“Thankfully nobody was shot, but at times it can be a scary place. It’s all part of what makes it so exciting.”
Life here is like the wild; it’s a game of cat and mouse with the police during the wee hours of the morning.
“We have designated tracks all over the place and it’s a guessing game trying to stay one step ahead of the police,” he explained. It can take hours for a street race to be agreed upon but the actual race can be over in a matter of seconds. We don’t want to attract unnecessary attention so the vehicles are left on the trailers until the very last moment–they’re then unloaded, the burnouts are completed and the race is decided,” he said.
But racing on the street has little resemblance to a prepped track and many accomplished racers can’t conform outside the walls of a drag strip.
" Thankfully nobody was shot, but at times it can be a scary place. It’s all part of what makes it so exciting.
"
“Just because you’re good at the track doesn’t mean you’re fast on the street and vice versa. The street is a whole different game where traction is rarely consistent and you never truly know how fast your competitor is until you run them,” he said.
Shorty explained that his chassis and motor setups differ depending on the street or strip. As proof that life on the street is anything but ordinary, Shorty mentioned that unlike a drag strip where the longer wheelbase bikes have the advantage because they’re less likely to wheelie, on the street a lowered and strapped stock wheelbase bike has a better chance of winning.
“Shorter (wheelbase) bikes can take a lot of money from the many stretched ones that aren’t properly setup for the street. The stock-length bikes can put the power down much better,” he said.
Some have said street racing is more about the rider’s skill than at the track. “You have to have your mind right and remember not to crumble under the pressure. You only have one shot at the prize so you better make it count, I’ve seen too many people crumble under the pressure or forget what it’s like to ride on an unprepped track,” he said.
In order to win big it has to be the perfect combo of man and machine, Shorty has proven year in and year out that he has what it takes to stay on top.
“You have to keep the big guys on their toes, never let them know what you’re working with and always step-up to a challenge.”
02.13.12, 8:11 PM Doc Holliday
After earning Shorty’s trust he decided to give SSB an inside look at his infamous 2007 Kawasaki ZX-14, “Doc Holliday.”
“I call him Doc Holliday because he was the fastest and deadliest shooter of his time– and this ZX-14 is fast and deadly,” Shorty laughingly admitted.
From day one Shorty knew his ZX-14 was destined for a life of drag racing.
“I didn’t have it a month and I already lowered and strapped it, added a Brock’s Alien Head pipe, BMC air filter, a Power Commander and custom tune along with extensions–the bike went 9.0s @ 151 MPH and that’s how I began making a name for me and Doc,” he said.
Since a street race can take place on a variety of surfaces and locations a rear strut was out of the question, instead a BMC re-valved rear shock was called to handle the suspension duties.
“Chassis setup is a huge part of winning on the street and a good tire along with the right suspension pieces goes a long way,” he mentioned.
Removing weight was the next big endeavor and anything unneeded was ditched. Less heft and more seat time eventually lead to faster track times.
“I cut unnecessary plugs off the harness and removed everything I could, the bike ran 8.80s with the stock clutch,” he said.