is expensive. But make no mistake—no matter how far the race is, my team will be there. You will not beat me while sitting home watching (videos on the internet.)

“My crew was there, all hands on deck. My crew chief Steve Rominski worked closely with my mentor John Red Rhea and Eli mixed the fuel to the percentage they deemed necessary. The tune-up was great but we did battle an air leak this weekend.”

Still, the team Autolite/Millenium Industrial Services Nitro Funnybike went home with a win. “The other Funnybike that was there broke in the water box, so it was an easy win for us. I would much rather have stiff competition and compete, but I feel we can and will win every event.

“We broke the intake scoop in the last qualifying round and Jay Turner Racing was nice enough to loan me one so I could continue racing. I truly appreciate the sportsmanship.

“It was a scary ending with my good friend and a man that I look up to, Jimmy Mac, going off the track. But that man is a gladiator and a warrior and I have faith that he will heal up 100% and be back as soon as he can be.

“I thank my sponsors, the track photographers, Billy Rowe and the entire AHDRA staff. Also the crew at North Florida Motorplex for doing a fantastic job, and I look forward to the next race.”

There were a few classes that seemed to be starting too early in the spring for some competitors to be ready, including GMS Racing Engines Xtreme Outlaw. Mike Motto turned the event into his own record-setting session, shattering the eighth mile, no-bar, street tire Harley-Davidson record but falling short of the 4 second pass he was looking for.

“Our goal was to set another record,” said Motto. “We reset the eighth mile record on Saturday with a 5.06 at 146 mph. Then Sunday we had a slightly better track and reset the record again at 5.03 at 147.

“What a weekend for the season opener. Despite Mother Nature (cold, cloudy, windy weather) we got it done! We will be in Rockingham next to see if we can better what we have started.

“I want to thank everyone at GMS Racing Engines. Not only have we developed great friendships but we have put together the GMS Racing Team, which will be unstoppable!

“Gregg (Dahl of GMS) said I rode like an animal, but that’s because Gregg and Damon gave me a BEAST to ride! Every single person at GMS has contributed to this project and I would like to thank them all.

“Also I would like to shout-out to the others who help make this machine what it is. Thank you Energy One Clutches, R&D Racing Transmissions, Renegade Fuels, NGK spark plugs, Bandit Belt Drives, and MTC Engineering.

“Most of all we had a couple friends go down this weekend, so let’s keep them in our prayers for a speedy recovery. See you all at the races!”

In addition to McMillan’s injuries, John Cabral wheelied over backwards on his turbo Bagger during qualifying. Cabral was back at the track on raceday with no broken bones.

Motto’s GMS teammate (and brother-in-law) Chris Hoppe won Zippers Performance Pro Modified handily as final round opponent Kimberly “K-Charm” Deshields is learning her way around her Pro Mod bike. Hoppe thanked GMS Racing Engines.

2022 Pingel Modified champion Deshields raced her way unopposed to the winners circle of the brand new Axtell Cylinders Super Modified class.

Pingel Modified fared a little better, and saw Kentuckian Jeff Workman take out Nate “St. Patrick’s Day” Carnahan. Workman’s .132 light was enough despite Carnahan’s .056 as Jeff put up a 6.14 to Nate’s 6.28.

“Everyone was struggling to find the right tune and traction for the conditions we were in,” said Workman. “I got lucky on this one to hit the better tune.

“Like to give thanks to Powermist Racing Fuel for their continuing support, DBR Fabrication for an amazing frame and exhaust, and Pingel for sponsoring the Modified class.”

Tim Whitehead and AHDRA champion Scott Tomsu shared the bagger bounty at North Florida, with Tomsu beating Whitehead in the Pro Bagger final and Whitehead reversing the outcome in the Bagger Streetbike final.

Tomsu ceded the tree by .039 to Whitehead in the Pro Bagger final, but drove around for the win. “Took home a first and a second in the bagger classes on my foot-shift bike while tweaking on the new turbo bike (pictured). It (the turbo) is going to be a rocket when we get it where we want.

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“I want to thank my sponsors—STFU Motorcycles, Ward Performance, Gardner Racing Concepts, Lyndall Brakes, and all my supporters in the STFU Crue.”

Whitehead bit back in Bagger Streetbike, despite once again getting left on (.162 to .214 ) by Tomsu. This time Whitehead drove around, taking the win with a 7.37 at 98.21 to Tomsu’s 8.46 at 80.16.

“Wow, what a weekend!” said Whitehead. “I was in four different classes and took third in Eliminator ET, runner-up in Pro Bagger, and won Bagger Street.

“Was in the Street finals with Scott, who has a really fast bagger. STFU had a little trouble and I was able to make an A-B pass for the win.

“This is my second year running AHDRA. I was runner-up in Hot Rod Bagger in 2022, so to start the season off with a win is pretty dad-gum amazing!

“I’d like to thank the good Lord above for watching over all of us, my mom and dad, and rest of my family and friends for all the support.

“Also Area 51 Customs, Cherry&Irwin Trial Lawyers, Renegade Virtual Trade, The Glass Doctor, #itsallgood, Xtreme Shotz Productions—XSP, and Harley-Davidson of Dothan.

