Granddaddy Joe Smith Forum History

Granddaddy Joe 2ft X 3ft Poster

2008-05-13T21:29:00.001-07:00

For all you old timers that go back away, there is something new on the Home Page of my Web Site. If you had one on your shop wall, you could give it a good luck pat, you could throw knives at it, you could put some PO on it and put a match to it, you could write dirty remarks on it, you could use it for toilet paper, any one of those things and many more that you could think of could make you a happy person.

Detail in the future.

NHRA Bands Hydrazine

2008-05-07T15:10:00.000-07:00

TwoFaced,

Yes, Hydrazine is bad stuff. NHRA in the old days put the Yellow dye or what ever it was in Nitro to detect Hydrazine; they didn't want anybody to run it after some bad "Bangs". I remember Leo Payne had one gallon buried in the back of the shop at S&S Cycle, don’t know what ever happened to it.

The first contact I had with PO was from the guy that introduced the stuff to the Drag Racing Motorcycle World, Richie Richards. He had a pint can of it when we were in my garage/shop and he took the lid and filled it with PO and poured it on the garage floor, stepped about five foot away and dropped a lit match on the floor and it lit that PO. I right away started learning about mixing the stuff with Nitro. I found I didn’t need a lot to help the Alkie become a good igniter.

Here’s something of interest. I was at Union Grove on a Match Race with the local big shot fuel bike guy and I needed some Nitro. I went down the Top Fuel Car line asking to buy some and came to Big Daddy Don’s pit area, and he said he would give me what ever I need for the race. Then he asks me what color do you want? He had pure Nitro in Red, Blue, Green and the original yellow. This was during the Hydrazine band time. I took the yellow and never ask about the colors and still don’t know.

Is Nitro good forever

2008-05-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

Two Faced,

I never had nitro that lasted very long, I got a 55 gallon drum every year from one of my Sponsors and by the end of the year I was ready for another drum... I do know that in the 60’s the nitro that some of us was buying came from an old Air Force Base some place in Southern California that was stored in underground tanks that went back to P-38 Fighter days in World War ll.

I use to keep a pretty good record of all mixes, how much Alkie and Propylene Oxide was in each one. I wasn’t ever worried too much about the Alkie content but PO evaporated fast and I was always able to use up older mix pretty quick. I used the older mixes on testing and weekend fun runs. If it was a race weekend and I was running a mix the next day that I mixed the day before I always figured the PO was gone and added what the new mix required, always seemed to work. Maybe someone that has Nitro around for a long time can answer your question, if it was Pure Nitro I probably wouldn’t worry about it, if it was a mix because of evaporation I wouldn’t know what it was unless you could analyze it.

400 X 18 Drag Slick across the Pond

2008-05-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

TwoFaced,

A few pages back, Terry, Trigger996 and Paso were working on getting some 400 X 18 Tires, never heard how it went. And after I learned how to do it I made quicker and faster no smoking the tire runs with a 273 to 1 High gear only ratio.

Burt Monroe and Sonny Angel

2008-05-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

Here's another great picture from the past, from the picture files of BAZ.

Sonny Angel has a Motorcycle shop in National City, California and has been there since 1953 and sells Motto Guzzi and works on British Motorcycle. His favorite Motorcycle is the Vincent and in 1951 he worked at the Vincent Factory. He’s been going to Bonneville for over 50 years racing his Vincent and Manx Norton's and other British built Motorcycles.

His brother Don is the man who pilots the twin engine S/C Vincent Streamliner at Bonneville last year at 222 MPH using one gear after the gearbox broke. They have an Italian built gearbox for the Vincent when they run Bonneville this year, looking for better luck.
When Burt Monroe came to the USA for Bonneville week he stayed with Sonny, they were good friends.

Bonneville Week

2008-05-07T13:12:00.000-07:00

When Baz and I had our Visit a few weeks ago he brought along his Friend John Noonan and this is John's Turbo Suzuki street bike; note the lead weights on the swing arm, when it reaches speeds of 225 MPH or more the nose of Standard Fairing pushes down so hard the rear wheel lose traction so he has over 100 lbs of lead on board.

This bike has turned 259 MPH at Bonneville on street tires.The bike makes 550 plus Horse Power at the rear wheel, but depending on the conditions he may take 150 Horse Power out to get traction.

Best Oil for Nitro

2008-05-02T10:23:00.001-07:00

Pete,

I got some bad answers for you on the oil issue. I also was sponsored by Valvoline in the same years; I had a garage full of the stuff, everything they produced. But to use it with Nitro, I didn't like it at all, it separated too much, you know, the oil was bright yellow after a run. I know about the Castro oil but I couldn't get them for a Sponsor. The best Oil I ever used with Nitro was Torco Racing Oil. I tried most Oil there was including Pennzoil, had a Sponsor from them for one year but was glad to get back to Torco. The answer you want about Valvoline, maybe someone else will read your posting and have an answer for you. By the way, Two Faced, Cool looking bike.

Was he really the character everybody said

2008-05-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

When I first met Mr. Monroe at Bonneville in the 60’s I felt he was a little on the weird side. He was almost to the point of being obnoxious. He loved the women and in the evening when we were in town and crossed over into Nevada where there was a Casino he was very forward with the younger women. It didn’t seem to hurt his popularity because every one including me really loved the guy. I’m glad I got to meet the man that owned “The Worlds Fastest Indian”. That movie has been playing on our local cable TV for some time now and I have watched at least four times. As I remember some of his tales, if they were to be believed then the movie is pretty accurate.

Worlds Fastest Indian

2008-05-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture someone sent me in my email, the old racers will probably know who this is, I met him the first time in the late 1960's at Bonneville.

Mr. Bert Monroe, what an experience of a life time it was to meet that man. I must say that on the first meeting and looking at his race machine that I had never seen a more crudely put together thing in my life. But it did work.

Here he is taking a break from machining some of those home made pistons.

