Rider Profile

Sam Parker  Parker Drag Racing

Having been born into a Drag Racing family (father Phil has been racing for 30 years) Sam had the drag racing bug from day 1. From the young age of 10, Sam began getting heavily involved in the family team’s operations. Seeing his father win the Australian Nationals (’92) and claim the Modified Bike number one plate in ’95 was all the motivation required to crew at every round for 6 years, only missing a round in his final year of schooling. By this stage, Phil had stepped up into Competition bike running a turbocharged Suzuki bike so that the family Modified Bike could be prepped for when Sam turned 18. The bike had a soft clutch tune and a couple of degree’s of ignition timing taken out of it to run 9.90’s. After a couple of practice burnouts in the shed (thanks neighbours!) to get familiar with the bike (having never ridden any motorbike other than the team step-through tow bike!) Sam was racing in Modified Bike. Tasting success at regional meetings and losing a controversial Winternationals final, the bike had been tuned into the 9.00 second zone and was starting to feel a little slow. After seeing an ex pro stock motor for sale at the right price, the team add some weight to the bike and stepped up into comp running C/CB. Running in the 8.35 second zone and mixing it with the likes of Luke Crowley and Ross Lemberg, the racing was tough and fast. Whilst enjoying the mind games and tactics involved in racing group 2, Sam had began building a pro stock bike which had always been a dream of his to race in. Having made some friends in Europe, a 1640cc motor was purchased out of the UK and a chassis built in Australia. Running a best of 7.69 at 169mph but doing damage too frequently, Sam decided to sell the pro bike and take a season off to save up for something bigger. After seeing the thrill of nitro burning fuel bikes and the fun his dad was having, the hunt was on to find a good fuel bike at the right price. A bike was found in the states that had the right basis, even if the engine combination was a little dated. Thankfully, Phil had just purchased an engine combination from Mike Dryden (from Dryden-Hogan-Alwine fuel bike team) that fitted Sam’s bike all too nicely. With this combination on board, Sam has ran a best of 6.75 at 215.8mph. The team have since updated the cylinder head to a new Vortex 2 unit and some other minor changes and hope to get a handle on the tune up again shortly. Thanks to Parker Pumps, North Geelong Engine Reconditioners and Mark from Matilda Wacol Service station for their support. If you would like to purchase some Parker Racing Merchandise, please head over to www.parkerdragracing.com