Michigan Madman E.J. Potter.

Born in Ithaca, Michigan, Elon Jack Potter grew up on a farm repairing tractor engines,[1] which led to building motorcycles. In high school, he wondered if he could build a bike with a V8 engine.[2] The bike he built, named "Bloody Mary",[2] was tested at a local strip and reached 130 mph (210 km/h).[1]

He later built a three-wheeled motorcycle with a United States military surplus rocket engine.[1] "The Widowmaker" set three world land speed records.[2] Potter's other creations include putting a jet engine in a Motorized tricycle and putting WWII airplane engines into tractors for tractor pull competitions.[3]

Beginning soon after his high school graduation, Potter toured the racing circuit for 13 years with his creations.[1]