How many Race Frames did you build

2008-05-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Keith,

I built five singles and one double that I altered four times during it's career, I also built another Double Engine frame that I believe Marion Owens now has. They were all built to fit me and I rode them all. Jim Cook rode "Rat Too" one year at Indy and got Runner up, he was my size and weight at the time. Ron Fringer rode the Double the last year I was in Drag Racing and I had to move the rear pegs to the rear a little for him.

Weight or Stronger

2008-04-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

I don't think anyone that built chassis's spend more time trying to make them light than I did in the early days. If I built a chassis that weight more that 26 lbs I tossed in the trash. But over the years of fancy wobbler's and welding cracks, etc. I started making them stronger and that added weight, so the weight thing was never thought about again and the chassis's got better after every one I built.

The stronger they are with the components in the right place is the way to go, if you find that secret, you've got it done.

2008-04-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

Hey Puppet,

Here's one for you to ponder. This was my Knucklehead when it was running pretty good on fuel, it use to break and crack the frame on the bottom tube between the motor sprocket and the clutch. After checking around I found the same problem was happening to the flattrackers. It you look close there is a tube added from the left front down tube under the carburetors and back to the left rear down tube, solving the problem. I seen it one night when I went to the Fraltrack races.

The people in the picture, the good looking one in the red jacket with his back to you is me of course, then there is Bob Ebling and Bill Chambers, the girls on the left the one you can't see all of is Janie Chambers and then my Wife Pat.

Denco Triple Triple retired

2008-04-22T22:23:00.000-07:00

Roy,

That's pretty much how I heard it, there was some other things that floated around but the were a little bias and not worth mentioning. I think it was known as a little ill handling but then what really fast bike wasn't back then. But still answered like a true AMDRA Director.

Entertainment and Drag Racing

2008-04-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

Just a note, Quote from Chris Estrada, FoxSports.com

NASCAR knows that the sport is about entertainment — you can't rely solely on a great racing product to fill the seats and make the Nielsens tick up. Check the TV ratings — even though many fans gripe about how boring these Sprint Cup races may be, there are still many more that happily give up four hours of their Sunday afternoon to watch these guys.

But while they've been masters of publicity, NASCAR has never had their own Danica Patrick to trumpet. And since Patrick's finally put one in the win column, she and the IRL are already getting major buzz from across the media spectrum on a day where the Sprint Cup stars are having one of their rare off-weekends.

Running Two Bikes, and Spokesman for loosers

2008-04-22T22:10:00.000-07:00

1972, Indy. I got permission from Steve Gibbs to try and qualify both of my bikes and got hurt when a rod broke right off the starting line and ended up in the hospital and Sonny Raz was in a different Hospital, the year he lost part of his hand. NHRA rules were you could not ride two bikes in the same class, I could choose one I wanted to ride and get another rider for the other but I would have put it in the trailer.

There was a bad issue at Bowling Green one year (which was a NHRA Sanction track) when TC rode two bikes in the same class and collected the money for both and left the track. Everybody came to me to be spokesman for them and we all went to the tower, about 25 or 30 crowded in the lower of that little thing and I got in a loud debate with one of the official, we were really going at it and I mention all these people would like something done. He said what people and I looked around and every body had left and I was the one that looked like a fool.

Nothing was done and I never got over that disloyalty.

MPH verses ET

2008-04-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

Speed, ET and why did it happen.

My Double Harley ran a pretty consistent 176 MPH, give or take, at every track I raced on. Those times were with ET’s between 8.12 and 8.40 on any track, night or day.

Talking about unusual Speed’s, I did turn 181, 182 and right at 183 MPH at the Ontario Super Nationals with ET’s between 8.02 and 8.12 and at Indy I had a run of 188 MPH with an ET of 8.77. Ron Fringer ran a 187 MPH on the same bike with Injectors at Orange County Raceway with a mid eight second run.

The thing is those ET’s from the 176 MPH to the 180’s is quite a span. But, I notice on all the faster runs there was something different, it was a feel they had that I tried to duplicate many times but could not seem to do it consistently. The bike seems to have a floating feeling through the traps and was harder to get stopped so I never doubted the MPH plus they were done at an NHRA National Events.

In those days the only instruments we had was the Air Density Gage and I kept a record of all runs that included spark plug range, jetting and nozzle size, rear tire air pressure, shoe size, sh*t everything and on those runs the air density in the record book was right at 104 which was in those days was perfect air.

So, on those runs some place on the track there was a different acceleration rate that I can’t explain, I just knew there was a different feel on that run.

Early Harley Carburetors

2008-04-20T23:09:00.000-07:00

Frankie,

Here is another pretty good picture of it, not bad for 1967 or 68. This was the frame I built for the Shovel and I started building that motor about this time.

That's my Ranchero.

The Knucklehead, 1968

2008-04-20T23:05:00.000-07:00

Is this thread still active??

Frankie,

Here's one shows the old three wheeler and very early Sportster Carburetors a little better. I was successful with these in the beginning on fuel. They were the Carburetor S&S use to design there first Fuel Carburetor with.

Visit with Baz and Friend

2008-04-18T06:41:00.000-07:00

John Noonan supplied this photo, & John has one of the fastest street bikes on the planet with a turbo Suzuki busa that has run 259 plus MPH on street tires at Bonneville in fact John holds about 17-20 different records in either the DLRA, ECTA, SCTA, AMA, or BNI and is a lifetime member of four different 200 mph clubs. He currently is the fastest record holder on two different continents with them being the USA and Australia.

He also holds the fastest open air record at 229 plus MPH and this was done in the dirt at El Mirage.

John was with Baz when we had our get together at Laidlaw's Harley Davidson. I'm told this is an original picture of Twin Triumph Double Trouble and Pat Presitti rider and owner.

Strawn and AMDRA days.

2008-04-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

Roy Stress. That's what I used to call you, the job you had put such a stress on you that it sometimes showed but you stuck it out to the very end. Good man!!

