I am truly gobsmacked...

[Blackbird]

Well, today has been one of the great days and I just have to share it.

It all started the other evening when I had an email from a friend in the UK I haven’t had contact with for over 30 years emailing me out of the blue. We’d both tried to find each other on occasions and had failed up until now.

Anyway, we both used to drag race when in our early 20’s and Pete Miller actually held the official FIM world ¼ mile standing start record in the 70’s. I had another email from him this morning and he enclosed some photos of my 350cc drag bike which I didn’t even know existed – shocked and delighted to say the least.

The photo of me is a bit naff but the thing I’m holding is a bent alloy pushrod. The wild cams, heavy valve springs and revs used to regularly buckle them and the problem was only solved when I made my own pushrods from titanium.

What a wonderful surprise – feel quite emotional about it. Even better, Pete is still into bikes and plans to tour NZ in a year or so. The internet is a truly fantastic tool.

[vifferman]

So, while you're feeling all nostalgic, are you going to start dragracing the Blackbird?

[bugjuice]

that's really cool

[Bren_chch]

always nice when things like that happen... love the hair mate, u look like ur out of the avengers!

[Blackbird]

So, while you're feeling all nostalgic, are you going to start dragracing the Blackbird?

Hello Ian - there's a fair chance of going down on my arse or stuffing the clutch, so no......

Geoff

[ManDownUnder]

Mate - it's awesome when the past comes back to haunt you - in a good way!
MDU

[emaN]

Wikkid BB!

You've now got more pix to go with your PDF life-story thing...

Nice skivvie too

[Blackbird]

Wikkid BB!

You've now got more pix to go with your PDF life-story thing...

Nice skivvie too

Blush......

[Sparky Mark]

...Santa Pod... *sigh* Great memories...

[Lazy7]

geezus - that drag bike looks like a death machine. bet you you wouldn't ride it down the strip now...

quite a cool story though

[Blackbird]

geezus - that drag bike looks like a death machine. bet you you wouldn't ride it down the strip now...

quite a cool story though

Well I'd be worried about my unprotected wedding tackle being so close to the back wheel......

[R6_kid:Me]

loving the helmet and bullet style windbreaker screen!

[Swoop]

F'ing AWSOME!!!!

Machining titanium is a tricky job as well, or so I've heard!

Yes, the interdweebnet is a fine thing to be sure...

[nudemetalz]

What times did that 350cc wild-machine post ?

[Blackbird]

What times did that 350cc wild-machine post ?

Not a lot slower than a Blackbird actually - high 10's with terminals of around 130 mph. It was better at the long distances though and did a standing start mile in 33 secs with a terminal of 147 mph (I was grossly overgeared for the conditions). Not too bad for the late 60's. It was still just under the world record at the time though, although the official FIM record has to be in both directions to supposedly cancel the wind effect.

Surprisingly safe sport. Got flailed on the back once when the chain snapped on the start line (THAT HURT). and had one "off" at speed but that was no big deal as it turned out.