2010
True Drag Racing Excellence!
ELMER TRETT
Elmer Trett.....say that name to any good motorcycle racer and watch their face light up because they know what this man brought to their sport. Elmer Trett was a huge asset and pioneer in making motorcycle drag racing what it is today.Racing on the streets in the late 60's Elmer soon realized that with his desire to go faster, he needed to switch from street racing to racing on the drag strip where he would be safer and could run bigger, faster bikes. Elmer, his wife Jackie and daughter Gina spent the early 70's racing and made thier racing a full-blown family business when they started bringing one-month old Kelly with them. Elmer's passion for drag racing led him to open a speed shop, with is background in working on Harley Davidson's that is what he primarily worked on at the shop.
Elmer's first bike was a Top Gas Harley that quickly started laying down good consistent numbers, which only made Elmer want to build something bigger and faster. So along came "Daddy Zeus," a double engine gas bike built by Sandy Kosman in 1977 then came "Pork Chop." After Elmer and his girls moved from Ohio to Georgia, the 80's led to corporate cut backs for Elmer and his factory sponsored Harley, which left him with the decision of changing from his history and background with Harley designed bikes to the more modern Japanese in-line four design, which was a tough pill for the Trett ladies to swallow, they only became in favor of the decision when it became apparent that the new style
bike Elmer was racing required less between round maintenance which meant thier jobs would become easier.Here are a few examples of Elmer's accomplishments;
- He was the first man to break into the 200 mph zone, running a historic 201.34 mph pass at the NHRA US Nationals.
- Elmer is in the Guiness World Book of Records.
- He built the 1st Supercharged Kawasaki.
- NMRA Pro Rider of the Year.
- NMRA Best Engineered Award.
- IDBA Max Award.
- 1st member of the Manley 200 MPH Club.
- IDBA Most Innovative Award.
- Participated in the Trans Atlantic Race held in Long Marsten England, won the event and set both ends of the British and European National records.
- Built the only Titanium framed motorcycle.
- NDRC Best Bike Performance Award.
- In 1992, Elmer won every even he attended.
- Became the 1st rider to exceed 200 mph in Australia.
- First rider over 220 mph.
- First rider over 230 mph.
- 1996 quickest & fastest pass in motorcycle history 6.06 and 235.10 mph
- 1st Billet cylinder head for a motorcycle.
- APE 6 Second & 200 MPH Club.
and the one of the most amazing things is that 14 years after his death, Elmer is #10 quickest of all time and #9 fastest of all time in motorcycle drag racing history. This list goes on and on....
Even though they only lived twenty miles from Atlanta Dragway, Elmer and his girls spent most of their time at Piedmont Dragway where they had a key to the gate, you know you spend a lot of time at a place when you can let yourself in. In total Elmer Trett claims 8 Top Fuel titles, he was only one pass away from claiming his ninth title when the good Lord took his life at a race in Indy. Elmer Trett will be remembered by many people for many reasons but should be remembered by all for his high quality of professionalism and dedication to a sport he truly loved and believed in.
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