In Memory Of Bonnie Truett

Article By: Jacki Hill

onnie true it was born on the 4th of July 1935. What a great birthday! Everyone celebrated it every year! It is with a heavy heart that I report that the racing world lost a legend B when Bonnie passed on August 13, 2018.

From the time he and Paul Osborn started the business together as Truett & Osborn

Cycles in Wichita Kansas, he and his wife

Diane raced and built Harley-Davidsons. Back in 1975 when Pete and I went to our first “Big

Boogie” at Beech Bend Dragwau in Bowling

Green Kentucky, Bonnie was already a top fuel racer on the double engine Sportster (Ironhead, naturally) sponsored by Truett & Osborn.

He, along with other prominent racers of

Harley Dragbikes such as Marion Owens,

Joe Smith, Joe Thronsen, Elmer Trett, Danny

Johnson, and a few others were our heroes.

We were their biggest fans. Then in 1978, we started racing. To our surprise and delight, these riders that had we had idolized became our friends, a very close band of friends. At Bonnie’s funeral in Vian, OK we said our goodbyes to a special friend and mentor.

Someone there had referred to Truett as the Johnny Appleseed of Harley Drag Racing. At first, it seemed like an odd thing to say, until I really started to think about it, this is exactly what he was! He raced for years, inspiring others to do the same, then he started building frames, over 500 of them, just for Harley Drag Racing. Our last frame was built by body, and we set world records with it. He built it for Pete, at no charge! He also built some complete bikes for different customers. He absolutely loved the sport; he sowed the seeds. The church was packed with friends, old customers, racers. All were moved to tears over the loss of such a good man. He was a legend and always will be. I wonder how many of those frames are still being run on dragstrips? They are all truly special now! It was fitting that the attendees of this funeral were mostly wearing Truett & Osborn race shirts, it was quite a colorful group.

Bonnie was always the first to congratulate you if you made a good pass. When Truett was inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame in 2014 Pete and I, his wife Diane, son Scott and his wife, friends Ken and Kathy Holloway and Terry Kinion and his wife were there for the special event.

Bonnie will be missed by his family and fans, but Pete and I will miss our longtime friend. It’s hard to lose a friend like Bonnie.