There is only one solution when the best there is still is not good enough; do it yourself!

This is drag racing bike designer, builder and driver Anders “Charley” Karling’s philosophy when he describes his relationship to his 1,000 hp motorcycle. Not only did the design for the frame begin on his own desk, he actually made the engine and most of the other components himself.

Charley Karling is one of the world’s most renowned figures in this very special motor sport.  Originally from the USA, drag racing today has become almost as big in Europe. In some cases, as within the motorbike classes, the Europeans are very competitive, good enough to be in among the best in the world.
It does sound simple; to compete over a quarter of a mile on a straight track. When Charley describes the situation you understand that there are problems to consider that do not even exist in other kinds of racing.

“The power from the exhaust pipes is so strong that if you have them all pointing in the same direction you will be blown off the race track,” he says. “You have got to take every possible source of power into account when you design a new drag racing machine. You reach 100 kilometres an hour in a single second and the chances to correct for errors are close to zero.”
Charley Karling’s dragbike career started in 1989  and in 1992 he created the design for his first engine. As a matter of fact this was far more than just a design project. Charley did a lot of the work himself including the turning, milling, grinding and welding. The final result of his efforts was a twin engine, 126 cubic inches or approximately 2,1 litres, fuelled by nitro methane. This engine lasted five times longer than the ones Charley had used before.

Championship and record

A few years later Charley won the European Championships for Super Twin Bikes, but of course he knew that he could do better than that. In 1996 and 1997 a completely new dragbike was built with a redesigned engine and with a supercharger. Three years later he had the power not only to become champion again, but also to win the European record of elapsed times and speed on the quartermile.
When it comes to drag racing machines it is really true to talk in terms of “continuous  improvement”. Charley redesigned most of the parts for the new bike, but the majority of the bike’s engine remained intact from his first design.

Completely new bike

Last year Charley Karling introduced his new machine at exhibitions all over the world. It was designed using IronCAD 3D. When it comes materials and components they are all Swedish, the only exceptions are the ignition, logging computer and fuel pump. When it comes to the engine Charley has used Uddeholm products such as Dievar, Orvar Supreme, Impax Supreme, Alumec and THG 2000 HT, all together twelve different materials are used on the bike. The
tubular frame with brackets is made from SSAB’s ultra high strength steel Docol 800 and 1000. “It is very uncommon to choose this material,” says Charley Karling. “The regulations for motor sport demands chrome-moly steel for tubes, but in the rules for dragbikes materials with similar properties are allowed. We managed to show that these tubes fulfil the demands on a frame.”

Positive experiences

Charley is enthusiastic when he describes his experiences with the new bike chassis. “There are several advantages with the Docol tubes,” he says. “Compared to traditional tubing they have more even properties in the joints, the material is stronger and we can build a lighter frame. Of course it is also important that Docol tubes give greater value for money.”

But the cost does not really matter as the weight of the frame is approximately 30 kilos. More important is the fact that the tubes can handle the huge forces exerted during a race. At the finishing line the speed reaches over 350 km/h, 6.36 seconds after the start. By then the fuel tank is empty. It contains a maximum of 21.8 litres, enough for warming up and racing, but nothing else. At wide open throttle and full load the fuel consumption is one litre per second.

Increasing interest

Charley Karling has noticed an increasing interest from competitors for the Docol tubes he used in his design, but also from other people who have seen his bike. “Its beauty is an attraction at exhibitions and shows of all kind and everybody is curious about it. We just got back from a recycling fair in the UK where this machine was a very special attraction.”

Text: HÅKAN JOHANSSON
Photo: STEFAN BOMAN