“I dedicate this win to my late grandmother ‘Mama Bobbie’ that we lost last June. Never give up on your dreams and always stay humble!”

Ken Strauss’ .014 starting line advantage was enough to push Chris Hoppe out the back door in a double breakout 5.95 Top Eliminator race.

Brian Harris seemed to have Super Pro 6.60 in hand until he crossed the centerline against Mike McManus.

“Luck of the Irish on St. Patricks Day racing weekend,” said McManus. “I got lucky every round!

“My bike runs low 6 seconds, so trying to slow down to 6.60 is really hard. So first round I won ‘cause my opponent had a motor or shift issue. I went 8.99 at like 48 mph in the semi’s but got lucky again. My opponent broke out with a 6.599 on my 6.70ish —wow could not believe it!

“So on to the the finals. I get lane choice and take left lane. So my opponent gets the winlight, but as he is chicken winging me he crossed centerline and takes out the eighth mile cone and MPH cone, gets DQed and I get the win. Wow, luck of the Irish weekend!

“I want to thank Eatmyink, 41 Performance, Mac Tools, and St. Patrick!”

AHDRA champion Brad Croneberger nailed a 7.02 to 7.10 against Casey Smith in the Universal Fleet and Tire 7.00 Pro Eliminator final. “Spun the tire leaving and couldn’t make the distance up,” reported Smith.

“It was a real challenging race weekend with the changing weather conditions,” said Croneberger. “The cold and the strong tailwind made it real difficult to stay in the index all weekend.

“Then they had some issues with the qualifying, so we ended up having to draw chips for first round matchups and right off the bat I had to race Chris Phipps—who I usually end up racing in the finals.

“Then things didn’t get any easier, and I had to race Bryce Creek followed by Donnie Huffman—always a tough matchup. Then to top it all off I had to race Casey Smith in the finals, and it seemed like he was in every final this weekend, so it was a very difficult road to get this win.

“Would like to thank North Florida Motorplex for giving us a top notch facility to race at. It’s a long drive from Pennsylvania, but definitely worth it to race here.

“Also Bill and Chrissy Rowe for putting on top notch events, my dad for helping me make some repairs to the bike in the off-season, and last but not least—my wife for helping get to the race and helping out at it.”

While Smith didn’t win that 7.00 Pro Eliminator final, he did pretty well elsewhere after deciding to make the trip to Fountain from Macon, Georgia, at beyond the very last minute.

“I was in the shop working on some customers bikes and got a call that they didn’t finish qualifiers on Saturday,” said Smith. “So per the rules, I called Bill Rowe and asked if I could still get in the runs on Sunday morning. He said ‘Yes sir, registration is still open. We start at 11:00am.’ So I finished the shop work and packed up to head south. Drove all night and got to the track about 7:00am. All I can say is some people just love racing!

“Signed up for four classes and then went to work. Made one small change after two passes and dialed her in.”

His .041 light against Chris Phipps’ .146 set the stage for Phipps to go way too quick in a double breakout, 7.35 Super Eliminator final.

“In Super Eliminator I faced Chris Phipps in the finals. I cut a better light and we had an awesome race looking at each other all the way. Straight up whack-fest, double breakout. He just went a little more than I did past the index.”

Smith caught a break in Saturday’s Eliminator, leaving .022 after final round opponent Chris Ussery, who’s transmission then broke and allowed Smith to drive around.

“Was able to win the Eliminator class racing against some awesome competitors, including 2022 Eliminator champ Chris Ussery in the finals,” said Smith. “Great race.

“I do a lot alone at the track, but the guys in the background that make it possible are Chad Hart at XLXBHORSEPOWER and the guys at Harley-Davidson of Macon making sure I got all the parts I need.

“GEN2 Smith Racing starting off the year the right way. Long way to go ahead of us.”

Racin’ Ray Robinson raced his short wheelbase, bucking Buell to the Sunday Eliminator win, beating the great Donnie Huffman when Donnie had an uncharacteristically bad reaction time.

“I would like to thank AHDRA for putting on a good race weekend despite the weather and accidents,” said Robinson, who sadly is adding a swingarm and shock to his handful Buell. “And to my crew at Universal Fleet and Tire—couldn’t have won the ET class without all their help and motivation. And to my family, thanks for supporting me while I chase my dreams. Love y’all!”

Huffman my have blown the race against Robinson, but delivered for the win against AHDRA champion Cody Hayworth in Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson 6.35. Huffman put a killer .019 light up against Hayworth’s .158 and stayed close to the index with a 6.38

“It was freaking cold, I was ready to go back to Florida,” laughed Huffman.

Michael Hines Jr. took the tree .022 to .203 against his brother Jaden to set up the Junior Dragbikes win, running 9.96 to Jaden’s 10.56.

“Michael broke into the 9s for the first time ever,” said proud dad Michael Sr. “And all day Sunday, he was so happy!

“They loved seeing all the big bikes, and they got to meet Tii Thorpe this weekend. They loved that too. Can’t wait for The Rock in April!”

