At last weekend’s NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida an interesting thing happened. Pro Stock Motorcycle became the talk of the town. Harley Davidson rider Eddie Kraewic had cracked the 200mph barrier in testing a short time before the event and a lot more eyes than usual were following the class to see one of the last big performance barriers fall in NHRA competition. While Kraewic did not break 200mph at the Gators, he did accumulate more points in a single event (150) than any other rider in the history of the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle category. Like the professional that he is, Kraewic rode his HD rocket to the winner’s circle. Back after a couple of seasons away from the sport, multi-time class champion and decades long competitor George Bryce pulled the veil back on some eye-opening information relating to the Harley Davidson competition bikes, their availability, their mechanical setups, and his opinion that the playing field is not currently level.
“This is an incredible double edged sword,” Bryce said during our interview with him. “What Harley Davidson has done for this class, to renew the rivalry between American and metric bikes, the investment they have made in the NHRA and the class, and how hard the Vance and Hines team has worked are all things I respect and am grateful for, but the way things are now regarding the Harley Davidson setups is a very one sided deal.”
Bryce was quick to point out that he’s not crying or sulking about the issue, but wants the public to understand what is going on with the class and how things are currently operating. “When the rules were changed for the 2009 season, I got hard headed and stepped away,” Bryce said. “When the rule book came out and I saw that the Harleys were going to get four valve heads and overhead cams I called the NHRA and spoke to the National Tech Director, Don Taylor. On the phone he told me that what I read in the book was a misprint. Two weeks later the guy was gone from NHRA.”
Harley Davison is the official motorcycle of the NHRA and has been since 2006, when they joined the Pro Stock fray. In doing additional research and investigation for this story, sources familiar with the agreement between NHRA and Harley Davidson have repeatedly said that it is work in the neighborhood of $800-$850,000 per year to the sanctioning body. If these numbers are true, than that represents a significant revenue stream for the NHRA and one they would certainly not want to lose in these times of shrinking sponsor deals and participation.
Bryce’s major issue with the current situation in the class is the fact that no one can buy the engines that the Vance and Hines team, backed by Harley Davidson uses. They simply are not for sale, and that does not sit well with him, “When STAR Racing and S&S developed the V-Twin engine that we ran in the Buell, the NHRA told us that we could run it so long as it was made available to the public to buy. We went through the whole process, debuted the bike at Columbus in 2004, and announced then and there that they were ready and available to be bought. Lots of different riders won championships with that combo and it was a very good business. I don’t know why that standard is not being followed now.”
When we asked him why they would limit or essentially forbid anyone else from running the engine, Bryce was stumped. “I really do not know why they wouldn’t want this engine in as many bikes as possible. It is clearly the superior engine right now.” Using an analogy from the Pro Stock automobile category Bryce wondered aloud, “What would happen if one team were allowed to run 800ci engines and everyone else had to run 500ci engines?”
We asked Bryce what he thought the power differential was at this point and he said, looking at the back half numbers, the Harley Davidsons have a 50hp advantage and perhaps a little more. That is a massive amount when talking 160ci engines. No one “finds” 50hp in a motor of that size, especially one as already scienced out as a full bore racing engine.
George continued to stress though the interview that he was not frustrated with the Harley riders or the Vance and Hines team, “I am not mad about the competitive advantage,” he said. “We have 78 Wallys in our trophy room. We have had competitive advantages over the years and that is how this sport works. I don’t begrudge anyone who works for it, pays for it, whatever. I am frustrated at the fact that this technology and these engines are not available to the rest of us like they have been since the class began. I do not want H-D out of the sport, I do not want the Vance and Hines team penalized or anything of that nature, I would just like to see the one sided nature of this current setup fixed.”
