A day with the Titans

On June 6th, 2008, I got an opportunity to visit a Bike Drag Race for the first time ever (a million thanks to Doug for hanging there for me!!). It was the Drag Race Event held at the

Great Lakes Drag Away, Wisconsin, USA. The event featured Bikes as well as Cars, but as usual I was more interested in the Bikes and from the time I entered the arena and left the arena, I saw those bikes in gas and grease which till date I've seen only over the Internet or in movies. Needless to say, it was like a dream come true that I was able to touch and feel the Kawasaki ZX14 and the Suzuki Hyabusa.

But guess my most treasured moments were those, which I spent with Bill Homuth (Doug's father and Sir for me) who won the big Dragster category. The bike flaunts a 1985 Suzuki GS 1150 cc engine which has been worked upon to become a 1200 cc beast. The rest of the chassis is all custom done, which also incorporates a sliding clutch and no manual clutch so that the gear can shift as per the increasing revs of the bike. Quite an incredible work one has to say!!!!

Sir bringing down his dragster to get it ready for the race

Wow!!! That's big

One after other, he kept on winning the races and finally emerged as the final winner in his category of Pro ET (Elapsed Time), with the final ticket showing magical figures.

Final Tally!!

The other major category for Bikes that attracted the most crowd was the Pro Mod Street Category, the final of which was ran between a Kawasaki Ninja ZX14 and Suzuki Hyabusa and guess the ZX14 lost solely out of high Response Time figures.

Pro Mod Street Category Winner

Majority of the bikes that participated in the race had extended swing arm to keep the bike from taking a flight at such high revs.

I too got a chance too swing my legs over the dragster and take it to the racing alley!!

Taking a ride back to office ? ;)

And my first impression about the bike when I moved it towards the alley was..... you would be thrilled to ride this bike when the revs are up...........but if it's not the case, then it's a bit sluggish because of the sliding type clutch it has.

Well the excitement apart for me there were a couple of disappointments too. First there were no 2008 Yamaha R1 and second non of the 2005-2007 Yamaha R1 could make it through, even the first round of eliminations. But nevertheless it was an eye feast for any bike lover!!!

One of the most colossal bike which featured over there was the Kawasaki Ninja ZX14, with quite a few custom job done, and which was actually for sale for $20,000 after clocking 500 miles!!!

For Sale!!

So, my obvious question to the current owner of the bike was - "at $20,000 who wouldn't love to own it, but who would like to own it"............and the answer was a burst of laughter.

So, it was a long day at the drag strip, and finally when I got back to the hotel, I was all knocked out, first because of the sheer awe of what I saw, heard, touched and felt at the drag strip, and second, it was hot out here this Sunday and it took a toll on me :)

My pictorial coverage can be found over here