Motorcycle Drag Racing or Utopia on 2 Wheels
Meet CMDRA's Y2K Modified Class Winner Steve Graf

The Year 2000 Winner of the Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association's Modified Class is Steve Graf - of Wayside Racing, and owner of the Harley Davidson Dealership in Smithers, BC, Canada.

Recently, I talked with Steve about his humble beginnings in a Sport that is really taking off across North America. Steve got the Motorcycle Drag Racing bug back in 1986 when he attended the CMDRA's Drag Races held at the Central Motorsport Park in Prince George, BC, Canada. He rode a 1985 Harley Davidson Softail to the Event and decided to enter it in the Bracket Class - he came in 2nd Place. 

As experience and the desire to go faster pushed him on he advanced in his Sport, Racing in the Modified Class on a Race Bike built for speed. When asked about his attitude towards competition - whether it was "strictly business" or was there a "fun" element involved, Steve said that he races for fun and "that's where I get away from it all." That philosophy sure must be working well for him as this year Steve Raced better than ever!

Support from Family & Friends make it possible for Steve to handle the responsibilities of Home, owning his own Business and partaking in the Sport he loves best. 

I asked Steve why he hauls his Race Bike & Equipment around in the back of his old pickup truck; sometimes even going so far as to sleep there once his Race Bike is set up in the Pits. Wouldn't he be more comfortable traveling in a nice big Motor Home & a Trailer? He said it all has to do with a lack of money - and the fact that he doesn't know how to back up a trailer. Now, I would call that real dedication to the Sport. Come to think of it, I've seen lots of other Folks do the same thing. I guess what's important here is not what you do, or how you look doing it, but how fast you can go.

Sportsmanship, highly evident and ever present at the Track, being more the Rule of the Day, really is priceless. "When I broke down the other Racers were quick to help me out…everyone helps everybody else out. That's why I like Drag Racing" Steve said. 

When asked how much money it costs per year to Race competitively in his Class, Steve said "Lots. I don't add it up. It wasn't too bad this year because I was winning so it didn't cost that much." But Sponsorship - National & International, and from the Public in general - is what the Motorcycle Drag Racing Community really needs. Steve said he is fortunate enough to have some dedicated Sponsors and a few people that have always helped him out, but he is on the lookout for more.

Steve plans on Racing in the CMDRA Series in 2001 if circumstances will allow him. His goals? To break some records…Good luck Steve - keep up the good work! Until then I'll just have to check out CMDRA's Website at www.cmdra.com over the winter to view past results, read the Racer's Profiles and wait until next year to see what will happen...

Written by Mrs. Nedra Lee Prisk, Cedarvale, BC, Canada