the Widowmaker number 7

In 1973 the Guinness Book of World Records awarded EJ Potter’s V8 Dragbike “Widowmaker 7” the coveted title of “World’s Fastest Motorcycle”, finally making official what many in America already knew when they dubbed him the “Michigan Madman“.

 There was nothing Potter wouldn’t do to go faster – including removing his clutch entirely because he was losing too much power due to it slipping. He’d built the clutch from a Harley-Davidson drum brake, and although he’d tried to make it as strong as possible, it just couldn’t handle the 500+bhp Chevrolet V8.

Widowmaker 7 is fitted with a stressed-member Chevrolet small-block 350 cubic inch (5.7 litre) V8 with Crane gear-driven roller cams and rockers, Brodix aluminium heads, 12.5:1 forged pistons, a 1960s Vertex Len Hughes-built magneto, and Kinsler-rebuilt Hilborn fuel injection.

https://silodrome.com/ej-potter-v8-dragbike-widowmaker-7/
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23804/lot/284/?category=list&length=100&page=2

great home movie from Bangshift.com filmed at the Connecticut Dragway

EJ Potter at the 1 minute 45 second mark to the 2 minute mark,

then the Back Up Pickup goes the full length of the strip with one end in the air. Wheel standing was quite the crowd pleaser!

Found on http://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/fantastic-1970s-drag-video-connecticut-dragway-action-featuring-the-best-period-ej-potter-footage-we-ve-ever-seen/

Bang Shift finds really cool drag racing, here's a trio of awesome

Hayden Proffitt and the funny car Rebel. Ya gotta hand it to anyone who looks at the brick aerodynamics and says they'll make it win.

EJ Potter, that madman

Turbo Stang, powered by a drag axle from Turbonique and this is the first time I've seen this photo.. awesome

For lots of dragracing photos and videos, go see the tremendous coverage at Bang Shift http://www.bangshift.com/blog/

EJ Potter, the Michigan madman tried unreal power in bikes and cars, most famous for small block Chevy powered Harleys

He built stuff like a 1957 Plymouth stuffed full of an Allison airplane engine that ran nearly 150 mph in a period of time before Funny Cars existed. One could argue that EJ had the first one. He refined that idea after the Allison backfired through its supercharger and the car essentially became an oven. Potter suffered burns on his hands and arms while trying to get the car to a halt. His solution to the fire problem was to buy a brand new Dodge Dart station wagon, put another Allison (hooked to a tug boat clutch and a 1-ton truck rearend) in that and enclose the entire engine in a steel coffin to prevent the fire from escaping and burning him again.

“I did have a whole season running the Plymouth, the Southern tracks really liked that car, although guys like Ronnie Sox hated it. To see a big old Plymouth running as fast as I did didn’t do much for those guys.” excerpted from a great write up at Bang Shift: http://www.bangshift.com/blog/The-BangShift-Interview-EJ-Potter-AKA-The-Michigan-Madman.html

bottom two photos from http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428585&page=927 and the top two I've posted before

http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t59788687/hurst-hairy-olds/

Amusing stuff

Wow, how did this get past the beancounters who have to have it proved that the idea will make money?

I love that, I wish I could give a bunch of these away to old hot rodders

No way a woman would get talked into going for a ride on this and enjoy it

That incredible madman, EJ Potter

120 HP Lycoming 6 cylinder aircraft engine

1957 BMW Isetta body

via: http://zelastchancegaragedu78.blogspot.com/