Here is another you might like. http://www.200mph.net/smf/index.php?topic=55498.new;topicsee

I was wondering how long before you showed up. Guys like you and me are full of all kinds of Drag Race sh*t from the old days. I can remember in the early days of the AMDRA when a few of us sit around the Knights of the Motorcycle Drag Race Round Table at the NHRA Office in Hollywood California thinking we had all the answers and some are still trying to be solved today. No matter it was the best days of my life.

This is me and you in those days both trying to be the boss, man were those the times.

2008-04-16T06:35:00.001-07:00

This is the first frame I ever built, 1967. It was all one inch, 049 wall 4130 tubing. I built it around the front fork assembly, complete empty motor, empty transmission and rear wheel assembly with the slick on it. Cut the tubes with a hacksaw, bent the tubes with bending pressure after getting it red hot with a torch and tacked it together with a gas welding torch. Put the whole thing in the back of my truck and drove to a heli-arc welder and he welded it as I took it a part. It was real ugly when it was a bare frame.I ran a 102 inch Knucklehead in it with steel cylinders that came from S&S Cycle. It ran a best 158.98 with a 9.44 ET. One weekend I put screen door closers on the front forks to hold the front end up longer to put more weight on the rear tire, I could adjust them to go down slower or faster, it was at the time a good ideal. It did work because I was on a really good run but I had them to tight and the front end stayed extend and I went into a wobble and the bike went through the lights on the left side of the track and my body tumbled through the right side of the track and clocked 142 MPH loosing to the bike.After fixing it this is the guy that bought it, I had put a 102 inch shovel in it and he ran gas with it. He has his new Red Leathers on and ready to go,

M&H tires today

2008-04-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, but also some one futher back on this thread mentioned that M&H would make some if that had a order for 50 or more. When I was testing tires for M&H they made different compounds you could get, I tested many for them so I know they make them. All the racers should put there heads together and figure what will be the best all around tire and order 50 or so.

Tires coming from M&H

2008-04-16T06:25:00.000-07:00

I don’t know if you already do this or not but the first time I did it by accident I went quicker and faster that before.

It was during the time of four inch wide slicks and I was testing tires for M&H and those numbers you mention were some of the compounds they sent me. At the time I was smoking an Avon off the line, High Gear only. I had mounted two different compounds for Saturday night at Irwindale Raceway. One soft and one hard which was softer that the Avon at the time. I had the hard one on and got ready for a run, pulled down the fire up road, came around and staged. Got the light and was a little late with the clutch and the bike bogged off the line and I just left the throttle on and finished the run, sitting on the bike discussed waiting for my wife for toll back and here she comes down the return road with the head lights flashing and the horn blaring.. A normal Avon Tire smoking run was in the neighborhood of 9.25 to 9.40, on that run I ran a 9.04.I spent the next two weeks learning to let the clutch out first and then turn the throttle on afterwards, I killed the motor a few times on the line and I went up in smoke a few times. But I finally got where I could do it every run. It called for great timing and I had to kind of roll the throttle on after I found out how much to give it at first to keep from stalling the motor.

It was a lot of fun learning how to do that and in the end I ran the in between hard/soft, I be darn if I can remember but numbers I remember the most were 325, 250 and it seems there was 280, but I really can’t remember. I also running 26 lbs of air was right for me.

Picture from Trade Show

2008-04-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

Hey Mike,

Was that a picture I signed for him in the old days?

Laidlaw and Baz

2008-04-16T06:13:00.000-07:00

I got that visit from Baz, we met at Laidlaw's Harley Davidson for lunch and a afternoon of Bench Racing.
That's Laidlaw in the middle, this is not a very good picture, that's my excuse because it looks old or something does.
All this month is Bob's Birthday Bash on Saturday and 50 Anniversary with Harley Davidson.

Visit from my Aussie Friend, Baz

2008-04-16T06:10:00.000-07:00

When Baz came to visit me he brought his friend John Noonan who supplied this photo to me. Does anyone know who it is?

Is that Joe or Gordon

2008-04-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

1976, Ron Fringer

http:// www.nhra.com/2006/gallery/pow/photo34.html

Two Speed vs Three Speed

2008-04-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

Sonicrete,

I believe Dennis was right, but speaking from a Harley guy, glad he didn't have the three speed in it. Boris could have done the ride too. He's a good rider.

Did they ever run fuel, that might have taken care of that bog. Personally, I thing the bog was due to the fact that those motors are all RPM, it might have still had the bog with another gear.

They sure ran some good numbers on "parts wash" though.

Story from the Past

2008-04-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

Pup,

Your story reminds me of the first night I ran Fuel when Clem Johnson and I were a race team in 1957 and it was at the Old Colton Night Drags. The first race I had that night was against the original "Double Trouble" Twin Engine Triumph. We were in the staging lanes waiting to race and the guy that road it was named Tex, he had a slight limp and while waiting our turn I'm sitting on my bike and he walks up to me (I'm already scare because of running fuel) and looks down at me and says "do you go pretty straight" and I stammer back, most of the time. He's still looking down at me and he says "well look out because I'm all over the strip" and walks away. This really startles me and Clem says "that's OK Joe, after the race he will be limbing on both legs". We beat him so bad that I didn't even see him after the race. On the run I went 138 MPH, 10.80 ET.

Triple-Triple

2008-04-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

I think anything with two or three motors is going to go fast. My Double was a blast.

Yes, I knew about that Triple and Boris, he ran some amazing times with it. He could ride almost anything and do a good job but it still sounded like a whole bunch of grass cutters.

The Big Three

2008-04-05T07:42:00.001-07:00

Jerry,

Yes, I recall all of them especially the one with the three on the front cover. That was a day that I will never for get. Those bikes at the time were called the "Big Three" and the pictures were taken at a Studio in Hollywood California. I remember that I wanted to be the last one to show up but I think Russ and TC had the same Idea, as it was we all got there about the same time. The picture shooting was going along OK until we got to the point of the three together and then there was some discussion on who was going to be in the middle. We all three had our reason for who should be there but it turned out to be Russ because his bike was bigger and it looked lopsided when his was on one side or the other. Of course I had the only real legitimate reason to be in the middle. It was the only USA made bike there. HAAAAAAAAA

Anyway, it turned out to be a great day for me to be included with Russ and TC which were really getting hard to beat at the races. There was six Bike Magazines that I has front cover and that is the only one I have, the others seemed to have got lost in the shuffle.

