‘Broadway Bob’ Metzler, the former owner and promoter of the Great Lakes Dragaway in Wisconsin was famous for riding on the nose of the jet cars that he booked into his facility during his illustrious career, but even he wasn’t crazy enough to do what one Puerto Rico native recently did for charity at a drag race.
The individual in this video, whose name we’ve been unable to unearth in our research but who is described as an experienced stuntman, actually strapped himself to the chassis of a bracket/index-style dragster at the Salinas Speedway in Salinas, P.R. and took a 1/4-mile lap down the track (at what sounds like 3/4 throttle or thereabouts) to raise money for a physically handicapped young man. As we all know, spectacles sell tickets, and likewise, can therefore also raise money. And a man riding atop a dragster is, well, a spectacle unlike anything we’ve personally ever seen.
As the video and images show, the man is secured to the car through a number of provisions: his helmet is fastened to the top of the roll cage, so the passing wind won’t pull him up and off the car. His hands are also placed into gloves that have been strapped to the roll cage so that his hands can’t come loose. There are also foot pegs installed onto the chassis, so that he isn’t merely standing on the framerails hoping he doesn’t lose his footing. The only thing not accounted for here is the odd chance that the car crashes and turns upside down, but then, it wouldn’t be a risk-laden spectacle anymore if there was no sense of danger.
Alas, the run went to plan, money was raised for a good cause, and this brave man gets to tell a story that no one else can. But, in truth, the only thing that really separates him on the crazy scale from a Top Fuel Motorcycle rider is that the two-wheeled rider can bail off if things go awry. This gentleman…he was along for the ride until it stopped.
Suffice it to say, this idea would never fly at a track in the United States, not even an unsanctioned outlaw track, so the chances that you’ll be witnessing a copycat are slim and none.