Multi-engined Dragbikes
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Multi-engined Dragbikes |
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CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO OPEN A HIGH QUALITY VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW |
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AT one time the answer to lower ET's was to add another engine, or two or even maybe three more! Who started all this is anyone's guess but it resulted in some pretty awesome and very fast bikes. EXAMPLES include double Harley Davidsons, Triumph twins, Norton twins, Honda and Kawasakis fours, Kawasaki and Suzuki 2 stroke triples etc. Triples included Kawasaki and Suzuki 3 cylinder 2 stokes, Triumph twins and perhaps craziest of all overbored Honda fours. Not to be outdone, in 1977, Bob Davis in the USA built a bike with 3 overbored Kawasaki Z1 engines. Nine feet long, 3600cc and 650bhp launched him to an 7.8 at 186 mph. What the hell did these 12 cylinder nitro bikes sound like? Equally a 2250cc, 9 cylinder 2 stroke must have sounded pretty evil! |
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IN the UK Paul Rose was probably the leading exponent of multi engined bikes. The last I saw was a double Yamaha TZ750 two stroke in the late 80's. AS to 4 engined bikes, I believe there was a combination of 4 Manx Norton 500 singles with common heads for pairs of engines. Perhaps it was really a flat four. Of course there were a few of those too, flat fours I mean, the VW variety (more on the fours page). |
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TON PELS a few years back on his blown double Triumph, note massive roots type blower behind the front wheel. In the second picture the Triumph now has Puma cases etc and was known as 'Double Dutch'. The bike is still roaring down the track today in the hands of Jean Claude Draperi. Development has continued with new billet heads and barrels, timing covers are the only recognisable Triumph parts. Note how the top frame rails are detachable for engine work. I took these photos at Santa Pod in 2001 where Jean Claude had some problems. It sounds great though with its unique note, and 'hunts' in a menacing fashion at tickover. |
Above photos courtesy Monique Pels. |
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THE LLOYD brothers 'Freight Train' was very similar in concept to the Denco triple-triple ridden by Boris Murray in the States. That bike ran 8's, on petrol remember, but I don't recall how well 'Freight Train' ran. Must have been a bit rough on the bum though with that basic seating arrangement. |
Photos courtesy Bill Dossett.
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I THINK I cut this picture from MCN many years ago. Anyhow it is none other than Paul Rose on one of his many multi engined creations. This one features 3 Suzuki GT750 water cooled 3 cylinder two stroke engines. Hope it handled better than the donor bikes! Paul Holland believes the rider of the blown Honda in the other lane is Pete Smith from Thornton near Blackpool. Pete went on to win in that race. I live in hope that someone has a sound recording of one of these bikes so than we can still revel in what must have been a fiendish racket. |
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THE famous Derek Chinn/Ian Messenger 'Pegasus' double Norton. Two Shorrocks blowers with SU carbs and Hilborne fuel pump all beautifully crammed into the smallest possible space. This bike was always impeccable prepared and finished. Later the SU's were replaced by injectors. Probably the weakest point on the bike was the Norton gearbox, this had a habit of self destructing very frequently, but was necessary due to the vast cost of stronger options. In 1975 running on only 65% nitro Pegasus ran a 9.16, despite the rear calliper coming adrift and ripping the valve from the rear tyre 50 yards before the finish line. Amazingly Derek kept the bike upright. Note the preponderance of denim waistcoats in this mid 70's photo, sadly I had one too! |
Photo courtesy Anni Valder.
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NOT surprisingly US rider Danny Johnson's 3.5 ltr double Harley was called 'Goliath'. Photographed at Santa Pod in 1975 where Danny was putting on demonstration runs. On the 6th July during Saturday's qualifying period Johnson stunned all with an 8.62 - 165.84mph run. The next day Johnson match raced against Britain's best in the form of John Hobbs and his twin engined twin supercharged Weslake. Danny performed crowd pleasing rolling burn-outs whilst John did the British thing and burned out against the rail digging chunks out of the tarmac! In the second match race John Hobbs blasted off the line to a new best for a European rider at 8.86 - 158.48 whilst Johnson eased the huge Harley of the line and then thundered around Hobbs to the fastest ever time on European soil of 8.48 - 167.56 mph. A sign of the times, at the same meeting Keith Parnell took his little 750 Triumph to his second run in the 8's at 8.94 - 152.91mph! |
Photo courtesy Bill Dossett.
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I had expected Norman Hyde to be one of the few entries in our 3 Cylinder section, not realising that he had decided that one engine wasn't enough. I don't have any information about the bike other than it obviously featured 2 BSA/Triumph triples. Front head is reversed and there appear to be 2 SU carbs attached to a big 'Roots' type blower. Steering lock must have been pretty limited! |
Photo courtesy Jon Spoard.
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This bike is in the multi-engine section under false pretences as it's a flat four. However it was based on four Manx Norton engines, so there. Built by Ian Richardson the bike used an engine built by Butterworth Engineering for car racing. Parts from four 500cc Norton engines were united with a special crankcase and DOHC cam heads to produce a very potent motor. If anyone has more info on this bike and its performance please get in touch. |
Photo courtesy Jon Spoard.
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DUTCH millionaire businessman Henk Vink was very popular in the UK and was a great ambassador for our sport. Sadly like many truly nice people he tragically died before his time. The 'Big Spender's team's bikes were always immaculately prepared and the whole team had glamorous appearance. Best of all Henk was very approachable and had a huge sense of humour. After setting a new record at Elvington, most of the team could be seen wobbling around the pits perched on one monkey bike whilst swigging champagne! I think I would be right in saying that most of Henk's bikes were bought from the likes of Kenny Annesley in the States. This particular beast was Henk's second double Kawasaki, the first being a naturally aspirated nitro injected job. |
Photo courtesy Jon Spoard.
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HERE's one of another earlier Henk Vink machine from my archive, OK the loft. Taken at Avon Park when it was Long Marston, in I think 1981. This is the ex Kenney Annesley injected double Kawasaki. I'll leave it to Ton Pels to identify the 'Big Spender' team members: "Team members are Jan Smit (working on bike), on the right Nick Dammers (looking at the bike like he knows it all but really knows fu... all) and Harry O'reel (in Holland better known as Harry Bordeel)" "Jan Smit made parts for the 50 cc Van Veen Kreidler for Aalt Toersen
and later, when he was already working for Henk Vink, he also made parts
for the 50 cc Jamathi of Martin Mijwaart and Jan Thiel (technical work
and tuning) and Paul Lodewijks (rider). Henk Vink was team boss/owner
of the Jamathi team." Aalt Toersen still holds the 50cc standing start 1/4 mile World Record at 15.36 seconds! I shot a whole roll of film at this unique meeting where Henk was match racing World Record holder Bo O'Brochta. Sadly I managed to make a complete arse of it and this is the only pic worth showing. |
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