Bill Newell was one of the first Drag Specialties reps. He’s been a part of the Drag team for 11 years now, and says that, like most Drag reps, this is his dream job!

In addition to all the hard work Bill puts in as a Drag rep, he still loves to ride. Bill has a Road King and 14 other bikes. He’s even made his own FatBook bike, which doubles as a great sales tool!

ill Newell is one of those guys who can’t imagine a world without motorcycles. “My father had a motorcycle dealership since 1959,” says Bill. “So when I was a kid, everything was about motorcycles for me. The family’s dealership was Triumph, then we added Ossa, Bultaco and finally Honda. So I got to race all those great old classic bikes when they were new bikes. I actually have a picture of me racing in 1960 and another photo of me in 2005 racing at the same track.”
     Bill has been a Drag Specialties rep for 11 years, in fact he was one of the very first Drag reps. “I worked for smaller distributors for a long time. Then I interviewed at the Cincinnati trade show to be a Parts rep and they asked me how I liked Harley-Davidsons. I love Harleys so they made me a Drag rep.”
     Like a lot of Drag reps, Bill feels that this is a dream job for him. “I like visiting and hanging out at motorcycle shops all day and that’s basically what I get to do. We’re really all friends. You trust and like your friends and love to work with them. And I get to talk motorcycles every day.”
     Having grown up in the industry Bill has seen it grow to the mega-buck giant that motorcycling has become. “It feels good to be part of the growth and see the changes for the better. Its big business now and it’s nice to see my dealers doing so well after struggling for so long. Now everything is profitable and a lot of people are making a good living.”
     Bill has found a home with Drag because as he says, “Drag Specialties is the best company to work for. They’re the most solid and respected from vendors and dealers. That’s part of the reason for their success. They’re proactive not reactive and looking to the future for all of us.”
     Riding is still in Bill’s blood and he feels that it helps him be a better rep. “I have a Road King and 14 other bikes. I have a big garage and it’s got a good workshop in the back. I’ve made my own FatBook bike, which I use for a sales tool as much as I do to ride it. I bring it to dealers and shows for display. People see it and want to buy the different parts. I just ordered some more stuff for it today. Using your own bike is a great endorsement.”
     And Bill still straps on a steel shoe and goes racing. “I started out racing dirt track and I still do in the Plus 50 class. Back in the 1970’s I was #1 in AMA District 3, [he was also a 2-time AMA National Ice-Racing Sidecar Champ] but now I ride vintage with a Trackmaster Triumph in the Senior Expert class. Sometimes I go to the Vintage Nationals, but mainly I just race for fun. It keeps me from having to grow up. I like that part.”
     Bill plans on staying with Drag until he retires, “I’m a motorcycle guy. This has been my life, riding, racing, and working for Drag Specialties. Not a day goes by where I’m not having a great time.”

Bill stills goes racing too, sticking to his dirt track roots. Bill was #1 in AMA District 3 in the 1970’s, and was also a 2-time AMA National Ice-Racing Sidecar Champ. Today, Bill races in the Senior Expert class with a Trackmaster Triumph.

Bill says that riding, racing and working for Drag Specialties are his true passions in life, which make him ideal for this job. Passion and dedication to the industry are ideal qualities for every Drag rep!