Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Team Unveils Restyled V-Rod Drag Bikes

The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines racing team unveiled its restyled V-Rod drag motorcycles ahead of the first Pro Stock Motorcycle round of the 2012 NHRA Full Drag Racing series.

Reigning champion Ed Krawiec and Andrew Hines will compete for the Harley-Davidson team on new V-Rod drag bikes, restyled to more closely resembled the Night Rod Special production model. This marks the first restyling of Harley-Davidson’s NHRA competition bikes since the V-Rod entered the competition in 2002, and comes as The Motor Company celebrates the V-Rod’s 10th anniversary.“The goal was to make the drag racing motorcycles look more like the current production Night Rod Special motorcycle,” says Kris Schoonover, Harley-Davidson racing manager. “The biggest change is in the shape of the rear fender, although the front fender is a little longer and is now more similar to the part on the production motorcycle.”

Krawiec’s V-Rod is painted in a black on silver scheme while Hines’ race bike has the colors reversed. Both paint schemes were designed by Paul Martin, Harley-Davidson manager of styling and graphics from the Willie G. Davidson Production Development Center. Krawiec and Hines’ leathers were designed by Karen Davidson, Willie G. Davidson’s daughter and creative director of Harley-Davidson MotorClothes.

The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines team has had a lot of success in the NHRA series, winning five titles in ten years. Krawiec has two titles while Hines has three to his name.

The 2012 NHRA Full Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle class features 16 rounds starting with the March 8-11 round in Gainesville, Fla.

[Source: Harley-Davidson]

By Dennis Chung