|
WHO
IS THIS & WHAT YEAR IS IT?
If you guessed
Randy Henning, the current President and CEO of Great lakes Dragaway and 1968
you must have went to high school with me. This is the only known picture of me
without a beard taken after high school. The week after this picture was taken I
stopped shaving and have never been seen again without facial hair.
The Harley I’m sitting on is a 1952 Panhead. I bought it in 1967 as a
hydra-glide bagger with a 3 speed and reverse on the tank and a foot clutch. I
chopped it the winter of 67-68 doing all the work myself. I rebuilt the engine
and painted the scoot with a spray bomb. Yes they had aerosol cans 38 years ago.
So much for how long I’ve been riding.
I met DON GARLITS IN 1960 when I was 12 years old. He was changing the oil on
“swamp rat” 2 or 3 behind a gas station about 100 yards up the alley from where
I lived. The dragster looked fast standing still and I got hooked on speed that
very moment. I’ve never gotten over it. Don must be the reason I’ve been racing
my entire life and I bought great lakes Dragaway to make it easier to get my
speed fix.
I’ve owned and raced an alcohol funny car, “starship enterprise” since 1975 and
drove it from 1977 until 1991. My quickest et is 6.69 and the fastest it ever
ran for me was 212 mph. I’ve crashed more than once in and on just about
anything with wheels. I’ve flown airplanes and and have a C.D.L. for 18
wheelers. I’m a firm believer in the old saying “ If its got wheels or a blower
sooner or later it will cause you troubles”. I guess that’s not an exact quote
but you know what I mean. If I have to explain it to you you’ll never understand
anyway.
Drag racing Harleys and air cooled Volkswagens has been my entire life. My mom,
who is 85, still wants to know when I intend on getting a regular job. Not
anytime soon, I hope. Great Lakes Dragaway is ours, yours and mine. Without you,
the drag racer and fan there is no reason for me to be here. I’m the caretaker
of this track, not the owner , cause we are partners. My goal is to make GLD the
best and biggest little track in the world. Come out and say Hi. Tell me what
you like and would like to see. I will listen. Together the track will
constantly get better.
I FEEL THE NEED, THE NEED FOR SPEED. THE ONLY
SPEED LIMIT IS YOU!
GREAT LAKES DRAGAWAY
RANDY HENNING |