Two Cycle

2008-04-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

Man, I really hated that sound, the first time someone fired one of those things up in the pits everybody started to run, they thought it was Killer Bees.

Lot of the guys started rolling there cars windows up, they thought it was the clean up guy with one of those dirt blowers. HAAAAAAAAAAAA

Proof reading

2008-04-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

Fastlane,

Yes, I did that too but don't recall ever getting to proof read a one of them. It might have been because I was hard to get a hold of because of the tour racing, I don't know. Most were close enough that it was OK but there was some I would like to have burned down the store. It's like the news media calling guys that race on the street, Drag Racers, boy do I hate that.

There is a Magazine in Brazil doing a thing about me right now that is suppose to be in the racks this month, I ask to proof read it and still haven't heard from them.

Old Friend

2008-04-05T07:34:00.000-07:00

OK, this is Doug Gall, ran a Top Fuel Harley in the old days. Anybody know if he is still around????

No, I was the first on front cover

2008-04-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

That's OK Fastlane, it's just me and my pride showing.

Also, anything the media says on there hand held weapon or puts in print is always right even if it's not and if they have there favorites it even more uncontrollable. That's how it was in the old days. Not to mention any names, trying to stay out of trouble, but a guy with the name that rhymed with Book was the worst. I always loved it when the poor guy that won all the marbles in the biggest class running would get little or no mention, not even a picture. In my day, a lot of that went on and there was a reason for it!?

Name this guy

2008-04-05T07:27:00.001-07:00

It's not a very clear picture but can any of the old timers remember this guy. He was from Minnesota and can you tell me his name and if he's still around.

Slim is now Tevis

2008-04-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

In other words the Slim I knew in the old days at the drags is dead, he made some changes and is now, Tevis, is that right.

Slim is Dead

2008-04-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

Are there two Steve's, Slim is alive now? Sure makes me feel better after posting about him in kind of a jest, the hat, the hair.

In all the years I was racing, I never seen Slim without that hat or that hair, he was an intense guy and very loyal to Russ.

Working with kids in the old days

2008-03-31T23:50:00.000-07:00

That's a great picture; I always loved working with the kids in my day. Did a lot of stuff with the Boy Scouts, gave safety talks at High Schools, and was even on a Kiddies Show once. Always had fun doing stuff with kids and telling about Drag Racing.

Posting across the Pond

2008-03-31T23:47:00.000-07:00

My first Eight Second Bike, Four in Slick and High Gear only.

Crew for Triple Engine Honda

2008-03-31T23:35:00.000-07:00

Right on Gordy, that was Slim, RC's number one guy, especially around the Triple Engine Honda Days.

I knew Cook had that bike about that time. Sweet little Triumph. I remember when he showed up at Fontana with those wheelie bars. They continued right down from the down tubes to the rear axle area. He took a hack saw and cut them off after a few runs, they were way to short to be any good.

Puppet, you know how sensitive Jerry is about HAIR, you should take that in consideration more.

Posting from across the Pond

2008-03-31T23:27:00.000-07:00

Paso, my friend from the other side of the Motorcycle Dray Racing Fast World. Good to see you make a visit to Mr. Powe's Thread, hope there are many to come

2008-03-31T23:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry Fastlane, No that's not Gordon, this is s a another tall and lanky guy.

The Triumph was build by Jim Cook, a guy that got out of racing way to soon. He was the original rider of the Boris Twin Triumph, back in the day when that bike had a Harley trans and clutch on it. This Triumph was probably the first built with a dual back bone (top) in it and it might be the first bike with wheelie bars, not sure.

A bike from the past

2008-03-31T23:23:00.000-07:00

Jim Cook's Fuel Triumph with wheelie bars, 1967 or 68 I think, Gordon Kateley should remember what year.

Remember this guy

2008-03-31T23:20:00.000-07:00

Any body remember who this is, what's his name and what famous Top Fuel Bike was he the Main Pit Crew Guy.

Other Talents

2008-03-31T23:11:00.000-07:00

Just wanted every one to know, especially Puppet. I had other talents, I wasn't always a Motorcycle Drag Racer. You can tell how long ago that was by the picture.

I would have post a Bike Picture with this but couldn't find one that old to fit.

Indy, big MPH

2008-03-30T00:16:00.000-07:00

Indy 1974, the only other time the bike went over 180 was at the Ontario Supernations 1975.

OUCH, OUCH

2008-03-30T00:12:00.000-07:00

Good Golly Ivy, Forest, no one says that word anymore. Sales Manager in the old days at Laidlaw's Harley, he retired and move to Kansas years ago from the old store.

Every time there was a scene in "Along came Bronson" that required some trick riding they thru in a Sprint, they were plenty around to keep replacing the broken ones, they were all waiting parked on a hill so they could get them started.

I have to admit I use to ride one home from the shop once in awhile...Do you still have that Sprint?

OUCH

2008-03-30T00:10:00.000-07:00

Yeal, the Sprint days. Harley's answer to something but no one knew what it was when that mess showed up on the Show Room Floor.

Two Old Guys

2008-03-30T00:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks Jerry, really cool that you are thinking of guys like Pup and me, but picking on us has got to stop, we could report you to the AHDRA or the NHRA and maybe throw in the IHRA for the Harassment of the OCDRA (Older Celebrity Drag Racer Association).

I understand the fine is really severe. Six months of riding a Harley Sprint with no seat and you can’t park in on a hill.

