I’m a Below The Knee amputee riding a 2019 Street glide. I’ve had issues riding two wheels I’ve had to overcome in riding style and or by modifying the motorcycle. One of the biggest issues I’ve had is when parking the motorcycle. Pushing backwards on flat surface was a challenge enough with a grip of one foot. Add some sand or incline and you would most likely be asked to help me pick up my motorcycle. Due to this I worried where to park, so I could ride out forward. Not an easy task at an event where there are a ton of bikes all jammed together.

                     Baker Drivetrain’s reverse kit solves this issue 110%!

            F6R GIVES DISABLED RIDERS AND OTHERS A PUSH                                                                  BACKWARDS

Baker (www.bakerdrivetrain.com) has been designing, building and testing Harley Davidson driveline products for over 25 years. The F6R kit adds a reverse gear to any existing 2008-later factory Harely Davidson Touring motorcycle. With the required modifications the kit can also be installed in 2007 and later Softail and 2006 later Dyna models. For more information on required modifications, you can call Baker at (517) 339-3835.

 This kit gives you a reverse gear in your transmission allowing you to use your clutch, stock gear shift lever and the power of your Harley power plant. The latest edition of this kit has some solid manufactured components to modify your factory transmission to have R-1-N-2-3-4-5-6.

 

 To make sure that it will not accidentally shift into reverse it has a lockout. On this model it is operated by a cable that exits the side cover facing to the rear, which allows it to be used with numerous exhaust systems. It is very important when running this safety cable to follow the instructions carefully. This cable must have a 3-inch radius arc and make sure it doesn’t get pinched when running up and through your triple trees and fairing to the lock out lever on your handlebars.

 The Kit, made in the USA, comes with billet bearing door and side covers made from 6061-T6 aluminum. The shift drum is made of 12L14 of billet steel and 4140 billet steel shift forks. Add the precision ground gears and you have quality second to none.

The side door and cover are offered polished or gloss black. Also, the side cover is offered with a hydraulic or cable clutch system. Baker has truly evolved this F6R to meet all the needs of different setups.

 

 

 The kit comes with Very Complete Instructions. I strongly suggest you read them carefully as it does require a competent mechanic with knowledge of Harley’s six-speed transmission. One of the major requirements is a 20-ton press for assembly. You will also need the appropriate tools to pull countershaft gear, Inner primary race serviced tool, Pulley locking tool and Primary drive locking tool. The instructions are very detailed and their support line is top notch and quick should you need it.

To install the kit, you will need to take your primary side off, remove the side cover and door of the transmission and pull your transmission gearset out, replace the side door with the provided one, add the new countershaft and shift drum and reassemble. The reverse gear goes in between the door and side cover. And the provided shift drum allows you to shift into reverse. The 4.98:1 ratio reverse gear in the F6R gearset, which is 45% shorter than the stock 1st gear ( 3.34:1). This makes it an essential creeper gear.

 

 

 I chose to have my local dealership do the installation. Space Coast Harley-Davidson (www.spacecoastharley.com) located in Palm Bay, FL has a great service team. Their technicians are very knowledgeable and will go the extra mile in taking care of the needs of your motorcycle.

 I was a little apprehensive of using the reverse with my prosthetic and not wanting to fall over. That lasted for about ten seconds. The safety lockout mechanism is located on the bottom of your front hand controls allowing easy ergonomic control with your thumb. To put the motorcycle in reverse you will pull in your clutch and shift into first. Then you simply push the safety lever forward with your thumb and shift down again into reverse. The motorcycle will not shift into reverse unless this lever is pushed out and the motorcycle is in 1st gear.

 You will need to ease off on your clutch and remember you are being powered by your engine. My first test was in my driveway and within seconds I was very comfortable with backing up. As soon as you shift back into first gear your safety lever will spring back and you should hear a click and feel tension on it knowing it has locked back into place.

 NOTE  You Are In First Gear Not Neutral

 After a few times using the F6R I started challenging myself with more inclined surfaces, eased my mind and no longer worried about where I would park if situations arose that would normally bother me.

 

 Even though this system wasn’t designed specifically for bikers with disabilities, Baker Drivetrain definitely helped me continue to ride.

 Without a doubt this was the best system I could have installed on my motorcycle. The only question is why did I wait so long?

-MISLED

 

www.bakerdrivetrain.com

(517) 339-3835

 

www.spacecoastharley.com

Editor’s Note: The Sturgis Museum and Hall of Fame curation committee recently received the opportunity to vote in and display this historic collection of bikes. They will be on exhibit in the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum during the rally.

If you know of a bike or bikes that need to be considered for introduction into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Following is the Bonnie Truett story by Ken “Jackpot” Holloway.

—Fozz
Chairman
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Curation Committee

Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee 2014, Bonnie Truett was born in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Before the perfect storm of life set him down the yellow brick road in Wichita, Kansas, Truett went to work on the grimy AT&SF railroad. He couldn’t have everything.

He soon bought his first motorcycle, a 1957 Harley-Davidson Sportster. He immediately tore into the nimble platform to see what it was made of and how he could improve the power. His goal to make it faster than any Sportster in town. After modifications and working with some amazing area machinists, Bonnie, hell bent for leather, outran everyone.

Mr. Truett would prove his worth every weekend on drag strips all over the mid-west. He set himself apart from other racers in many ways, including being one of the earliest racers to blast nitro-methane into high-performance drag bike cylinders.

He built his first double-engine Sportster in 1968. Double Trouble, became one of the earliest Harley-Davidson double-engine drag bikes. The daunting engineering formula challenged builders. Dual Harley-Davidson motors fought each other and their drivelines tried to tear each other apart.

Bonnie learned that if you retard the timing just a little on one engine, you could have them skipping down the track together like two best friends. Truett campaigned this nitro-burning double around the United States racing and winning against some of the biggest names.

He traded the dual for a much lighter and faster single-engine drag bike. Others would go on to race Truett built double-engine monsters making a name for themselves. Through these years he learned a lot about nitro and drag bikes. He built several doubles, but someone would buy the newest version before he could test it on the track.

He soon started a side business, Truett Frame Works. This venture impowered him to build chromoly frames for major famous race industry names. Many commented, “Truett Frames helped make us successful.”

In 2000 Mr. Truett’s accomplishments were recognized by his friend Jim Wear when he was inducted into the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado alongside his friend and business partner Paul Osborn.

 

Truett drew on scraps of paper and built with handmade tools and fixtures. He did all of this because he had endless dreams and the confidence to never give up.

Editor’s Note: Enclosed is a post by Dave Arthur called “Buy an electric car, go to prison.” It’s first rate shit from an original Satans Slave. I asked him if I could send it to you. He said not a problem. This dude’s a first rate communicator and totally with a 1%er genuine article disposition and ability-rating. He’s older than me and living life 24 hours a day non-stop. PLUS he can fucking think and express himself.

–J.J. Solari

The other day I was talking to someone who was thinking of buying an electric car. I told him he should first get to know a good bail bondsman and a lawyer. I told him that I am serious about this.

This is the vision I have.

You buy an electric car, you think you are helping the environment. You completely ignore the pollution caused from pit mining in order to get the materials to make the batteries. You also ignore the problems of disposing of these batteries in landfills or wherever once they are used up.

Maybe you buy the electric car cause you want to save money by not buying gasoline. You ignore the fact that it still costs plenty of money to charge the batteries in these cars. Electricity is far from free. You also ignore the initial cost of these cars which is one third or more higher than a comparable gasoline powered mode.

Maybe you think if you’re not buying gas you will soon recoup the difference. You weren’t too good at math. It might take eight or nine years to recoup that money in gas savings, but by then the car-battery will be no good anymore and you will need a new car. What about disposing the old one?

So what does all that have to do with going to prison because you bought an electric car. The answer is “nothing.” Now you own the car and you are starting to drive it. You like how quiet it is and how fast it seems. You like doing your part to save the world from certain destruction oblivious to the fact that 99% of the people in the world are not driving electric cars and you driving one won’t do anything to change whatever is happening to the climate, if anything.

