Just read over on the Jockey Journal tha E. J. Potter passed away. RIP to The Michigan Madman. Larry T
Thanks Larry..It's been about 3 years since I saw him last ,and at that point ,he had issues.. If you have ever read his book,it's amazing he lived this long !!!! RIP EJ..you entertained millions.. Rick
correct me if im wrong but didnt he pass while running at the us nationals a few years back ? at any rate RIP
An ORIGINAL. It would have been soooooo coooooool if he could have made a few runs for the HAMB Drags. God have mercy on his soul.
Put on the best exibition run at Connecticut Dragway I ever saw! He was one guy you had to see in person, words won't cover what he could do! God Bless E.J. and his Family KK
Sorry to hear that, never met the man, but bought his book and a dvd about a year ago, seemed like a helluva guy. Ride safe E.J.
Can you imagine coming up with the idea of taking an old Harley frame and stuffing a Chevy V-8 in it, a powerful engine that had only been out a few years at the time. Can you also imagine finishing it and feeling the apprehension of taking it out and doing something nobody else had ever done before. The year was 1959 and for the next 40 years he did many insane things that usually lead to a short life. But E.J. was was not only fearless but very smart. I had the opportunity to first see him in action in 1963 at Farmington Dragstrip in North Carolina and the again 36 years later (1999) at Virginia Motorsports Park when I helped talk him out of retirement to make an appearance at my Super Stock Reunion. He had just finished his book on his amazing life and knew this would help sell books. He was absolutely fearless in his 20s that first time at Farmington and equally so at almost 60 at the S/S Reunion. The pictures below are from his return. E.J. Potter will always be at the top of my list as one of the greatest drag racers. I will always remember a phone conversation I had with him in '98 or '99 leading up to his return. I asked him how many runs he had made on his "Bloody Mary" and "Widow Maker" bikes. "About 800" he said "and 795 successfully". He cracked me up. I hope "Big Daddy" will consider him for a future Hall of Famer.
Very sorry to hear of his passing. The man had guts, that is for sure. RIP. Makes a person feel old when you start seeing all the idols you looked up to in this hobby leaving us one by one, Don
This is very sad news. I never had the chance to meet EJ but I have heard a lot of stories about him and I love hearing them. My condolences go out to his family. May he rest in peace.
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