John Orfanidis close to opening round of new Pro Bike and Sled Series

Courtesy of PBSS

TORONTO, ON – Although he started drag racing with cars, John Orfanidis has been climbing on top of a motorcycle to race for many years, and will be competing in the new Pro Bike and Sled Series presented by Wiseco Performance Products for 2011.

“I started racing in the late 1970s with a big-block Chevelle,” said Orfanidis. “But after I took a break from racing, I thought I’d try a little bit of excitement with a bike.”

And for the past 20 years he has continued to race on two wheels.

For 2011, Orfanidis will compete with a 2001 Suzuki GSXR on a Tracs full-race racing chassis. A 1500-cc Vance and Hines four-carburetor engine will power the bike, which pumps outs about 340 horsepower. The six-speed transmission is a Vance and Hines unit, set up for full-throttle shifting.

Orfanidis said the motorcycle will be capable of times in the eight-second range at about 165 mph.

The Quality Automotive team will race in the new PBSS, which will bring competitors together racing on a Sportsman ladder in ET-style drag racing. The races will consist of a Quick 16, the top eight motorcycles and top eight snowmobiles racing in their respective classes, and then a final event winner pitting the top bike against the top sled for the event champion.

Crew chief for the team is Mike Henriques. Sam Reale, Peter Cifuentes, Alex Saragosa, and Fedon Orfanidis will also be part of the team for 2011.

Sponsorship is provided by Quality Automotive, Converter Man Ltd. and Diamond Trans.

Orfanidis said they are just about ready to do battle with the Suzuki, which has received new electronics and a data logger before round one in the PBSS, which takes place May 20-22 for the Victoria Day Weekend Challenge at the Cayuga Dragstrip of Toronto Motorsports Park.

“We’re close,” he said. “We have had to step up with the data logger. Before it was a by the seat of the pants deal.”

And Orfanidis added he is looking forward to racing in the PBSS.

“This is the first series we will run in,” he said. “When we heard about it we got right on board.”

For more information contact Bruce F. Mehlenbacher at Bruce@PBSS.ca