Big Stroker from the Past

I recently acquired a copy of a 1960 Hot Rod Magazine. I purchased it on-line because the description mentioned that it contained an article on a Harley drag bike.  1960? - Check.  Harley? - Check.   Drag bike? - Check!  Yep, sounded like it was right up my alley, and worth the price of admission just to see whose vintage drag bike it was.  A few bucks and a few days later I was pleasantly surprised.  Stan Dishong!  Truly one of the pioneers and innovators of the sport.  Here are a few highlights:

 

 Heliarc welded and low mounted fuel and oil tanks were certainly unusual for 1960, as was the fiberglass rear fender/seat combo

 

 

 

Knuckle engine was brought out to 100 cubic inches via custom built cylinders and flywheels.  Bore was 3-9/16" with a stroke of 5"

 

One of the coolest aspects was the starting system - a set of rollers powered by an Indian twin

 

 

 

Stan Dishong will be a familiar name to even freshman students of early drag racing history.  Stan was definitely not shy about trying out new ideas, and from what I have seen he always executed them with beautiful workmanship. His partner and fellow fabricator on this particular bike was Terry Hines .  As you may guess, pump driven fuel injection is used, which explains the low mounted tank.  The article suggests that the engine could be converted from 16:1 compression ratio for use with alcohol, over to 9:1 when using nitro.  In other words, a crazy compression ratio for use with a sane fuel, and sane compression ratio for use with a crazy fuel!  Makes perfect sense to me. (no - really, it does)

The Sign of Jonah

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Matthew 12:38-41

  The story of Jonah and the whale is one that many of us will remember from our youth.  The book of Jonah is only four short chapters, so it is fairly easy to summarize.  Jonah was called upon by God to go to the city of Nineveh to call them to repentance for their wickedness.  Jonah did not want to obey God in this matter so he got onto a ship to sail away in another direction.  But God sent a storm that threatened to sink the ship, which ultimately led to Jonah being cast overboard so that the crew might survive.

Then God sent a great fish to swallow Jonah, which, after he had cried out to God, delivered Jonah onto dry land so that he could fulfill his missionary journey to Nineveh. 

Today I would like to consider Jonah from the prospective of what Jesus had to say about him in the book of Matthew. 

First of all, let’s consider the context in which Jesus brings up Jonah’s trial at the hand (mouth?) of the whale.  Just before these scribes and Pharisees (leaders of the Jewish people) asked Jesus to show them a sign, he had healed a man with a withered hand.  That caused the Pharisees to hold a council on how they might do away with him.  Next Jesus went away and great multitudes followed him.  The Bible says that he healed them all.  Then Jesus cast out a devil from a person causing him to regain his speech and his eyesight. When the Pharisees heard of that, they concluded that Jesus had done this miracle by the power of Satan.  Now if all these other signs were not enough, Jesus "read their minds" and lectured them about what was wrong with what they had been thinking.  So is it any wonder that when they followed this up by asking for a sign, that he was a bit short with what could only be considered to be a insolent request?

I like what Matthew Henry says this about the passage: “Signs were granted to those who desired them for the confirmation of their faith, as to Abraham and Gideon; but were denied to those who demanded them for the excuse of their unbelief.”

The sign of the prophet Jonah;  as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  Now, not only is this statement a prophecy of what would soon happen to him,  Jesus makes it abundantly clear that Jonah being swallowed by a whale was a “type” or picture of the gospel.  The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, was foreshadowed right there in the Old Testament. 

Jonah was cast into the sea to suffer the wrath of God so that others would not perish.  In Jonah’s case the others were the sailors who had been idolaters, but before the storm ceased were calling out to Jehovah.  In like manner, Jesus suffered the wrath of God on the cross to save sinners of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues.

Jonah was “buried” in the belly of a whale for 3 days.  Jesus spent a corrsponding amount of time in the grave.  Jonah was spit out of the Whale’s mouth alive, resulting in the repentance and salvation of the city of Nineveh.  That picture was fulfilled when Jesus rose from the dead, resulting in countless numbers coming to salvation through repentance and faith.

Jesus said that what happened to Jonah was a sign.  Do you suppose Jonah may have told his story of deliverance from three days in the belly of a whale as part of his preaching to the people of Nineveh?   If they accepted his message, then certainly they must have understood that Jonah's deliverance from the whale was a sign of God’s mercy. 

The same is true of the preaching of the cross.  It is Christ's resurrection from the dead which is the ultimate sign that is given that we might believe!  It is the sign by which we may know that God the Father has accepted the sacrifice which Jesus made on the cross for our sins.  If you believe it, then surely you must understand that the resurrection is a sign of God’s mercy to you.

Almost 30 Years Ago...

Due to a series of unforeseen and insignificant events (too insignificant to mention here), I came upon a published class breakdown for the HDRA (Harley Drag Racing Association) circa 1985.  This was from back in the good old days when Red Roberts owned and operated the HDRA.  Though titled 1986 Classes, I think these are the same classifications that were used in 1985 (at least they are in regards to the class I was involved in back then).  As far as I know the 1986 HDRA national tour did not take place due to circumstances beyond Red's control. Unfortunately I don't know the name of the publication this came from, so I cannot give proper credit.  I offer it only in the interest of presenting a little drag racing history to those of the younger generation who care about such things, and to jog a few good memories for those of my generation.