That’s right, AHDRA’s next stop is the brand new, but still legendary, Rockingham Dragway—the spiritual home of Nitro Harley drag racing. Bill and Chrissy Rowe can’t wait to welcome the AHDRA family back to The Rock on April 28-30.

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

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

AMA/AHDRA thanks Vreeland’s 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.

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 ;

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Get inspired by World’s Fastest Panhead book for upcoming Bonneville Salt Flats Land Speed records this season !!! Click to view the all-new 5-Ball Racing Shop.

 

Mar 20
Love0

A Breakthrough Top-Five Finish for Monster Energy rider Chris Blose

By General Posts

A Breakthrough Top-Five Finish for Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Chris Blose

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (March 19, 2023) – The Motown music echoed through snowy streets as Monster Energy® Supercross raced into the Motor City for Detroit SX, Round 10 of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship. In the 250SX Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider Chris Blose led the Team Green® charge with his first top-five result of the season. In the 450SX Class, Adam Cianciarulo led laps early in the Main Event until mid-race adversity relegated him and his Monster Energy Kawasaki teammate Jason Anderson to eighth and ninth place at the checkered flag.

The opening laps of the first free practice session revealed that the Detroit SX track was set to give the top riders in the world all they could handle. The sharp whoop section and abundance of tight switchback turns proved further complicated by the unique terrain of deep ruts and a hard packed base layer. Blose was quick to assert his competence in the whoops as he mastered the most challenging section of the track and began to rival near the top of the leaderboard. In the final qualification session, Blose executed the track with precision and strung together several race simulated laps to log the seventh fastest lap time of the morning (53.393).

At the start of 250SX Heat 2, Blose emerged from the first turn in fifth with his sight set forward until an early-race mistake shuffled him back to eighth place. Blose regrouped by the end of Lap 2 and began to work his way up the running order. With superior whoop speed and consistent laps, the No.57 Kawasaki KX™250 rider overtook his rivals in rapid succession. Blose advanced through the field to challenge for fourth on the final lap before securing a fifth-place place result and earning a direct transfer to the Main Event.

When the gate dropped for the 250SX Main Event, Blose again launched out to a fifth-place start and quickly found his rhythm. With the championship points leaders ahead, Blose latched onto the pace of the front group and began to separate himself from the rest of the class. The veteran rider logged steady laps and was one of the few competitors continuing to blitz through the increasingly challenging whoop section in the late stages. With just four laps remaining, a near collision with a lapped rider forced Blose to get hard on his brakes and allowed former two-time MX2 World Champion Tom Vialle to close the distance between them. Blose proved his determination in the closing laps of the race as he fended off the world class pressure and earned his first top-five finish of the 2023 season in impressive fashion.

“The support of the Monster Energy®/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team has been awesome as we’ve focused on building with each week of racing. I’ve improved my main event finish by one position at each of the last three races, so I’d say that process has been going really well. It was great to break into the top-five and show the hard work of this whole squad. Now, with a few weeks to prepare for Atlanta, we should be even more ready to challenge at the front of the pack.” – Chris Blose

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The Monster Energy® Kawasaki duo of Anderson and Cianciarulo took to the track with a clear purpose for the opening 450SX Free Practice as they quickly dialed in the course and began experimenting with alternate rhythms. As the qualification sessions progressed, both Kawasaki KX™450SR riders honed in on the ideal racing line and ramped up their intensity. Anderson, the second fastest qualifier of the morning (51.491), was edged out for pole position by less than a tenth of a second, and Cianciarulo followed close on his heels with the fourth fastest lap (51.927).

When the gate dropped for 450SX Heat 1, Anderson rocketed out to the holeshot and immediately extended a gap from the field by tripling through the opening section. Cianciarulo emerged from the first turn in ninth but thrilled the crowd as he made quick work of the competition and passed his way into third before the end of the second lap. While Cianciarulo continued his pursuit of second place, Anderson set sail out front to lead every lap of the race and secure a commanding heat race win; the 33rd 450SX Heat Win of his career. Cianciarulo’s charge through the pack earned him third at the finish.

The Kawasaki duo lined up for the 450SX Main Event with first gate pick for the No. 21 of Anderson. When the gate dropped, the KX™450SR was out to the early lead, but this time it was Cianciarulo at the tip of the spear. The No.9 Kawasaki rider commanded the start of the race with the championship contenders all hot on his trail. Anderson, racing ahead from an eighth-place start, was pushing the pack forward while Cianciarulo fought to defend his lead. The intensity of the front battle increased and Cianciarulo was shuffled to sixth on Lap 4. Cianciarulo and Anderson matched pace for several laps in sixth and seventh until Anderson crashed exiting the whoop section and dropped back to 10th. Meanwhile, Cianciarulo was pushing his way forward and inching back into contention for the top-five battle until he too made a mistake and crashed over the rutted step-on-step-off section. The Monster Energy® Kawasaki teammates both continued to charge to the finish and reclaimed positions late in the race for respective eighth and ninth place finishes at the checkered flag.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m a little frustrated about my fall in the Main Event, but there are so many positives to focus on from the day that I know we’re making progress. This dirt was tricky to find comfort on, but I had a solid run in qualifying this morning and backed it up with a good ride in the Heat Race. In the Main, I led some laps early and, once I settled in behind Kenny (Roczen), I was able to stay right there with those guys. Unfortunately, that one mistake cost me a few positions, but we’ll focus forward to Seattle and aim to tie it at all together.” – Adam Cianciarulo

