A Trio of Vintage Drag Racers
Some hobbies are more interesting than others. In the motorcycle world, vintage drag racing holds a unique place of the industry. Chasing time on a ridiculously custom bike with an engine that’s pushed to the limit just sounds like a thrill. When we were first piecing together the 2021 Glory Daze motorcycle show, one of the featured builders was Steven Skinner of Shadyside, Ohio. Steven and his father, Wayne, brought two wild customs, a 1970 Harley Ironhead and a 1966 Triumph in a Hagon frame. Since then, Steven has been back to the show numerous times. It felt fitting to make a trip west to Ohio and check out a few dragsters worthy of a feature. The most compelling part outside of the bikes is learning how this has become a family sport that they enjoy together. They even host a race weekend every year in late August that sounds like a blast.
Wayne Skinner (Triumph), Levi Phillips (Suzuki), and Steven Skinner (Harley-Davidson)
Can you give the readers a brief description of the three drag racing bikes we have here?
Steven Skinner: Mine is a 1959 Harley-Davidson ironhead in a 1960s Yetman frame. My stepbrother, Levi Phillips, races the full custom 1975 Suzuki TM250. Our father, Wayne Skinner, racers a 1973 Triumph with a newer Kosman frame that was made right before Kosman Specialties went out of business. That was the last Triumph frame they ever made.
Steven Skinner: Mine is a 1959 Harley-Davidson ironhead in a 1960s Yetman frame. My stepbrother, Levi Phillips, races the full custom 1975 Suzuki TM250. Our father, Wayne Skinner, racers a 1973 Triumph with a newer Kosman frame that was made right before Kosman Specialties went out of business. That was the last Triumph frame they ever made.
You have a family of racers. How did that happen?
Steven Skinner: Our dad, Wayne, was into racing Triumphs back in the 1980s. It was something he did all of the time. After we were born, he didn’t get back to it until after we graduated high school. We all got involved sometime around 2010. I went straight for the speed right off the bat, racing a 1986 Suzuki GSXR at first, but I always liked the vintage stuff more since that was what he raced and wanted to do. I liked the Triumphs but was too big for them. Dad and Levi fit them nicely, but I always liked how we kept our own preference–Dad with the Triumphs, Levi in the 250cc class, and me with the Harleys. We don’t do it for prize money and all of that stuff. We just like to get out and have fun doing what these old bikes were meant to do.
Levi Phillips: We have a sister and two more brothers. Our brother, Drew, runs a vintage cycle shop called Drew’s Vintage Cycles in Bridgeport, Ohio. He buys and sells bikes and parts, and ships them everywhere. All of the parts for my race bike came from Drew’s.
Steven Skinner: Our dad, Wayne, was into racing Triumphs back in the 1980s. It was something he did all of the time. After we were born, he didn’t get back to it until after we graduated high school. We all got involved sometime around 2010. I went straight for the speed right off the bat, racing a 1986 Suzuki GSXR at first, but I always liked the vintage stuff more since that was what he raced and wanted to do. I liked the Triumphs but was too big for them. Dad and Levi fit them nicely, but I always liked how we kept our own preference–Dad with the Triumphs, Levi in the 250cc class, and me with the Harleys. We don’t do it for prize money and all of that stuff. We just like to get out and have fun doing what these old bikes were meant to do.
Levi Phillips: We have a sister and two more brothers. Our brother, Drew, runs a vintage cycle shop called Drew’s Vintage Cycles in Bridgeport, Ohio. He buys and sells bikes and parts, and ships them everywhere. All of the parts for my race bike came from Drew’s.
1973 Triumph dragbike by Wayne Skinner
What is it about vintage stuff that keeps you interested?
Steven Skinner: For me, it’s racing and the family thing. I like the older stuff and always have. I have my old Ford F100 truck that I drive every day and an old 1951 Chevy car. I’m more set when things are easier to work on and tune rather than plugging in a computer. Working on the stuff and feeling like you created something just feels better than installing parts. There’s a lot of tuning and personality that gets put into the bike. You make it your own.
Levi Phillips: The older bikes just have more character. This Suzuki is a story on its own. I found it on Facebook marketplace for only $275 and said that even if the motor is junk, the parts would be worth that. I pulled it out of a barn that also had a Kawasaki H1, so I feel we did pretty well on that deal. Ever since then, it’s been my focus. It was a drag bike from the start, but I redesigned it with a different chassis and parts. The back half of the frame was redone. The front end used to be 55 pounds, but it’s down to 20 pounds now.