1986 Classes

Professional Categories

Open Fuel Eliminator: Will consist of (double engine supercharged) (single engine supercharged nitro) (fuel injected single engine nitro) (carbureted single engine 2 speed nitro) (light nitrous oxide dragbikes, under 425 lbs for sportsters, under 500 lbs for big twins)

Hot Dragster Eliminator: Will consist of (carbureted single engine high gear nitro) (double engine gas or alcohol) (supercharged single engine gas or alcohol) (fuel injected gas or alcohol)

Dragster Eliminator: Will consist of (carbureted gas or alcohol 94” & up)

 

Sportsman Categories

Street Eliminator

Class A: 45”Harley; 2 and 3 wheeled 45” powered motorcycles modifications unlimited

Class B: Handshift FL; Any hand shift foot clutch 74, tank shift, jockey shift, or slap shift, Any engine or chassis modification allowed as long as 74” is retained, must be street legal.

Class C: Handshift Stroker; Any hand shift foot clutch big twin over 74”, modifications unlimited as long as it remains street legal.

Class D: Stock XL; Harley Sportsters close enough to stock as to not have a distinct advantage over a normal street stocker.  Any pipes allowed.  Harley carburetor only.  6” maximum swing arm extension.  Must have all equipment needed to pass state inspection & electrical charging system.

Class E: Hot Street XL; Harley Sportsters with performance modifications including light chassis or late model double carburetor XR-1000 models. 72 cubic inch maximum.  Must have all equipment needed to pass state inspection & electrical charging system.

Class F: Street Racer XL; Harley Sportsters over 72”.  Must have operable headlight and taillight, normally aspirated only.

Class G: Super Street XL; Harley Sportsters with fuel injection, nitrous kits, turbo or superchargers, must have operable headlight and taillight.

Class J: Stock FL; Harley 74’s close enough to stock as to not have a distinct advantage over a stock 74.  Any pipes allowed.  Harley carburetor only, 6” maximum swing arm extension.  Must have all equipment needed to pass state inspection & electrical charging system.

Class K: Hot Street FL; Big Twins that are 1340cc and highly modified 74” bikes.  Must have all equipment needed to pass state inspection & electrical charging system.

Class L: Street Racer FL; Big Twins over 80”.  Must have operable headlight and taillight, normally aspirated only.

Class M: Super Street FL; Big Twins with fuel injection, nitrous kits, turbo or superchargers, must have operable headlight and taillight.

Modified Eliminator

Class H: Drag Modified XL; Sportster dragbikes under 74”

Class I: X Drag Modified XL; Sportster dragbikes 75” to 93”

Class P: Super Modified XL; Sportster dragbikes with nitrous oxide kits, superchargers, or turbochargers, minimum weight 426 lbs.

Class N: Drag Modified FL; Big twin dragbikes under 82”

Class O: X Drag Modified FL; Big Twin dragbikes 83” to 93”

Class R: Super Modified FL; Big Twin dragbikes with nitrous oxide kits, superchargers, or turbochargers, minimum weight 500 lbs.

How to be a Great Nation

How often do you hear a politician use the phrase, this great nation...?  But what exactly is the cause of a nation being great?  Wealth?  Power?  Freedom?  Security?

Well, I think I can provide a biblical answer.

Deuteronomy 4: 5-8  Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.  For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?  And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

That's right, a nation's greatness is not found in its natural resources, not in its armies, or even in its political system.  It is found in the nation's adherence to Jehovah's law as found in the Bible. 

May I suggest that the inverse is also true. 

Deuteronomy 4: 9 goes on to say: Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

What if a once great nation were to ban God's word from its schools and its government?  How long would that nation remain great?

Just something for us to consider next time we are feeling a little too patriotic.

123+

Well, its official.  Joe Taylor's 1939 61 cubic inch Knucklehead now holds the world record in the MPS VG 1000  class for the Bub Speed Trials at Bonneville!

The record runs were made on Tuesday with Terry of Gunner's Cycle piloting.  The record now stands at 123.526, just over 14 mph higher than the previous class record held by Sid Biberman's Vincent. 

Terry feels that there is  more mph to be found since the newly added AFR gauges showed the jetting still quite rich, however rain precluded any further attempt for this year.  Dyno testing was not in the cards for the Gray Goose this past summer, and though the speed is well short of the team's goal, they wisely decided to fore go any tuning changes until after the record was in their possession. 

Congratulations to Joe, Terry and John for reaching this milestone in only their second year on the salt with the Goose.  And if you would allow me to indulge in a little patting myself on the back, I would like to mention that I not only built the motor, but I also supplied the 2.060" valves and guides used to set this record. It is always a nice when you can add "World Record Setting" to a product description! 

Now, if the boys can just add another 16-1/2 mph next year...   