“My day started out strong with good times in qualifying and I knew my KX™450SR was in a good spot to be competitive on this track. I grabbed the holeshot in my Heat Race and led start to finish, so the goal was to carry that into the Main Event. I started a little further back in the top 10 and then, while trying to battle my way forward, I got close with Adam in the whoops and just lost it. After I got up from the crash everything was pretty tweaked, so I focused on making the most of it and salvaged what I could for a top-10.” – Jason Anderson

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Mar 14
Love0

Indian Motorcycle Racing Leads National Championship

By General Posts

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE RACING LEADS MISSION® SUPER HOOLIGAN® NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOLLOWING SEASON OPENER AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

 2022 Super Hooligan® Champion Tyler O’Hara Takes Early Points Lead Following Back-to-Back Wins At Daytona Doubleheader

 Indian Motorcycle Racing Comes Away with Podium Finish in Mission® King of the Baggers,

O’Hara Ranks Fifth In Season Standings with 21 Points, McWilliams Eighth with 19

 MINNEAPOLIS (MARCH 14, 2023) – Following an offseason that expanded the competitive landscape with new manufacturers lining up for the MotoAmerica® Mission® Super Hooligan® National Championship (SHNC), it was Indian Motorcycle Racing and its factory team claiming the top two spots on the leaderboard, following the season-opening doubleheader at Daytona International Speedway. Piloting a pair of S&S®-built Progressive® Mission® Foods Indian FTRs, reigning SHNC champion Tyler O’Hara and teammate Jeremy McWilliams each left Daytona with a pair of podiums, including back-to-back victories for O’Hara and third and second-place finishes for McWilliams.

On Friday, March 10, O’Hara strategically tailed RSD Indian FTR privateer Bobby Fong for nearly the entire six-lap race. Waiting for the final lap to strike, O’Hara was able to carry more speed through the chicane and go up and around the outside of Fong to capture the season’s first win by .0064 seconds. McWilliams rounded out the podium to complete the Indian FTR podium sweep.

“Bobby was running fast all weekend and gapped me for a period until I was able to make up some ground. The lapper through the chicane definitely played a big role as I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to draft pass him on the finish,” said O’Hara. “But what  a fun race, and for Indian Motorcycle to sweep the podium just shows how impressive this Indian FTR really is.”

Race 2 on Saturday, March 11, was filled with plenty of action. After an early crash caused a red-flag restart, it was a five-rider group at the front of the pack. Pushing hard in the group, KTM rider Andy DeBrino lost his front end and laid his bike down, while Fong encountered a technical issue – making it a three-rider run for first between Harley-Davidson rider Corey West, O’Hara and McWilliams. While West ultimately crossed the finish line first, a post-race bike inspection found an illegal air intake that resulted in a disqualification – awarding O’Hara his second win of the weekend and earning McWilliams a second-place finish.

In the MotoAmerica® Mission® King of the Baggers (KOTB) class, O’Hara reached the podium with a third-place finish in Race 1. While the Indian Challenger had been running fast all weekend, even clocking the weekend’s fastest speed on a bagger at 182 mph, both O’Hara and McWilliams suffered technical issues in Race 2. Indian Motorcycle Racing concluded the opening rounds at Daytona with O’Hara in fifth (21 points) and McWilliams in eighth (19 points) on the season’s leaderboard.

“Our issues this weekend were specifically with our tires, MotoAmerica is a spec tire series, we are only given one choice for tires for Daytona and they failed with our higher speeds after four laps, but our new bikes are performing incredibly well, with a significantly higher level of both handling and power, as evidenced by both our riders registering speeds of more than 180 mph throughout the weekend,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “At the end of the day, the performance of our Indian Challengers, coupled with our success in the Super Hooligan class has us feeling extremely optimistic and incredibly motivated heading into the second round in Atlanta.”

The 2023 KOTB and SHNC seasons continue with Road Atlanta April 21-23. For more information visit MotoAmerica.com.

Indian Motorcycle Racing is presented by Progressive Insurance®, Mission® Foods and Medallia®, with additional support from Indian Motorcycle Motor Oil, S&S®, Parts Unlimited, Drag Specialties®, Performance Finance, and J&P Cycles®.

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

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Mar 11
Love1

World War II Rider Beatrice Shilling, OBE

By General Posts

by Jason Marker from https://www.rideapart.com

With a simple, thimble-shaped washer, this pioneering woman gearhead saved the lives of countless RAF pilots in WWII.

During the Battle of Britain, the Royal Air Force discovered a glaring problem with its Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered fighters—the Hawker Hurricane and the Supermarine Spitfire. See, that generation of Merlin was fitted with dual-choke, updraft carburetors built by the S.U. Carburettor Company Limited. These worked just like your regular updraft carb and were great in level flight. Problem was, you see, that fighter planes don’t spend a lot of time in level flight.