In any event you bought the damn thing and you are happy, this is all about to change. Reality is about to set in. You look at your gauges, and you see that you only have 30 miles left before the car will need a charge. Luckily you are in the city so there should be a charger available close by.

You drive a few more miles and you spot the sign claiming the special place where you can charge an electric car. With a smiling face you pull into the spot thinking to yourself what good luck you have, no one else is here and there are two chargers.

As you walk up to the charger, it looks as if the cord has been cut or broken and there is a yellow plastic sign hanging there that says “OUT OF ORDER.” You walk over to the other one and it also has the same sign hanging there but at least it still has a cord. You try to hook your car to it, but it still doesn’t work.

You resign yourself to the fact that you have just wasted 10 minutes, but at least you still have 20 miles left before you run out of battery. As you are leaving you notice several cars filling up their gas tanks at the gasoline pumps located at this very same station with the electric car chargers. They are filling up rapidly and leaving.

Since you’re here already, you stop your car and walk over to the attendant to ask him what’s wrong with the charger. He tells you that it’s been broken for two weeks. They are waiting for parts before it will be fixed.

You leave and drive six more miles to another charging station that your IPhone led you to. You notice other cars there, so you figure at least it must be working. You talk to the guy in front of you and he tells you that the owner of the car on the charger should be done in about 20 more minutes, if he only wants a quick charge.

He also says that he wants a full charge because he needs to drive to some town which is 150 miles away. He says his type of charge will take over an hour and that maybe you should get in the other line as it might be quicker.

You agree and move to the other line. You are now starting to get aggravated. So you sit in your new car playing the XM radio because the battery is no longer a concern. You sit and you sit before you finally go to the car hooked to the charger to see how much longer he will be. You notice it’s already fully charged but the driver is gone!

You walk back to the car in front of you and ask him if he knows where the driver of the fully charged car is? He said the guy told him he would be back soon… He was going to walk down the street to a little bar that has food and get lunch but it’s been an hour and he hasn’t come back yet.

Realizing there is nothing you can do, you just go back to your car and sit. After 15 more minutes you are pissed off knowing that the driverless car is fully charged and is just wasting your time. Plus, there is still another car in front of you.

Meanwhile the guy who was going to charge his car to full capacity in the other lane is almost finished, but two more cars are already behind him. If you had stayed there, you would have been next. So, you sit some more getting more pissed off until you finally decide to get out of your car and just unplug his car and push it out of the way.

The problem is it’s in PARK and is locked and will not move. You go back to your car and sit in it again. It’s now been two hours and the guy in front of you decides to leave.

Your luck has changed for the better and at least you are now next. You’re thinking maybe you should drive or walk down the street to the little bar that sells food and find the fucking driver of the car.

You’re really running out of patience now when another car pulls in behind you. The driver of that car gets out to ask you how long the other car has been there and how long you will be. You explain, you have been here over two hours, and the other car plugged into the charger is fully charged but the driver is gone.

He goes back to his car and you are sitting in yours hating this. You’re having second thoughts about the electric car. Finally you see a guy walking towards the charging station and figure its finally him, but to your amazement he just walks on by, he is not the driver.

It’s about three hours now and you realize your whole day is fucked up, there isn’t enough time left to get the things done. You’re just really tired of this whole thing. You’re even starting to hate the XM radio.

You decide fuck it, you’re gonna break out the guy’s window, take the car out of PARK and move it. Maybe you’ll even push it into the street where it will get hit and destroyed by another car. You hope the bastard has no insurance, or it will be a hit and run.

You walk over to the car with a jack handle and break out his window, unlock his car and open the door. You try to pull the lever out of park but then realize it needs an ignition key to get it out of PARK. You’re so pissed off, you’re ready to kill when you hear this voice yelling.

“What the fuck are you doing asshole?”

It’s finally the driver and he’s drunk enough that you can smell alcohol on him. You start to say something when he takes a swing at you. That does it, your right hand slams into his face. He falls down instantly but whacks his head on the cement curb. He doesn’t move.

The guy in the car behind you comes running up and tries to revive the guy. The guy does not respond. You think it’s time to get the fuck out of here, as the guy who came out of the car behind calls 911.

You realize your electric car is being blocked by his car and that it can only go a few more miles because the battery is almost dead.

The cops show up and the guy in the car behind me tells them he’s a witness and you broke the window on the dead guy’s car, punched him in the face and watched as the guy fell to the concrete.

There it is, I got arrested and now I’m in jail with a class two homicide charge. I’ve been here 72 days and my case isn’t scheduled until early next year. Remember what I said. My advice to you is to stay out of prison, never by an electric car.

 

“We’re very excited about the 2024 season, said Jason Miller, Promoter of XDA. Our lineup of events promises to raise the bar even higher, with strong competition and unforgettable moments on and off the track. The XDA is more than just a series of races; it’s a community. The camaraderie among riders and fans alike is truly something special, and it’s what keeps us growing year after year.”

With over 700 Professional, Sportsman, and Grudge motorcycle racers expected to compete at every event throughout the season, fans can look forward to witnessing some of the best riders in the sport battle it out for glory. And with cash purses totaling over $90,000 at each event, the stakes are high.

2024 Class Line-Up:

• Orient Express Pro Street
• DME Racing Real Street
• MaxxECU Pro Xtreme
• HTP Performance Super Stock
• Vance & Hines 4.60 Index
• HTP Performance Grudge
• Boosted Bulls
• Nitrous Bulls
• 3 Sixty 5 Transport Monster Bulls
• Tommie’s Motorsports DMV Bulls
• All Motor Bulls
• 1 Stop Speed 5.60 Index
• Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman
• MPS Racing Pro ET
• Brock’s Performance Street ET
• VooDoo Components Bracket Bash
• Hard Times Parts & Service Gambler’s Race

Orient Express Racing Pro Street
The Orient Express Pro Street class stands at the pinnacle of street tire motorcycle racing, showcasing an elite lineup of the world’s most formidable machines. In this class, raw power meets precision engineering, with motorcycles that boast upwards of 650 horsepower. These turbocharged, supercharged, and nitrous-injected marvels of speed hurtle down the quarter mile in an electrifying 6 seconds, often surpassing speeds of 230mph.

With more than twenty established competitors listed on the pre-event roll call, the XDA is the ultimate arena for these high-caliber racers poised to battle for supremacy. They are not just racing against each other; they are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on two wheels.

As intense as the action on the track is, the rivalry continues after the shutdown. Last season concluded with several contenders feeling the sting of near-misses and unresolved quests for points. With stakes extending beyond the XDA championship, racers are also vying for the prestigious World Cup Finals invitation, reserved only for the top ten finishers. With the season’s expansion back to six events, the competitors are laser-focused, knowing that every race and every point counts.

DME Racing Real Street
DME Racing Real Street is set to roar into the season with a thunderous lineup of 7-second, 190mph powerhouses. With the class expanding its reach, this year promises even more excitement, boasting an impressive roster of fifteen riders for the season-opener.

After XDA’s introduction of crossover rules at the end of the previous season, the competition heats up as active AHDRA Extreme Outlaw and AMRA Outlaw Street racers bring their nitrous assisted 7-second V-Twin motorcycles into the fray. Among them, Gregg Dahl and Mike Motto stand ready to elevate the intensity of the DME Racing Real Street class in next weekend’s showdown.

Be there to see fresh talent take on the established names as they thunder down the quarter mile. With high stakes for both prize money and racing prestige, each competitor is set to make their mark. Come and experience the rush firsthand—join us next weekend at MIR to be a part of the exhilarating world of high-speed racing.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme
MaxxECU Pro Xtreme returns, bringing the 1/8 mile heads-up class to the forefront with the heavy hitters of racing: Turbocharged, Supercharged, and Nitrous-Injected machines equipped with big tires and wheelie bars for maximum performance. Six top-tier contenders are primed for the challenge, fueling the excitement as the countdown to competition begins.

