See all formats and editions hide other formats and. Ej passed away at age 71 on april 30, 2012, due to complications from alzhemiers disease. He ran the bike on a kickstand and pushed it off at 7,500rpm. We just finished reading his book, ej potter, michigan madman, and found those motorcycles were only one part of his unique career.
Ej potter, the michigan madman, but in truth, a wonderful builder and mechanic and doer, has passed away. Vintage ej potter book michigan madman tractor pull rare. Soon, his autobiographical, documentary video will also be released. After the guy answered the phone i realized it was ej himself. The michigan madman howell, michigan 48844 rated 4. Ej potter the michigan madman talks about his life, career, and. Born in ithaca, michigan, elon jack potter grew up on a farm repairing tractor engines. Potter got his nickname, the michigan madman, imagine the courageand perhaps the slight insanityrequired to gamble with your life by pushing a garagebuilt, v8powered motorcycle to its fullthrottle limit at the buttclenching speed of 172 mph. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. With a vast knowledge and love of machinery at his disposal, potter was a selfmade mechanical engineer, innovator, inventor, and racing legend, exploits which earned him the sobriquet the michigan madman.
Potter, who passed away in 2012 at age 71, was known as the michigan madman for the never before reached speeds he. The difference is, he went a lot farther with a much more direct method of doing things. Its out of print but worth the searchwith his dry, selfmocking humor, hes just as much fun to read as he was to watch. This is the guy who took a motor cycle frame, mounted a 327 chevy with hilborn injection in it side ways, bolted a sprocket to the end of the crank shaft, and routed a chain to the rear wheel. Potter, the michigan madman he had a barn full of em. Here is the best part probably a year or two later i get this phone call from ej potter he called me to ask if i would.
He was an exhibitionist dragstrip performer, known as the michigan mad man. Ej potter michigan madman motorcycle, v8 drag bike 2 hour dvd seller ow e. Stay tuned people, the michigan madman is looking to ride again. There was nothing potter wouldnt do to go faster including removing his clutch entirely because he was losing too much power due. Late ithaca drag racers memorabilia featured on pickers local. He had a video made and the bike was on the front cover of his book, michigan madman. He raced v8 chevy powered motorcycles, a jet powered motorcycle, allison powered cars.
With bikes nicknamed the likes of widowmaker and bloody mary, potter would later earn a place in the guinness book of world records for. Self taught and builder of many amazing racing machines, he was a drag strip staple during. Old motorcycle drag racing, michigan mad man, ej potter ej michigan madman potter on his small block injected chev drag bike saw this guy at my dragrace, wow. Potters book michigan madman its mint and very hard to find, its been out of print since 1999. Maintained by thomas jones contributor 47480442 cremated, ashes given to. Elon potter obituary mount pleasant, mi morning sun.
Elon jack ej potter the michigan madman on his injected small block chev. I remember the michigan madman running a v8 motorcycle, but didnt realize he. I posted the tractor before on here called double ugly it had a w 24 in it he wouldnt paint anything and just keep throwin on stuff. Ej potter michigan madman motorcycle,tractor pulling,car. Welcome to the only family authorized page dedicated to ej potter, the legend, the original, the michigan madman. A collection of the michigan natives legendary motorbikes were featured on american pickers. Potter, the michigan madman on another updated version of his ride. Elon was born in alma, michigan on april 24, 1941, the son of howard and sheila huxley potter. I was lucky enough to see ej at the drags with his chevy motorcycle, smoking the tire all the way down the track. The guys race over to clydes to pick the collection of the michigan madman, who has legendary racer ej potters hottest bikes. Apr 30, 20 one year ago today, the motorsports world lost one of its great characters, ej potter.
May 08, 2006 we just finished reading his book, ej potter, michigan madman, and found those motorcycles were only one part of his unique career. Elon jack potter was born on april 24, 1941 in ithaca, a tiny town 120 miles northwest of detroit, nearly dead center in the michigan hand. Whatever happened to these pullers from yesteryear. Potter got his nickname, the michigan madman, imagine the courageand perhaps the slight. Bonhams ej potter las vegas michigan madman small block chevy v8 motorcycle widowmaker 7. Michigan madman tractor talk forum yesterdays tractors. Cnc engine dynamics classic cars muscle, drag bike, cool. Looking back at ej potter, the michigan madman dragzine. He was an exhibitionist dragstrip performer, known as. For more, see ejs wonderful autobiography, michigan madman. Potter, a k a the michigan madman, a legend of the american drag strip who earned his nickname riding 170 miles per hour on a motorcycle he fitted. Potter riding a drag bike with a 426 hemi turned sideways.