Any negative-G maneuvers, such as pitching the nose down sharply in a dive, would cause the carbs to flood and the engine to cut out. Not exactly what you want in your badass, high-po, Nazi-killing fighter. RAF pilots figured out pretty quickly that they could perform a quick half-roll before diving in an attempt to counteract the flooding, but this only worked so well. It also introduced a delay in the RAF boys’ maneuvers that provided ample opportunity for the fuel-injected Luftwaffe fighters—especially Willie Messerschmitt’s legendary BF109—to either blow up the RAF planes or run for it as the situation allowed.

The RAF needed a solution to this problem, and fast. Enter one Beatrice Shilling.

Humble Beginnings and Early Career
Beatrice Shilling was born on March 8, 1909, in Hampshire, and raised in Surrey. Her parents were butcher Henry Shilling and his wife Annie (née Dulake). She was, by all accounts, a peculiar young girl for her time. She was obsessed with Meccano, a model-building system similar to an Erector Set, and even won a prize in a national Meccano-building contest. She spent her pocket money on tools, knives, and pots of glue, and, the fact that most concerns us here at RideApart, bought her first motorcycle at age 14. From that instant, Shilling knew she wanted to be an engineer.

Shilling left secondary school at 17 and apprenticed under legendary electrical engineer, sister badass, and Women’s Engineering Society founder Margaret Partridge. Partridge, who knew quality when she saw it, encouraged Shilling to pursue further engineering education. Following her mentor’s suggestion, Shilling then enrolled at Victoria University of Manchester where she studied electrical engineering—one of only two women enrolled in the program. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in electrical engineering in 1932 and promptly pursued a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Unfortunately for her, Shilling graduated and entered the workforce in the midst of one of Britain’s worst recessions at that point. She kicked around from job to job, struggling to make ends meet, until she landed a spot as a research assistant at the University of Birmingham. There she worked with Professor GF Mucklow studying forced induction, especially supercharging.

In 1936, Shilling was recruited by the Royal Air Force’s research and development arm, the Royal Aircraft Establishment. Her first job at the RAE was as a technical writer working in the Air Ministry’s technical publications department. Her supervisors quickly realized her talents were wasted writing Spitfire owner’s manuals and pilot checklists, and she was transferred to another department where she did R&D on aircraft engines.

On November 1, 1939, she was promoted to Technical Officer in Charge of Carburetor Research and Development (a job I wouldn’t wish on anyone after years of tinkering with carbs myself) and, eventually, to Principal Technical Officer. It was in that role that Shilling developed the answer to the RAF’s stalling Merlin issue. Before we get to that, though, we have to talk about motorcycles.

Motorcycles and Motorsport
Now, all that airplane stuff is fascinating, but you all are here to read about motorcycles, right? Don’t worry, I got you covered. As I mentioned earlier, Shilling got her first motorcycle, an unnamed two-stroke job, at the tender age of 14. The first thing she did with it was teach herself how to tear down and rebuild the engine. From there she got into modifying her own bikes, and, like any good gearhead, trying to figure out how to make them go faster.

Throughout the 30s, Shilling raced motorcycles while pursuing her engineering degrees and working for the RAE. She and her all-woman—or nearly all-woman, the information is a little sketchy—team campaigned modified Nortons at various tracks throughout England. In 1934, she set a speed record at Brooklands by lapping the track on a Norton M30 with an average speed of 101.85 mph. She was one of the few riders who’d achieved this, and one of only two women—the other being the formidable racer and adventurer Florence Blenkiron.

For this feat, she was granted the British Motorcycle Racing Club’s prestigious Gold Star Award and bragging rights for the rest of her life. There’s also a story that comes up whenever discussing Shilling’s Brooklands lap that she refused to marry her future husband—fellow racer, rider, RAE employee, and RAF bomber pilot George Naylor—until he matched or beat her lap. Apparently, he eventually did, because the couple was married in 1938.

After The War, Shilling and her husband traded in their motorbikes for racing cars and spent some years tear-assing around the U.K. These cars were, of course, heavily modified by Shilling in her home workshop. Throughout the late-40s and early-50s, Shilling and Naylor raced a lightened 1934 Lagonda Rapier and an Austin-Healy Sebring Sprite. In the 60s, they upgraded to an Elva 200 Formula Junior car. They weren’t the best racers on the circuit, but to paraphrase Les Claypool, they never did win no checkered flags but they never did come in last.

Miss Shilling’s Orifice
So, back to Spitfires. The shortcomings of the Merlin’s carbs were well known, and much gnashing of teeth and rending of garments went on among RAF pilots, technicians, and engineers as they tried to fix the problem. As the RAE’s Chief Technical Officer for Carburetor R&D, Shilling was in the perfect position to do something about the flooding Merlin carbs.

She developed a small device—A brass thimble-like affair with a hole in it that eventually evolved into something like a small washer—that restricted fuel flow through the carburetor. This kept the carbs from flooding under negative g-force maneuvers and made sure the boys in the RAF had all the reliable power they needed constantly on tap. Sir Stanley Hooker, head of supercharger development at Rolls-Royce, called it “Miss Shilling’s Orifice” and the name stuck.

