1969 Motorcycle Drag Racing Primer - 5-Page Vintage Article

Description

1969 Motorcycle Drag Racing Primer - 5-Page Vintage Article
Original, vintage magazine article.
Page Size: Approx. 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
DRAG
RACING
PRIMER
HERE YOU CAN REALLY SEE WEIGHT TRANSFER IN
ACTION. NOTICE THE NEAREST RIDER IS SITTING
WAY BACK OVER THE REAR WHEEL. THE OTHER Mfr
RIDER HAS PLACED MOST OF
_______________HIS WEIGHT FORWARD.YWK
The What Why And How 01 What oraggin’s All About.
It’s fun. it’s cheap, and you can
use your street bike. Drag racing is
probably the only form of competition
where you can drive to the race track,
compete, and then ride the same ma-
chine back home. Most riders are con-
fused as to how the classes arc set up
and the races arc run. Also the phrase-
ology has been known to confuse some.
If you’ve never participated at a
drag meet before, and your competition
experience is somewhat limited, then
you had best stick to the stock class.
By the way, all of the classes have
been drawn up by the AHRA (Ameri-
can Hot Rod Association) and at any
sanctioned meet these arc the classes
that are run. The AHRA has been a
real boon and a friend to all two-wheel
drag racing enthusiasts. They have done
more to stimulate interest in this direc-
tion than any other group.
Although the class is called "Stock
Bike.” there arc still a few things you
can do to tip the scales in your favor.
Regardless of how much your machine
cost, the factory never intended it to
be used for drag racing. This is es-
pecially true if you think in terms of
the drive system. The clutch, gearbox
and chains take abuse in direct pro-
portion to the power applied to them
and the weight of the machine and
ridcr. In stock class you’re allowed to
alter or modify the clutch, and the car-
buretors also may be worked over. Al-
though you can change tires, slicks are
not allowed. Actually they really aren’t
needed anyway. Because of the relative-
ly short wheelbase. When the clutch is
dropped home there is plenty of good
solid weight transfer. This weight trans-
fer is what causes the front end to lift.
As a result of all this weight transfer
going for you. a standard road tire
will work quite well. One tire I'm
rather partial to is a slightly worn Dun-
lop K-70. These really get a hold of the
ground. In order to be more comfor-
table you may want to change the seat
and bars. Go ahead, it's legal. This is...
15648