Before Rickey Gadson came onto the scene, save that, before he exploded onto the scene, motorcycle drag racing was largely unknown. He pulled the sport out of the shadows of obscurity and into the spotlight of the media. It could also be said that Rickey Gadson is single handedly responsible for "Joe Public" being aware of motorcycle drag racing. How?
Rickey became the "spokes-hero" for motorcycle drag racing by becoming the most successful motorcycle drag racer in AMA history.
Alright, before we go any further, lets open our right hand, extend our fingers and gently pull the brake level towards. I am getting ahead of the story here.
No Respect Ricky or Drag Racing
Think about what Rickey Gadson has accomplished, wait for it, and allow this to marinate a bit. Imagine winning races & breaking world records, but getting the cold shoulder from the media. Go one further and imagine being snubbed not just by the general media but even by a television program about drag racing featured on a sports network.
If you can imagine being in that situation, being snubbed for no clearly stated reason, you see what Rickey had to endure when he first started.
This is all in the rear view mirrors of history, as faint and distant as "Christmas Trees" are fractions of a second after Rickey launches from the line. However, it is important we mention this part of his stellar career. This highlights, magnifies even, how far Rickey Gadson and the sport of drag racing have come.
Rickey Gadson's Family History of Motorcycles
Rickey Gadson's family history is just as incredible as Rickey's meteoric rise. As Rickey himself put, he has a "a deeply rich motorcycle background." Rickey was raised around motorcycles with both a mother and father who rode. Excuse me, Rickey's fathers, did not just ride, but was a motorcycle pioneer just like Rickey would become years later.
As a professional motorcyclist, his father accomplished a lot. In fact, Gadson Sr. was the only civilian the New York City Police department allowed to participate in their "thrill show." His father did stunts on Harleys in the 50's & 60's then moved onto Hondas in the 70's and then to Kawasaki KZ 900's and 1300's. Sadly, Gadson Sr. was killed when struck by a car only two blocks from the house when Rickey was just 13 years old.
Rickey's First Bike
Like most children that pick up on how to do things by watching their parents, Rickey did the same with motorcycles. Rickey's first bike was a 3 horsepower mini bike which he rode when he was five. At the age of nine Rickey was drag racing dirt bikes and winning.
One day during a family reunion, Rickey's proud father allowed his son to ride his bike, to the great dismay of his aunts and uncles. And it wasn't just any bike, mind you — his father allowed Rickey to ride his KZ900. Yes, at just nine years old. Even though Rickey could not reach the clutch, after getting him off, the ride was completed without incident.
Rickey Gadson's First Drag Race
Rickey discovered his true racing potential while riding with some of his friends. They ended up at the drag strip and Rickey decided on the spur of the moment to race. He was riding his Kawasaki KZ1300, originally his fathers. He ended up blowing the engine, but before he did, Rickey ran at 12.08 and a 11.98.
Afraid of what his mother would say about his decision to race without telling her, Rickey told her later that the engine blew on the road. Not long afterwards, when his friends were talking one of them let it slip what really happened to the bike. After hearing this, she told him that she would not have been mad if he had simply asked. She just wished that he would have told her.
His mother then bought him a Honda CB1100F that he raced. Rickey began racing on the street on Friday nights in Philadelphia in 1984. Routinely he would beat guys on 1100 machines while racing smaller 750's. Rickey got so good that he was winning $9,000 and $10,000 in street races, with his biggest purse being $80,000 for one race.
Rickey Gadson Goes Pro
Rickey Gadson says: "It was something that just happened and I got hooked. Every time the drag strip was open I was there." Rickey's first professional competition took place in 1991. He bought a turbo charged bike from the guy that had won the championship the previous year. Initially the owner didn't want to sell him the bike, but after Rickey rode it, he changed his mind. On his first run Rickey set a new world record qualifying pass, much faster than the previous owner ever did.
Since then Rickey has starred in television series like Superbikes, has done stunts, and has served a consultant on major motion pictures like Biker Boys. One of Rickey's biggest accomplishments occurred at a competition in South Africa when he got to meet the Mandelas and broke a 26-year-old world record. He is also very proud of the $10,000 he and his wife raised for pediatric diabetes when they rode 700 miles.
Now Rickey is on a mission to teach military service men and women how to safely ride their motorcycles. Rickey also wants to take street racers off the street and put them on the track. Many have made the transition after attending the Ricky Gadson drag racing school. For more information go to Ricky Gadson's Drag Racing School.
Rickey Gadson has come a long way: from someone that would not be featured on television to now being the face of Kawasaki and its new 2012 ZX14.
