For Kevin Kallam, the sound of a Harley at full throttle isn’t just noise; it’s a heartbeat. It's the sound of home, of family, and of decades spent alongside the dragstrip. Raised in Sumter, South Carolina, Kevin grew up watching his father, Jeff Kallam, roar down the highway on his 1959 Panhead, a bike he’s been riding since 1975. His mother rode too, and his brother Ben was always nearby. Their family weekends often revolved around local events, including races at Rockingham Dragway. That track wasn’t just concrete, it was a place where memories were made and values were passed down.
As a kid, Kevin didn’t just watch bikes fly by; he soaked it all in. His mom passed her own bike down to him, and by age eight, Kevin was already riding his first trial bike. The garage became a second home. Longtime family friend Randy Chambers, of Randy’s Custom Cycles in Axton, Virginia, has been maintaining the Kallam family’s bikes since the 1980s, starting with Jeff’s Panhead, and eventually Kevin’s own show bikes. From the beginning, it was clear: this wasn’t just a hobby. It was a legacy.
But life took some tough turns. Kevin battled rough years in his teens and early adulthood before getting sober in 2016. In the process of rebuilding, he found his way back to what always grounded him: motorcycles. In early 2024, Kevin began entering bike shows across the Carolinas, especially those hosted by Full Throttle Magazine. It quickly became a passion project, where he poured hours of effort into custom builds. That dedication paid off when he placed 2nd in the Vintage Chopper class at a show in Greensboro, North Carolina. But as the months went on, something inside started to shift. The roar of the engines, the energy of the crowd, it wasn’t enough to just show bikes. He wanted to race them. He needed more adrenaline.
With encouragement from his family and his circle of riders, that dream became real. Kevin’s bike, a 2000 Buell Scyclone with a Harley Sportster power plant, was custom-built for the strip, stretched, all motor, no nitrous. And while it was Randy Chambers who offered to build the bike at no cost, Kevin paid for all the parts and supplies. It was a true collaboration, built on decades of friendship and family ties, every bolt tightened with care, every detail rooted in history.
On May 31, 2025, at Rockingham Dragway, Kevin stood on the starting line, not in the stands. His pit crew that day was pure family: Jeff (his dad), Ben (his brother), Randy (his builder and lifelong friend), and a new member of the Kallam legacy, his young grandson, who just got his first bike and is already being groomed to be the next junior drag bike rider. Cheering him on at every run, they represented the decades of love and support that got him to the track.
Kevin also partnered with fellow racer and friend Kevin Jones, who competes in the 11.50 Index class with All-Harley World Shootout (AHWS). The two Kevins share more than a name; they share a mindset, a brotherhood, and a mission to get better with every pass.
When Kevin finally rolled into the burnout box, the nerves were real. Friday’s rain delay had thrown off the rhythm, and Saturday morning felt heavier than he expected. But when he launched off the line and dropped the clutch, something shifted.
“When I let go of the clutch,” Kevin said, “it was like welcome home.”
That was the moment it all clicked. Years of watching, wrenching, and recovering, it all came full circle in a single second.
Kevin’s journey is one many racers will recognize: a love of motorcycles passed down through generations, a few detours along the way, and the unmatched thrill of a first pass down the strip. For Kevin, it was never just about speed. It was about honoring the past, embracing the present, and building a future, one he’s now proudly passing on to his grandson because some traditions are too powerful not to continue.
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