I well remember ej potter blasting down the 14 mile strip at oswego, illinois. Ej potter, the michigan madman tried unreal power in bikes and cars, most famous for small block chevy powered harleys he built stuff like a 1957 plymouth stuffed full of an allison airplane engine that ran nearly 150 mph in a period of time before funny cars existed. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Elon jack potter, better known to hot rodders the world over as ej or the michigan madman died on april 30th, 2012 in ithaca, michigan. Ej potter the michigan madman v8 chevy motorcycle dragstrip duration. Ej potter is a lot of things, but crazy isnt one of them. The michigan madman now this is a motor cycle, rest are just scooters.
He raced v8 chevy powered motorcycles, a jet powered motorcycle, allison powered cars and pulling tractors. In 1973 the guinness book of world records awarded ej potters v8 dragbike widowmaker 7 the coveted title of worlds fastest motorcycle, finally making official what many in america already knew when they dubbed him the michigan madman. Maintained by thomas jones contributor 47480442 cremated, ashes given to family or friend. Keep checking back for updates and the launch of our official website where youll be able to read articles, see photos and videos and get your hands on your very own copy of ejs book michigan madman second edition, his movie, personal memorabilia and other. Hey mad man fans if you happened to catch ej potters feature on american pickers show earlier this week or even if you didnt and were interested in getting ahold of a book andor a dvd of his movie. Late ithaca drag racers memorabilia featured on pickers. Jan 24, 2017 thanks to arfonss connections, potter ventured out on the exhibition circuit, where his bloody mary and widowmaker cycles never failed to thrill crowds. Potter michigan madman by paul crowe weve mentioned ej potter before, known as the michigan madman and probably best known as the fellow who made exhibition runs during the 60s at dragstrips all over the u. One year ago today, the motorsports world lost one of its great characters, ej potter. Can mike name the right price to own a piece of racing history. The legend on his v8 chevy motorcycle, being clocked at only 146 mph, thanks to a slippery track surface.
Potter, who passed away in 2012 at age 71, was known as the michigan madman for the never before reached speeds he drove on his custombuilt motorcycles. In 1973 the guinness book of world records awarded ej potters dragbike. The official facebook page for ej potter, the michigan madman. Nov 10, 2008 this is the guy who took a motor cycle frame, mounted a 327 chevy with hilborn injection in it side ways, bolted a sprocket to the end of the crank shaft, and routed a chain to the rear wheel. Potter, a k a the michigan madman, a legend of the american drag strip who earned his nickname riding 170 miles per hour on a. Potter got his nickname, the michigan madman, imagine the courageand perhaps the slight insanityrequired to throttle a garagebuilt, v8powered motorcycle to a buttclenching 172 mph. As an exhibitionist drag strip performer, he was commonly known as the michigan madman, during the rise of his career in the 1960s and into the early 1970s.
If you happened to catch ej potters feature on american pickers show earlier this week or even if you didnt and were interested in getting ahold of a book andor. Michigan madman ej potter on chevy drag bike number one motos vintage. With a heavy heart we report that elon jack potter, or better known to gear heads the world over as ej potter the michigan madman died on april 30 in ithaca, michigan at the age of 71. With a heavy heart we report that elon jack potter, or better known to gear heads the world over as ej potter the michigan madman died on april 30 in ithaca. With bikes nicknamed the likes of widowmaker and bloody mary, potter would later earn a place in the guinness book of world records for an. American pickers features the man and his bikes and looks to broker a deal. Pottermichigan madman potter 24 apr 194 apr 2012, find a grave memorial no. The widowmaker 7 was reportedly certified as the worlds fastest motorcycle by the guinness book of world records in 1973, and along the way potter picked up a trio of ahra records. Ej potter, the michigan madman, found a rare allison dual. Writing his obituary in 2012, paul vitello of the new york times described him as a legend. Jan 11, 2017 in 1973 the guinness book of world records awarded ej potters v8 dragbike widowmaker 7 the coveted title of worlds fastest motorcycle, finally making official what many in america already knew when they dubbed him the michigan madman. With bikes nicknamed the likes of widowmaker and bloody mary, potter would later earn a place. Ej potter, the michigan madman, found a rare allison dualv12. This was the start of a long lasting love affair with the v12 allison, the only power unit that had enough for this mad man of michigan.
Ej potter michigan madman motorcycle, v8 drag bike 2 hour dvd seller ow. Ej potter, the michigan madman is dead crazy canuck may 1, 2012 at 4. The next thing to come out of the potter stable was to be something much safer, an allison v12 aircraft engine powered dodge dart safer. Potter, a k a the michigan madman, a legend of the american drag strip who earned his nickname riding 170 miles per hour on a motorcycle he fitted with a chevy v8, and who later went nearly. Potter was perhaps best known for his ballsout runs on his bikes the widowmaker and bloody mary. Ej potters book michigan madman is available from ej himself. Bolt a v8 sideways on your bike and start flying up and down the streets looking, because this book and its wild stories are to be shared, kept a live and celebrated. Ej gained recognition in the drag racing world pushing extreme to the limits with wild, v8 powered motorcycles. Ej potters autobiography book, michigan madman has been released for sale and is now available online through.
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