After a decade away from the sport, Renton resident Dana Meeks stepped back onto the international motorcycle drag‑racing stage this summer. Accompanied by crew members Chris Wilson, Greg Lovell and the new Yella Beak Saloon owners Rich and Marianne Eveland, Meeks competed at Mission Raceway Park in British Columbia.
Back on the track
“It’s pretty darn exciting stuff,” Meeks said, noting the caliber of competitors. The events featured Top Fuel Harley‑class motorcycles—high‑powered, custom‑built machines that can reach 200 mph in under a second and require a parachute to slow down.
Meeks explained the technical demands: the bikes have no user manuals; riders must understand clutch, fuel, ignition and data‑collection systems. A misstep can lead to a “catastrophic failure,” as the team experienced ten years ago when a crankshaft snapped and the engine refused to start.
Rebuilding the dream
Eight years after that failure, Wilson began rebuilding the bike, and after two years of work the machine was race‑ready. Meeks said the team now feels they have a solid handle on tuning and riding the bike.
At the Smoke Fire and Thunder race (Aug. 20‑22), Meeks qualified for the elimination round but was knocked out by heavyweight Nate Gagnon, posting a speed of over 202 mph and a finish time just under seven seconds. Gagnon’s bike was a half‑second faster at 219 mph.
Close competition
At the West Coast Outlaws event (Sept. 25‑27), Meeks faced Gagnon again. This time he drifted, slowing to correct his line and finishing a second behind Gagnon with a 7.22‑second run.
“I need a bit more seat time to get comfortable managing the bike on the top end,” Meeks said, adding that the weekend was overall successful with no broken parts.
Team effort and future plans
Meeks emphasized that racing is a team effort. The crew downloads and analyzes data, adjusts pushrods, refuels, repacks the parachute and pressurizes the frame between runs. “It really takes a lot of work to turn the bike around. It’s not about me… it’s about all of us,” he said.
The next season is slated to begin around May 2027, with Meeks hoping to test at Pacific Raceways beforehand. “It’s great to be back in the saddle,” he said, “when I daydream, that’s what I daydream about!”
Original reporting: Renton Reporter — read the source article.
