For those of you that have never seen a Nitro Harley drag bike make a run, fix that for 2018. The NHRA has them out at about a dozen races next year on an expanded schedule, they match race all over the place, and they are also featured in motorcycle racing series across the country. Fortunately the New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire had the bikes at my beloved home track of New England Dragway in June. The fans in Epping know and love these things because they saw ’em for years at the IHRA national events the track hosted for more than a decade.
On this particular qualifying pass it was Tii Tharpe and Rich Freeland lined up to make their best shot down the strip. Things got weird and interesting right off the hit of the throttle when Tharpe’s bike instantly launched the parachute! The ‘chute blossomed and acted as a giant hunk of resistance down the track but Tharpe, with a bike that was tracking straight and true kept the hammer down. The result was a deep six second pass at 200mph and he was the quicker of the pair!
The head-on replay of this run you will see is one of the most awesome things I have seen at a drag strip. The front tire literally does not touch the ground until well after the quarter mile finish line when Tharpe chops the throttle.
Tii Tharpe has been a lot quicker in his career but this may be his most entertaining run ever. Fun stuff!
You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced the Harley Drags in BG, KY. It’s a four day, four night party with some motorcycle drag racing tossed in during the days and live bands at night.