The first twin-engine drag bike would appear two years later. Built by Southern Californian Bud Hare, Triumph-powered “Dubble Trubble” was ridden by Pat Presetti, Bill Koch and Bob Thurston—and always quickly. The machine went 142.38 mph at Santa Ana in 1956 with Thurston riding.
The machine used a Triumph frame that had been stretched nine inches; Triumph 650cc engines running a mixture of 80 percent nitro and twenty percent benzol; and a Harley-Davidson clutch and transmission with second and fourth gear only. A Triumph hub was used at the rear along with a Harley-Davidson wheel and car slick.
Part of what helped them run was Hare’s incredibly innovative mind. He was, among other things, the first to reverse the direction of the cylinder head to give the incoming air a more direct path into the carburetors, and also one of the first to use splayed ports—which was later incorporated by the Triumph factory. “I saw Bud
The machine is now owned by Glen Kerr of Swartz, Louisiana, who shows—and races—it as often as possible.
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To learn more about the history of
the sport, you can purchase John’s book “Motorcycle Drag Racing:
A History”. Either go to gearheadpublishing.com or call
(310) 459-7542. The price is $40 and shipping is free.