While it may sound odd to our ears here in TYooL 2023, Hooker’s name for Shilling’s restrictor plate is a lot more complimentary than other names people, primarily fellow engineers and RAF brass, had for the device. Most of those—Miss Tilly’s Diaphragm, for example—either referenced birth control or found ways to be derisive. The RAF pilots loved the device, however, especially since now they could keep up with the German fighters without the constant risk of falling out of the sky. Miss Shilling’s Orifice, officially called the RAE Restrictor Plate, stayed in use until Bendix developed the pressure carburetor—an early style of throttle body fuel injection—in 1943.

Denouement
For the rest of her life, Beatrice Shilling continued messing around with engines. She retired from the RAE in 1969 and died in 1990 at the age of 81. I could probably write another two or three thousand words about her here, but I’m already pushing it with as long as this story is. There’s so much more to tell about her, and I only scratched the surface.

For example, I glossed over the constant sexism, obstruction, and disrespect she received from colleagues throughout her career. I didn’t get to talk about her work on the Blue Streak Missile, her becoming an Officer of the British Empire (OBE), or a dozen other interesting things about her life. Another time, perhaps.

If you’d like to know more about Beatrice Shilling and her many shining parts (and why wouldn’t you?) you should dig through my sources and follow your nose. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can try to find a copy of her biography Negative Gravity: A Life of Beatrice Shilling written in 2003 by Mathew Freudenberg. It seems to be long out of print and the only copy I found was offered on Amazon for the eye-watering price of $1,227 Yankee dollars. If you can find a cheaper copy of it anywhere, let me know.

Mar 10
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Vance & Hines Contingency Program Valued at Over $170,000

By General Posts

Vance & Hines Announces 2023 Contingency Program Valued at Over $170,000

Santa Fe Springs CA – March 10, 2023 – Vance & Hines today announced its 2023 season contingency support programs for motorcycle racers. The contingency sponsorships, offered in partnership with five, race-sanctioning bodies, has the potential to put over $170,000 in the hands of motorcycle racers in 2023.

The program offers contingency payout funds to riders in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle, MotoAmerica King of the Baggers and Twins Cup, American Flat Track, XDA drag racing as well as the Bagger Racing League. Contingency funds are offered to riders who are top finishers in races or series championships, and who qualify by using Vance & Hines products and services. The total value of the contingency sponsorship program for 2023 is $173,250.

“Racing is the ethos of the Vance & Hines brand,” said Vance & Hines President Mike Kennedy. “These contingency programs are just one of the ways we support racers who compete using our performance products.”

In NHRA Drag Racing, racers who finish first or runner-up using a Vance & Hines four-valve Suzuki motor in each Pro Stock Motorcycle (PSM) race earn payouts, and a shot at a $10,000 bonus for winning the championship. Riders using a Vance & Hines exhaust for their Suzuki motorcycle in PSM also earn a payout for a first or runner-up finish at each event. Total potential payout for NHRA is $34,000. Vance & Hines factory race team riders are not eligible for these contingency payments.

MotoAmerica, the country’s premier motorcycle road racing series, has expanded its slate of King of the Baggers (KOTB) races to seven, double-header events and also includes Twins Cup double-header rounds at seven of their events. Vance & Hines will offer payouts to the top five finishers in each KOTB and Twins Cup race and offers a $5,000 series Championship Bonus in each class as well. Total available payout in MotoAmerica racing is $60,400.

In American Flat Track, Vance & Hines offers funds to the top ten finishers in every SuperTwins and Singles class race. In addition, a $5,000 Championship Bonus is offered in each of these classes. With 18 races on the 2023 schedule, the total potential payout in AFT is $63,100.

The Xtreme Drag Racing Association (XDA) series offers ten classes of racing at five events which run from April through September 2023. Contingency payouts are offered to the top two finishers in each class of each race for using a Vance & Hines exhaust or for head work done by the Vance & Hines Racing Development Center. Potential payout at XDA races is $7,500.

The Bagger Racing League (BRL) has six classes for a variety of production v-twin motorcycles and will host five races at three venues in 2023. Contingency payouts are offered to the top three finishers in each of the six classes for using a Vance & Hines exhaust, air intake or FP4 tuner. Potential payout at BRL races is $8,250.

Specific requirements for earning contingency payouts are managed by each sanctioning body.

Learn more about the company’s history and products at www.vanceandhines.com.

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Mar 10
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Monster Energy Kawasaki at Daytona International Speedway

By General Posts

Monster Energy® Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson Secures Fifth Place Finish at Daytona International Speedway

March 4, 2023 | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona, Florida

Foothill Ranch, Calif. (March 5, 2023) – The iconic Daytona International Speedway played host to the world’s premier supercross racers for Round 8 of the Monster Energy® AMA Supercross Championship where Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jason Anderson secured his third consecutive top-five finish. In the 250SX Class, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Chris Blose displayed an impressive come-from-behind performance to secure a season-best seventh place.

When qualifying sessions began, a motivated Anderson was one of the first riders to hit the Daytona race course. The No.21 KX™450SR rider showed impressive pace while focusing his time on track to explore various lines and generate a sense of how track conditions will deteriorate throughout the day. In the final session, Anderson applied the knowledge gained from earlier in the day to secure the third fastest lap time (1:12.889) in 450SX qualifying.

