Dragstalgia 2017 - Bikes in the Paddock

A walk around the paddock looking at some of the old drag bikes, at Dragstalgia 2017, Santa Pod, England.

[@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454]

Beautiful innovation in search of excellence. Mad respect for builders such as these. My last bike, an ancient Norton Dominator with a few parts upgraded, now a Matt Capri 955i Daytona. I’ve found better foundations to build on than most. Except for my first bike, an engine eating Yam 250. But since then motorcycles have been the second best part of my life. Only my own family & true friends have brought me more joy & growth. Ride it like you stole it but get back to your garage in one piece. - Matt’s dad Dan

[@genekrafft9798]

All I can say is Wow, luv'ed it!

[@jacketrussell]

The 'Sunbeam' was a Douglas. 😉

[@grahammitchell6435]

Just love those big twins.

[@ByronTexas]

Great video!

[@Colinpowderfinger]

Amazing engineering, still on my bucket list to build one day, thankyou.

[@MrClivehill]

The twin engine Norton languished in an old workshop in Norwich for many years, I used to peer at it through the dusty windows.

[@Merch131ho]

Good to know it was put back on the track. Not an easy task rebuilding a one off bike like that.

[@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454]

@@Merch131ho haven’t seen the whole video yet but not sure if it’s the twin Norton drag bike an online friend from the Midwest told me about. Hogslayer built at Sunset Motors in Kenosha Wisconsin. Heard about it from Danny D’Low of YT. Eventually gave up on an affordable Norton fast by today’s standards. Ended up on a lightly used Matt Capri version 955i Daytona. Single engine, EFI, normal not forced induction, modern brakes, better handling than the top end crazy UJMs. 11 flat at 128 stock. Think it can run low 10s geared right. Maybe 140 trap speed? I dunno. But I want to find out. It’s been decades since I had a really fast British rat bike. This time I want to run against the clock. People don’t believe me when I tell them my age. I think it’s because I have always pushed the envelope. Beats just hanging around. -Matt’s dad Hooning since jr. high, still love fast bikes that handle.

[@Merch131ho]

Hogslayer is to be seen at the British Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, there is a good film about it on Amazon Prime.@@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454

[@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454]

@@Merch131ho Thank you.

[@dukecraig2402]

Love those SU carburetors, best carb you can run on an older (shovel, iron sporty) Harley, like a Swiss watch on one of those bikes.

[@peteloomis8456]

I had a new one on a old Iron head and it was junk ! Had nothing but problems with the tickler plunger going bad as it would tear after just a few times and you couldn't flood the carburetor on cold starts and it didn't like cold temps under 40 degrees even though the instructions said it had a bimetallic valve to help it run better in cold climates or when in a low oxygen climate in mountains and such ! I sold it and bought a new S&S that's a pumper carburetor that worked much better in every way possible & never looked back !

[@kopynd1]

engineering at its best

[@kopynd1]

i used to have pre unit ironhead triumph shorock super with the trimmings sold for 500 quid

[@Merch131ho]

Well I guess we cant keep everything we once had.. Was it a drag bike you had?

[@kentwgazlay]

Would be nice to see them blast down the 1/4 mile!

[@Merch131ho]

Just posted a vid of just that.

[@georgemaclean1970]

2 05 Sunbeam ?

[@Merch131ho]

A Douglas of course my mistake, I'd been looking over a Sunbeam just before I edited this vid.

[@denisgicquel6454]

There was the same Douglas twin in a Pre-65 trials where I was riding in the 80's. The rider used to pour a glass of beer on the back cylinder with great regularity to avoid sizing (he also drank twice more glasses of beer, also to avoid sizing did he say! 😃).

[@chrismacleod3947]

Thy are only for looking at

[@victorylibrary9597]

1965 Triumph 500? Doesn't exist, the 1965 500 is unit construction, it's probably a 1955.

[@datadavis]

That Douglas is probably still crying over being called a Sunbeam too

[@geoffreycarson2311]

A 1930s DOUGLAS NOT SUNBEEM Mebe Late 20s g

[@Merch131ho]

yes, I'd been talking to someone about a Sunbeam at the time, my mistake.

[@flyingcatsofthesalishsea.]

please slow down your camera work, trying to get a good look without pausing. Great camera pic

[@Merch131ho]

Yes its something I'm aware off. There is so much to film and my camera had only about an hour of memory / battery power. So I was trying to get as much as possible on film before I ran out of memory / power. But this year I have spare memory cards and batteries, so hope to do better.

[@flyingcatsofthesalishsea.]

OK, i still gave u a tees up for content, & camera quality. Stay with it, l really luv this stuff especially from the UK. Cheers from west coast BC

[@Merch131ho]

Cheers, the next big classic bike show is at the end of April, so we'll see if I improve...

[@rogerramjet8964]

@@Merch131ho excellent cinematic intro,pan,scan,zoom...wham. Best lookin smokos ever