You should have looked at some Limey Bikes

2008-03-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry if I lit your wick, didn't know there was a first real eight second twin, never heard or read about it. I had to use American help; it was the only country I knew of that sold any race parts back then. My crew was my wife and I couldn't ask her to lift both ends, that would have been ungentlemanly of me and I hated getting cut off back then.

I remember in the early 70's there was some fuel bikes that showed up from your area at Indy, none even qualified, sorry.

Top Fuel Bikes are Bigger today

2008-03-23T12:15:00.001-07:00

Hi ya Pup,
Yes, the Fuel Bikes back then were a lot smaller. When I went to Vegas to watch them for the first time in 30 years I couldn't believe how big they were. My First Eight Second Bike weighted 305 dry with the engine and Trans as far back as you could get and have tire clearance but that was with a stock Harley Trans with nothing in it but High Gear. Over the years I never weight it but it did get heavier because of the different Trans, clutch, rear wheel and tire, etc.

The Double weighted 580 when I first built it but gained weight in the two years I raced it. Back then weight was so important that ever nut and bolt I could replace was alloy. There was a big Hardware (warehouse) in Los Angeles where they had everything like that you could buy at 40 cents a pound, it’s also where I always bought my Fuel Shut off valves, they were all Army and Navy Surplus and really cheap. The place was so big that the first time I went to buy something I was there all afternoon and never seen it all.

My Single was so light I could put the front end in the back of my Pickup myself, needed help to lift the rest in. Yes, they were small and light back then, what a ride.

Bikes that won 1971 Indy

2008-03-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

Indy 1971, Winner and Runner up, Top Fuel. Both bikes owned by Joe Smith. Joe Smith Winner on King Rat and Jim Cook Runner up on Rat Too.

My Dad is 60, just passed his license test

2008-03-23T12:04:00.000-07:00

Bronze Star,

I envy your Dad, give him a big congrat from Old Joe Smith!!

Is that three brake master cylinders on your Double

2008-03-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

Yags,

They were all three brakes Mike. The one on the left handlebar went to the rear wheel, used to load the clutch and also if I felt the tire get loose off the line I could put a little load on the rear wheel and eliminate smoking the tire. Also using it to load the clutch it gave me the feel as using a clutch to launch with, good for mental timing.

That's one heck of a Starter

2008-03-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

Puppet,

About the starter is on this page of one of my blogs.

http://joe-smith-drag-racer-true-bench-racin.blogspot.com/

Show or Entertainment

2008-03-23T11:54:00.000-07:00

I can understand how you feel about the show part. I always felt there was two parts to entertainment. If I accept a Match Race from my Booking Company it was usually against a car, usually an impossible win, I consider those as being Shows. If it was a Match Race against another Motorcycle it was usually a Challenge by someone that thought they could or might win, thats what I consider as Entertainment. I loved doing both and I was very good at both. Racing with no bar, if I needed to carry the wheel for a little more excitement I could, therefore enter the Show.

I just wish I could still do it, Entertainment or Show, I loved them both.

Between Rounds

2008-03-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

Jay,
Yes, that's what I had at the NHRA National Exhibitions, they wanted the show, long burn outs and they loved that starter for my Double. Even Danial's one time wanted to make sure our uniforms were nice and clean and most of all they wanted me to take as much time as possible to fill in so the next round could get ready. To make more time, at National Trails is where they started having me take the starter right out to the starting line and we were suppose to take all the time we wanted to make the run, perfect time for Joe Smith to show off.

Show or Entertainment

2008-03-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

I can understand how you feel about the show part. I always felt there was two parts to entertainment. If I accept a Match Race from my Booking Company it was usually against a car, usually an impossible win, I consider those as being Shows. If it was a Match Race against a another Motorcycle it was usually a Challenge by someone that thought they could or might win, thats what I consider as Entertainment. I loved doing both and I was very good at both. When I was racing with no bar, if I needed to carry the wheel for a little more excitement I could, therefore enter the Show.

I just wish I could still do it, Entertainment or Show, I loved them both.

Columbus and National Trails Raceway

2008-03-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

When I was in Columbus to Exhibition at National Trails Raceway I sometimes put my Drag Bike on display at the local Harley Dealer. This is Columbus Harley Davidson and the bike is sit up inside, they wanted my truck sitting right where it is.

At the time it was owned by two very Young Owners, I was surprised that there was no one working there that was over 25. There special room (as they called it) had a bar, juke box, carpet, pillows on the floor and very dim lighting. On the wall was that large Black Light Poster of my Eight Second run that Harley did.

Always had a great time there.

Russ and his Monster triple engine Honda

2008-03-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

Hey joe got any stories about this guy?

Russ, now there’s a guy that’s done it all, I have a lot of good and bad memories about my friend Russ. I’ll relate to one that comes to mind mostly because it short and to the point.

It was at Irwindale Raceway on a Saturday which runs all day into the night. Russ had his triple Honda (ugh) there and having a lot of trouble getting it down the track. There was a lot of Bike Clubs at this race, The Hash***, The Var***, just to name a few. Now these guys bet big money at the races when it gets down to Harley against Honda, especially if it’s between Russ and Me. Russ and I have this Friend/Competitor attitude when were at the same race and the Spectators think it’s an Enemy/Competitor attitude which raises the stakes in the betting. Because of the round coming up was against Russ, I had already been approach by some of the clubs asking me how I felt about the upcoming race, you know, do you think you will win, will you get this guy, shit, blow him away? I understand that day there was around Ten Grand bet between two clubs alone.