Wayne Skinner: It’s just a good thing to do. You get together and have a good time. You’re still a parent when they’re running, but I’m on them about staying safe.
Steven Skinner: For me, it’s racing and the family thing. I like the older stuff and always have. I have my old Ford F100 truck that I drive every day and an old 1951 Chevy car. I’m more set when things are easier to work on and tune rather than plugging in a computer. Working on the stuff and feeling like you created something just feels better than installing parts. There’s a lot of tuning and personality that gets put into the bike. You make it your own.
Levi Phillips: The older bikes just have more character. This Suzuki is a story on its own. I found it on Facebook marketplace for only $275 and said that even if the motor is junk, the parts would be worth that. I pulled it out of a barn that also had a Kawasaki H1, so I feel we did pretty well on that deal. Ever since then, it’s been my focus. It was a drag bike from the start, but I redesigned it with a different chassis and parts. The back half of the frame was redone. The front end used to be 55 pounds, but it’s down to 20 pounds now.
Wayne Skinner: It’s just a good thing to do. You get together and have a good time. You’re still a parent when they’re running, but I’m on them about staying safe.
1959 Harley-Davidson Ironhead dragbike by Steven Skinner
Where did you find the Ironhead?
Steven Skinner: I found the Harley in Virginia Beach. The guy had it listed as a chopper frame ironhead. I called him up, and he wanted $5,000, but I ended up getting it for only $2,000. After I got the frame and motor, I just kind of pieced the rest together. It’s about an 83-84 inch motor that originally started out as a 1959 ironhead. I’m looking forward to running good this year. Hopefully, this newer bike does better than ones I’ve had in the past.
Steven Skinner: I found the Harley in Virginia Beach. The guy had it listed as a chopper frame ironhead. I called him up, and he wanted $5,000, but I ended up getting it for only $2,000. After I got the frame and motor, I just kind of pieced the rest together. It’s about an 83-84 inch motor that originally started out as a 1959 ironhead. I’m looking forward to running good this year. Hopefully, this newer bike does better than ones I’ve had in the past.
Wayne, what pulled you towards racing the Triumphs?
Wayne Skinner: I’ve just always been a Triumph guy, and I couldn’t afford a Norton. It was just the type of bike that I ran in the past when you had to deal with the Harley guy’s egos all of the time. My first new Triumph was $1,895 out the door. I’ve been with them ever since. I first got into drag racing because I was getting too many tickets on the streets. We started going to the tracks. You’d meet some people and have a good day. It’s a safe situation. You have your gear on and learn to take care of your bikes.
Wayne Skinner: I’ve just always been a Triumph guy, and I couldn’t afford a Norton. It was just the type of bike that I ran in the past when you had to deal with the Harley guy’s egos all of the time. My first new Triumph was $1,895 out the door. I’ve been with them ever since. I first got into drag racing because I was getting too many tickets on the streets. We started going to the tracks. You’d meet some people and have a good day. It’s a safe situation. You have your gear on and learn to take care of your bikes.
Tell us about the race weekend that your family holds every August.
Steven Skinner: The Ohio Vintage Nationals Drag Racing and Swap Meet is an event that our family started and Drew now runs. The seventh annual weekend event is August 23-25 at Freebird Dragway in Bloomingdale, Ohio. It’s an eighth-mile track. There will be camping, live music, a bike show, food trucks, and more. New or old bikes, anyone is welcome to run the track and can contact our brother Drew for more information at 740-827-0491. Come on out, it’s a good time.
Steven Skinner: The Ohio Vintage Nationals Drag Racing and Swap Meet is an event that our family started and Drew now runs. The seventh annual weekend event is August 23-25 at Freebird Dragway in Bloomingdale, Ohio. It’s an eighth-mile track. There will be camping, live music, a bike show, food trucks, and more. New or old bikes, anyone is welcome to run the track and can contact our brother Drew for more information at 740-827-0491. Come on out, it’s a good time.
Levi Phillips
1959 Harley-Davidson Ironhead dragbike by Steven Skinner
1975 Suzuki TM250 full custom dragbike by Levi Phillips
1973 Triumph dragbike by Wayne Skinner
