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Romine
Racing News
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Rex Harris left North Carolina the week before Christmas for the snow of Michigan, taking his tuning expertise to the Chromatic team for a nose-to-the-grindstone quest for the IHRA 2002 Screamin’ Eagle championship. Sure, the Chromatic team was a contender in 2001, even with the new bike mid-season. But Romine wants that title badly, as does his sponsor, Dennis Paul. Harris, too, has high hopes. Now together, they will to show their intentions and earn some winner’s circle appearances.
Mike Romine, Patty Romine and Dennis Paul.
Though the above sounds like a lot of hope and a lot of expectation, and it is, without a doubt. Teaming together for 2002 has increased their odds.
As a kid, Mike Romine and motorcycles were like a fish and water. His Harley drag racing trophies show his excellence in riding, tuning and building for the last fifteen plus years. But the IHRA series has changed the game and Romine acknowledges that the demand is higher. “Rex will be a great addition to the team. He’s instantly taking pressure off since he’ll be tuning the motorcycle, allowing me to focus on riding instead of doing maintenance and reading the track and computer. When we’re not racing, I’ll focus on running the team and he’ll gather data from previous years to prepare the bike/s for upcoming events. He can worry with the track and make those difficult tuning decisions. I’ll keep my head on riding.”
Rex Harris
Harris comes from a strong four-wheel Top Fuel background, as a team member for his late father, Clayton Harris. Combined with a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Alabama, Harris is not just a tool in the toolbox. He IS a toolbox. Romine added, “His strong suit to the team is his knowledge of the computer on the motorcycle as a diagnostic tool. He’ll do more tuning of the fuel system and clutch utilizing the computer feedback. We’ve had the computer data for a year and learned with it. Now, it will be an integral part of the team.”
Romine will continue to design and direct his motor building program. “Rex will work with that at times, but he’s mainly here to tune the bike and read the Racepak. We have a good combination. I just think he’ll put us over the edge from being a good qualifying bike and lucking our way to the finals to winning some races and being in the top three. Of course, we’d really like to win the IHRA championship.” In addition, Harris and Romine are working on new and improved product development for Nitro Harleys.
2001 was Harris’ first experience tuning a nitro motorcycle. Prior to 2001 he’d worked as a mechanical engineer for different consulting firms while stealing away to races with his Dad’s team on weekends. He spent only one year on a Top Fuel car team as his primary occupation. Of course, while in college, he participated in as many racing events with his family as possible.
As Romine said, reading the computer charts is Harris’ strong suit. Harris said, “Not just looking at the graph, but knowing what we want it to look like and making the appropriate changes to get it there. Based on what I’ve seen on the cars, I think I know what I want the Harley graph to look like.”
Harris chose the Chromatic team after spending last year getting integrated into the family-like atmosphere of the Nitro Harley pits. “I don’t mean to sound unappreciative, but where I was wasn’t where I wanted to be. During the year, I got along with several of the teams. I thought these guys were fun, easy going and could still perform well. I was talking to several teams at the season’s end. This just happened to work out ideally.”
For 2002, Harris has specific goals, and they’re high. “Everyone who finished in the top ten last year wants to win the championship. But my goal is not necessarily to run the best or the quickest, but be consistent and competitive.
I would be satisfied if we won some races, were consistent, didn’t go up against anybody that took it for granted that they were going to win. At the next level, I want us to be in the winner’s circle more often than anybody else. At the highest level, I want us to run a five. I think the Nitro Harleys are closer than most people think. I don’t think we’re two years away.”
Harris moved to Sturgis, Michigan New Year’s week, 2002. He’s currently installing new components and getting used to his new team. Romine’s smiling. Chromatic’s Dennis Paul is marking his calendar for events.
The Chromatic team will continue to run all IHRA events as a priority, including both AHDRA and AMRA all-Harley events where there are no conflicts. Check out the team schedule on www.mikeromine.com.
Mike Romine is sponsored by Chromatic, Andrews Products, Saddlemen and Romine Racing. For further information, contact Romine Racing at 616-651-9081.
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