![]() Using the latter as an example, he started with a 45-horsepower 998cc Vincente Rapide that evolved over the years into the iconic 450-horsepower drag bike known as Barn Job. This is especially true for the builds of well-known racers of the time like Pete Hill, Bud Hare, and Clem Johnson. In other words, it came down to how much you were willing to spend, how creative you were, and how fast you wanted to go. Likewise, classes were still a decade away, and the winner was nothing more than who had the fastest bike.įor some, these are remembered as the "good old days" since there were no rules governing modifications or engine sizes, and most participants were amateur racers that built their own bikes. The first was actually an unused runway in Santa Ana, California, where races were initiated by a flagger instead of the "tree" used today. Unsurprisingly, speed contests became increasingly popular, which led to the idea of drag strips where competitors could push their vehicles (or motorcycles) to the limits in a controlled environment. While many people associate this era with automobiles, the same can be said for motorcycles. Don't shift until the needle meets the redline that way, engine rpms will land in the peak power range once you're in the next gear, helping catapult the bike forward faster as you speed toward the traps.As life began to return to normal after WWII, the trend during the 1950s and 60s was for bigger, faster, and more powerful machines. Once you're off the line, keep an eye on the tachometer while ensuring that the bike doesn't veer off the track. The engine revs with a husky roar, burnouts effortlessly produce smoke, and acceleration is violent enough that it takes a concerted effort to hold onto the handlegrips as the engine surges toward the rev limiter. ![]() But when it's time to step up to the ZX-14, everything takes on an oversized dimension. The effect is less dramatic on the small bike. Although wheelies are counterproductive to efficient acceleration, getting a few inches of lift is better than insufficient throttle. That way, if the bike wheelies excessively, your boots will be ready for stabilization in case things get too squirrely.ĭrop the clutch, and the initial lurch forward is usually strong enough to raise the front wheel. But they should ideally stay down for the first few feet. ![]() As the bike lurches forward, there's a natural temptation to lift your boots and find the footpegs just after launch. ![]() Reaction time is measured from the moment the green light is lit to the time you react, but the whole process requires nailing the breadth of the launch-shift-ride sequence through the quarter-mile sequence.īut if you successfully dropped the clutch at the proper engine rpm, then the load of hooking up the rear tire challenges the motor's momentum just enough to keep it from overpowering traction and spinning the wheel, which would waste time. Technically, the clock doesn't start until you leave that section (which is essentially two 7.25-inch stretches of "rollout"), but here's the rub: If you pull a wheelie within that space, you've lost a brief but potentially important head start on your opponent, because the clock starts once the light has been tripped. The staging lights in drag racing monitor the first 14.5 inches of your journey down the tunnel of tarmac and ensure that you don't foul your start-leave the line before the Christmas tree hits the green light. Those variables can also reflect changes in altitude, barometric pressure, and relative humidity. Off-the-line reaction time and incremental measurements at 60, 330, 660, and 1000 feet offer insight into exactly how man and machine are interacting, which helps tuners calibrate everything from fuel maps to tire pressure. Racers and tuners use a slew of data to analyze bike setup and riding technique. The goal of drag racing is pretty basic: Cross the quarter mile first and snag a lower elapsed time (E/T) than your opponent.
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