Three Wheeler Racers From Back In The Day Now On 3WW???

[Joseph Farrow]

Got to thinking the other day and thought it would be neat to know and see how many members here on 3WW raced back in the Original Days of 3 Wheeler Racing. The Good Ol Days! Anytime during the 70's & 80's. I'm not talking about guys with names like Hart, White, Coe or Sparks......I'm talking regular Joe's (no pun intended) Privateers, Weekend Warriors, Local Hero's. It was a lot of us out there racing just as hard and having just as much fun. It doesn't matter if it was TT, MX, XC, Dessert or Drags. Lets here from you guys. I know you're out there. Also give a little history about yourself and the area you called your home track. Some of us may have crossed paths over the years and didn't even know it. *** Please Include Pics ***


I'll get it going.....

I started racing in 1980. My first race was an ATC Rodeo in Brownsville Tennessee. Basically the same things you would do in a Horse Rodeo. Barrels, Poles, etc. Mostly timed. From then on I was hooked. At about that same time 3Wheeling magazine came on the scenes and opened up a whole new world.

Here is a pic of me at my first race. I'm on a bone stock ATC110.


After that it was all about doing everything I could do to modify my bike. We ran Danny's Machine Works 180's in our 110's. We raced mainly in West Tennessee but also traveled into Western Kentucky, South Eastern Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi. I keep saying "We" because I have a twin brother named Judson and if you saw one of us you saw both of us. We have always been into the same things. We continued racing our 110's up through the end of 1983.

Here is a pic of my brother and I on our 110's from 1981. (I'm in the Black helmet my brother is in the Silver helmet)


Here is a pic of my last 110 race bike. "Bad Company"


From there we went to 200x's. We raced MX, TT, CX. What ever time of the year it was. Mainly MX and TT during the summer months and Cross Country during the winter months. Still racing in the same area. Started going to the nationals in 1985. Ran a few each year. Always went to Boyd Texas for the TT and had to go to Loretta Lynn's for the MX. Those were the best of the best when it came to those type tracks. Always liked going to Ashtabula Ohio and Mt. Morris Pa.

The last year for the 3 Wheeler classes at the AATVA/AMA Nationals was 1988. They had a 250cc Modified and a 200cc Modified Class. It would have been real easy to go ahead and make the move over to quads but I elected to run the complete series that final year on my 200x where I won the Grand National Championship.
Three wheeler racing was awesome back then. It came out of no where and blew up into something huge. This was way before the days of social media. Basically from word of mouth and what was in print. It's a shame a few ruined it for everyone else. One can only imagine what may have been if things would have turned out different.

Pic of my Brother Judson:


Me at a local race in Clarksville Tennessee:


Final race of the 1988 season Loretta Lynn's:


My Brother and I today.....Still Up To No Good!!! lol


Alright lets here from you other guys. I know you're out there!!!

[hostilerob]

I raced the 250 class from 85` until 90`. Flat track, oval, TT and ice.

[atc007]

Super awesome thread,and I'l try not to stink it up too much lol...I'm not worthy. I lived and breathed 3 wheelers and racing. I could be found at Silver Speedway, Monroeton, P>O>S>T off road,Liberty Speedway ,and Broome Tioga. It is a time of my life I absolutely cherish. Brutal hard work,ethics,,,,for the most part,,and playing that hard,were the way we lived. No cell phones,no twitter etc.. IMHO< A MUCH better time. My Dad always said his job was to keep me alive till I was 18, therefore,I was not allowed to race.After breaking my arm on a 85 R,and shattering my arm on a 87 Banshee. I soon realized workmans comp does NOT milk cows or keep a farm going. Therefore my "racing experience" was limited to 2 practice sessions. 5 R's ,and a fresh new TRX..All of these guys did very well at the races. The FUN it was to be on an actual racetrack,where there were "jumps" ,,built,leveled,smooth lol...... Was indescribable! Fortunately,or unfortunately,,?? Running the farm had to take priority over the chance of getting hurt. Never raced on raceday.. Therefore,I had my glory in 2 days of practicing...Unforgettable I anxiously await to here from the rest of you 3 wheel warriors . Great thread..

