Leo Payne. Period.

My dad knew Leo Payne of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He took his new Bendix down to him to have it bored oversize. Leo never bored one of those yet - he'd give it a try. I remember as a little kid, commenting about his motorcycle being in the "living room." Dad was buying from S&S before most builders knew who they were. Mostly stroker flywheels and pistons. Not many people knew how to build a stroker. However, Leo Payne is now legendary. To elaborate on his life, racing, R & D and his accomplishments, would take a book. Someone needs to write that book. Here he is at Lion's Dragway on the 57XL. There's a lot going on in this photo. He has some sort of weights on the front axle. Still running the 'H' Oil tank, jumpy cable tach, struts, XLR pipes, he's still kick starting it, dress shoes, Turnip Eater, oil leaking out the rocker nut. Notice his shifter foot. It's off the peg, ready to grab the next gear. Anyone who has an ironhead will tell you that you have to lift your foot, not just your toe. Get It On !!!!! Leavin' the line hard - tire spinning !
The legend of Leo Payne, caught in a split second. Ain't life wonderful?