The raw power resonates not just on the track but in the pulse of the fans. The roar of these big engines and the rush of acceleration combine to create a charged atmosphere. These racers will chase down the 660-foot mark, showcasing a blend of brute force and precise execution. Witness firsthand the exhilarating power-play that is the heart of MaxxECU Pro Xtreme.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme is presented by Billy Vose Racing, Fast by Gast, DME Racing, Dunigan Racing, Grothus Dragbikes, Harley Haul, Rob Bush Motorsports, Robinson Industries, Schnitz Racing, Timblin Chassis, and Worldwide Bearings.

HTP Performance Super Stock
Prepare for the return of the gritty and exhilarating HTP Performance Super Stock class as it enters its fifth year. This fiercely competitive arena is reserved for the purists of motorcycle racing, where stock wheelbase, naturally aspirated production machines reign supreme.

In this unforgiving battleground, true hand clutch riders showcase their mastery and finesse, relying solely on their skill to achieve a flawless controlled launch. There’s no room for electronic aids or gimmicks here – it’s all about the rider’s prowess and precision.

Stringent regulations govern modifications, setting the stage for a showdown of pure riding talent. Limitations include stock motors, MR12-spec fuel, and the prohibition of air shifters and dataloggers, etc. Prepare to witness the raw substance of motorcycle racing as these riders push themselves to the limit, demonstrating unparalleled skill and determination on every throw of the clutch. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the unadulterated action where true riding skills take center stage.

Vance & Hines 4.60
Since its inception by the XDA in 2013, the Vance & Hines 4.60 index has ascended to prominence, captivating fans nationwide with its blistering pace and tightly contested finishes. Recognized as the world’s fastest 1/8th-mile sportsman index class, it consistently delivers four-second thrills over 660 feet, combining the precision of index racing with the sheer velocity of drag racing’s finest.

The class continues to surge in popularity, drawing a diverse group of top-tier competitors and a dedicated fan base. As these adept riders line up at the starting beams, they not only chase after the adrenaline of a sub-five-second pass but also vie for dominance in a class where every fraction of a second counts. The Vance & Hines 4.60 index class remains a testament to the skill and passion driving motorcycle drag racing.

Saturday
Join us on the big stage Saturday to celebrate the triumphs of the 2023 XDA Champions and the Top Ten riders in each class. Experience the excitement first-hand and seize your chance to win a share of $1,000 in cash prizes, courtesy of Platinum General Services and Ralphie Navarro. This ceremony isn’t just an homage to last season’s victors—it’s your opportunity to be part of the victory lap!

As dusk falls Saturday night, the atmosphere at the XDA heats up with the “Running of the Bulls” and HTP Performance Afterdark Underground Grudge & Pros program, scheduled from 4pm to 11pm. The scoreboards might be dark, but the air is charged with competition as racers exchange barbs and the anticipation of the crowd builds.

XDA stands out as the battleground for the elite in grudge racing — where the thrill isn’t just in the speed but also in the skill of commanding the strip without a time to define it. Expect raw, unbridled racing as top contenders lay down their fastest runs on a #KillerMiller track primed for peak performance.

Sportsman
The XDA’s dynamic racing lineup extends well beyond the headline-grabbing classes with competitions in SIX diverse sportsman categories. These include the precision-driven 1 Stop Speed 5.60 Index, the high-stakes Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman, the strategic VooDoo Components Bracket Bash, the skill-centric MPS Racing Pro ET, and the ever-popular Brock’s Performance Street ET. Additionally, the adrenaline-infused Friday night Hard Times Parts & Service Gambler’s race promises edge-of-your-seat excitement.

Make plans now to come out and watch or, better yet, race with us on April 19-21 for another season of the most competitive motorcycle drag racing you can find in the country. And it all begins at the legendary Maryland International Raceway.

Class Entry List and Resources
XDA prides itself on having a close-knit group of racers. Below, you will find a list of racers attending this event and links to class-specific groups where you can talk to other racers and get your questions answered. Together, we are strong.

Visit www.xdaracing.com for event information, class rules, payouts, entry fees, schedule, and more.

About XDA Racing
The Xtreme Dragbike Association (XDA) is an east coast motorcycle drag racing series with 700+ motorcycle racers competing at each event. Every XDA event hosts professional classes, sportsman classes, grudge racing and a vendor midway. Lifestyle activities such as bike shows, bikini contests, DJ and live bands are also held at select events. For more information on the XDA, please visit www.xdaracing.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @xdaracing

Episode 1, April14, 2024, of the new A&E series about the Hells Angels should have been called the Jay Dobyns Show. Jay Dobyns was or is an ATF employee.

The ATF’s job is to commit more crimes against Americans than the Hells Angels could possibly commit against Americans if they had help from the Transformers, the Avengers and the Herculoids put together. However it has never occurred to the Hells Angels to try and infiltrate the ATF: to try and put a stop to their organized-crime-based fundamental structure and purpose for existence.

The ATF, however, apparently thinks about the Hells Angels day and night and are devoted, with money from taxes taken against the wills of the rightful owners, to putting the Hells Angels out of existence as a self-advertising men’s Harley fraternity.

If you piled up all the stuff the ATF confiscates from their rightful owners and then piled up all the stuff the Hells Angels allegedly confiscate from their rightful owners……the ATF would have a much bigger pile and worth a lot more money than the Hells Angels pile.

While the Hells Angels do not run to the press with the latest stats on their most recent haul of private property, assuming they confiscate other peoples’ private property, the ATF routinely puts displays of their lootings on large tables and in large warehouses and then invites the press in to admire the stuff and write glowing stories about the ATF’s “good work.”

Journalists never see the ATF’s pile of stolen property as stolen property. They see the ATF’s stolen property as proof that, “the government is a valiant enemy of evildoers.” Here’s the problem there: news reporters, like the ATF, have a warped understanding of right and wrong. That’s why the Press and Government actually get along so well. You would THINK that news reporters, being every bit as corrupt as the ATF would insist that the ATF share the loot with the reporters, since reporters flock to these confiscated displays of robbed hauls with enthusiasm and freely report on ATF diligence and morality via thievery with enthusiasm. No one ever said reporters were smart.

The Hells Angels have never tried to infiltrate the ATF or any other government agency. the Hells Angels have never organized coordinated raids on scattered offices of the ATF and put all the agents in handcuffs, paraded them outside, piled all their property on the lawn and called-in the Press to admire their skills at putting multi agency-locations out of business. Why? Because the ATF never violates Hells Angels rules and regulations. Because ATF members are not Hells Angles. Neither are the Hells Angels ATF members.

However the ATF rules apparently apply to everyone in America. You break one of THEIR rules – which fill the Library of Congress – it doesn’t matter you’re not one of their members. The ATF and apparently 99.9999% of the citizenry, however, see nothing wrong with this. In fact they see it as patriotic. I see it as Indoctrinated Shittyness proclaimed as National Pride. They didn’t even have to use lockdowns, masks, 6-foot-separations and mandatory inoculations to get that job done. Apparently, they accomplished it when everyone was 6 years old and on their first day of mandatory government schooling.

If you’re not a Hells Angel?…..and you break one of their rules?….there’s no Hells Angel hiding somewhere in your midst monitoring your behavior and reporting on your flagrant disregard for the Hells Angels’ rules to whoever “the authorities” are in the Hells
Angels. Why would they even give a shit?

It’s not this way with the ATF. You violate one of their ten trillion rules directed at YOUR behavior, not theirs, and they find out about it….they get PISSED.

They consider this righteous wrath. You are out of control. You broke one of their rules. They don’t even know you, but they are on their way to not just take your stuff; they’re taking you too. And they have the nerve to say the Hells Angels are a menace to society. The Hells Angels try to fucking avoid society. The ATF goes out of its way to fuck society up. And they’re the good guys. If you think like the ATF does, you have something fundamental very seriously wrong with you and I am very tempted to say it’s low intelligence coupled with a sociopathic set of values. Which are……Fuckingly Reversed values.

The first episode focused on Jay Dobyns’ slow transformation from a striding blond Nordic godlike creature into a nervous, haunted apparition who looks to me like he’s desperately trying to hold it together.

