PAUL GUERRIERI RUNS 9.5 SECONDS!

When most people reach the age of 60, their main focus is retirement; Paul Guerrieri turned to drag racing.

After successfully drag racing a Harley-Davidson V-Rod for 3 years, got a call from a Harley-Davidson dealership asking Paul if he would consider moving up to a semi-pro Harley-Davidson factory built Drag Race Bike, capable of 9+ second runs.

After some consideration, Paul decided he was ready for the challenge. In 2009/2010, Paul entered his semi-pro rookie year. It was a learning curve just getting accustomed to the Destroyer drag bike - not easy at first!

Although he never made it to the winners circle, Paul accumulated enough point to finish 4th in the eastern division and 7th overall in Canada for 2010.

For the 2011 racing season, Paul teamed up with Dave Hodare, his personal friend and now Crew Chief, who took time from his own racing schedule to travel the Destroyer race circuit with Paul.

Springtime found them in Cayuga for May racing, then on to June & July at Grand Bend. August was further away in Napierville, Quebec, with the 2011 season ending in late August back in Cayuga.

Paul's personal best for the 2011 season came in at 9.5 sec. and 225.3 KMH (140 MPH).

The Canadian Drag Racing Association Grand Nationals were held this past September in Edmonton, Alberta at Castrol Raceway, with an all-bike weekend and the Destroyer series in an East/West final for the 2011 Championship.

Paul headed out to Alberta with Crew Chief Dave Hodare. The Bike ran well in the 9.8 second range, which qualified Paul for the Sunday finals. There he found himself among some of Canada’s best riders and fastest bikes. Although he lost to the #2 qualifier, it was still a tremendous experience to both participate and meet fellow racers from across Canada.

The Grand Nationals finished up with a banquet to recap the past year of racing. At the end of the night, Paul was surprised and pleased to receive a trophy for 3rd place in Eastern Canada.

None of this racing and travelling would have been possible without the help of others:
Paul would like to thank his sponsor Thunder Road Harley-Davidson in Windsor, Deeley Harley-Davidson Vancouver BC, and his Crew chief Dave Hodare from Pelee Island who helped him achieve this level of success.

In the end, with the 2011 race season finished, Paul was satisfied with his results, and is looking forward to the 2012 racing season.