Time for the race, every spectator there had filled the stands and along the fence, anticipation was at a high, the guy in the tower was really talking it up over the loud speaker. Russ and I are coming down the fire up road, both lit off and come around behind the starting line. There is a large group surrounding Russ getting him ready for the Burn out, I have my teenage Son ready with the colored water ready for our burn out. Both Bikes make great long Burn Outs. I have to stop here and remind every racer to remember the correct way to stage, (back then anyway) one lights a light and then the other, now it’s time for the racer that lit the first light to light his and so forth. Well, this big Triple Honda has to warm up a little longer than the rest of us and were both at the staging area and I’m look over waiting for Russ to get ready and were sitting there and sitting there and these two crew guys are running around his bike looking things over and this Monster is Idling around 4000 thousand or so, smoke coming from every place. Now, every body knows my Double Idles so low (just under a thousand) that it’s impossible to hear especially over the Honda’s three motors. Finally Russ stages a light, I pull in and stage my first light, then it begins, every Spectator thinks it’s a burn down. It’s time for Russ to stage is other light, waiting, and waiting, finally I see what is going on. My Double will lean over on the out board bearing support for the clutch and sit up right so I lean it over, stand up and cross my arms and look over at Russ and he is bend down ready to go, looks over and see’s me standing and pulls in and lights is last light. Now it’s time to race, I immediately stage, we get the go and Russ right out of the gate smokes the tire and I’m gone.

As it was, I won the race, turning an 8.10, 176. After the race Russ accuses me of doing a Burn Down on him.

Was it a Burn Down, what do you think????

Granddaddy Joe Smith

Joe's so old he gets his mail by floating bottles

2008-03-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

I know of four Bottle Notes that I never got an answer too. One was to the MAN up stairs asking for a 190, oh well.

Jerry, I know about you guys, don't forget I have a Video and Yes, your Team does look Professional, nice team uniforms too.

Puptoon

2008-03-20T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite pictures, it's called a Puptoon. Pup thinks this is the way I look now but I'm really a lot better looking than that.

Drag Racing and Entertainment

2008-03-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

A long time ago, I mean a long time ago. Most racers, Wives, Sons, Daughters and helpers wore team uniforms and didn't even know it, they are called T-Shirts. Just about every body wore them to match what ever bike, owner, rider, Manufacture they were with, no one seemed to harp about that.

My team: Wife, Daughter, Son and myself wore team uniforms at the start of 1971, my wife made them herself and we looked pretty good. Boris and his family did the same thing and it wasn't long before every body was doing it.

And every time there is a crash at the Indy 500, Nascar or Open Wheel it sure as hell entertains them thousand of race fan. The even get excited when one of the Winners climbs the fence in celebration of their win.

Article on Elmer Trett

2008-03-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, thank you Ian King for that article.

For all those racers that was arguing about not being Motorcycle Drag Racers while also being entertainers, read on. Of course not all are of this caliber.

2008-03-20T05:06:00.000-07:00

This is the First Eight Second Bike with the Fairing.

The Bait in the rat trap is a Twin Engine Triumph

Bowling Green

2008-03-20T04:46:00.001-07:00

Every year at the big Bowling Green Bike Meet I would drive over into Indiana and hit five TV Stations to advertise the up coming race. This is one of the two that was done live.

Old guys need their rest

2008-03-20T03:49:00.000-07:00

I only come one way, OLD!

Young at heart, disguised as an old person.

Broken Fairing

2008-03-20T03:39:00.000-07:00

Match race with Boris Murray at Portland OR. Big dip at 1000 foot mark and this is how the fairing look before Portland.

This is after wheel stand at that dip, front tire took out a portion of fairing.

Old guys need there rest

2008-03-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

I only come one way, OLD! Young at heart, disguised as an old person.

Across the Pond

2008-03-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

If I understand, this is a 200 MPH Club, has every one that logs on gone 200 MPH or is that just a name. I've only come close to that in the 70's so I guess I'm a member from a past dream.

I've looked at some of the postings and see, I think, that posted pictures always go to the bottom. It will take time for me to understand how your forum works. Is there a way to edit after posting? Does the picture download only show up after posting? If I post pictures most will be something I have already post on another forum. I know a lot if not most of you also read that forum, so let me know if it gets boring.

Here is a picture I found recently, taken when I was doing Exhibitions for the NHRA. It was the strip near my Home Base in the East during my touring years, National Trails Raceway in Columbus, Ohio in 1975 I believe.

National Trails Raceway Exhibition

2008-03-14T00:07:00.000-07:00

When I was doing my Exhibition's for the NHRA, this was one of my favorite Drag Strips. My Home Base in the East was in Gahanna, outskirts of Columbus at my Father-in-laws home. Always had a great time a National Trails Raceway. Track was a little short back then but always got stop just before I rolled off into the grass. The first great final round with Big Daddy and Cha-Cha was lined up on the fire up road right behind me to run after my Exhibition run. Man those were the days. Cha-Cha was so nervous she had tears in her eyes sitting in there tow truck waiting to run.

Any body remember who won that race.

All Bike Meet

2008-03-13T23:57:00.000-07:00

Joe Smith wrote:

Personally, myself I could see the writing on the wall, there was no way that when they got those 'other" bikes working we were going to be able to compete with a bike that maxed out at 6000 RPM against a bike that could turn 12000 RPM, no matter the engine size. They were in line Automotive Engines that would very easily except a blower and ideal for a Slider clutch that would be all over a Harley. Guys like Russ Collins and Vance and Hines proved that to be true.

That switching over to all Harley came much further down the line and in the process we lost the All Bike Meets.

.

That looks like an ALL BIKE MEET . . .

Yes, kind of:

I been trying to get down there to one of your races. Even though I live in California it's a long way for an old guy, but I've had my eye on this one.

AMA and Motorcycle Drag Racing

2008-03-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Does that mean you have to be a AMA member to race at AHDRA Motorcycle Events??

If it does, as time progresses there will be rules you will need to follow and meet in order to be an AMA (Drag Racing) member that will probably affect Motorcycle Drag Racing in some order.

I know I would be as I'm sure the people that are involved on the Motorcycle "Drag Racing" side of this new adventure will stay on top of all issues.

Harley guys got upset?

2008-03-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

I don't know if we got pissed off but I can remember when the "other" bike showed up at Irwindale and they made more runs in the back of the pit area than down the track and they were constantly wackin the throttle, which has this dumguy, dumguy, dumguy sound over and over, it kind of drove you nuts.

