Drag racing in the 1970s was a very different sport from the one we have today, and advancements in technology and engineering have meant bikes now cross the line in as little as 5.5 seconds, at speeds over 250mph.
The drag racing heyday of the 60s and 70s was a totally different vibe, and instead of technology to go fast, racers had to live by the tried and tested adage that ‘there ain’t no substitute for cubes’.
That’s a mantra that the owners and builders of the ‘Hogslayer’ dragster took very much to heart, and as the name suggests, they used the bike to take race wins against American V-twins in the UK, Europe, and across the pond. The bike features a twin-engine design, with a pair of highly-tuned Norton 750cc parallel twins mounted one behind the other.
Since its racing days ended, the bike has spent much of its retirement at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull, although the museum has today agreed to let it out once more, to take part in the Dragstalgia event at Santa Pod, later this year.
Having been on display at the NMM for some 20 years since coming from the USA in 2004, the bike will require a considerable amount of work to be done before it’s ready to take on the quarter mile. Plans are currently in place to relocate the machine to secure premises in Hertfordshire, where those recommissioning works can be carried out.
Dragstalgia is a retro-themed drag racing event, focusing on the cars, bikes, music and culture from the bygone era of drag racing. It takes place at the Santa Pod Raceway in Warwickshire, from Friday the 5th to Sunday the 7th of July 2024.
More information on the event can be found here:
https://santapod.co.uk/dragstalgia.php