Being a multi-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion, event winner, and class pioneer, we asked Bryce what it was like to come to the track now knowing that he was down a significant amount of power to the Harleys and what brought him back. “In 2011, we raced over in Europe with a great team and we won the European championship,” he said. “Those guys wanted to come and race over here and frankly, I don’t think it is my place to tell people they shouldn’t do something. They are gung-ho to do it, we have a strong team, and we want to work with them, so that is why we are back. As far as showing up and knowing we are behind the Harleys in the power curve, people race for a lot of reasons. Some people race to be at the show, some race to be in the show, and some race to win the show. We always show up with our minds set on winning the event, no matter the obstacles. Make no mistake about it, there is a lot of pressure on the Vance and Hines team because the stage is set for them to win a lot of races this year and frankly, it is as hard or harder to win races you are ‘supposed’ to win than ones where you show up like everyone else. Eddie Kraewic is as good and professional as anyone who has ever ridden in this class and you saw that at Gainesville. He got on the bike and rode it to the full potential of the machine. I tip my hat to him and the Vance-Hines team.”
At this point, Bryce and his team are committed to the full 2012 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle schedule, so he’ll be there fighting the fight and refining his combo through the season. Will the Harleys run the table this season? It seems like an impossible feat for a multitude of reasons, but they certainly seem poised to dominate with the current situation in the class.
As Bryce said earlier, this is a major league double edge sword. Harley Davidson invests a massive amount of money in the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, the class is getting more television and press coverage than it has in years, there is a healthy rivalry that is headlined by one of the most iconic American brands in existence, and interest seems to be on the rise. The long term question still needs to be asked though and that’s a simple one. Will a single make’s dominance of a class using a unique engine combo allowed only to their factory team result in continued good press and interest or will it drive away any fans not pulling for that particular team?
As it looks now, only time will tell.
This has been swept under the rug by NHRA since the introduction of Harley as a major sponsor. Harleys are antiquated boat anchors and in order to run with any inline import have to have vastly increased engine size and reduced bike weight. While Vance and Hines truly do have some screaming eagles, the playing field is far from level. Just like squeezing out the hemis in the ’70s. BTW, I have a new favorite PSB pilot ,Bryce’s John Hall.(He has the same name as Maxcackle)
I agree that V&H will likely dominate this season’s drag bike class, and have already taken the liberty to write NHRA, asking for clarification on how they intent to balance the Hp output amongst this class. Even as an HD owner, I feel this season could be very lop-sided, and would prefer that all competitors have a far opportunity to WIN. I guess that too much of a GOOD thing can be a BAD thing.
I totally agree Kevin. I am mostly interested in the other classes; but like watching the bikes when it is close. If there is a tenth difference when they run; I just as well change the channel.
I thought it was strange how those bike were pulling away like that. I said wow somebody found a secret. Anyway if that is the big picture for the season. Lame.
These bike ran close together in past, similar to pro stock car.
I still feel the only way NHRA will take notice is if everybody but VHR just stops showing up.
Harley bought the AMA racing classes it chooses to run in,why should NHRA be any different?
I agree AMA went down the drain and so will PSM in NHRA by this years end….
Im not sure some folks truly understand it yet. It’s not about “factoring” or “adjusting” the class. The point is that H-D will not allow any other team to own their equipment. Period. Suppose only Greg Anderson & Jason Line could run Pontiac? That is expressly forbidden in the rules. The components must be available to all competitors who want to run Pontiac engines.
THAT is the issue! If Harley won’t make their equipment available to any team with the money to buy it, LIKE EVERY OTHER BRAND MUST DO, them Harley should not be allowed to compete in the class. It is this kind of politicking that convinces me I’ll never own a Harley…basically, they have to cheat to win.
For those that do not know, the buells run the same ci motor as HD. Let me get this straight George… Basically you are wanting to give up on your s&s motor and join HD? Can’t beat em then join them? That’s exactly what you are saying. I think maybe the sport has evolved. It’s a damn shame that the very reason that you race is to get faster. Here everyone wants to dog out these guys that are trying to do so. Make some changes… Worry about your setup… So either you want.to run this setup or you don’t.want anyone running it. Make up your mind and quit talking out of both sides of your mouth. This comes from someone with a lot of respect for you sir.
To jbird……. yes the buells may be the same ci, but they are not allowed 4 valves per cylinder & overhead cam like the harleys. You don’t know what you are talking about.
