FAT MAN'S HEADS-UP CLASS

DRO's favorite class had to be the "Fatman's Heads-up class." The bikes were restricted to a 64-inch wheelbase, street tires and the rider had to weigh a minimum of 240 lbs. Other than those three restrictions, anything else in the way of power-adder was authorized.

The low qualifier was Shane Ratliff from Roseville, Michigan. His 2001 Suzuki ran a mind-boggling 8.69 flat with no wheelie bar and a street tire. Eventual winner John Vermeulen,

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also from Michigan, was the No. 3 qualifier at 8.830/164.13. Vermeulen won the class beating No. 4 qualifier Ehren Litten of Louisburg, North Carolina in the final.

One of the more entertaining moments for the Fat Man class was the official weigh-in. Just before each round each driver had to step on the scale to make sure he made the minimum weight. Looked like there were plenty of spectators and officials making sure the rider wasn't packing extra lead in his shorts, shoes or pants. Sometimes the crowd around weigh-in looked more like what you would see at a heavyweight fight than a drag race. Evidently there were some spectators at the race placing a friendly wager or two on the outcome and everyone had a vested interest in making sure the driver was of legal weight. I loved the whole deal from the weigh-in to the eight-second laps.