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Vintage drag racer
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Knucklehead
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Dual linkert carb
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All rigid
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Wheelie bar
Dale Potter
Click on picture.
1941 Harley knucklehead panhead flathead
Vehicle Description :
Dale Potter
1941 Harley Davidson FL Dragster - Barn Fresh. From Dale Potter ( former Harley Davidson dealer in
Galion, Ohio in the 1950’s). This Knuckle was built for drag racing during the 1950’s. The motor was sent
to Eddie Long, well known racing engine specialist, at that time, in Lima, Ohio. Mr Long was best known
in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan for building the fastest and most powerful engines for drag racing, hill
climbs, and other hot street motors. Since Mr. Long was “the man” ind that day, he also modified the ‘47
bull neck frame to accomodate the stroker motor. It appears to have also been raked a little and the seat
post frame lengthened to get the stroker motor “shoehorned” in. Front motor mount was repaired
sometime during it’s racing history and has helt op nicely. Told by Mr. Potter is that the engine is 101 cu.
inches. You can see the stroker plates in the pictures. The heads have been modified to run twin amal
carbs. I was also told that the transmission uses only 2nd and 4th gears. Shifting and braking are done
by rear sets using a lay down style. The small tank came with the bike (not sure if it was the one actually
used). No seat came with the bike. Motor does Not run. Motor appears to be locked up tight. Mr Potter
told me it ran when parked in about 1959 or 1960. Mr. Potter was the wrench and Dick Hartwell did the
racing. Mr. Hartwell, i am told, was a local kid who was full of enthusiasm and wanted to race. They raced
the knuckle mostly in Ohio and Michigan. This lasted until about 1959 or 1960 when the bike was stored
in a barn until i bought it in 2002. The best claim to fame, as Mr Potter told me before his death, was
winning 2nd place in the Ohio National at the Cleveland Airport in the late 1950’s. The bike has a rich
local history and is an exelent examble of “how they did it” in the 1940’s an 1950’s.
