WORLD RECORD DRAG QUAD

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Tom Hill’s exquisite dragster and what it’s like to ride

On Dec 2, 2021

By the staff of Dirt Wheels

**Without the skin, one can see that there aren’t too many stock parts on this $33,000 machine. It’s the fastest quad in the world right now. Could it also be the most expensive?**

WORLD RECORD DRAG QUAD

Although there’s no official NHRA or IHRA class for all-terrain vehicles, the impressive numbers his latest dragster has produced are certainly the best we have ever seen. A little over a year ago we featured Tom’s 210-horsepower, nitrous-injected, 580cc Rotax drag quad that consistently turned low 10-second passes at 125 mph (Dirt Wheels, September 1996).

That trick-looking machine was built around a QuadRacer 500 chassis and featured Suzuki plastic. At the time, Tom claimed that this was the fastest quarter-mile asphalt quad in the world and challenged anyone else to prove him wrong. Since that article ran, we haven’t heard a peep from any challengers!

Tom’s all-new machine takes the concept of drag-racing quads one step further. The frame is completely hand-fabricated from the ground up, and the quad is turning low 9-second runs, which is really smokin’ in the world of drag racing.

For comparison’s sake, a modified Banshee ran against Tom and could only muster a 13.9-second run at 86 mph. Since there are very few other racers who even attempt to run quads at the three strips Tom frequents, most of his competition is in the form of street bikes.

“Unless they’re highly modified Pro-class street bikes, it’s very hard for the motorcycles to beat me,” says Tom. “However, the street bikes do record a more impressive top speed in the lights because of their gear drive, but I still beat ’em to the finish line. We’re on the verge of a run in the 8.90s this fall if I can get perfect air and humidity conditions.”

Despite the huge engine and stout frame, the machine is surprisingly light at 400 pounds wet. To give it an extra boost down the strip, a bottle of nitrous is attached, which is automatically activated when the throttle is punched.

RACING FOR MONEY

The form of competition Hill runs against the street bikes is bracket elimination, where consistency really pays off: “A few weeks ago I ran seven 9.40s in a row. Because I have an auto clutch and an on-board computer, I can be more consistent than the street bikes. About the only thing we ever mess with at the track is the carb and nitrous jetting after we take humidity and air-density readings. When we have around 100 machines in our class, the overall winner can go home with $2000 in his pocket.” The three Midwestern drag strips that currently allow Tom to run his ATV in the bracket drags are Cordova Dragway in Cordova, Illinois, Byron Dragway in Byron, Illinois, and US 41 Dragstrip in Morocco, Indiana.

**A pair of chromed, custom-built pipes shoot out the side of the monstrous 670cc snowmobile engine. The entire frame was custom-built by Hill out of 1.25-inch chromoly steel tubing.**

WORLD RECORD DRAG QUAD

We asked Tom if he has ever tried to find the top speed of his testosterone-charged Polaris Sport: “That would be a bit scary on asphalt with this quad the way it’s set up right now, but I might try it on the ice sometime. I feel we could hit around 160 mph.”

As wild as this machine is, Tom’s not yet done in his quest for speed. “My next drag quad project is going to be close to 400 horsepower, 4 inches longer and should run in the high sevens at 170 to180 mph,” projects Tom. “Plans are that it’ll be powered by a three-cylinder, 1015cc, twin-rotary-valve Crankshop engine.”

Finally, Tom invites Dirt Wheels readers to contact him if they are looking for more information on his dragsters or how to get started in quad drag racing. Hill also may have some info on Midwestern dirt drag events and ice speed runs, as well as the asphalt action. Most important, Tom would love to find a challenger for his current quad drag race world record.

**Tom gives the wheelie bar a workout on nearly every run, sometimes running for hundreds of feet without touching down. The massive rear tires were originally designed for mini dirt sprint cars.**

INSIDE THE WORLD RECORD HOLDER

Best E.T. and speed to date: 9.2 seconds, 140.35 mph.

Engine: The dragster is powered by a twin-cylinder, water-cooled, 670cc, Crankshop two-stroke (the Crankshop engine is a redesign of a Ski-Doo Rotax snowmobile engine). It features rotary valves, along with many other modifications designed specifically for snowmobile grass drags. This powerplant was also built specifically for use with a nitrous-injection system.

The three-piece cylinder head was custom-built by Union Bay Racing. It also features a hand-built, complete billet crankshaft, titanium connecting rods, and ceramic pistons. The Torco 118 NOS fuel is fed through a pair of 48.5mm Mikunis, which are topped off with K&N air filters. The Crankshop engine has an MSD ignition with automatic spark retard, and there’s an on-board computer that constantly monitors the amount of nitrous, the ignition timing, and rev limiter. Pipes are custom-built by Crankshop and chromed by Golden West. They were built specifically for the extra exhaust volume generated by nitrous use and have open stingers.

