Going down memory lane

[JETKAWA]

This is a picture of a drag bike my buddy sonny and I built in the mid-seventies. The engine was out of a CB750 Honda SOHC, punched to 1080cc and fuel injected. Injection system was made by Hilborn, not to many injected bikes back then. We ran methanol for fuel most of the time, but occasionally we ran a mixture of 20 to 40% nitro methane. On the nitro runs we had traction issues. Drive chain was a double row DID 520 and the gearing was 18/36. I rode the bike a couple of times; I am in this picture (upper right hand corner, barely visible, engulfed in all the smoke. Wearing a red baseball cap with a ND spark plug insignia. We had a ND sponsorship but ran NGK’s, (please don’t tell anyone) our fastest time was a 9.42 quarter mile at a 147mph. Most of the time we ran nine eighties. As you can see this bike was set up for a little guy, Honda SL100 front end, and with me standing little over six foot tall and 225 pounds, I looked like a circus act when I rode it. Hope you like the picture.

John T.

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

That must have been a huge rush to hammer that bike down the strip.
I am assuming no wheelie bars?

[JETKAWA]

Yes we did have wheelie bars, they extended about 3 feet and were about a inch off the ground. Took what seemed about forty acres of land to turn the bike around. We were greatfull for a long shut down area. (really put that five inch drum brake to work)


John T.

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

After noticing that tiny brake, i figured the pic was from the end of the run and the feet down were part of the stopping proceedure. lol.
Wasn't the 1080 an R.C. Eng. kit?

[Rick Pope]

Ahh, those good old SOHC 750s were the source of much frustration from the early Kaw guys. I used to pass my 750 off as a stocker and really tick off the guys w/ Z-1 or KZ1000 Kaws. The R.C. goodies were the ticket. Still have that bike, hope to start it tomorrow evening.

Thanks for posting that pic. It brings back memories...............

[JETKAWA]

The 1080cc kit was from RC engineering. We stuck a box stock 750 engine in this bike. Can anyone guess what quarter mile time it ran? (Running on alcohol no nitro)

[FalldownPhil]

11.90's

[EMS]

I am guessing around 9.42 at approx. 147 mph...

[Rick Pope]

I'll also guess high 11.8s