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racer54 wrote: Local racer Tom Klemme...won NHRA National Championship for third time. Only racer to accomplish feat....on a KZ!

I like that pic. the front tire ain't even rollin yet.

tanks so low its cleared for the valve cover. fn love it.

just some old stuff... 1985.....?ty.steve

Here's a great idea...Wireman....you should take one of your stored "projects" and do a build and put it on here so we can all follow along of Bob Carpenters pro-stock bike. Build a replica so not only can we enjoy the build progression but you can have an actual bike to look at...touch and ride to satisfy that inner child...

The replica project modeled after his bike is sitting on my bench right now as I type,only difference is Im leaning towards a turbo charged streetable version of it without all the rake in the front end.
The hardest part seems to be finding a spooled rear hub

I'd bet that he used a Kosman rear spool wheel. They were widely used back then.

That project needs to be without the turbo...just wouldn't be the same...OR...you could just build a turbo version AND a n/a version...yea....that's what you should do...

It would be tough to ride on the street that low with that header,I want to use the same color combo .I think that bike would be absolutely tits with a turbo or carbs

This is the bike that got me hooked on turbo z's as a young dumb kid!
Its another one Id like to da a replica of,dale walkers turbo kaw

Is that 7.98 @ a buck 72 legit? If so, that's crazy flying in 85 on a little tire bike!

Les

First Gas Bike in the 7's

Dale got his first pro ride in 1980, when Sandy Kosman hired him to pilot his newly assembled Kawasaki turbo Funny Bike. They were all rewarded when Dale ripped out a 7.95 ET @ 167 mph during an IDBA (International Dragbike Assoc.) national event at Fremont Raceway. This made Dale the first person to break into the 7's on a gasoline powered sit-up type Funny Bike. It was done with a stock foot shifted trans and a relatively small 18" slick. He backed it up with a string of 8.00's to prove it was no fluke.

From 1982 through 1985 Dale's 1197cc turbo Kawasaki dominated the Funny Bike Class. It also held the A/Altered turbo record and ran as quick as 7.98 ET @ 172 mph. This was one of Dale's all time favorite bikes.

les holt wrote: Is that 7.98 @ a buck 72 legit? If so, that's crazy flying in 85 on a little tire bike!

Les

Yes it was,that guy could put a Honda mini trail into the 10s if he set his mind to it!

Everytime I think about doing a mono shock swap all I have to do is look at one of these old low slung hot rods with dual shocks or even struts and I suddenly feel like glenn quagmire in sorority house!

I'll be the first person to tell ya in a crowd, Mono shock is a cute setup but it isn't the best! I did mine to advertise but I prefer the 2 shock setup. I'm working on a 9.50's bike with a single shock just to show off, yeah, "SHOW OFF"! My personal preference is twin shocks for the old look and they are more stable.

Les

I grew up building 48-53 chevy trucks,model A fords and shoe box chevys and a whole lot of fast bikes and boats long before the whole high tech craze kicked in in,what can I say Im stuck on straight axles and dual shocks!
Im not a fan of ifs under old street rods or trucks either,I guess its just a generation ol thing and the fact I grew up in a hick farm town in Nebraska.
If I would've grown up in California around all the shops turning out the billet beauty street rods my thinking might be different,but this is what Ive got to work with so I just live with it!

Here's an updated bike of the bike I currently ride for a team. Not much KZ about it, apart from the stud pattern and cam chain. And it has a 16 valve head which is more Yamaha than anything. We're in the 7s with it so far, at 25% boost.

Holy Kaw!

K, well I edited some and they dont show as new so here's more.
ty.steve