This 83 Year Old Still Races Jet Drag Trucks

Bob Motz is one of the most legendary drag racers in existence, as the driver of an amazing jet truck. At 83 years old, he is still making quarter mile passes over 200mph and firing up race fans at drag strips around America!
Watch him make runs at the Snowbird Nationals at Bradenton Motorsports Park (next door to the Cleetus McFarland Freedom Factory), including the fire show and acceleration. If you watch closely you can see people behind the truck run away when the fire show begins, and watch on the GoPro footage from behind the start line how the jet blows away the smoke!
Unlike the Shockwave jet truck, this one only has one engine. But the chassis is lighter, which means it has run deep into the sixes at over 230mph (before the NHRA instituted a speed limit for the jet trucks).
Reports about Motz's age vary. The Newark Advocate reported him as being 79 years old in 2017, while a race track promoted him as being 89 years old in 2020!
Many people know Bob from burning down the sign at Summit Motorsports Park for the Night of Fire. His shows are world famous.
So what do you think about this jet truck versus the Top Fuel dragsters and nitro funny cars, or blown drag cars? Let me know in the comments!
00:00 Intro
00:10 First Fire Show
01:48 First Run
02:30 Interview
06:20 Second Fire Show
07:08 Second Run

[@Adam-nv9zo]

That's a cool ass dude right there

[@LivingNitro]

the coolest!

[@Bobbyd0052]

NEVER SLOW DOWN! NEVER GET OLD ! "ICON" ! 🇺🇲

[@ksoblv]

I remember Bob running at US30 Drag Strip 🇺🇸

[@mikebradford68]

Super tribute to one of the best and longest driving showmen in drag racing. Spent some time with him while he was at New England Dragway in Epping...Very friendly guy, one of the best!!!! Great video as well, keep 'em coming!!!!

[@cmphighpower]

God bless you Bob you have one of the coolest exhibition vehicles out there. After all you have been through I have nothing but respect

[@Dreamtimesail]

That is seriously cool and I suddenly don't feel so old after all.

[@markbattista6857]

Love the way he rocks the truck in staging

[@nhragold1922]

Bob is a great guy!

[@MoxieMike66]

I remember when he first came out w/this truck. He is the first and the best in my opinion! I quit going to meets because they've gone to crap, but if he was going to be there I'd go in a heartbeat. Wish he'd come back to NEDway.

[@TheRevan1231]

I remember seeing Bob at New England Dragway growing up. I met and chatted with him a bunch. He was always very friendly and I even have a really awesome poster I bought from him that he signed for me. I miss seeing him in Epping NH now.

[@BearTheGamerYT]

I was there when they did the shows I really did enjoy it 😊😊

[@morphman21]

One thing I love about Bob motz and his truck is that at Norwalk he gets to burn the sign down and they play the phantom of the opera when he makes a run. Would do anything to go see Bob run or have him travel out to the west coast and run. Been a fan of his for a while since his fire

[@LivingNitro]

It is a truly awesome show he puts on at Norwalk's Night of Fire.

[@morphman21]

@@LivingNitro indeed. I also didn't know that his truck is one of the ONLY self starting trucks out there. Unlike Shockwave who uses a cable to start

[@insanityjetcar7073]

Great video Bob. I gotta tell you…. I Saw Les Shockley in 1994 at the Edmonton Airshow as a teen. Totally was awestruck by what I saw. Saw you in 2005 in Edmonton and went home and said “I think I need to build one”. I did…. And I think you very much for the inspiration. It ran for the first time this year. Really hope we cross paths again soon. I owe you dinner at the very least for helping shape my life.

[@hollypowell4478]

Awesome this truck be 20 years

[@martysquires1291]

I've gotten to see Bob several times he's a very cool person n his jet truck is awesome

[@mechanictaft4848]

I remember right after they re paved track you show up and take a ten foot by ten foot piece of asphalt up .and I remember when you burnt 🔥 down the timing tower and that back fence .Bob your a naughty boy!

[@bbenso691]

Very impressive!!! I have seen you at Raceway Park & Island dragway I believe. Awesome

[@barryrainbird7515]

Let there be rock pops

[@LivingNitro]

amen!

[@mechanictaft4848]

FKN epic in 1985 I was fifteen at new England dragway and I stood behind burnt my eyebrows and was picking tar outta my skull for months.

[@chanceysmith7643]

When I'm 83 I want to be doing this!

[@m42037]

NHRA slowed him or his age, I remember 20 years ago he was in the 5s running close to 300. I got a old poster of him back then with his autograph

[@jordanbigelow9759]

He’s never been anywhere close to 300 in a 1/4 mile. Jet cars can there but definitely not Motz. His fastest 1/4 mile speed is 234 and his fastest ET is 6.45 which was at 232 mph

[@m42037]

@@jordanbigelow9759 Ok so it's been 20 year's give me a break. I know I remember jet cars going 300 that's all I know, QUARTER MILE not this 1000 ft bs..

[@mikeup9160]

He is the best one I have seen in my life wish I could ride in it

[@morphman21]

Same here but at least you can do that in ShockWave

[@greggreg2263]

I just can’t help to think how nice this would be in traffic if the cops 👮🏿 tried to pull you over first you roast them then you’re gone😳😂😂😂😂🙌💥

[@brianbailey6161]

I member see him at SkyView drag night under fire best show ever

[@ADRIAAN1007]

Dont go out with a slow burn, go out with the afterburner on!

[@nocopyme84634744]

Australia had the first jet truck which had a royal Canberra bomber jet motor on the back of a ford truck which was built too drag against the USA super boss truck owned by Troy Malone, both trucks were run here in Australia at the Melbourne caller drag raceway Band-dag tire cold retreads was the mane supporter too see who had the faster truck in the world. but as normal good old USA would have to steal the idea from us Aussies.