Hey, I could be wrong. Maybe he’s just acting; he acted-out what he thought a Hells Angel should act like. My personal opinion is that it’s Actual Intelligence at work that is slowly and fitfully trying to work its way into his thick head that “Maybe it’s the ATF that’s majorly fucked up and not the Hells Angels. Maybe I should get a life that doesn’t involve fucking with strangers but rather helping them. Like opening a restaurant for instance or even just working in one.”

If that happens, one ATF agent at least can perhaps be saved and turned into an actual American. Not one who’s at war with them.

–J.J. Solari

Today is Earth Day, a day on which we are taught to feel guilty about our allegedly destructive impact on Earth—above all from our mass-use of fossil fuels.

But note that Earth, before we started impacting it on a large scale through the use of fossil fuels, was long a terrible place for the typical human being to live—and once we started using fossil fuels, rapidly became a far, far better place for the typical human being to live.

As I explain in Chapter 4 of Fossil Future,

 

The book “I AM Delilah Jones aka Doris Gohlke: I Lived And Loved As I Pleased,” is, first of all, large. It’s the size of a sheet of normal bond paper, 337 numbered pages and full of photos. If you’re an edentulate reprobate like myself, you probably – and I hate to say this if she’s reading this– you probably took her into the bathroom with you when you were a strapping young lad because she was in damn near every “girlie mag” that was flooding the back racks of the newsstands, when they had newsstands, and she wasn’t bashful. This wasn’t the Hustler age of girlie mags, they weren’t porn, but they WERE forbidden by moms, girlfriends, and – what are they called?…..oh yeah, wives.

I know what you’re saying: “Is there any tang-of-the-poonage in it?” No. “Is there any cock?” No. It’s not a porn book. She isn’t a porn star. “Well what the fuck is she?” Ok, well, now we’re getting somewhere. And there’s no reason for vulgarity with all the fucks. I’d like to establish an atmosphere of decorum if that’s ok. There’s a lady present. I know what you’re saying; “Yeah! You!” Like as though I didn’t see that coming.

Delilah Jones, escapee with her family from Berlin during the Hitler days, is today, right now, still going strong; I suspect is keeping her clothes on at this point, and spent her whole life, prior to lately, enthusiastically taking her clothes off in front of an audience. I guess it was like being paid for what as a child she assumed was just normal life: being undressed. Her parents were nudists. She might not have even known clothes existed as a youngster.

This book is basically a scrap book, very likely the only one ever produced by a “girlie mag” superstar. She’s not a superstar pro’bly to the public but the professional girlie-mag photographers of the day, all of them well-known to historians of girlie-mags, sought her out PROBABLY because of her attitude. Which was, I am guessing: not being a pain in the ass.

Magazines are a business and the heyday of girlie mags was a business regarded by “proper society” as degrading sinful filth. They were regarded by wives and girlfriends the way Trump is regarded now by, say, Pelosi. But taking photos for magazines is a job. The best photographers, meaning, if nothing else, the ones the women could stand being around because the photographers wanted photos and not dates….the top “glamour” photographers wanted Delilah in front of their lenses. But she also performed for, well, just strangers.

I am a huge fan of the Mafia Business Model. That doesn’t mean I am a huge fan of the Mafia personnel. But they’re not fucking with ME. So I gut no complaint. My attitude regarding the Operating System of the Mafia however? Huge fan. The Mafia is an organization that is basically the free market. It’s basically in competition with the organization created by the Constitution, which is an organization basically devoted to market-disappearance.

The race is, apparently, to see who will stay in existence longer, the Mafia or the Feds. The Mafia tries to provide, for a price, things people actually want. The Feds just fuck with people for no reason and then charge them for absolutely no services rendered. It’s crazy. People call it freedom. If the Mafia had written the Constitution and not bureaucrats things woulda been a lot different and a huge lot better. We’da had a better highway system for sure: contraband needs routes!!

So where is this going. Oh, yeah: all strip joints in the heyday after WW2 were Mob controlled. So this book could PROBABLY be a whale of a lot more informative than it is. However, Delilah is focused here on the stripper life, or at least her involvement with it, which was, and is, enthusiastic involvement.

This is a happy book. She’s a happy woman. She loves, or loved – I THINK she’s retired – she loved performing without clothes for what APPARENTLY were “upscale” nude reviews. This is a book of her history with a ton of black and white photos and personal remarks regarding her career. And it was actually a career.

Escaping from Hitler I guess you learn survival skills: her SISTER, one of them, was married to Sterling Silliphant, who at the time was the most successful creator of tv series pro’bly in TV history. So she was hobnobbing, probably not the right word, I dunno, with the elites of Hollywood and I am guessing the West Coast, if not National, Mob. But this isn’t a Mob book.

This is a photo-history of her professional and recreational life. It PROBABLY would be of more interest to women than to men as far as readability is concerned because – unlike with her stripping – I THINK the target audience for this book is women. She talks about travel, she talks about costumes, – which she routinely designed and made for her co-workers – schedules, workmates, incidents that are likely far more gossipy than she has presented because this is not that kind of a book, but you can surmise scenarios.

Everything she talks about would ignite a long list of interview questions from any reporter. But this is about her experience as a stripper. Not as a gossip. All of it in the golden age of things “nice” girls didn’t do in public.

Now, in all of this I have avoided the elephant in the room, since this is likely being read only by men, and that elephant in the room is the inquiry or observation or suggestion or intimation, though unspoken so far, and that query is, if I can articulate it politely in case there are children present…”Well…isn’t the only REAL reason for strippers to even exist is to create down the road, maybe later that night when the strip show customer has returned home, to create human ejaculant into a pile of tissues or a stack of laundry?”

Frankly, I don’t see that as a demeaning end-result. In as much as ejaculant transferred from inside a ballsack to a new location inside someone else’s groinage is why we’re all here in the first place. Think twice before fulminating against ejaculant, is my advice to you. You are after all 50% ejaculant and 50% egg yoke. The fact that the ejaculant may or may not end up in a Kleenex or a towel or a t-shirt or on a tree trunk or on your mom rather than sent specifically into a vagina NOT a sheep’s is something I think only Catholics should worry about.

Since to Catholics, ejaculant intentionally sent on a journey to nowhere – rather than specifically sent on a journey into a human egg – sends the donor to Hell. Or at least gets him into the line for instant ELEGIBILITY to Hell unless said ejaculator tells another man inside a confessional booth, in other words a very, very, small enclosed cabinet, just the two of you talking calmly back and forth with each other about your cum shots….unless that man tells the other man about it….he will go to Hell. If he dies before talking to the man in the little room. These admissions regarding emissions between these two men go something like this:

”So did you masturbate more than once?”

“You mean since our last session together in this closet?”

“I mean, no, just during this self-abuse session that has driven you in here to avoid eternal damnation.”

“Well I’ve been masturbating a blue streak actually since our last Forgiveness Go-Around, actually.”

“Have you confessed to all of them? Or are you starting fresh with just the one you talked about at the start just now.”

“To save some time?….can I have a complete past-and-present whitewash? A kind of bucket-load over the head of forgiveness? Is that available?”

“No, I need to know the exact number of times you masturbated.”

“What about just masochistic arousal-and-deprivation, what about that, is that masturbation?”

“The Pope hasn’t actually itemized that.”

“Seems uncaring. What about the degree of hardness.”

“When was the last time you masturbated.”

“Last night. After the girlie thing at the burlle-q emporium. She did the shimmy-shimmy-shake topless in a micro bikini on the stage and I did the pumpy-pumpy-squirt when I got home.”

“I forgive you.”

“Thanks your worship. Say…..why do I see jizz draining over to my side down there on the floor?”

All of which brings me to what you might be asking but probly aren’t: “So isn’t stripping all about getting men hot?”

That’s a good question. Reading this book stripping seems to be instead – at least from the stripper side of things – more about pride in the workplace. I know good employees. I should be doing all the hiring everywhere. And this broad’s work ethic is phenomenal. I mean let’s face it, it’s all about generating paid admissions. It’s a job.

