Michigan Madman – R.I.P.

[Paul in NZ]

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2012/05/03/e-j-potter-the-michigan-madman-r-i-p/

I didn't even know his real name but I was very familiar with that picture of him launching his V8 Drag bike.... I always thought it was just one of the great motorcycle racing photos, crossed up, smoke pouring from the rear and the throttle pinned to the stop... Brilliant.

Jeeze - an American Burt Munroe without the finesse..... I reckon his life story would make a hell of a movie

[White trash]

Jesus tap dancing Christ! That guy was awesome!!!!!!!!!!

[HenryDorsetCase]

that was fantastic. the story about starting the jet engine with the compressor. made me laugh like hell.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Remember reading about him some time ago. Very cool Cat.

[nudemetalz]

that was fantastic. the story about starting the jet engine with the compressor. made me laugh like hell.

That would turn your gruds severely brown with those air tanks doing their own things !!!:laugh::shit:

[Fast Eddie]

haha the air tank story eh was a goodie.

what a legend, shame i never knew of him before.

[Zedder]

Thanks for that Paul. He was an amazing guy and reminds me of some clever DIY Kiwis.

[willytheekid]

Jesus tap dancing Christ! That guy was awesome!!!!!!!!!!

:niceone: +1

...couldnt have said it better

R.I.P EJ

[Paul in NZ]

that was fantastic. the story about starting the jet engine with the compressor. made me laugh like hell.

It reminded me of a mate whom was unscrewing the regulator of a dead empty HUGE oxy cylinder ..... except it wasn't empty - the gauges were faulty and the top was damaged. He was sitting astride it when it took off and ended up in the eaves of a house across the road... gleep...

That photo says it all though - talk about unleashing hell....

[Blackbird]

Saw EJ Potter in the 60's at Santa Pod Dragstrip riding a drag bike with an injected V8 Corvette motor in it which he crashed right in front of us. On the start line, he used to wind it up to max torque with the wheel spinning just off the ground, then trigger a jack which dropped the bike and off he went, smoking for the whole 1/4mile!

A bit on him here too: http://www.theaccelerationarchive.co.uk/keith/lee_blog.html.

[MIXONE]

There was a V8 drag bike called Crazyhorse I think that ran at Meremere in the mid 70's.It used the same "rock it off the cradle" launch system and was amazing to watch.He ran car tyres which would last 4 runs.One mile per tyre!

[nadroj]

There was a V8 drag bike called Crazyhorse I think that ran at Meremere in the mid 70's.It used the same "rock it off the cradle" launch system and was amazing to watch.He ran car tyres which would last 4 runs.One mile per tyre!

That would be Wally Pushkey on Roscoe McGlashans chevy powered bike. He was contracted to do 3 runs with the first run a sideways crossed up to the max run then progressively straighter / quicker runs.
Roscoe also rode the bike at Meremere and a local lad by the name of Mark Gedde was offered a ride (he was running a Z900 at the time) but sensibly turned it down. Mark is now in Aussie still drag racing.