One of my favorite parts of the Smoke Out is watching and photographing the bikes taking their turns roaring down the quarter mile Rockingham Dragway. I’m talking about Sportsters, Glides, baggers, metrics, you name it. There were even some mini-bikes and a pretty little lady smokin’ her rear tire on a Can-Am Roadster. I was really impressed by that Can-Am even if it came out of the hole like a tortoise. Once it got rollin’ it was as fast as most of the V-twins consistently hitting low-90s in the quarter mile.

Another bike that thoroughly impressed me was a polished bobber that was not only a great looking bike, but was smokin’ everything it came up against. When I say everything, I mean everything, including the metric street bikes. He was pulling upwards of 140mph in the quarter. The wheelie bar certainly helped as everyone was having trouble getting traction out of the hole, but I’ll tell you what, on the street he would shock the hell out of a Hayabusa.

The Rockingham Dragway was built in 1969 and opened the first time in 1970. One of the premier racing facilities in the state, the Dragway is host to several prominent events including the GM Performance Super Chevy Show and the ADRL Dragstock, as well as such great events as the all-Ford, all-Chrysler, and all-VW specialty events. In addition to the primary events, Rockingham is host to the IHRA Pro-Am Series, the IHRA Bracket Finals, and two key events in the All-Harley Drag Racing Association series for motorcycles.

I can’t get enough of this stuff. I could spend hours watching the experienced and not so experienced bikers getting their race on. I will admit that I am amazed that there are very few problems with them allowing anyone on two wheels (or three if you count the Can-Am) race down the strip. If it was me I would probably wipe out off the line and be embarrassed enough to hide my head in shame and put training wheels on my bike. Ain’t gonna happen though, I’ll limit my drag racing to video games.