Glenn Curtiss set a land speed record on his V8-powered bikeGlenn Curtiss condensed a tremendous amount of innovation into a period of a few years in the early 20th Century. He started in 1902 with a one-cylinder, three horsepower engines and developed an eight-horse V-twin the following year. His ability to produce light and powerful engines captured the interest of the nascent aeronautical industry, and interest from that sector prompted him to build his first V8 engine. By this point, he was an accomplished motorcycle racer, and he directed his team to build a two-wheeler that could support the V8. The machine they produced had some design anomalies that were necessary to accommodate the massive motor. The seat was placed well behind the engine to keep the rider's legs from getting burned by the exhaust heat; this required the use of long handlebars that landed handling somewhere on the spectrum between delicate and dangerous.These quirks didn't stop Curtiss from setting a land speed record on the bike in January 1907. Florida Speed Carnival officials refused to sanction the bike in any official category, so Curtiss made his record-setting run as an exhibition. On the sands of Ormond Beach, Curtiss took 2 miles to get up to speed, another mile to set a new record at 136 mph, and 2 more miles to bring the bike to a stop. E.J. Potter's Widowmaker 7 was built for drag racingIthaca-born E.J. Potter earned the name "Michigan Madman" for his penchant for going fast without regard for life or limb, and in 1960 he built the Bloody Mary 1, which had a 283 cubic inch Chevrolet V8 mounted in its frame. He built two more Bloody Mary's before changing the name of his drag bikes to the Widowmaker, but kept the sequential numbering system going uninterrupted. By the time he got to the Widowmaker 7 in 1971, Potter had switched to Chevy's 350-inch V8 as his powerplant of choice. For luck number seven, Potter upgraded the 350 with a gear-driven cam and rockers, aluminum heads, forged pistons, and fuel injection. These improvements boosted output to a rumored 500 horsepower and helped Potter set a Guinness World Record and three American Hot Rod Association records with its top speed of 172 mph. After Potter retired, the bike changed hands a couple of times before going up for public auction via Bonham's in 2017. It was expected to fetch between $65,000 and $85,000, but did not inspire any bidders to meet the reserve price.