When you pass away as the world’s quickest Harley racer it says two things – you went way too soon and you accomplished a lot when you were here.
Both were true for fearless Top Fuel Harley pilot Takeski Shigematsu, 60, Ehime, Japan, who unfortunately left this world on Thursday, February 5th after being hospitalized with pneumonia.
Early in his career Shigematsu quickly gained a reputation for being one of the most undaunted, undeterred, courageous jockeys in the sport.
In fact one of my most memorable Shigematsu memories was announcing his AHDRA win at Bristol Dragway in 2007 where he snapped his handlebars during the final round run. In a downright scary and bold move Tak was able to keep the motorcycle at full throttle and grabbed onto the fork tube on the left side of the motorcycle for stability. He won the race with a mid 7-second run.
Always the jokester, I asked Tak why he didn’t shut the bike off. He smiled and said, “because it’s the final.”
Letting off the throttle was not an option for this proud Japanese warrior.
It was not the first time “The Man from Japan” thrilled fans. I remember Shigematsu taking the pole in Virginia in 2006 with a record-breaking run.
It was during the opening round of qualifying at the AHDRA S&S Jim McClure Nationals that Ehime, Japan-based Top Fuel rider Takeshi Shigematsu memorized fans with the quickest Nitro Harley run ever at 6.245 at 212 mph.
“I knew we had a chance to run some good numbers,” Shigematsu said. “DJ (tuner Don Johnson) told me to hold on tight.”
During that memorable 2006 season Shigematsu was on quite a hot streak, fresh off his win at the Bristol race in mid-August and his 6.34 at an exhibition race in Englishtown, NJ. It’s not easy to maintain that type of performance, especially when Shigematsu must endure a 16-hour plane ride anytime he wants to race.
“It’s 16-straight hours with no cigarettes or toothpaste,” Shigematsu said. “It’s rough but it’s worth it.”
The 6.24 surpassed Doug Vancil’s AHDRA record of 6.30 and Tommy Grimes’ NHRA record of 6.25.
Shigematsu continued to push forward in performance.
In 2008 Shigematsu became the first Nitro Harley racer to reach the 6-teens. It was just another of his many accomplishments.
Around 2018 he began a new, groundbreaking project with longtime friend and crew chief Don “DJ” Johnson. Seeing the potential of forced induction, the pair embarked on a supercharged nitro Harley project with the goal of becoming the first pushrod, v-twin in the five second zone.
The bike was uber powerful, but it was also downright scary. It was often “go or blow” and fearless Tak was just the man for job. He was never afraid. If he was, he truly didn’t show it.
I remember watching the team struggle with gremlins at the 2018 NHRA Winternationals from Pomona, Calif, where DJ wrestled with a pile of tangled wires on the new, innovative bike. The gracious squad invited me into their pit area where DJ informed me it was the lack of beer that was the true problem. These two loved to keep it lighthearted.
By November of 2019 the team made great strides and in testing at the ManCup Finals Shigematsu recorded a run that will live forever – a 6.02 where he came in contact with the South Georgia Motorsports retaining wall.
Tak kept the bike up and afterwards he confidently reported, “Me no hit wall. Bike hit wall.”
Always the jokester.
What wasn’t a joke is the team just unofficially recorded the quickest Top Fuel Harley run by a long shot and showed they were a real threat to run the first pushrod five during the event.
Unfortunately the anticipated five never came, but the team was able to lower the national record to a 6.06 in competition.
It’s a number that stands to this day, and could easily stand another five years or more.
Shigematsu also held the NHRA record at 6.10, before being edged out by a slim margin.
Shigematsu loved the sport and his race family in the States. He had to. Every trip from Japan was a 16-hour-plus flight. He did it with a smile.
I will miss Tak greatly. Our last communication came this past fall when I was trying to help a Wisconsin-based museum, The Throttlestop, get a bike imported in from Japan. Tak was happy to help an old friend.
Godspeed Takeshi Shigematsu, you will be missed.
Enjoy some of Tak’s greatest hits