This book is basically an itinerary of The Stripper Life from a stripper who took the job very seriously enough to where, as they say in the Mob, she was an earner. The Mob respects and caters to earners. I don’t think Mob homage was her motivator. I think job performance was her motivator.

She made costumes for herself and the other strippers. She was the go-to model for the major girlie photographers for the rags and mags that spent their lives under the bed or under the porch wrapped in a tarp. She made bosses and customers happy and got along with her co-workers and they apparently got along with her. It’s like inside her head she was always thinking “Why would anyone think there was anything WRONG with this life??”

From reading this, my first stripper-history book, maybe the only one in existence, I get the real strong feeling that stripper life is a lot like outlaw biker life: a self-enclosed support system, trying to do your thing, not fucking with people, and having as much fun in the process as possible.

This book is a history, not a tell-all. She’s no snitch. But if she ever becomes one in another book, she won’t need it packed with photos to keep the interest alive is my guess, not that photos are a problem!!!

She’s basically a totally selfless saver of lives: the strippers of her day were often the only thing that kept the men of my day deciding, over and over, “Yeah, I guess there really IS a reason to live after all: showgirls and strippers.”

endo

The 30th annual Platinum General Services event, proudly presented by the XDA, took on a bittersweet tone this past weekend at the Maryland International Raceway. As engines thundered against the backdrop of spring skies, the event unfolded with a poignant undercurrent, marking the first race since the passing of XDA co-owner Chris Miller.

Miller’s absence was deeply felt, his legacy casting a long shadow over the track he helped cultivate into a haven for speed enthusiasts. Despite this, racers and fans alike came together in a powerful display of solidarity and respect, celebrating his memory by ensuring the event he cherished ran with the precision and passion he was known for.

During three exhilarating days, competitors from far and wide converged, introducing fresh talent to the racing scene while seasoned veterans showcased their enduring skills.

However, Mother Nature had her own plans, as rain delays added a twist to the race schedule. These interruptions, although unwelcome, did little to dampen the spirits of the racers and fans alike. The track buzzed with activity between the showers, with pit crews working feverishly to make the most of the dry spells and prepare the bikes for the intense competition that awaited them.

Orient Express Racing Pro Street
Winner – Rodney Williford
Runner-up – Mark Rendeluk

The season opener for the Orient Express Pro Street class was nothing short of explosive. With a qualifying field boasting 23 bikes, the stage was set for high-speed competition. Reigning champion Rodney Williford wasted no time in asserting his dominance, leading the pack with a blistering 6.436-second pass at 232.39 mph. The crowd was on edge as Jason Dunigan notched the event’s top speed at 233.68 mph, and qualified second with a 6.482.

In eliminations, the air vibrated with intensity. Tony Ficher shattered his personal records, blazing through with a 6.473 at 229.74 MPH to triumph over Jamie Lopes. The action intensified as first-round victories went to heavy hitters including Williford, James Waugh, Justin Shakir, Greg Wallace, Dunigan, Darion Payne, and Mark Rendeluk.

The second round was full of nail-biting showdowns, with Rendeluk and Payne delivering an impressive side-by-side duel in the forties. Rendeluk edged out Payne with a 6.457 against his 6.477 effort. Williford, Shakir, and Dunigan also advanced, setting the stage for a dramatic semi-final.

Anticipation was high as Rendeluk faced off against his DME Racing teammate Dunigan. Both riders, having posted stellar 640s in the preceding round, promised an electrifying clash. Yet, fate had other plans; Dunigan encountered starting line woes, leaving Rendeluk to seize the win light and secure a spot in his second consecutive final.

Williford continued his relentless charge, securing a win with a 6.44-second run against Shakir’s 9.316. The final round was a spectacle of speed and skill, as Rendeluk’s sharp .010 reaction time clashed with Williford’s .059. Despite Rendeluk’s advantage off the line, Williford’s unyielding momentum carried him through to victory with a 6.431 to Rendeluk’s 6.555. As the smoke cleared and cheers filled the air, Rodney Williford stood once again as the season opener victor.

DME Racing Real Street
Winner – David Fondon
Runner-up – Jason Iannotti

The DME Racing Real Street class carved out its own chapter of milestones, birthing a saga of new talent and dramatic upsets.

Qualifying sessions unfurled with the reigning champion, Rickey Gadson, taking the number-one spot with a 7.440. Naturally, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy as Gadson not only lived up to the expectations but exceeded them by clicking off a monumental 200+ MPH run, the first in Real Street history, with a 201.79 MPH. The feat remains unofficial, though, as his subsequent passes didn’t back up the record.

Jason Iannotti, having qualified at the lower echelon of the ladder with a 10.720, demonstrated the power of perseverance. He ousted the defending champion Gadson in round one, overpowered Caleb Holt, and cruised past a semi-final bye, catapulting himself into the final round.

Parallel to this narrative, David Fondon, the number two qualifier with a commanding 7.519 aboard his HTP Performance Suzuki, made his presence felt. Dispatching Ty Isaac, Drae Taylor, and former class champion David Stewart, Fondon was resolute on his path to the finals.

Anticipation reached its peak as Iannotti and Fondon stood on the brink of potentially securing their first DME Racing Real Street victory. As they rolled up to the water box, spectators braced themselves for an electrifying showdown.

The air was thick with anticipation as this match alone would guarantee we would have a new crowned winner at the end. When the lights dropped, Fondon leapt off the line and grabbed the advantage with a razor-sharp .022 reaction time to Iannotti’s .150. It was a head-to-head sprint, with Iannotti giving chase, thundering down the strip in a valiant bid to overturn the lead. In the end, Fondon’s early advantage held firm, and he stormed across the finish line with a victorious 7.469 over Iannotti’s hard-fought 7.535. The drama is bound to follow at the MTC Summer Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, May 17-19.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme
Winner – Dale Leeks
Runner-up – Rob Garcia

The MaxxECU Pro Xtreme 1/8 mile heads-up class is experiencing an international invasion with attendance from two riders from Canada, Jean Gosselin and Gerry Hunt, along with Dale Leeks from the United Kingdom.

The battle for supremacy was intense from the get-go, with George Whitaker clinching the number one qualifying spot with a 4.072, narrowly shadowed by Gosselin’s 4.079. Despite earning a bye in the first round due to his top qualifying position, Whitaker didn’t hold back, setting the stage ablaze with a staggering 4.042.

Joining Whitaker as first-round victors were reigning champion Chris Cutsinger, the UK’s Dale Leeks, Rob Garcia, and John Collins, each demonstrating their prowess and staking their claim for the title.

However, the second round was met with a mix of anticipation and disappointment. The withdrawal of both Collins and Whitaker due to mechanical woes, along with Cutsinger’s earned bye, resulted in an unusual quiet before the storm of the semi-finals.

In the third round UK’s Leeks smoothly sailed into the finals with an earned bye, setting his sights on the ultimate prize. The other spot was fiercely contested by Rob Garcia and Chris Cutsinger, in a clash that had the spectators on the edge of their seats. Garcia, quick off the line with a .049 reaction time, went side-by-side with Cutsinger down the strip. In a display of raw speed and steely nerves, Garcia edged out with a 4.17 victory, a mere whisker ahead of Cutsinger’s 4.195, securing his place in the finals and capping off an electrifying round of eliminations.

Leeks and Garcia were evenly matched in power and precision, making predictions all but impossible. As the lights flashed, Garcia snatched the starting line advantage with a .028 reaction time. Despite Garcia’s aggressive launch, his bike faltered in power output and Leeks tore down the strip, executing a near-perfect straight pass and stopping the clocks at 4.013 to Garcia’s trailing 4.441, claiming victory in a decisive, adrenaline-fueled finale.

MaxxECU Pro Xtreme is presented by Billy Vose Racing, Fast by Gast, Dunigan Racing, DME Racing, Grothus Dragbikes, Harley Haul, Rob Bush Motorsports, Robinson Industries, Schnitz Racing, Timblin Chassis, and Worldwide Bearings.

