EJ Potter and his bike number one

[Duck-Stew]

Although it's not all aluminum, and italian...  There's so much going on in this picture I felt that I must post it somewhere on this board for people to see.  From the 'Whizzer' tank to the look in his eye to the square pipe exhaust headers ()...  It's a wonder he didn't become dead before actually getting something like this down a 1/4 mile strip.

RIP E.J. Potter aka "The Michigan Madman" and long-live those who follow in the same vein!




...and I think I have an idea for another tattoo... 

[Ducatamount]

Much respect for this sick motorcycle genius.
I think I saw him doing a couple of exhibition runs at Epping NH dragstrip back in the seventies. He smoked his rear tire so hard that it was solid smoke from the top of his helmet to the ground all the way behind him down the whole quarter. Ruined a car tire with each run.

[Speeddog]

So much epic in that picture!

Throttle 'grip' made from electrical tape, half of which is sliding off.

[Duck-Stew]

My fav's are

the forward bank of cylinder's valve cover gasket slipping out from under the valve cover

the front brake brought to the left side of the handlebars (only b/c I assume the cable wasn't long enough to goto the right side)

the front drum brake's size as compared to the insanity worth of HP out of the Chevy V8

the rear sprocket's emense size

the greasy hands holding onto the obligatory cigarette...

the list goes on and on and on....

[Speeddog]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/sports/autoracing/e-j-potter-motorcycle-daredevil-dies-at-71.html?_r=0

I had no idea he had written a memoir.

[koko64]

I really miss that spirit with the way things are now.
When I was a kid, I saw black and white pictures of him in old motorcycle books in our school library. All those politically incorrect books would be gone now.
Kudos to his parents "for letting him be himself". I really like the unbalanced balance he had with absolutely pushing the limit and wearing a helmet before they were mandatory.
A world away from the Nanny state and "bubble wrap" generation. I think that's why I like talking to old motorcyclists about that bygone era. Reminds me of an old guy I knew (gone now) who rode his 1000cc Vincent down a highway (50mph limit) in my city at 100mph. I asked how he got away with it and he said that part of our city was countryside back then and there was no speed limit.

[1.21GW]

...to the square pipe exhaust headers ()...  

Someone help me---where is the exhaust?

[Grampa]

[Speeddog]

Someone help me---where is the exhaust?

Here's one of his later bikes, #3 I think.

You can see a fairly conventional looking header just behind the front wheel.

On his first bike, he basically cut holes in the side of a ~square pipe and bolted it to the side of the head.
Genius in a Dr. Frankenstein sort of way.

[1.21GW]

Thanks.  And also, wow!

[Grampa]

[red baron]

[spolic]

H.R. Puff & Stuff called and he wants his shorts back.

Love the horn.

I wouldn't touch that thing with a 10 foot pole! Yikes.

[Speedbag]

          

Yeehaw!!!!

[Ducatamount]

Thanks BP, that one just made it onto my top 10 action motorcycle pics list.