[jays375]

Very nice write up for sure.I really like seeing this stuff.

[Jwheeler]

Very kool pics and bio Joe & Judson. Thank you for this thread.The thank you box was full,buy the time I've seen this.:

[*ATC*]

Well back then there was BET in bellville IL, and Big river near Bonnterre MO. BET was an AMA track, and Big river was a money track.
This was around 1985-1987, still a blast.

[*ATC*]

I'll have to scan some Big river pic's, but here is a BET shot from my avitar

[HairyJR]

Started my love of racing in the early 70’s drag racing an ET Bracket car, transitioned to A/G and then A Econo dragster. Sold them and in mid 70’s began drag racing Honda SOHC CB750 motorcycles. In 1980 my high school buddy kept asking me if I could help him modify ATC 90/110’s. Bought a ’80 ATC110, two weeks later it was a 123. Of course that begin the years of weekend/holiday trips and racing Comp Hill at Glamis. Had given up motorcycle drag racing as all the local drag strips had closed. In ’81 with the introduction of the 185s saw the opportunity and built a custom swingarm utilizing the adjustable carrier for one of my drag bikes and went Sand Drag racing a couple years. The converted trike wasn’t pretty but was very functional and fun/fast for bracket racing. Never was a MX, TT or track racer not good at turning, as several of the current members who know and seen me ride lately, straight line hill racing I’m better at. Wasn’t into camera pictures back then as I am now so not many pic’s to share. Currently being retired and just enjoy duning….

The ATC110 pulling the Drag trike is a Helm & Son 205cc stroker running on alcohol


Couple pic’s my buddy took at Riverside CA. Racetrack


Later mods


"HJ"

[Mr. Clean]

Loving those pics HairyJr!!! Especially the on of you sitting backwards on the ATC110, you still have the same exact beard just a slight different color!!

[jb2wheels]

Off topic but HairyJR I basically learned to ride on my dad's 71 Roundtop. Candy Garnet Brown. Gorgeous motorcycle. Best sounding 4-1 ever from like Fours n' More or Action Fours or something like that. It was long ago.

When my dad found out I was learning to ride on it (sneaking it out after school) he was about as pissed as I've ever seen him...

On Topic, I'm not an old race, but I did win my bracket in the only "Official" drag race I ever entered. On my bone stock 82 185s. Out behind the Glamis store in the early 80s. The alky burning 90/110 based trikes were slightly faster but broke out every time. I might still have the trophy in the attic. My best friend took 2nd on is 81.

[big specht]

HJ is that drag bike blown? If so I didn't know they made one that small for bikes and how much boost did it make or you have it regulated to?

[HairyJR]

"jb2wheeles" my first CB750 was a '72 K2 Garnet Brown, still own the bike but the color got changed to Royal Metalic Blue when I installed a "Tracy" fiberglass tank. We must have crossed paths at the sand drags at that track located between the Glamis Store and the other local business called "Dirty Bob's".

"big specht" yes the bike had a Jerry Magnuson "MagnaCharger" 80 inch roots blower with Hilborn fuel injection. Generally run @ 14-16 lbs boost.

"HJ"

[Joseph Farrow]

Okay I know more of you guys are out there.......Mike aka Shortline10, Keith S, Phantomracer....???

[8686]

Sweet thread.

[shortline10]

Let me see if I can dig up some photos .
I started off racing on my 1980 atc110 then graduated to 1981 atc185s then moved on to an 1984 200x and as a back up I had my fathers 1983 250r that I raced when the 200x was down for repairs .
Very fun times .

Okay I know more of you guys are out there.......Mike aka Shortline10, Keith S, Phantomracer....???