Maximum horsepower: 294 horsepower as checked on a dyno.

Fuel-injection system: Computer-controlled Nitrous Oxide Systems (NOS), 2.5-pound bottle. A full bottle is used during each run.

Clutch: Like snowmobiles, Polaris ATVs and some other quads, Tom’s machine features a belt-drive auto clutch. The primary clutch is a Comet 4-Pro; the secondary clutch is from a Polaris Indy Storm snowmobile.

Frame: The entire frame was built from scratch by Tom Hill Fabrication. The idea for the quad’s configuration is based on a Pro Stock drag car and was designed on a Cad-Cam computer program. The majority of the construction is 1.25-inch chromoly steel tubing in various thicknesses. The front end and steering components are entirely hand-built and feature slow-ratio steering and a lot of camber angle for high-speed stability. In fact, the quad automatically straightens out if you take your hands off the bars. Out back there’s a 6-foot wheelie bar. The seat and plastic are off a Polaris Sport 400.

Suspension: The front suspension features chopped Polaris MacPherson-strut shocks from a Sport 400 (1.5-inch wheel travel). There is no swingarm, as the entire rear end is an integral part of the chassis with a solid axle.

Drivetrain: DuraBlue chromoly rear axle and a double-taper, roller bearing carrier. Gearing consists of a set of Sprocket Specialists 14/51. Chain is a Krause Ultra-Max Gold 520 (it never has to be adjusted because of auto-clutch and solid rear end).

Brakes: Polaris front discs. Custom rear caliper and rotor by Kelsey Hayes. Carbon fiber brake pads all the way around.

Tires/wheels: McCreary Speed Star tires all the way around (20×10-10 rears) on Douglas Blue Label rims. Only 3 pounds of tire pressure in the rear (tires are screwed to the rims) and 30 pounds in the front.

Weight: 400 hundred pounds, wet.

Cost: $15,000 for the engine alone. The entire machine (including engine) is worth $33,000. Tom has already sold two copies of this quad to drag racers in the South.

Sponsors: Crankshop, Loko Performance Coating, DuraBlue, Polaris, Rock County Lawn and Sports, Union Bay Racing, Bruins Race Cars, McCreary Tires, Tom Hill Fabrication.

**The front suspension features chopped Polaris MacPherson-strut shocks from a Sport 400, taking the wheel travel down to 1.5 inches. Like drag cars, the entire rear end is rigid.**

We don’t know how Tom Hill has the time to look at gauges during his nine-second runs, but we imagine the exhaust gas temperature gauge (top) and tachometer do come in handy during testing and warm-ups. Check out the stubby, straight drag handlebars and the snowmobile thumb throttle.

WORLD RECORD DRAG QUAD

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BLAST A ROCKET QUAD

We asked Tom what it’s like to ride 290 horsepower through the lights at 140 mph. Here’s what he had to say.

“To begin with, I run it for about one minute to warm it up so we don’t get a cold seizure. Then I shut it off and wait in the staging lane for my turn. When I’m up, I turn on the computer, which also activates the nitrous system, roll through the bleach box [water is actually used] and do a big, smoky burnout with the front brakes on. Then I do a second burnout past the staging line. We push it back, and then I do a dry hop to make sure the tires are warm and the quad is launching straight.

“As I roll up to the first stage, I set the automatic recorder on the computer and close my visor. Then I set the second staging line and watch for the lights. We get three yellows and green; I leave on the third yellow, full throttle. The NOS instantly kicks in and the clutch locks up right off the line. From there the first 100 yards is just hanging on. My 60-foot times are in the 1.1-second range, which is a very violent launch. The Pro Stock drag cars do the first 60 feet in one second. The first 100 yards are about the only point during the run where I might lose traction. When that happens it’s a handful and the run is pretty much shot.

“About halfway down the quarter-mile, the front wheels start coming down. This thing will automatically go straight if I have it pointed in the right direction off the line. You can actually steer it though with body English when the front wheels are still up in the air if I have to. Letting off on the throttle for just a fraction of a second will ruin the run. I’m already running around 121 mph at the halfway point.

Hill gases his drag quad off the line in another attempt to break the eight-second barrier. Tom would especially like to thank Ron Leek and B.J. Vangfniff of Rockford Speedway. They were one of the first tracks to let Tim run and some of his biggest supporters as well.

WORLD RECORD DRAG QUAD

“From there, I duck down to get completely out of the wind. Then I look ahead and find the finish line. At the line, I let off on the throttle and stay ducked down for about 600 feet. I coast until I’m down to around 80 mph before I can sit up and start hitting the brakes.”

Editor’s note: In the December 1997 issue of Dirt Wheels, we featured Wisconsin racer Tom Hill and his world-record dragster quad, a $33,000 one-off. Hill also claimed to be the current holder of the world record for drag-racing quads.

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