If speed is your thing, maybe you could ask Dillon Fister if you could jump on the back of his motorcycle.
Over the June 9 weekend, 20 year old Dillon Fister from Big Beaver competed in his first ever motorcycle drag races in Edmonton, AB.
Fister has been a motorcycle enthusiast for many years, but he recently took it to the next level by joining the motorcycle drag race team, Regulators Racing. Fister had done some recreational motocross and told Triangle News he was very interested in drag racing and was looking for a new hobby.
Fister talked about his first race, “I was overwhelmed, because I had never rode a motorcycle of that caliber before!”
Fister rode the racing motorcycles for the first time when he made his first run down the track. He was happy with his times. “My first pass I hit 109 mph, the next was 117 mph. I did the 1/2 mile in 10.2 seconds.” he said. Although Fister qualified for the elimination rounds, the races were called due to rain.
Fister is looking forward to competing more. “Nothing but improvement, I’m gonna goa faster!” he said. His goal is to go 140 mph and make the 1/2 mile in close to 9 seconds.
Fister’s cousin, Cory Duncan, formerly of Big Beaver and Coronach, is one of the founders of Regulators Racing and asked Fister to join them. “We are very excited to have Dillon on the race team.” said Duncan.
Fister joined the four-man team that also includes Duncan’s sister Kerri’s husband Jason Priddle.
Thirty-three year old Cory, who makes his home in Edmonton, talked about his racing career. “This will be my eighth year racing drag bikes. We started the race team, Regulators Racing (www.regulatorsracing.net <http://www.regulatorsracing.net/> ), with a little 9 second bracket bike. I progressed to a 500hp nitrous Pro-Modified and now run a 650hp turbo alcohol Pro-Modified.” After three years, Cory went pro.
Cory talked about the make up of the team. “We have four racers on our team, myself, Kevin Shupac (rides a Pro-Modified that is a twin to mine), Jason Priddle (Kerri’s husband / my brother in law, riding a 450hp nitrous Superbike), and Dillon (riding a 300hp Superbike). As well, we have a dedicated crew that helps prep the bikes, start the bikes, and tows us back from the finish line. Our wives and girlfriends are all also a big part of the team.”
Cory explained the world of motorcycle drag racing. “We race with the Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association (CMDRA www.cmdra.com <http://www.cmdra.com/> ) and we compete in the Western Canadian Series,” he said.
Racers compete two at a time, each in their own lane. “We race a 1/4 mile (1320 ft) and the tracks usually have 1500 ft of shutdown to get the bikes stopped. Dillon’s class usually run the 1/4 mile in 9 seconds at 150mph (240kmh). My class runs the 1/4 mile in 6.6 - 7.4 seconds at speeds over 200 mph (320kmh). We accelerate to 100mph (160kmh) in around 1.2 seconds. I have reached speeds of 172mph (275kmh) in 660ft (half track).
Racers are timed from a standing start explained Duncan. “There are timers at 60ft, 330ft, 660ft (half track), 1000ft, and the 1/4 mile.”
It looks like a busy summer for the Regulators Racing Team. “We run the entire Western CMDRA series, as well as test and tune days at Castrol Raceway in Edmonton. We also race at Thunder in the Valley in Drayton Valley, and have put on exhibition runs in Saskatoon, Grande Prairie, and Hannah. We plan on doing more of these again this year.”
With 100 bikes at a typical event Duncan reports that his team normally finishes around the top 5 in Pro-Modified. “There are 15 bikes in the class. These are the quickest and the fastest bikes in Canada. At a typical event, there are over 100 bikes competing in 10 classes. Dillon’s class (Superbike) has anywhere between 15-25 bikes, depending on the event.”
The biggest claim to fame for the team was Jason winning the Superbike Points Championship in 2010 as well as Rookie of the Year.
Duncan explained that although they ride the bikes alone, they compete as a team. “We are a team through and through. Everyone pitches in on each of the bikes, and even if we draw each other in eliminations, we are just cheering for the team.”
As one might guess, Duncan races for the thrill of it all, but as well, he enjoys the mechanical end of the sport. “The main reason we drag race motorcycles is the adrenaline rush, but for me, as a racer and the engine builder, I just love to make something that can produce such an amazing amount of horsepower,” he said.
Duncan talked about the team dynamics. “We all have our own roles on the team. Mine is rider (pilot) and engine builder / crew chief. Kevin is a rider (pilot) chief fabricator and promotions manager. Jason is rider (pilot) and crew. Dillon is rider (pilot) and crew. Kevin also sits on the Board of Directors for the CMDRA.”
Duncan also tipped his hat to all of their supporters, “Regulators Racing would not be able to do what we love, without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers at the CMDRA and the support of our families. We are so thankful to our faithful sponsors, like Southern Independent Riders, have been with us since the beginning and play an intricate role in helping us with our traveling expenses, safety equipment and race fees.” concluded Duncan.
Duncan encourages anyone in the vicinity to take in the races in Medicine Hat, AB in August.
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