William "Bill" / "95" Whisenant

William (Bill/95) Wesley Whisenant died on May 21st, 2020. 9 years ago, he was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, with a prognosis of 18 months. For nearly a decade, he kicked cancer in the teeth and was in a good health for nearly all of that time. He attributed this to lifestyle changes, his Mayhem exercise group, family support, and a faithful adherence to recommendations by his amazing oncologist Dr. Lang. He participated in several cancer studies and was glad to contribute to cancer research and education.

He and his team at Motorcycle Performance set land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats, raced at top speeds at tracks around the country with friends and fellow racers, spent quality time with family, and especially enjoyed time with his granddaughter, Owen Rae (who he nicknamed “Sprout”).

Bill started his mechanical endeavors in his parent’s garage, much to the chagrin of his mother. In 1976 he founded Motorcycle Performance in an old pig barn (1978 at the present location) where he serviced bikes and worked on racing projects. He forged many meaningful connections on and off the track and ruffled more than a few feathers along the way. He was a problem-solver, a master welder, a lifelong teacher, and occasionally a cantankerous old goat.

In lieu of a memorial service, there will be a gathering at the shop later in the Fall (once it is safe to do so), to share stories and memories. More details will be posted on MotorcyclePerf and the shop Facebook page as pandemic recommendations continue to evolve.

We are also collecting stories sent to: BillWhisenant.stories@gmail.com and will be posting them on the History page of the Motorcycle Performance website, so if you have a memory to share it would be welcome.