t’s official. Denis Manning’s “Streamliner Seven” with Chris Carr at the controls is the fastest motorcycle on Earth. On September 5th, 2006 “Seven” streaked across the Bonneville Salt Flats to a two-way average of 350.884 MPH to put Manning and Carr into the record books. For Denis Manning it was a long time coming, going way back to 1968 when he built his first streamliner and began chasing this dream. Two years later, in 1970 and when he was just 24 years old, Denis’ second streamliner–this one with the late/great Cal Rayborn at the controls–would run to a then-record-setting 265 MPH, later eclipsed by Don Vesco and Kawasaki and then Joe Teresi with the twin-engined Easyriders effort. And now, finally, 36 years and five streamliners later Denis Manning’s “Streamliner Seven” would do it again, going into the books as the World’s Fastest Motorcycle and regaining the title for Denis Manning flying the Drag Specialties/Parts Unlimited logos and with famed dirt-track racer Chris Carr at the controls.
     “Seven” is quite a machine. It was put together by quite a team, too, as Manning attests. Tipping the scales at a staggering 1,700 pounds (light weight is no advantage at Bonneville), “Seven” sports carbon fiber, Kevlar and aluminum honeycomb in a monocoque chassis coupling an extremely low coefficient of drag with extremely high torsional rigidity. Its single engine, a custom designed and crafted liquid-cooled V4 DOHC that’s turbocharged, puts out more than 500 horsepower. Burning pure methanol, this one-of-a-kind engine was designed by Sacramento State’s Professor Joe Harralson then machined and assembled into reality by John Jans and Richard Farmer. It delivers power to the salt through a custom 4-speed transmission with pneumatic shifters, the buttons set at Carr’s fingertips up on aircraft-style joysticks. All of this rolls on some very special Performance Machine wheels mounting carefully shaved Goodyear Land Eagle tires.
     Beginning with Drag Specialties, Denis Manning had the full support of the industry behind him and “Seven.” Just look as the logos plastered down the streamliner’s sides. In October 2006, fresh from that world record run, Denis was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, too. More accolades followed, with Motorcyclist Magazine naming both Denis and Chris Carr as “Motorcyclists of the Year,” figuring that Manning couldn’t have grabbed the record without Carr and Chris Carr couldn’t have done it without Manning. And after four decades in the pursuit of speed Denis Manning wholeheartedly agrees. “Seven’s” success was a team effort all the way.
For over 35 years Denis Manning has created motorcycles to go really fast and now even promotes events to give others the same thrill. In 2004, along with his daughter-in-law Delvene, he inaugurated the International Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB, a fully sanctioned Bonneville Speed Week for motorcycles only. And on September 5, 2006 at the 3rd Annual BUB Speed Trials Denis Manning, Chris Carr and “Seven” went faster then anyone else there, faster than anyone had ever gone on two wheels. Congratulations are definitely in order. On two counts, first, of course, for the success of “Seven” and its mind-boggling 350.884 MPH record run.      And secondly for the event where it happened, the International Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB, another Denis Manning Land Speed Racing production.

      Editor’s Note: By the time you read this, Denis Manning and Chris Carr will have returned to Bonneville to defend their World Title. The 4th Annual BUB Speed Trials will feature numerous challenges for the overall world record, as well as many other class records up for grabs.