In 450SX Heat 2, Anderson launched out the gate running in fifth and masterfully moved up to fourth through the first rhythm section. The New Mexico-born rider continued to race forward after taking control of fourth and within two laps was challenging at the front of the field. Anderson then displayed the superior cornering ability of his KX450SR by skillfully executing an inside line pass in Turn 1 to advance into third. The No.21 rode consistent laps until a last-lap pass moved him back to fourth. Despite his best efforts to regain the position, Anderson crossed the line fourth.

As light showers began to fall at the start of the 450SX Main Event, Anderson emerged from the first turn in seventh before quickly advancing to fifth as he reached the infamous Daytona sand. Once in fifth position, Anderson settled into a comfortable pace and steadily extended his advantage over sixth place. As racing progressed, the No.21 momentarily mounted a challenge for fourth but was unable to close in on the competition to attempt a pass and ultimately finished the race in fifth. Anderson’s top-five finish solidifies his hold over fourth place in the championship points standings.

“The track layout this year was nearly identical to the Daytona track we raced on last year, so our bike set up was very similar to last year’s settings. However, this track broke down differently and became a lot deeper, which made it difficult to get comfortable. The rain we had leading up to the Main Event also made the dirt very slick in some spots. I tried my best to adjust to the changing track conditions throughout the race but, to be honest, I just couldn’t get myself in a rhythm. Overall, we still had a solid weekend and earned valuable championship points.”
– Jason Anderson

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As 250SX qualifying began, Blose deployed a calculated plan of attack as he elected to give space between himself and the rest of the field. The open track allowed Blose to locate his preferred lines before attempting a fast lap. Blose’s strategy proved to be beneficial as he improved his lap times with each time on track to log the 10th fastest lap in 250SX qualifying despite the rapidly deteriorating track conditions.

When the gate dropped on 250SX Heat 1, Blose executed a well-timed jump to emerge from the first turn in seventh. Amidst all the chaos of the opening lap, the No.57 KX™250 rider managed to latch onto the rear wheel of the rider ahead and challenge for sixth. Blose’s relentless pressure intimidated the rider ahead, allowing him to gain control of sixth by the midway point. Looking for more, the Arizona native closed in on another competitor as he continued to link together consistent laps. With only a minute of racing left, Blose made the pass for fifth stick and maintained track position to the finish.

In the 250SX Main Event, Blose again launched out to a seventh-place start and with a combination of clever line selection and veteran experience, the No.57 swiftly moved into fifth by the third corner of the opening lap. Running in fifth, Blose looked ready to secure his first top-five finish of the season until a mistake near the mechanic’s area resulted in a tip-over. Despite a quick remount, Blose was shuffled back outside the top 10. As racing continued, the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki rider proved his racecraft by climbing up the running order with each lap. Blose achieved his impressive come-from-behind performance through consistent riding and his ability to capitalize on the mistakes of others to finish seventh when the checkered flag flew.

“Even though I’ve only been with the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki team for a short amount of time, I feel like I’m starting to find my stride and confidence. From the start of the first practice to the Main Event, I felt extremely comfortable on the KX250 and that showed in my riding tonight. Even with a tip-over in the sand section during the main I was still able to move up the field and finish in seventh, my best result of the season so far. I’m looking forward to another week of practice with the team and feel like we can be in the hunt for a top-five finish soon.”
– Chris Blose

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Mar 08
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Bike Week 2023 rolls into Daytona

By General Posts

by DMAC

Bike Week 2023 rolled into Daytona Beach and the surrounds for the 82nd time.

Daytona and MotoAmerica have joined forces to host the Daytona 200 this year. Riders from all over the world participate in “America’s Most Historic Motorcycle Race” that moved from the beach/road course to Daytona International Speedway in 1961.

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Mar 06
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H-D Factory Team Set to Open King of the Baggers at Daytona

By General Posts


HARLEY-DAVIDSON FACTORY TEAM SET TO OPEN 2023 MOTOAMERICA KING OF THE BAGGERS SEASON AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Factory Team Riders, Kyle Wyman and Travis Wyman, Ready to Chase a Championship

MILWAUKEE (March 6, 2023) – The Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® factory racing team is prepared to open the 2023 racing season March 9-11 at Daytona International Speedway, site of the first two rounds of the MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers roadracing series. Kyle Wyman and his brother Travis Wyman return to ride the team’s race-prepared Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® motorcycles powered by modified Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engines. The Harley-Davidson factory team will leave nothing on the track as they fight to bring the championship title back to Milwaukee.

“In our 120th Anniversary year, we’re coming at it bigger and better than ever before, as we compete to win the championship and bring back the #1 plate to Milwaukee where it belongs,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO, Harley-Davidson. “Our Screamin’ Eagle factory racing team is ready for the season – and with Kyle and Travis on the track, I’m excited for what is set to be a great season of racing for our community of racers and fans alike.”

The King of the Baggers series offers exciting competition between American V-Twin touring motorcycles prepared for competition and equipped with a fairing/windscreen and saddlebags. The 2023 season will see the King of the Baggers series expanded from seven to 14 races over seven double-header weekends held in conjunction with the MotoAmerica Superbike Series.

