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Weems Motor Co.’s alcohol-fueled, fuel-injected, supercharged 1956 Triumph drag bike…
In 1950, drag racing pioneer C.J. “Pappy” Hart started renting an unused runway on the Orange County Airport for road racers to compete in a extra organized (and authorized) style, and one of many nation’s first drag strips was born — the Santa Ana Drags. As legend has it, Pappy based mostly the quarter-mile distance on quarter horse racing, and the game quickly exploded in reputation, on each two wheels and 4.
All through the ’50s and ’60s, drag bikes had been largely home-built affairs, with racers counting on blood, sweat, and experimentation to shave fractions from their E/T’s. Earlier than the introduction of the Honda CB750 in 1969, British and American twins dominated, and earlier than the appearance of fairings, a lot of the builder’s laborious work and ingenuity was on full show. Previous-timers even say the stretched, slammed look of those mid-century drag bikes impressed the choppers of the Straightforward Rider period.
At this time, we’re thrilled to current this ’56 Triumph drag bike from Jared Weems of Tampa’s Weems Motor Co. Jared says Triumph runs in his blood — in truth, the primary bike he ever touched was his father’s ’49 Triumph.
A number of years in the past, Jared was identified with a mind tumor, and whereas fighting the associated seizures and unsure future, he offered most of his bikes and moved away from bikes. Nevertheless, when Mike Davis of Born Free Motorbike Present reached out, telling him he was placing on a particular Triumph-only present in 2020, Jared jumped on the alternative.
He determined to construct the Triumph bobber from a portray (“Canine Gone Canine”) by legendary artist David Mann, who hardly ever included British bikes in his work. Not solely did the ’52 Pace Twin David Mann duplicate lead Jared again to bike constructing, however he raffled it off to boost cash for Forgotten Angels — a charity that advantages youngsters who’ve aged out of the foster care system.
Quick ahead two years, and for Born Free Present 13, Jared determined to construct a tribute to the person who first launched him to Triumph bikes:
“The bike was impressed by my father who was a drag racer and was born in 1956.”
The body is totally hand-built, stretched 5 inches with a 2.5-inch drop on the neck, and the engine is a extremely modified murals — a 1956 Triumph 650 twin with 750cc nikasil-lined aluminum cylinders, uncovered rocker arms and pushrods, a windowed timing cowl, and an AMR300 blower working 6 lbs of increase. Says Jared:
“I used to be impressed by manufacturing unit cutaway engines and thought how cool would it not be to construct one that truly works.”
Certainly! And since alcohol runs a lot cooler than gasoline, Jared was in a position to shave the fins from the highest finish, too — altogether, he says the engine misplaced greater than 35 kilos! Not surprisingly, the ’56 took house “Greatest Competitors” at Born Free 13, and as soon as the present season is over, Jared and his crew stay up for taking this blown magnificence to the strip.
Beneath, we discuss to Jared for the total story on the construct, together with extra beautiful photographs from photographer Erick Runyon (@gearsandglory | @choppergent).
Supercharged Triumph Drag Bike: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
I used to be raised round bikes and the primary bike I ever touched was my dad’s 1949 Triumph. Triumph is our model and we really feel the most effective bike on the market. I constructed all the things from cafe racers to period-correct customs and all the things in between. We construct our {custom} bikes out of a two-car storage in Tampa, Florida.
• Inform us in regards to the construct
We constructed the bike over an eight-month interval as we had been chosen as a Born Free 13 Invited Builder. On the present we took house Greatest Competitors. The bike was impressed by my father who was a drag racer and was born in 1956. The bike is an alcohol-fueled, mechanically fuel-injected, supercharged, 1956 Triumph 750cc drag bike.
The body is hand-built with 5-inch stretch and a pair of.5-inch drop on the neck. The spine is the oil tank. The swingarm was cut up and two left-hand parts grafted collectively to create a wishbone for the massive slick. It was then prolonged three inches and is supported by hidden adjustable heim joints.
The wheels are genuine Invaders with 17″ spool hub within the entrance and 16″ within the rear. The springer frontend is 4″ below and has modified entrance legs. The bars are custom-built with inside clutch and throttle.
The engine is very modified with uncovered rocker arms, pushrods, and a windowed timing cowl to see the cam gears and oil pump working. I used to be impressed by manufacturing unit cutaway engines and thought how cool would it not be to construct one that truly works.
The late-model Triumph 650cc head was modified by welding the exhaust ports closed and shifting them inward to run parallel to permit a flange-mounted {custom} stainless exhaust to be bolted on. All of the fins had been faraway from the highest finish to save lots of weight because the alcohol gasoline cools the engine throughout working.
The highest finish is about up with a complete loss oiling system. The supercharger is an AMR300 setup with 1:1 ratio working at 6lbs increase. The mechanical gasoline injector is a uncommon Wal Phillips unit from England. The cylinder is a modified M.A.P aluminum 750cc nikasil-lined big-bore package. All collectively the engine misplaced 35.2 kilos in the course of the modifications.
The bike was painted by Milkbone Kustoms from Orlando, FL. The paint itself from Aston Martin’s China Gray, from the 2022 DB11.
Your entire construct course of will be seen on our YouTube channel: Weems Motor Co.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
We have now named the bike “56” in honor of the yr of the engine and my father’s start yr.
• Any concept of energy or weight numbers?
At the moment we fired up the bike with a typical tune and haven’t put the bike on the dyno. With the entire intensive engine modifications we hope for HP numbers north of 100.
• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to experience?
We have now solely run the bike on rollers and are trying ahead to getting it on the drag strip after the present season!
• Was there something accomplished throughout this construct that you simply’re particularly pleased with?
The quantity of machining and engine modifications had been probably the most troublesome a part of the construct. Each loopy modification we dreamed up or noticed in outdated pictures of drag bikes from the 60’s and 70’s was thrown at this factor. The uncovered rocker arms, pushrods, and windowed timing cowl must be my favourite a part of the construct.
Comply with the Builder
Weems Motor Co.
Web site: weemsmotorco.com
Instagram: @weemsmotorco.tampa
YouTube: Weems Motor Co.
Paint: Milkbone Kustoms
Images Credit score: Erick Runyon (@gearsandglory | @choppergent)
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