E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Dies a (2024)

“Usually, a guy went for the fastest time on the track, or he tried to win the competition for the highest speed clocked that day,” said Roger Meiners, a motor sports journalist and photographer. “E. J. wasn’t looking to win anything. He just showed up and tried to make people go, Oh, my God!”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/sport ... html?_r=1&

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUu9P3CKSMI[/video]

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

I like the classic photo of him launching at the drag strip with the chevy V-8 between his legs - NO CLUTCH!

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

Below is a picture I first saw of EJ Potter in a hot rod magazine +40 years ago. I think the picture says it all

Reading various articles about EJ; the story is (at least on his original V8 bike) is that he would start it on a center stand and then drop it off the stand to launch. No clutch; direct drive. Some of his earlier exploits included hitting cow pies on the drag strips causing the bike to go sideways.

All part of the show, the man, the legend.

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

Better hope the other guy isn't too slow pre-staging, look at the size of that gas tank!

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

He travelled widely to demonstrate his , ah...how you say, skills. Good on him. May the gods of speed [& Vulcan] see him to an honoured spot in motorhead nirvana..

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

Yee Haww . . .

Did a Tour on G.B. & N.Z. , caused a bit of a stir amongst the studious subjects .

According to the M.C. weekly , the Lead Weight is on the right hand side , in the dish bowl .
Used the stand for launching clutchless , but a clutchmodel A was fitted for start up .

6.7 litre tunned 550 Hp Chevy .

Oh dear . . .

Oh double dear . . .

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2012/ ... man-r-i-p/

the origan of the term ' shoehorn ' in relation to automotive use .

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

Needs more cow bell!

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

Needs more grunt .

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

Hey Matt, email the Walter P. Chrysler Museum & ask what they are doing with their BIG V16,why not?

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

Dances with Shrapnel said:

Needs more cow bell!

Click to expand...

I remember readin in a cycle mag that the bell was there to "balance" the bike and keep it on track. I read he would be on the line, on a kick stand with the back wheel spinning, kick the thing down when the light turned green and still make 10 seconds quarter miles. A true pioneer and innovator. The saddest thing was his coming down with alzheimer

Jean

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

Hey, we went & saw him, & one local bloke, a clergyman {!] was so inspired he built own version, & busted his arse on it [he`d ignored the warnings, having had the go
word from on high [high -thats for sure!]1st time out - to the cheers/jeers of the sports fans...

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

No crankshaft damper.
Injector pump driven off of the end of the cam.
Exhaust dumping right after the runners meet up together.
Looks like the engine was a stressed member - stiff enough?

Cool.

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

The world needs these sort of madmen to keep the rest of us awake !!!!

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

As renowned artist & motorhead Salvador Dali said ..."The only difference between me & a madman - is that I am not mad" ..

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

J.A.W. said:

As renowned artist & motorhead Salvador Dali said ..."The only difference between me & a madman - is that I am not mad" ..

Click to expand...

So he said :roll:

Jean

Re: E. J. Potter, ‘Michigan Madman’ of Motorcycle Racing, Di

Well, yes , it is true that many people who demonstrate an overtly 'mad' presentation dispute the characterisation...but there is a qualifier.. an old saying that goes -
"The difference btween genius & insanity - is success.."
Potter & Dali both enjoyed being surreal/shocking & did it well..