Ray Price (June 25, 1937 – December 16, 2015) was an American motorcycle drag racer and is credited as the "Father of the Funnybike". He was also a renowned designer, engineer and the first drag racer to be sponsored by

Harley-Davidson Harley-Davidson, Inc. (H-D, or simply Harley) is an American motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1903, it is one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depressi ...

. He also developed the first wheelie bar, and the two-speed automatic racing transmission for drag racing motorcycles. This was the first transmission that enabled the first motorcycle to ever achieve and has now become standard in the sport. Price also created the Pro Fuel drag racing class. Price is an inducted member of five halls of fame including the American Motorcycle Association Hall of Fame, Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the North Carolina Sport Hall of Fame, and the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Price was born on a tobacco farm in Johnston County, North Carolina. He served four years as a radar specialist in aircraft armament control in the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...

. At age 30 he purchased his first motorcycle and began his drag racing career three years later. Price continued his drag racing career through the 2003 All Harley Drag Racing Association season. Through the years Price and his race team amassed numerous wins, records, and championships in AMA ProStar/AMA Dragbike, All Harley Drag Racing Association, and the

International Hot Rod Association The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is the second-largest drag racing sanctioning body after the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The Carrier Era 1971-1987 The IHRA was formed in November 1970 by businessman Larry Carrier. Through ...

. Price opened Precision Cycle in

Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southe ...

in 1973, and in 1981 he acquired the Harley-Davidson franchise and his store became Ray Price Harley-Davidson. Price's dealership is one of the largest in the southeastern United States and is home to the Legends of Harley Drag Racing Museum on the 2nd floor of the dealership overlooking the showroom, the only museum of its kind. He died on December 16, 2015, aged 78. "Motorsports and Raleigh Icon Ray Price Dies At 78", ''ABC News'', December 16, 2015
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Price, Ray Motorcycle drag racers 2015 deaths 1937 births Sportspeople from Raleigh, North Carolina People from Johnston County, North Carolina