Blackbird
5th July 2008, 12:15
Just going through my files and found the attached pictures.
John Hobbs drag raced in the UK at the same time as me although he was into the bigger classes and was a whole lot more successful with a string of world records in standing start and flying distances. The last bike he campaigned in the 70's and early 80's before retiring from the sport was called The Hobbit and was powered by twin 850cc Weslake Triumph motors with two superchargers and a 50% nitro mix.
Riding a top fuel drag bike wasn't likened to sitting on top of a hand grenade with the pin pulled for nothing as one of the photos shows. The big end cap inside the piston wasn't posed - that's where it jammed! Before he retired, he made it into the very low 8's with terminal speeds of over 170 mph. There were only 2 or 3 people in the world at this time who could give him a run for his money.
Running a circuit racing bike is dear enough, but a drag bike soaks up seriously big money!
John Hobbs drag raced in the UK at the same time as me although he was into the bigger classes and was a whole lot more successful with a string of world records in standing start and flying distances. The last bike he campaigned in the 70's and early 80's before retiring from the sport was called The Hobbit and was powered by twin 850cc Weslake Triumph motors with two superchargers and a 50% nitro mix.
Riding a top fuel drag bike wasn't likened to sitting on top of a hand grenade with the pin pulled for nothing as one of the photos shows. The big end cap inside the piston wasn't posed - that's where it jammed! Before he retired, he made it into the very low 8's with terminal speeds of over 170 mph. There were only 2 or 3 people in the world at this time who could give him a run for his money.
Running a circuit racing bike is dear enough, but a drag bike soaks up seriously big money!