HTP Performance Super Stock
Winner – Jeremy Teasley
Runner-up – Caleb Holt

The HTP Performance Super Stock class was a battleground of precision riding skills. Darion Payne secured the number one qualifying spot with an 8.769 and a first-round bye. Yet, the tides of racing can turn quickly, and Payne was outpaced in the second round by Jamie Lopes.

Since the class’s birth in 2020, the Kawasaki ZX-14 has risen as the steed of choice, its presence on the track growing ever more dominant. This year, however, witnessed a spirited resurgence of Suzuki models making their mark early on. However all the Suzuki riders were out before the third round, setting the stage for a ZX-14 showdown once again.

Jeremy Teasley etched a path of consistent victories, besting competitors Dennis Iannnotti, Tim Cottrell, and Jimmy Leach to stake his claim in the finals. Meanwhile, Caleb Holt carved his own route to the decisive round, claiming wins against Mike Geer, Chris Moore, Jamie Lopes, and Mike Davis, proving himself a formidable force.

The final round was a showcase of skill, particularly off the line, in this hand-clutch class. Holt, with a swift .078, and Teasley, close behind with a .095, showcased their quick-draw capabilities. Despite Holt’s lead at the start, his performance deviated from the norm, clocking an ET of 10.235. This deviation left an opening that Teasley exploited, powering through to take the win with an 8.919 pass.

HTP Performance Grudge

Saturday night’s Running of the Bulls was sizzling, with fifty-one Grade A premium Bulls on the property to show out. XDA’s #KillerMiller track prep showed us in the shakedown runs that we had the quickest and fastest motorcycles grudge racing has to offer.

Booted Bulls
Winner – Frankie Stotz / Reddi-Wip
Runner-up – Derek Sobiech / Night Stalker

The Boosted Bulls class brought the heat with nine bikes ready for serious action. During the Shakedown rounds, these racers didn’t just set the bar—they launched it into orbit with their heart-pounding performances.

George Stanley, riding ‘On Time,’ snagged a bye to round two thanks to a lucky pull in the chip draw. Meanwhile, Frankie Stotz on ‘Reddi-Wip,’ Derek Sobiech on ‘Night Stalker,’ and Alex Moore on ‘Big Kountry’ tore through their competition, leaving no doubt about their speed and skill as they charged into round two.

Round two was all about Stotz and Sobiech laying down the law on the track, dominating like unstoppable freight trains. Their wins set the stage for a showdown so hyped, fans were pulling out their dollars.

Come the final throwdown, Stotz and Sobiech hit the strip, gunning it all the way to the wire in a head-to-head that was straight fire. Stotz clinched it, blasting past the finish line first to cap off a killer night with style. His win didn’t just showcase his chops; it threw down a gauntlet for the next big meet.

Nitrous Bulls
Winner – Antonia Patton / Big Dirty
Runner-up – Gaige Herrera / Big Bumpy

In the Nitrous Bulls class, it’s all about proving who’s got the fastest nitrous grudge bikes in the game. The vibe was intense out the gate, with riders throwing down some seriously blazing laps. Early rounds were all about tight races and high vibes, but as the night wore on, that cold air brought out the unpredictable side of nitrous oxide, messing with more than a few riders’ plans.

Antonio Patton rolling on ‘Big Dirty’ and Gaige Herrera on ‘Big Bumpy’ dominated the scene, blasting past their competition with sheer muscle and slick moves. These two were lined up for what everyone thought would be an epic clash in the final. But you know how it goes, fate had some twists. Herrera hit some snags after the semi-final and couldn’t roll up to battle it out in the final.

So, instead of a head-to-head battle, the event ended with Patton breaking the beams under power solo, taking the win without breaking a sweat. Even though the final lap lacked the usual drama, Patton’s performance all night long proved that ‘Big Dirty’ ain’t to be messed with when it comes to mastering the nitrous game.

3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls
Winner – Brandon Tyree / Made Man
Runner-up – Ken Alston / Leather Face

The 3 Sixty 5 Monster Bulls brought in ten contenders, and man, these racers weren’t holding back—they were hitting that track like it owed them something. The side-by-side action was non-stop, giving the crowd plenty to holler about. But when it came down to it, the final felt like déjà vu from last year’s season opener, with the same old story playing out.

After three rounds of straight-up competition, Brandon Tyree on ‘Made Man,’ and Ken Alston on ‘Leather Face,’ proved once again they were the ones to beat. So, it was no surprise when they lined up against each other for the final showdown.

And guess what? Like last year, Tyree did it again, blasting across that finish line first and snagging another win for his crew. It seems like the winner’s circle is starting to feel like home to him.

Tommie’s Motorsports DMV Bulls
Winner – Desmond Spaulding / NWA
Runner-up – Cody Lowe / The Kracken

The Tommie’s Motorsports DMV Bulls class was another sold-out affair with 16 entries. Cody Lowe on ‘The Kracken’ made his mark at the Platinum General Services season opener by taking out ‘Moon Knight’ , ‘Josey Wales’ and ‘Grey Matter’ to earn a spot in Saturday night’s final.

Desmond Spaulding on ‘NWA’ was a dominant force with wins over ‘Monkey Business’ , ‘Tip-Toe’, and ‘Misbehavin’.

Spaulding won last year’s season-opener on ‘Mob Ties’ but this year he took that bike over to the Nitrous Bulls class. As he met Lowe in the final, he was laser-focused on the prize, and it paid off as he took the win and kept his winner’s circle domination in check.

All Motor Bulls
Winner – David Fondon / Bad B*tch
Runner-up – Curtis McDougald / Carbonator

David Fondon, rolling deep on ‘Bad Bitch,’ is the reigning king of the XDA All Motor Bulls, and he’s the main target everyone’s gunning for in this class. Curtis McDougald, steering the ‘Carbonator,’ stepped up to throw down, powering through three intense rounds to go head-to-head with Fondon in the final round.

When the lights went live, Fondon blasted off the line like a beast unleashed, leaving McDougald hustling hard to catch up. But Fondon was all gas, no brakes, hitting the eighth-mile marker in a flash and clinching another win. That’s how the boss does it—running the game and schooling the competition on how a bad bitch gets it done.

Vance & Hines 4.60
Winner – Mac McAdams
Runner-up – Ronald Procopio

In the world of 1/8th-mile index racing, the Vance & Hines 4.60 class is a crowd-puller, boasting forty riders vying for the top position. Precision was the name of the game, with three riders nailing a perfect 4.60 in qualifying. It was Brad Gleason, however, who outpaced his rivals with superior MPH, snatching the coveted number one spot from Lowry Callahan and Joe Procopio Jr.

Reigning champion Ronald Procopio exhibited his usual finesse, skillfully navigating the field and earning his spot in the final showdown. His semi-final conquest over Gleason was a pivotal moment, marking his resolve to retain his championship mantle.

Mac McAdams, longing for the taste of victory since his last XDA 4.60 win at the 2022 MTC Summer Nationals, embarked on a relentless pursuit of glory. His reaction times were a beacon of consistency, dismantling his opponents round after round.

As the Sunday night sky enveloped Maryland International Raceway, the tension was palpable as these two competitors crept into the starting line beams. The launch was near-simultaneous, with McAdams’s .027 reaction time narrowly outpaced by Procopio’s .026. They thundered down the eighth mile in tandem, engines screaming and the crowd erupting in cheers. In a breathtakingly close finish, McAdams broke through the drought, igniting the win light with a 4.606, edging out Procopio’s 4.614, and reclaiming his spot in the winner’s circle.

1 Stop Speed 5.60
Winner – Rico Brown
Runner-up – Brice Cornish Jr.

Jim Mauro and Harvey Hubbard both ran dead on 5.60 in 1 Stop Speed 5.60 qualifying. Mauro received the top spot due to a faster MPH.
On race day two contenders emerged to meet in the final. Brice Cornish Jr. has only entered 1 Stop Speed 5.60 a handful of times over the last few years, but he managed to win five tough rounds of eight-mile competition to see his first final in the class.