A fan feature for the 2023 season is the Harley-Davidson® 120th Anniversary VIP Ticket Package. Offered as a three-day or one-day package, these special VIP passes include admission with fan zone and paddock access, all the MotoAmerica races including the Mission King of the Baggers practice sessions, qualifying and racing action. Each pass also includes access to premium parking reserved for Harley-Davidson motorcycles on all three days of the race weekend, and participation in Harley-Davidson parade laps around the track on Friday and Saturday.

For the 2023 season, the Harley-Davidson factory team will be sporting custom designed livery, honoring Harley-Davidson’s 120th anniversary aboard their race-modified Road Glide motorcycles, Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engine. The team bikes also feature upgraded suspension components, including Screamin’ Eagle/Öhlins Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks, plus competition exhaust, race tires and lightweight bodywork.

Harley-Davidson invites you to kick off the 2023 MotoAmerica King of the Baggers season with some adrenaline pumping action. Today, Harley-Davidson is premiering ‘Push the Limit,’ a film that shares the story of defending champion Kyle Wyman, teammate Travis Wyman and the Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle race team’s 2022 championship pursuit. Check it out on Harley-Davidson’s YouTube channel.

The Wyman Brothers
Travis Wyman, the owner of Travis Wyman Racing based in Las Vegas, finished second in points during the 2022 King of the Baggers season, with one race win (Road America) and three second-place finishes. The 31-year-old racer returns for his second full season with the Harley-Davidson factory team.

“I am excited about my second season on the factory H-D team and ready for the expanded schedule this year,” said Travis. “My consistent finishes last year put me in contention for the title going into the last round. With the two-race format, if Saturday does not go well, you get another shot on Sunday rather than waiting for the next race weekend. As other teams get these bikes figured out, I expect the level of competition to be tougher this season. Our Harley team is going to need to be on its game at every race.”

Kyle Wyman, 33, won three 2022 King of the Baggers races (Atlanta, Monterey and New Jersey) and had two other podium appearances to finish third in season points. Wyman began racing professionally in flat track aboard a Harley-Davidson® XR750 and formed Kyle Wyman Racing at the age of 21 to compete at the highest level of professional road racing in the United States. Kyle Wyman is the 2019 Daytona 200 winner. He was King of the Baggers champion in 2021, riding for the Harley-Davidson factory team.

“It will be an honor to represent the Harley-Davidson brand during this 120th Anniversary season,” said Kyle Wyman. “It is incredible to be a part of the enduring history of Harley-Davidson. I’ve spent much of the off season working with the team to further develop our Road Glide race bikes, and I have a lot of confidence going into 2023. We will continue to see lap records fall this season, and everyone on the grid will be quicker.”

Available Support
In addition to competing in the series, the H-D Screamin’ Eagle team continues to work directly with MotoAmerica to promote the series by supporting all Harley-Davison competitors. Select performance products developed for the 2022 factory team bikes are available to all qualified racers. Teams should reach out directly to their local Harley-Davidson® dealership for availability and pricing.

Top squads expected to run Harley-Davidson® bikes at the front of the field include the four-rider Team Saddlemen effort with returning veteran racers Cory West and Patricia Fernandez-West along with Frankie Garcia and class newcomer Jake Lewis, all competing on race-modified Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® motorcycles, prepared with the assistance of Hoban Brothers Racing. The Vance & Hines Racing team returns to the King of the Baggers series with proven series front runners James Rispoli and Hayden Gillim, also campaigning race-prepared Road Glide motorcycles.

MotoAmerica Mission King of the Baggers Contingency
Harley-Davidson will offer more than $185,000 in cash contingency for qualified Harley-Davidson racers competing in the Mission King of the Baggers series, with a contingency payout from first to 10th place in all 14 races and a $35,000 series championship bonus. Terms and conditions apply; please see www.MotoAmerica.com for full details, eligibility requirements and deadlines.

About the Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® 131 Performance Crate Engine:
The Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight 131 is a powerful street-compliant performance engine offered by Harley-Davidson. Built from the bottom up in Milwaukee, this 131-cubic-inch (2147cc) Screamin’ Eagle® crate engine delivers 131 ft-lb of torque to the rear wheel, and may be installed in 2017-later Harley-Davidson Touring models.

2023 Mission King of the Baggers Schedule
(Two full races each weekend)

  • March 9-11: Daytona International Raceway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
  • April 21-23: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta – Braselton, Ga.
  • June 2-4: Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wis.
  • July 7-9: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, Calif.
  • July 28-30: Brainerd International Raceway – Brainerd, Minn.
  • September 8-10: Circuit of the Americas – Austin, Texas
  • September 22-24: New Jersey Motorsports Park – Millville, N.J.

Harley-Davidson stands for the timeless pursuit of adventure and freedom for the soul. Go to H-D.com to learn more about the complete line of 2023 Harley-Davidson® Grand American Touring, Sport, Adventure Touring, Cruiser and Trike motorcycles, Harley-Davidson Certified™ pre-owned motorcycles, Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Parts & Accessories, Harley-Davidson® MotorClothes® apparel and gear, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services.

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