"That thing is insane!" - "I don't believe it." - "Now this, I have GOT to see!"

Those kinds of comments are expected from the spectators at a drag race where exhibition wheelstanders and jet cars are performing, but when they all come from veteran riders in the Screamin' Eagle Top Fuel Harley class, you know there's something special in store. It's exactly the kind of reaction team owner Tim Arfons and rider Mike West were hoping for when they assembled the world's first jet motorcycle with symmetrical thrust on both sides of the rear tire. The bike's frame was custom-built by R.E. Engineering, near Niagara Falls, NY, and thrust is supplied by a single 1,300 horsepower turbojet engine that normally would reside in a CH-46 Army helicopter.

"I was sure hoping it was going to work," Arfons admitted at the bike's public debut Mar. 9-11 at Darlington International Dragway. "I've got a lot tied up in this."

With only a couple of test sessions earlier in the week at Rockingham Dragway under his belt, West bravely worked his way up to a more than 190 mile per hour pass by the time the weekend concluded. The bike went "straight as an arrow," he said, with just a hint of relief. "The engine torque was more than we expected," he added, "I had to lean way to the left all the way down the track."

Arfons, the son of legendary jet car and land-speed record racer Art Arfons, said several of the Harley riders offered invaluable insight, especially regarding the bike's handling characteristics. Jack Romine was singled out as being particularly helpful.

"He made a point of coming out and watching my runs," West said. "I really appreciate that."

The Akron, OH-based duo are booked to perform at seven IHRA national events this year and they expect a lot of interest from other track promoters once they learn how successful the Darlington debut was.

"We've still got some bugs to work out," Arfons said, "but at least we know it works now. We just wanted to try something different and the response so far has been even better than we thought it would be."

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