Personally, myself I could see the writing on the wall, there was no way that when they got those 'other" bikes working we were going to be able to compete with a bike that maxed out at 6000 RPM against a bike that could turn 12000 RPM, no matter the engine size. They were in line Automotive Engines that would very easily except a blower and ideal for a Slider clutch that would be all over a Harley. Guys like Russ Collins and Vance and Hines proved that to be true.

That switching over to all Harley came much further down the line and in the process we lost the All Bike Meets.

Lost Cause

2008-03-11T02:11:00.000-07:00

Hey Pup,
I'm still for something, but I don't know what it is anymore!

More Wheelie Bar Stuff

2008-03-09T21:03:00.000-07:00

http://rich56k.smugmug.com/gallery/3822955_Ln76x#221409408_n Q8Zu-A-LB

Wow, that's a lot of wheelie bars.

Some one back there was telling Pup they had 50 entries of 9.50 ET bikes, I guess comparing spectators or something. If you had 50 entries, you would need 10 friends to each entry, to have what?

I think we have got away from the whole thing. The more entries you have is good, period. But if you had a variety of entries with good advertisement, the bleachers would be closer to being full, I think that is a bad word. You could use full at a Indy or English Town NHRA National. Or almost full at a AHDRA Races.

But, the people in the bleachers wouldn't give a sh*t about wheelie bars or no wheelie bars, they would still be waiting to watch the Fuel Bikes run.

Would you ride one and Who brings the Spectators

2008-03-09T20:58:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I have the same feeling today, but if you could take one back 35 years I bet I could make some great runs.

You have to admit it takes all kind of racers, drivers and riders to make Drag Racing what it is today but it would be a pretty sad if every one rode only what you ride, there would be no Drag Racing, not today, maybe fifty years ago when thats all there was around but stock cars and bikes.

It seems that the argument right now is mostly between riders from the past and Sport class bikes from the past and present, the ones that buy and ride a street bike and just because it is a fast bike at the drags it's still just a street bike, the same bike you can ride to work every day. Don't come back and tell me it's because you did this to it and that to make it go faster and quicker because that's exactly what the bikes up ahead of you in the bigger classes do to make there bike go faster, being it fuel or what ever. Isn't that what Drag Racing is all about. I wouldn't want the Top Fuel and Funny cars today to go the same speed and ET as the one you buy off the show room floor that it is representing.

I said before, I raced my whole career on a Top Fuel bike without Wheelie bars but wheelie bars that's how they do it today. A Harley, whether the parts look like a motor or not that runs in the sixes at over 200 MPH and "Spiderman" that just ran another ET in the fives and has gone almost 250 MPH, well I don't know how you could put that any place but the thing that every body's wants to see.

I think we, the ones that have concern for what is happening to Motorcycle Drag Racing should let things lie, and do for our selves, meaning AHDRA, they seem to have plenty of spectators, it sure impressed me at Las Vegas.

Changing Picture for Forums

2008-03-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

Randy, Joe K.
There are so many commands in different picture programs to use to make the picture better. Most times I just use the Auto Correct as I did in this picture and it will usually make it look at least 50 % better. After awhile you get to know how to even make them better.

Them Sportsters are going to jump up and get you.

2008-03-09T16:26:00.000-07:00

They tried too, at most tracks I raced at.

AMDRA Pioneer

2008-03-08T19:24:00.000-08:00

Frank,

WOW!
I keep forgetting it's been 35 years or so since I've see or even thought much about some of us from back then. In my mind it was just like yesterday. Some times the things you hear about racers and the people that were connected with what I did that I loved so much is just scary.

Roy and I never got along and when you hear things like what Jim just posted it makes you want to go back and change some of the things that happened. Even so, my memories of Roy are strong, maybe because of the ill feelings we had for each other

The last I heard about Roy was years ago and he was working at a Honda Shop, I believe was in Long Beach, CA. I hope he got better after Jim talked to him at Atco.

AMA and Motorcycle Drag Racing

2008-03-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

The way I read it is the AMA is going to stay out of that department and France is handling it. If that is the way it's going it should work.
Some of the things that was said at the meeting I don't think we would have ever heard about.

What Motor to Use

2008-03-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

The Sportster got it's start at the HD Factory, it some how got in the wrong assembly line and they started using old Sprint parts to finish it. The guy that was putting the engine together reading the instruction came to the sentence where it said "for the cam" that's how it got four cams.
They were going to call it "Baby 74" but short people had trouble reaching the ground with there feet. They finally came up with the name "Sport Turd" and because of advertising they changed it to Sportster.

Cost, Cost, and Cost

2008-03-07T19:32:00.000-08:00

I don't know Chris, any monies that is paid out seems it pretty much the same as it's always been, it's expected to be paid from the track. It ain't going to happen. I know that when I was racing there wasn't enough money coming from the manufactures . You can take the big performance Cycle as one example, the Harley guys have made them rich. I knew Sr. pretty good and was around in the beginning and watch that family prosper, don't get me wrong, that's the American way but still there was not enough done toward payouts to the racers. I can't complain, I never had to pay for any thing I ever used of theres. They're not the only ones that fit in that category, there was quite a few. Even the journalist that wrote the stories for the different magazine made money off our names, what we got was the glory, which I ate up just like everyone else. And still the more Ink you got, the more popular you were with the racing fans. So where does it end, the answer has been ask since Drag Racing started to be more professional and cost more money. I think that it has got to the point just like all racing, to do it you must be wealthy or have some really good backers.

When I was racing my motors hardly cost me a dime but if you wanted to buy one it would cost you seven or eight thousand dollars (back then). That's how some racers have kept racing and don't spend the money a lot of others do, the ones that have a name that's worth money in action and print spent less money. Today some of that has changed with crew chief, tire guy, blower guy, bottom end guy, head guy, etc.etc. I hate to be the one that has to pay every thing that makes a race team work.