Rico Brown is a class staple, but he hasn’t won since the FuelTech Superbike Showdown in 2022. Both Cornish and Brown showed incredible reaction times in their five rounds, slaughtering the competition before meeting in the final.

And while both competitors were hungry for battle, there would be no exciting racing action as Cornish turned on the dreaded red light to hand the win to Brown before the race even started.

Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman
Winner – Jeffery Santin
Runner-up – Dustin Lee

The Mickey Thompson Tires Top Sportsman class is renowned for showcasing some of the quickest elapsed times on the racing circuit. Jordan Haase, a formidable Pro Street racer, made a strong impression by clinching the top qualifying position with a 7.267 on his GSX-R1000, signaling his intent to dominate.

However, the journey through the brackets is fraught with pressure, and even the slightest error can have monumental consequences. Haase faced Jeffrey Santin in a second-round matchup but turned on the red light, a costly mistake that ended his run prematurely and paved Santin’s way to the finals. Santin capitalized on this opportunity, defeating seasoned competitors Jimmie Miller and Gary Clontz to secure his place in the final.

Meanwhile, reigning class champion Dustin Lee displayed relentless ambition, eliminating every challenger en route to the final. The stage was set Sunday night for a high-stakes duel between Santin and Lee aboard their Hayabusa’s. With Santin dialed in at 8.20 and Lee at 7.85, the final was going to require skill and precision.

As the lights went down, both racers launched with identical reaction times, ensuring the battle would be decided at the finish line. They executed strong, clean passes, each determined to clinch victory. In a dramatic twist, both riders broke out, pushing their machines beyond the brink. Lee, however, exceeded his dial-in more significantly, recording a 7.808 against Santin’s 8.163, handing Santin a thrilling and narrow victory.

MPS Racing Pro ET
Winner – Jeffery Santin
Runner-up – Wesley Jones

The Top Sportsman winner always earns a spot back into the fifth round of MPS Racing Pro ET competition for another shot at double-dipping their win and increasing their payday.

Santin took his win momentum and defeated Austin Bridge and Montrell Johnson to put himself in another final round. This time, he would be facing Wesley Jones, who won five rounds of tough bracket racing with incredible reaction times. In the final, Santin dialed 8.17, and Jones dialed 9.61. Jones cut his worst light of the weekend with a .099 to Santin’s better .022. Jones left the starting line first, but Santin caught up to him in a flash and was gaining on him as he crossed the finish line first by six feet to take the win with a 8.272 over Jones’s 9.666 run. Santin now leads points in two classes to start off the 2024 drag racing season.

Brock’s Performance Street ET
Winner – Russell Dennison Jr
Runner-up – Maurice Michie

The Brock’s Performance Street ET class kicked off the season with a formidable field of seventy-eight racers, all vying for an early advantage in the championship race. Among them, Russell Dennison Jr. and Maurice Michie showcased exceptional skill, unwavering consistency, and nerves of steel as they navigated through five intense rounds, setting the stage for a thrilling final showdown on Sunday night.

Heading into the final, Dennison dialed in at 8.70, while Michie targeted a 9.25. With Michie launching first with an impressive .088 reaction time, Dennison responded swiftly with a razor-sharp .067 reaction. As Dennison pursued Michie down the track, he steadily closed the distance, ultimately surging past Michie and crossing the finish line with a fourteen-foot lead. Dennison’s victorious run was clocked at 8.718, outpacing Michie’s 9.319.

Dennison, who secured a fourth-place finish last season, now establishes an early triumph that places him in a favorable position for this season’s points chase.

Voodoo Bracket Bash
Winner – Nick Noble
Runner-up – Barry Purnell

The Voodoo Bracket Bash brought an electrifying atmosphere to Saturday’s race. There were 126 entrants, all competing for not only the thrill of victory but also a substantial $3,000 purse. The competition was as fierce as the stakes were high, with each racer eyeing the coveted title.

As the field narrowed through rounds of relentless competition, Nick Noble and Barry Purnell distinguished themselves, expertly navigating through the bracket to meet in the much-anticipated final round. Noble set his dial at 9.32, while Purnell set his to 9.21, promising a close match right from the launch.

The tension built as both riders staged, ready to unleash their machines down the quarter-mile. Noble seized the initial advantage with an .027 reaction time, slightly quicker than Purnell’s still impressive .051. This early lead set the tone for the race, as they blasted side-by-side in the first sixty feet, maintaining their neck-and-neck pace throughout. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the pair thundered down the track, their bikes mere inches apart.

At the stripe, Nick Noble edged out Barry Purnell by a mere three feet, claiming the win in a breakout finish. Noble’s final time of 9.312 narrowly outperformed Purnell’s 9.162, marking a thrilling conclusion to one of the day’s most hotly contested races.

Hard Times Parts & Service Gambler’s Race
Winner – Robin Procopio
Runner-up – Jimmie Miller

A fixture in final rounds, Jimmie Miller found himself once again in a season opener final, this time against Robin Procopio, a seasoned competitor renowned for her consistent performances.

Procopio, aboard her bar bike, dialed in a tight 8.00, while Miller set his Hayabusa to an 8.83. The race was effectively set from the start when Procopio unleashed a near-perfect .008 reaction time, immediately placing Miller at a significant disadvantage with his .081, his slowest start of the night.

As they hurtled towards the finish line, the tension was high. It was an intensely close race, but Procopio clinched the victory by a razor-thin margin of .016 seconds, approximately three and a half feet. She crossed the line with an 8.049 against Miller’s 8.822, demonstrating not just superior reaction at the start but precision in execution throughout the race.

The XDA will return to Virginia Motorsports Park for the 38th annual MTC Engineering Summer Nationals on May 17-19, 2024. There will be over 700 Professional, Sportsman, and Grudge motorcycle racers in competition, battling it out for over $90,000 in cash purses at this event.

Visit xdaracing.com for event information, class rules, schedule, and more.

About XDA Racing
The Xtreme Dragbike Association (XDA) is an east coast motorcycle drag racing series with 700+ motorcycle racers competing at each event. Every XDA event hosts professional classes, sportsman classes, grudge racing, and a vendor midway. Lifestyle activities such as bike shows, bikini contests, DJs, and live bands are also held at select events. For more information on the XDA, please visit www.xdaracing.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube @xdaracing

 This journey started at Space Coast Harley-Davidson, March 2024, one sunny Saturday morning, where I test rode and bought my 2023 FXST Softail Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

 Years ago, I owned a Sportster and recently have been riding one, but I felt it was time to go to a Bigger bike, so I did.

 While I had been riding the Sportster with a windshield, I realized it was a definite must to have on my Softail and couldn’t ride without one.

 Riding on the east coast, there are times when it’s very windy and I feel the windshield protected me. So, with some research I decided on a detachable wind splitter windshield

It features a contemporary contour that sets it apart from the crowd.

 

 The great feature that sets it apart from other windshields is the contour at the top which manages airflow and turbulence across the top keeping the wind going up.

 With the help of my boyfriend Rogue, I chose Harley-Davidson #57400327 model. It is the 18-inch Clear Windshield with Polished Braces And Clamps.

 https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/shop/wind-splitter-quick-release-compact-18-in-windshield/p/57400327

We began our mission of installation together. He is not a beginner by far, I haven’t performed any kind of installation to a motorcycle before, but I was ready for the challenge.

 The kit came with all the correct parts and instructions. We provided the necessary tools for this task. Since this is new for me, the instructions seemed very easy to understand.

 I have built furniture pieces from instructions so following step-by-step instructions was not difficult. I believed with Rogue’s guidance and support, I would be able to accomplish this easily.

 Our first step was to remove the windshield from packaging, and verify that all the parts were in place.

 

 Once we completed step one, we placed the windshield on a blanket, so as to not accidently scratch it and proceeded to assemble the clamps and hardware stacks, one clamp at a time till all four were finished and in open position. There are more detailed instructions on the instruction sheet that should be followed.

 Before I installed the windshield I placed a blanket over my front wheel, just in case something slipped and fell on my polished front fender.

