Last week we ran a story about “Big Daddy” Don Garlits who, along with chassis builder Brad Hadman and Mike Gerry, is chasing the 200 MPH barrier in an electric-powered dragster, which will certainly be the most monumental of achievements in electric drag racing,  but it certainly isn’t the first record to be chased with unyielding determination. Another such venture came from this interesting six-wheeled dragster built by electric racing industry pioneer Shawn Lawless, who you may remember if you’re an American Chopper fan. Lawless, along with Paul Teutel Sr.’s team, built the Lawless Rocket, the bike that noted cycle racer Larry McBride took over the 200MPH mark back in 2012. He’s has been at the forefront of the electric racing movement for years, as shown in the video we’ve got today.

Back then Lawless was experimenting with different drive systems, and created the wild six-wheel, 60-battery-powered machine aptly named Orange Juice, the dragster built by Lawless Industries. The chassis is a mid-80’s vintage alcohol-style dragster chassis that’s had both ends chopped off and modified to fit the electric drive mechanism, which powers all four rear wheels in this configuration. 

The 60 batteries, when combined with the dual electric motor controllers, provide 2,600 amps of electrical power at 240 volts. Those batteries drive eight permanent magnet motors with two powering each wheel. Each motor is capable of 30-35 horsepower, giving a total of 360 total ponies at the wheels in the 1,500 pound dragster. 

As there’s no alternator recharging the batteries as the car makes its way down the track, it’s a difficult challenge to keep the batteries providing enough power to get the car from one end to the other while still accelerating through the traps. Back then, at the hands of driver Eric Stanishaw, Orange Juice traversed the quarter-mile with a 130MPH pass on the first try, but was unable to back up the record due to a parts failure. Blazing a path, in any type of vehicle, is neither cheap nor easy, and we applaud these gentlemen for trying – it makes Garlits’ quest all the more impressive.