It looks like every one is going to have to try and work with some track close to home and get some thing going because of cost. I see where the Harley guys were invited to run in Sacramento with the "Other" bikes, I seen a add someplace on it

NHRA Museum

2008-03-07T14:48:00.000-08:00

The last Single Engine Fuel Bike I built. It had runner up at Indy in 1973.

http://www.nhra.com/museum/features/feature41.html

High cost of Gas to Tour

2008-03-07T13:34:00.000-08:00

The answer is to go back to best mileage truck and pull small trailer and go racing like in the old days, yeah I like to see that happening. Or better yet, buy one of those eight second street bikes and ride it to the drags. Damn the high prices, for an old guy living on low budget income it's even worst.

What's happen to the good old USA?-?

Is Hill-la ree or Hus-sane (middle name) going to make it better or how about the X Ass-tro-naught-Hero who is so old he probably won't make it thru the first four years.

Who are you voting for to bring prices down?-?

Gas prices will help local tracks

2008-03-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

Very good posting Marion. I agree with you a 100 percent. It's not that hard or that much effort to do exactly as you posted and it can be done. Sometimes it take a group of racers together to commit themselves to that effort, the more working to help the better.

Irwindale Fan

2008-03-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

Ivy,
Glad to see someone that loved the Irwindale Days make a posting. I was wondering when you would pop in. You fixed that old picture a lot better that I did, boy was I a handsome young clean cut guy, way before I knew anything about Drag Racing, that's probably why.
I visited your site on myspace, pretty neat, first time I seen anyone use that picture to link my site. Once I learn how to use myspace I'll probably flood it with my junk.
I really appreciate the email you sent me and the news cast things were great, I used the one on a posting. You should post that video so they can see that speed wobble of Sonny Raz.
After looking at your myspace I'm sure I'll see more postings from you even if it's just to give your opinion.

1968 Match Race

2008-03-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

Frank,
Times, dates are a little confusing for the time of that match race. I think it was when I was building my first chassis and that race was when it was still a stock frame. It says low percentage, I can't remember what it was because when I first went to fuel I started with 10 percent and when I got tuned to that I went up to twenty percent, I did it ten percent at a time so I could learn how fuel worked. There was no charts then, I mixed with a two cup cooking measurer, you know one cup of this and nine cups of that, etc. It was somewhere around 1968, I think and I think I won all three rounds. I don't recall what the AHRA records were we had but I think one of us had the ET and the other had the speed record and I think it was a track record, just can't remember.

Sizing Pictures

2008-03-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

Joe k, here you go. You did good on changing the picture, the trouble is it's 107 KB. I compressed it to Web Size, 29.1 KB and went to that resize program I showed you and changed the size to 600 wide, I think you can go up to 750 before it gets to wide.

Free Picture Sizing

2008-03-06T16:55:00.000-08:00

Joe k, sorry you are having so much trouble with your pictures you post. I guess photo bucket doesn't know how to do it either. If you know how to compress the picture to get the 55KB needed, preferably less, around 20KB for forum size then you can use this.
http://www.bigwebpages.com/big/resize.html
It's real simple to use to enlarge or reduce size and it's free. When you get the page bookmark it or desk top it.
By the way, what's a "tits".
I knew you were a swell guy from the very beginning.
PS If you like, send me an email, tell me what programs you have and maybe I can walk you thru to size pictures.

Gas and Fuel Championships

2008-03-06T16:38:00.000-08:00

At the Bakersfield Gas and Fuel Championships when I turned the First Eight Second run which was on Saturday, I also ran a 9.12 the day before right off the Trailer

There was another rider there that turned a 9.02 during the first round of eliminations on race day.
His name was Boris Murray.

We raced in the finals, and Boris only had one motor left in his bike. I won the race but I wonder what might have happened if he had both motors?
Would he have won? Would it have pushed me too another eight? Or maybe both into the eights with who knows who might have won?
That's why I love Drag Racing

5.79 E T, new Record

2008-03-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

I hope AMA is "not still hooked" into there "old ways" about Motorcycle Drag Racing, which was small print and none.

The biggest star in Motorcycle Drag Racing and no mention.

Story on the Big Guy

2008-03-06T07:35:00.000-08:00

There's a really good write up about "Spiderman" on Dragbike.com now. Maybe it just takes time for the writer to get to a computer and a cool beer.

Good Write up Dragbike.

The Three Stooges

2008-03-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

If I remember right the reason that car is behind them was there was a cable that came out the truck with a hook on it and they would hook it to the bike to hold it back during a burnout.

One time Clem got the ideal that the strip wasn't getting the tire hot enough so he had an alloy plate that went under the slick with short cables that hooked to the under carriage of the frame so they could burn out on the plate, being the alloy got the tire hotter.

The Three Stooges

2008-03-05T18:11:00.000-08:00

Ever time these guys went to the starting line to make a run, they were like the three Stooges. Clem always rode the bike up the fire up rode and fired the "Barn Job" and made the burn out. That's Lieneweber in the leathers, waiting to get the bike from Clem, Ralph, Clem's best friend on the right.
The three Stooges image always left if Jimmy could get a straight run down the track, times usually made up for it.

New Irving Vincent Motorcycle

2008-03-05T12:46:00.000-08:00

4 March 2008***NEWSFLASH ****

IRVING VINCENT WINNER

2008 AHRMA Battle of the Twins

DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Rider: Craig McMartin

1st place - 4th March 2008 Battle of the Twins

3rd place - 3rd March 2008 Battle of the Twins

Match Race

2008-03-05T02:57:00.000-08:00

It was called Drag News then, sometime between 1966 and 1968.

Marion Owens known as Big Mo.

2008-03-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

I received my second surprise phone call in the last seven weeks.

Big MO, Marion Owens gave me another call and we had a great time talking about old and new times. He told me he may be making a trip to California and we would get together and do some real Bench Racing. Marion and I were great competitors in my day.

Exhibition

2008-03-02T09:19:00.000-08:00