 Next, I carried the windshield to the front of my bike and straddled the front wheel, centering the windshield and closing the clamps on the forks.

 

 Rogue introduced me to a tool called a Torgue Wrench. An interesting and useful tool, it had a bunch of numbers on the handle. You set it for what tightness you want to make sure you don’t over tighten something.

 This tool is recommended by Harley to be used with any install.

 Suddenly, project complete I was ready to ride.

 Later that wild windy day I decided go for a ride and get a feel for my new windshield.  

 Later I experienced some Florida tropic rains and only my pant legs and boots got wet. The windshield protected my upper body.

 This experience of installing my windshield has been educational, rewarding and fun. I am a hands on kinda person so being able to install parts to my bike makes me feel better about taking care of my bike. Learning new things will encourage other women to take a chance and give it a try. Thank you, Rogue, for being my mentor through this sunny process.

 

 

So, If you like two-wheels in front instead of the traditional two-wheels at the back kind of trike—Ryker is ready and your playground awaits. All day and all night, you’ve got every tech loaded on to it to rule any road and never hold back. All you gotta decide is between the three Ryker variants and the three dozen colors they are available in.

Base model aptly called “Ryker” 2024 is “transport and preparation not included” and priced at $9,599

That’s less than half the price of base model Polaris Slingshot S but twice as ugly. Okay apples and oranges but—basically both have two-wheels at front and one in the rear.

A Harley-Davidson base model “two-wheeled motorcycle” – which is a more accurate depiction of a motorcycle, costs $16,999 and gets you the Sportster S. But if getting three wheels instead of two seems like a bargain then the Ryker wins your wallet.

 

Why am I mansplaining these things in a motorcycling website online since 1996. Well, because if you are reading up on Can-Am Ryker, you probably are new to motorcycles and might want to compare specs, costs, brands and your outlook on life and future on the road.

Ryker Sport will set you back another $2499 and Ryker Rally will cost a competitive $14,599. Sportingly you might just notice that all of them are just without their magic ingredient—“Transport and preparation not included”. Why do they advertise that? Would you not ride it out of the showroom like any other vehicle? Don’t you need a license for it? Of course, you gonna need gas and a helmet and cool Star Wars tee-shirt. But those are not obstacles – meeting girls while using that 600cc or 900cc three-wheeled Ryker between your legs would be the obstacle. Maybe you could be a lifeguard and watch reruns of Baywatch on the beach as you recline on your Ryker.

Yup, Spyder sounds way more cool than saying, “I am hanging at the beach with my Ryker.”

Some specs for those who are serious or getting seriously pissed off….

Ryker 2024
•$9,599 onwards
•Rotax® 600 or 900 cc engine.
•Auto twist-and-go transmission + vehicle stability control.
•Driveshaft tech requires less maintenance.
•Adjusts to all riders; 100,000+ customizations possible.
•Drift-friendly Sport Mode & fuel-saving Eco Mode (900 cc only).

Ryker Sport 2024
•$12,499 onwards
•All standard Ryker (900 cc) features, PLUS:
•Sport model-exclusive styling for an unforgettable road presence.
•Comfortable (still slays corners): KYB† HPG with preload adj. and Sport comfort seat.
•MAX Mount adds long-haul cargo and passenger options.
•Sport Mode for dynamic, drift-ready handling. Cruise control.

Ryker Rally 2024
•$14,599 onwards
•All standard Ryker (900 cc) features, PLUS:
•Access new playgrounds with new, stonger Hyper Silver color rims, rally-ready tires, pushbar, skid plate, intake with prefilter, auxiliary LED lights and Akrapovic exhaust.
•Discover the loose surface-ready features of the Ryker Rally: the Handlebar with hand guards, anti-slip pegs, front and rear KYB HPG shocks with remote adjusters and extra suspension travel.
•MAX Mount adds long-haul cargo and passenger options.
•Exclusive Rally Mode for dirt drift-friendly cornering. Cruise control.

 

They do make motorcycles you know. Yes, Can-Am motorcycles. Well, they are electric motorcycles and they run on two-wheels and your anxiety.

Imagine being outdoors doing all the fun things a Can-Am is known for and then—boom—all out of electric. Well, let’s not put the cart before the horse. Yes, the Can-Am Electric Motorcycles are yet to be launched and are expected to be available in – ta-da—2024. They are being pitched as “beyond the city” and also one which is a “return to Can-Am motorcycle roots” with a motocross model and yet another model with “all-new Rotax E‑POWER” and “Level 2 charging capabilities,” etc.

If that sounds confusing and complicated, you could always just buy a “regular” motorcycle that uses mechanics instead of gizmos and gadgets. Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company trained American citizens who were drafted as soldiers in World War to assemble the whole motorcycle from scratch and repair their own motorcycles and also scavenge for parts in war zone scenario, including parts from other brand motorcycles—to keep going forward and to keep kicking ass. That’s how progress and social structure and civilization survives. This also helped soldiers to transition to Harley-Davidson’s customers after the war was over. Tell your neighbor to repair your smartphone or laptop or smart TV and see where that gets you—that’s your future on electric wheels.

Meanwhile, here is footage from the National Archive because why not!?
https://thevintagent.com/2018/03/25/100-years-ago-harley-davidson-training-schools-in-1918/

Anyways, Can-Am Ryker runs on gasoline, so let’s stop bitching about EVs for now. The engine is born to run and run some more. With modern efficiency, classic soul, the Ryker models use powerful, fuel efficient and reliable Rotax engines. You get to choose between the 2-cylinder Rotax 600 ACE for strong everyday performance or a thrilling 3-cylinder Rotax 900 ACE engine for getting your own off-the-grid, private farm, FBI & ATF showdown.

Ryker models have a rider-focused safety suite: stability control developed in partnership with BOSCH†, anti-lock brakes (ABS), plus traction control are the confidence-inspiring features that keep Ryker planted to the road –that and lack of party invitations.

Since it’s a “three-wheeled motorcycle,” you get to also not use clutch or gears. Twist & ride: Can-Am Ryker’s automatic transmission delivers effortless drive and great fuel efficiency. Now you’ve got more time to admire the scenery and adventures ahead as you hunt big game and spot trespassing hikers.

Ryker isn’t sized for anyone, it’s sized for everyone with innovative ergonomic features like adjustable foot pegs, brake pedal and handlebar. Why? Cause any idiot should be on the road, riding free forever. But the manual says “to bring the open road within reach of more riders.”

“As unique as your ass-imprint,” is a promo slogan yet to catch on!

“Outdoors” is a word that cannot be uttered without the word “environment” and “protection” and “ban” being said in the same sentence. There’s not much here—that’s the point. Ryker has a durable steel frame, recyclable materials, and quality construction that’s engineered to last. Minimal fuel use – because you will be embarrassed to be seen on it soon enough – and maximum fun—because you will be thrilled to gift it to your distant, disgruntled grandmother.

Powertrain is untouchable. Ryker honestly admits they would rather you ride than wrench. So, the Ryker uses an integral, reliable driveshaft for smooth power delivery—and no extra maintenance. No one is needed with Ryker by your side (promo slogan yet to be adopted).

So, the overview of this overview is, get the Rally edition

• Engine = Rotax® 900 cc engine
• Transmission = Automatic transmission (CVT) with reverse function
• Suspension = Front & Rear : KYB HPG with remote reservoir 4-position compression adjustable damping and preload adjustement
• Cargo capacity = Glovebox with USB, 1.85 gal (7 L)
• Riding modes = Eco Mode, Rally Mode and cruise control

For those considering a Polaris Slingshot—a more apt comparison is a Can-Am Spyder F3 starting $22,099 and Can-Am Spyder RT starting $26,599. Why didn’t I mention it before? Because this is about “Ryker.” Not everything is about you, Karen.

Why not just test drive Harley-Davidson Road King Special at $24,999 or for the more calculating rider, the Polaris Indian Springfield at $22,999. You may realize, two wheels are more than enough to thrill you while three wheels are more than enough to reel your spirit in.