Another Drag Racing Pioneer Gone

I received word about a week ago that Carl McClanahan had passed away. You may recall that I featured one of his last drag bikes here on this blog recently. Before commenting, I wanted to find an obituary online so I could link to it, however I have had no success.  It only seems fitting to at least provide some sort of words at the passing of one of the innovators and pioneers of motorcycle drag racing, so I have chosen to quote what is written about Carl on the back cover of his 1984 book "V-Twin Thunder."

 

 

Carl McClanahan started drag racing in 1958 on a 1951 74 inch Panhead.  Since then, he has collected record after record, trophy after trophy, and first place after first place.  Carl's bikes go fast because of the skills, techniques, and tricks he has learned over the years.  Among the records he has set and held are:

 

1963: Alton, Illinois. 11.75 seconds, 123.288 mph on a 66 inch Sportster with a lay down frame.  This bike ran 11.55, 125 mph later in 1963

 

1969: Alton, Illinois. AHRA world record A/Fuel 9.57 on an 89 inch Sportster in a Yetman frame.  This bike later ran consistent 9.30s to 9.40s.

 

1970: Gainesville, Florida.  Low qualifier Spring Nationals, at 9.44 seconds.

 

1970: Invited to Indy Nationals, Top Fuel.

 

1972: Assumption, Illinois.  Set IHRA record for B/Fuel on a 55 inch Sportster.

 

1972: Bowling Green, Kentucky. Ran 10.75, 130.62 mph.  Old record was 10.96

 

1972: Alton, Illinois.  Ran 10.47, 10.34, 10.33, 10.31, and 10.32, at 138 mph.

 

1973: Pevely, Missouri.  Ran 6.18, 119 mph in 1/8 mile race to win AHRA B/Fuel record on a 53 inch Sportster.

 

1974: Pevely, Missouri. Won AHRA A/Fuel record on a 108 inch (!) Sportster.

 

Carl also built what may have been the first twin engine Sportster, using a pair of 66 inch engines in line.  He fell off four of the first seven time out, and later dismembered the bike before it was able to dismember him.  In 1971, he built the first set of wheelie bars for motorcycles. 

 

A racer for 25 years, Carl still makes all the national events within 700 miles of his home in St. Louis.

 

Rest in Peace, Carl.

 



Is Jesus on Board?

And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.: But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.  And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.  For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.   Mark 6:45-52

Jesus walking on the water is one of the most well known miracles told of in the Bible. You may perhaps be more familiar with the way it is told by Matthew, which also relates how Peter started to walk out on the water to Jesus, but became afraid because of the wind, and had to call out for Jesus to save him as he began to sink.

I would like to just make a few observations about this miracle.

The first is that I love the way that anytime we read of Jesus performing a miracle, we are always given enough information to make it absolutely clear that it was indeed a supernatural event. In the text it tells us that the ship was in the midst of the sea when Jesus came walking toward them. The book of John tells us that the disciples rowed three or four miles. Jesus wasn't just wading out to the boat. He wasn't just walking out on a sandbar. They were in the midst of the Sea of Galilee!

Mark also tell us that Jesus stayed on land while the disciples rowed toward the other side and that they toiled in rowing because the wind was contrary unto them. If you will allow me to turn that into a metaphor for salvation, then you might say that without Jesus on board, we are rowing against the wind. That is not to say that salvation makes life easier. It does not. But in the matter of knowing God, and ultimately spending eternity with him, the Bible says no man comes to the Father except by Jesus. Any other way is rowing against the wind.

I would also like to suggest that without Jesus on board, we cannot be close to God. That seems pretty self evident. Even the name Emanuel means "God with us."

We also find that when the disciples saw Jesus walking toward them on the water they did not recognize him; they thought that he was a ghost. I would observe that without Jesus on board, we may not recognize God when he is right in front of our eyes. How often we attribute things that happen to chance or good luck, when it is really the work of the God who has numbered the very hairs of our head! (Luke 12:7)

The Bible tells us that his disciples were troubled when they saw Jesus walking on the water toward them. Without Jesus on board, the prospect of him coming on board may be troubling to us. Salvation involves repentance, and repentance involves recognition of our sins. Certainly consideration of our sinfulness compared to a holy God can be nothing if not troubling to the soul.

When Jesus entered the boat, the winds stopped and his disciples were totally amazed and wondered. Well, calming the stormy sea is certainly a miracle, as much as walking on the water, so perhaps we should not be surprised at their amazement. However Mark comments that it was because they had already forgotten the miracle from the day before when Jesus fed 5000 with five loaves and two fish. It seems that even with Jesus on board, they were quick to forget his previous miracles.

We are prone to do the same ourselves. Day after day, don't we worry about what tomorrow will bring? Don't we fret about our health or our money or our possessions? Don't we quickly forget the miracles of Jesus, including the biggest one of all - that of salvation.?

In reality the one thing we really should concern ourselves with is whether or not we have Jesus on board. In other words, have we been born again; have we put our trust in the fact that Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins; are we truly followers of Christ?

If not, then we must follow the example of Peter when he began to sink, and cry out to Jesus "Lord save me."  (Matthew 14:30)

If you will cry out to him in faith and repentance, then you will get the same results. The Bible says that immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him. He will do the same for you!