Enumclaw local Dana Meeks, along with his crew, recently made a significant return to international National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) motorcycle drag racing after a ten-year hiatus. Meeks and his team, including Chris Wilson, Greg Lovell, and new Yella Beak Saloon owners Rich and Marianne Eveland, competed at the Mission Raceway Park in British Columbia last weekend, following an earlier event in August.
This high-octane sport features Top Fuel Harley class motorcycles, which are purpose-built machines capable of reaching speeds exceeding 200 miles per hour. These powerful bikes, producing 1,000 horsepower, accelerate from 0 to 176 mph in just one second, requiring a parachute to slow down. Meeks noted that managing such a bike, which often has its front tire off the ground, demands skillful use of the rear tire and body to maintain a straight course. He described the experience as "pretty darn exciting stuff," highlighting the intensity as the bike "just keeps pulling like a rocket."
Meeks explained that these highly technical machines are often custom-built and require tuning after every run, emphasizing the complexity beyond simply hitting the throttle. He cited the need to understand intricate clutch, fuel, ignition, and data collection systems.
The team's absence from racing stemmed from a major mechanical issue a decade ago. Meeks described the event as a "catastrophic failure" when the motor blew up, specifically a snapped crankshaft, rendering the bike inoperable. Lacking the necessary resources for immediate repairs, Meeks and his team had to retire from the sport at that time. Eight years later, crew member Chris Wilson began the extensive two-year process of rebuilding the motorcycle.
Upon their return, the team focused on refining their tuning and riding techniques. Meeks indicated that they now feel they have a better understanding of the bike’s capabilities. Their recent competitions included the Smoke Fire and Thunder race from August 20-22, where Meeks qualified for the elimination round. However, he was knocked out in the first round by competitor Nate Gagnon. Meeks reached speeds over 202 mph, completing the run in just under seven seconds, but Gagnon finished a half-second quicker at 219 mph.
At the West Coast Outlaws event held from September 25-27, Meeks again faced Gagnon. During this race, Meeks experienced a drift, forcing him to slow down for correction, ultimately finishing a second behind Gagnon with a time of 7.22 seconds. Meeks acknowledged the need for "a bit more seat time to get comfortable managing the bike on the top end," but viewed the weekend as positive, reporting no damage to himself or the bike.
Meeks underscored that drag racing is a collaborative effort, stressing that the crew's extensive work is crucial. Between runs, the team downloads and analyzes bike data, adjusts pushrods, refuels, repacks the parachute, and pressurizes the frame, all within a tight timeframe. He affirmed, "It’s not about me… it’s about all of us."
This last race concluded their season, as wet track conditions make it unsafe to achieve such high speeds. Looking ahead, Meeks expressed enthusiasm for future testing at Pacific Raceways, stating, "It’s great to be back in the saddle," and that he often daydreams about being on the track.