Frank Spittle on The Freight Train Top Fuel Twin Engine Harley ( Part 1)

Frank Spittle, who raced drag bikes for more than 20 years, purchased the Harley-Davidson from Elmer Trett in 1983 and named it Freight Train for its locomotive-like amounts of pulling power. Spittle's best times on the Harley were 7.63 seconds in the quarter-mile at 191.27 mph and 5.19 seconds on an eighth-mile strip at 147.56 mph. In 1985, Spittle wrecked at 145 mph, retired from racing and sold Freight Train to his crew chief, Jimmy "T-Bird" Yelton, who rebuilt it in 1990 in his Gastonia, N.C., shop for Randy Milling to race.

[@ccrider00]

Saw owens ( h.d.) in top fuel final against t.c. christensen's dual engined norton called " hogslayer " at ontario motor speedway back in 76. The norton easially walked the h d with the front wheel 6" off the ground the whole way- " riding the wheelie bar the whole way down the 1/4 mile.😫

[@beckspittle3588]

that’s my grandpa!

[@geneparker168]

Farmington dragway... I started my drag racing there in 1983 on a 1982 cr60r. Sure

[@Ed-ty1kr]

Wonder if he ever tried to twingle those, like some dirt trackers did for traction? Meaning pistons fire right after one anouther instead of alternating every other stroke, essentially making one long stoke, and then staggering the dual engine setup so as to keep the v-twins 2 power stokes out of 4 stokes for traction. Or does this run like any 4 banger, meaning every stroke out of 4 is a power stoke, or 2 staggered v-twins make a 4 cylinder?

[@davidott5650]

i would like to know more info on this, i believe randy milling is someone i know

[@dougankrum3328]

...Another guy waaay back when....Marion Owens.....double engine Harley, running blower and Nitro.....ended getting banned due to the blower....track owners said the bike was too dangerous....!

[@bautroi70]

How many parts in that motorcycle that Harley made ??????????????

[@davidleonard8369]

Both engines.

[@telsport]

What track is this.

[@frankeckert4901]

Farmington NC

[@hellbillykyboy]

one, the sticker saying hd