I understand the way no one can buy the HD bike to run like Eddie and Drew’s, but why do the other manufacturers not contribute the same or more funds to NHRA to even the scales. The NHRA would have to listen to them then. It seems like the other mfg groups are absent from the sport. That can’t help teams who are using their products. In more ways than one.
Jbird, you did not quite get the logic behind the statement. The Buell/S&S motors are not permitted to run 4 valves per cylinder as just one of the issues. The V&H team lobbied for the 4 valve OHC motor change and got it approved hands down. It took a representative from Suzuki to get the new Suzuki head approved a few years ago. The Buell/S&S is a dinosaur with only 2 valves. It has just about reached its HP development limit with that limited breathing capabilities. Since the Buell/S&S does not have a recognized factory support they cannot lobby effectively with the NHRA since the NHRA only recognizes factory representation. GB is a very respected individual in this industry. He is involved in Metric motor development as well as being the key figure in the development of the current 60 deg 160″ Buell/S&S Pro Stock motor used universally by all the Buell teams.
Dave Duncan, so we should all bribe NHRA to have the same rules that apply to one team apply to the rest of us? That’s what you are saying…
I’ve been drag racing motorcycles for 34 years as a rider, crew member, and a crew chief. I’ve rode everything from Et, to Pro Stock. I was a crew chief on a NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Team in the late 80’s when even the small guy had a chance to win. I’ve been at NHRA races all over the eastern half of the US, and even in Canada. I have never seen a bike do what the Harleys did at the Gators. I went down to the top end, and could not believe the move they made from half track on. It was like they had nitrous. NHRA needs to do something to even the playing field. Give the Buells the same head, let the Metric bikes us new heads like the one George Bryce and Star Racing has developed. They need to do something or people might just pull out of the class and take their Buells and run AHDRL or the metric’s change over to Pro Mod Motorcycles and run ADRL. I was plaining on building a Pro Stock Suzuki for next year, but if NHRA don’t even up the playing field, why wast my time and possible sponsors money.
I have been racing 40 yrs now, whatever happened to the requirement “available to the general public” that was allways in the prostock rules… You can buy a G-square engine, the woods are full of Suzukis, but no one can have a VHR engine except their riders-BOGUS
A simple approval of the new heads by NHRA that GB has designed and are widely open to anyone would be the quickest and most econmical way to solve this issue…..
Oh America, where hath thy values gone?
This is nothing more the corporate corruption that punishes the fair minded sportsman, all wrapped up in a flag waving, sick making, candy coated, big business smile that’s as crooked as a protection racket. “Nothings wrong here” declares the NHRA “we’re the NHRA”. The name Mr Parkes polished to a high lusture with hard work, fair play and honesty will only keep its shine as long as the current custodians are prepared to lavish the name with the same kind of attention. Look now. Look how quickly the name has become tarnished. Soon no doubt the boardroom Yahoos’ will be dragging the name through the mud with whatever next, the the name; NHRA will become dirty and worthless. The Yahoos’ will have their money while the fair minded sportsman will be left holding an epmty promise.
IT’S DISGUSTING!
The sanctioning body’s most important mission* is to insure a LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. With this $800,000 thumb on the scale for HD, it skews the outcome and is fundamentally UNFAIR.
As much as American’s are totally acclimated to everything in modern American life being utterly unfair, we all still need to have something in our lives that is fair and just. NHRA Pro Stock Bike is a pretty bad arena to look for such things right now.
As this gets more public, consider the possibility that this will, in the big picture view of things, hurt both NHRA AND HD, because most of us American’s to this day still DON’T LIKE CHEATERS!
-90% Jimmy
* a quaint point of view, I admit. safety is up near job one, growing more dragstrips used to be job one, but, based on my recent observations, job one at NHRA is to EXTRACT AS MUCH MONEY for NHRA Corporation as is legally possible. Same exact business model as so many other major American Corporations. Like shooting fish in a barrel for NHRA, as their customer base of racers, fans, track owners, race vendors and corporate sponsors are just pigeons to be plucked. I think that’s a rotten way to treat an entire community that “do it for love”. (wdifl.com – nice Don Ewald nitro history site)
It was recently revealed Goldman Sachs executives would refer to such pigeons as “Muppets”.