Russ Collins was the first 7sec M/C Drag Racer. He accomplished all his records and wins on bikes he built himself including this monster ,"The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" a three engined record breaker. He came off this one big time and while recovering in hospital he conceived of his next bike "The Sourcerer" a twin engined bike that he went 7.30 @ 199.55mph. That record stood for eleven years. I used to live in Rancho Palos Verdes at the very top of Hawthorne Blvd before it goes downhill to the ocean. I would often see Russ shopping in the Rolling Hills Vons. He was a natty little dude with pressed jeans, cowboy boots and a rakish beard and perfect hair. He had an obvious hitch in his giddy up, no doubt from one of his or all of his get offs. I never did approach him but I certainly appreciated what the guy had done in drag racing and business. Russ was an Icon. He passed on in 2014. One of the greatest motorcyclists ever.
