Famous Racers

[juliosz]

Whitetop,
In your "not sure about" section, you mentioned Wally Booth. The last I heard about Wally is that he and Dick Arrons split up from their engine business in Berkly, MI several years ago. Dick stayed on with the engine business (which just recently folded) and Wally started kind of a wholesale speed parts business which I don't know if it still exists. The last time I spoke to Wally (about ten years ago), he was really getting into breeding livestock in Wisconsin (dairy cows I believe) and he was checking with a few folks on selling what he had left over from his AMC days (aluminum engine block, and some infamous but unfortunately "pourous" cut and paste cylinder heads). Kind of amazing when you think about the sucess he and Dick Arrons had with only limited R&D help from AMC and free parts. That was the best deal AMC would give them even when they became reasonably sucessful. Booth/Arrons and Wolverine chassis (Tom Smith) ended up being a pretty decent combination.

juliosz

68 Z/28

[olredalert]

MM,

-------Watched E.J.Potter run the entire quarter on the back wheel once at New England Dragway.The front wheel was at least a foot off the ground thru the lights where I was standing.Not showing off you understand,but making the fastest run he could possibly muster!I have been a fan of his ever since.............Bill S

[Belair62]

Wow MM...I thought E.J. Potter passed away a long time ago...glad to hear he is still kicking.

[Z28fan]

Here's a pic of "The Michigan Madman" from a 1998 copy of Hot Rod Magazine.
It states-[ QUOTE ]
Potter ran 10-flats at over 164 in the quarter... and is still with us.

[/ QUOTE ]

[MotownMadman]

And you guys wonder who "My Idol" is, Michigan Madman, Motown Madman, Hmmmm....coincedence?
Motown [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Belair62]

Yeah but I bet he doesn't have a Pony Tail !!! That must have been a wild ride !! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

[Seattle Sam]

I think I remember reading that this thing wouldn't hold a clutch, so they started it on that funky stand in gear, then kicked it off there to launch it. Does that ring any bells?
-Sam

[SS427]

That's correct Sam.

[Z28fan]

You're particially correct Sam. I found another article in the August 2001 "Hot Rod" that shows more shots of a more modern bike that E.J. has built. Accordinding to the article he has a lever to lock the clutch in and then the bike is pulled by a tow vehicle to start it. He then disengages the clutch and disconnects the tow rope. Pushes the bike to the starting line while running and puts it up on an over center rear wheel stand using a long lever. While the rear tire is off the ground, he engages the clutch, tachs the motor up to get the rear tire spinning. When he's ready he simply releases the front brakes and rocks the bike forward off the stand and all hell breaks loose. Sounds like a fun time! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]


Picture of E.J. with more modern hilborm injected bike.

[Z28fan]

And another. E.J. and the "Widowmaker" in action!