Who made the first suspended "springer" racer?

[L.D.Bruce]

Love the old pics My Dad was a Drag racer in thr late 60s and drove his clubs top double A fuel dragster back when the engine was in front of the Driver. His partner is the owner of the Green Hornet which is a 53 hudson hornet they also ran a 54 hudson jet in the day. My Dad is restoring a 54 hudson jet now it will have their old Ike Smith motor they ran in the 60s I spent my early life at tracks and the Road Knights club house. I wish we could turn back the clock to better days

[techfx]

First springer was raced by Danny Stevens for Motion Industries, MI, according to Dad. They had trouble keeping it running then Tru-Way bought it off of them. After it was wrecked, the front end was lengthened so Uncle Dave (who was a pretty big dude) could fit in a bit better to race.

[trebmaster]

First springer was raced by Danny Stevens for Motion Industries, MI, according to Dad. They had trouble keeping it running then Tru-Way bought it off of them. After it was wrecked, the front end was lengthened so Uncle Dave (who was a pretty big dude) could fit in a bit better to race.

motion ind is still a company in Mi, I will ask my rep if he has any history on the co.maby its documented somewhere

[Don]

First springer was raced by Danny Stevens for Motion Industries, MI, according to Dad. They had trouble keeping it running then Tru-Way bought it off of them. After it was wrecked, the front end was lengthened so Uncle Dave (who was a pretty big dude) could fit in a bit better to race.

Are you sure it wasn't Motion Development? I remember some of the wild machines they put out there over the 70s.

[techfx]

Are you sure it wasn't Motion Development? I remember some of the wild machines they put out there over the 70s.

Sorry, yeah, would have been Motion Development... Same as the ads in the old NATVA mags. This one may explain how it ended up with the Sachs 440rx engine, although it originally ran w/ a JLO triple.


natva-6x6-atv-racing-rules-1975-11.jpg

[Bill Gerber]

Danny did some things with experimental sleds for them also

[Bill Gerber]

I think the guy that built it was Fred Hoppert of Motion Development. I think it was in a red max body. The one i built was the next one, I only assembled it tho. i was only about 14 at the time. Dad and Ray designed it.. I did drive it first, Liquified almost all the grass in our yard. It WAS, my job to cut the grass. Mom wasn't real happy about that, Then she drove it and roosted all the stuff that i missed.. Go figure!! I remember going to Motion Development with my dad. Fred had some wild snowmobile projects in progress, What impressed me most, was a Air Boat motor and blade mounted in the side of his building for a exhaust fan.That was Kewl!!!!

Here is a poor quality pic of the finished day before the maiden voyage. If you look in the background you can see my stock machine in progress on the frame rack..
Sorry Don but your welds were all made by a 14 year old.. Ha ha!!

[amphibious drew]

Wow Bill, how cool it must have been to be 14 and build the 2nd ever springer 6x6. Thanks for sharing! Its always good to hear from our sports legends every once in a while.

[Bill Gerber]

All i did was assemble and weld it and make the parts to the rough prints that were on yellow paper and napkins, Dad and Ray bent the tubing and designed everything. It was fun tho. I remember just wanting it done so i could get it out of the garage so i had room to work on my Attex racer. It was sitting on the rack just waiting to be put togather. I was still running my Max racer that had the same 400 in it that Mike runs now. I wonder what happened to that Max. Cory Stine bought it, raced it in the junior event for awhile and i never saw it again. Does anyone out there know what happened to it. I will post a MIA pic!
The first three RIM's were also built in that garage. The ones that you see in that old flyer with the three different sized tires. The one with the real big tires was just a frame, body, seats and tires, no chains motor or tranny. we had to tow it around for the pictures, Don't tell anyone Lol... When i finally finished it, I flipped it over the first time I turned right. Then i didn't like those big tires anymore..
Don't worry Don, I was pretty good at welding. I did a whole pile of Superchief frames and sprockets for production in 76 & 77. If any of my welds break, I will warranty them on your springer!!! But i must properly test, after fixing them, tho !!!

[Don]

Thanks for putting up the picture, Bill. The original welds on the machine look better than the ones I've done- nice job for a 14 year old! I had no idea the machine had so much history behind it- really cool to find out.

[techfx]

That's some cool well documented history. I remember watching that machine race since the mid 80's.

[Finn]

I dont have a 6x6 yet but have been looking. These springers that you are talking about, this is suspenion in a 6x6? Were these made like this or is it a modification? Where can i get some photos or more info?

[craigk]

don, i may be wrong but i am thinking larry smith and ron yeany may have built the first springer, i believe they were from around rimersberg pa.