Ed Mabry
(1932 - 2011)

Ed Mabry is one of the select few whose name will always be synonymous with Bonneville Speed Week.  His record of racing successes is both long and exemplary.  Ed is sorely missed and will never be forgotten.

Ed was an honorary member of the North Texas Norton Owners Association and the club's meetings at his race shop were always the best attended.

RIP Ed

Ed Mabry's Guest Book

The NTNOA has made Ed Mabry's Guest Book permanently available for your comments and viewing.
[Click here for Ed's Guest Book]

Ed passed away on Friday, May 13, 2011 at his race shop and home of Team Triumph Texas from a fall.

There was a "Friends of Ed Mabry" gathering at Up 'n Smoke BBQ House in Keller on Sunday, May 22, from 11:00AM - 4:00PM.  Many told "Mabry Stories".

The Memorial Service was held at 3:30PM, Monday, May 23rd at Memorial Park Funeral Chapel, 8525 Mid Cities Blvd. (Near Davis Blvd.) North Richland Hills.

The service was informal and casual, Ed would have wanted it that way!  We did not mourn his death, rather we celebrated his incredible life.  A table was set up for all our racing memorabilia related to Ed and his racer friends.

After the Memorial Service there was a motorcycle ride to another "Friends of Ed Mabry" gathering at Up 'n Smoke BBQ House for those unable to attend on Sunday or wanted to go to both.

Click here for our club meeting at Ed's race shop in February, 2011.

 Ed’s racing career spaned the late 40’s when he was racing his Whizzer to 2009 where he raced at the Bonneville Salt Flats…and a lot in between…
 
This includes street racing in Alvarado, Texas and a Texas Top Fuel Championship in 1962. And professional racing at drag strips like Green Valley and Caddo Mills, Texas; Bakersfield and Pomona, California; Indianapolis, Indiana; Bristol, Tennessee and others all over the United States. And some late night testing of Top Fuel cars on a certain street in Arlington, Texas!
 
A pioneer in professional drag racing, milestones include developing safety drag chutes along with Bill Simpson and Jim Diest; and especially developing rear engine Top Fuel cars along with his rival and friend Don Garlits. This major design change has saved the lives for countless drivers and paved the way for the 4 second ET’s and over 300 MPH speeds of today’s dragsters.
 
In the 70’s and 80’s Ed and friend Lee Manis (and later David Wade) formed Team Triumph Texas and built Triumph race bikes. Closely aligned with Jack Wilson of Big ‘D’ Cycle, they set a multitude of drag race and land speed records. Ed built turbocharged fuel-burning Triumph Trident engines that make a LOT of horsepower…and the chassis that would handle them. Star rider Jon Minonno was five-time national road racing champion, two-time national Pro Mod drag racing champion and member of the exclusive Bonneville 200 MPH Club.
 
Ed’s motorcycles have set 15 different World Land Speed records Bonneville. His masterpiece, No. 601, holds class records exceeding 238, 224 and 213 MPH and a highest unofficial one-way speed of over 261 MPH. At three-quarter throttle! It is the fastest “real” motorcycle in the world.
 
In 2003 No. 601, Ed, Jon, David and Team Triumph Texas were on their way to a tremendous qualifying run and potential new record, when they experienced an oil fire at over 240 MPH. 601.
 
Ed retired from Bell Helicopter as the Engineering Manager.  He also is known as a machinist, welder, race car and bike designer and fabricator, and was a United States Air Force pilot training to fly jet fighters in Korea when that war ended. He was also a thinker, philosopher, humorist and long time supporter on NTNOA and its members.
 
And most of all…He was our hero and great friend. 

Visit the Team Triumph Texas website at http://www.teamtriumphtexas.com

A few photos David Popovich came across.

Big D Cycle back in the day.

Jack and Ed's twin Trident powered record setting Bonneville racer.

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