All over for another year

Back in Colorado now and have prepped the bike for its return to the Uk. Last years record remains unbroken even though both the holder and us ran faster. As reported I had an engine failure at over 210 mph but did not get off. I did get to push it quite a long way off the salt before the guys came and got me though, which made me quite hot (!) We melted a couple of plugs and on further examination hurt at least 2 pistons. Not sure exactly why that was, but as reported, I got on the rev limiter on 2 earlier runs which is a bad idea when on nitrous. I can’t help but think that 2 miles of wheel spin at over 10,000 revs isn’t good for an engine either. But this might not be the issue. We run with out an aircleaner, 3 of the pistons did last years meeting too …who knows. We did solve the grip problem, (Brad was really inportant here) and have enough power to do well on breaking the record. We just need to work out why it let go, fix that and we should be doing better. I did enjoy it more this year, even though it remains very scarey. This year a car driver was killed going slower than me -which is a bit sobering. Still, at no point did I have an ohmygod moment, and even with all that wheel spin the bike ran straight. The crew were really good, with me only having to ride the bike for most of the week -cheers chaps. See you all soon

Pist ‘n broke

A couple of phone calls and the borrow of an endoscope reveals 2 damaged pistons (at least) and game over. We have known all along that not bringing a spare engine was a gamble and here we are. Not sure why this happened -too much NOS for too long is too simple an answer (and doesn’t fit with the data collected) but until we pull it apart we will not know. Obviously we have lots of theories. We learned a great deal though and there are lots of positives and we know that we can break the record on one stage of NOS. I don’t think we made too many mistakes and the team (including Brad in the UK) did really well. So when we come back……..

bad day at bonneville

Despite going faster than the record we can’t back it up because I think we’ve hurt the engine (solved the grip problem though) will let you know. Brad has been working like a trojan as have the rest of the team but might be to no avail

1st nitrous run

Was intresting especially as we now have (unlike last year) a fully functioning system. Last year we were not carrying enough NOS and the battery coudn’t cope -this year it works really well and we used 6lbs of Nitrous.in a run. We cured yesterdays misfire and it all worked well. The downside was that as soon as the NOS hit I got wheel spin and was straight on the shftlight and near the rev limiter I punched it for the next gear (same thing only now with twice the gas) So because its so loaded up it won’t shft in to 6th so after a mile of 180 mph wheel spin I aborted the run. Brad has now (via the inter web) remapped the system and we are trying something very trick. So we are set for another run tommorow. The opposition have bigger problems than us so currently we are doing ok. Here is a list of things to avoid whilst racing at Bonneville
1) look where you are going -thus avoiding a close encounter with te 3 mile marker
2) don’t drop the generator on your foot when you are wearing sandals
3) Don’t apply too much front brake and lock the front wheel at 140ish (a winter of off road riding was very useful here)
So doing ok and try again Monday

1st day of play

Went well we got a run in am. And ran just shy of 181 without the gas which was as good as we might hope with this big gearing and only about 180bhp. We sent the log to Brad who has had a play with the map and and so we reload tommorow and have another go. The existing record was beaten today by one mile an hour -we’ll see if she can back it up tommorow. The crew worked hard today so now its beer o’clock and off for a Mexican. It was very cool today weatherwise -I bet it won’t last.

From the salt

We had a tough old ride over here with high winds and brush fires, but we made it in the end. Got the pit set up today the bike all back together and passed tech as they say over here so all set for a non nitrous run in the morning stay tuned…..

Letter from America

Rob and I are here in Colorado with Gary. We have the bike, tools and assembled cr*p all in one place clearing customs was straightforward and I’m gratefull for all the help we got from AirSea Logistics with the bike travel arrangements(cheers Lesley). We got the tyres filled with nitrogen and were pleased to see my friends Ed and Mel at Morse cycle sales. Our journey over was a pain with BA bumping us because the flight was overbooked -this made us 5 hours late arriving and very grumpy -still the compensation was handy. We are locked and loaded and tommorow we drive the 600 miles to Bonneville I’ll report from to you next from the salt (don’t get excited!).

Woodbridge 12th July 2009

 

Class 1 - Up to 125cc Racing

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
10 Tom Miller BSA 15.86 16.39
17.08		 80.09
80.06		 15.86
16.37		 81.67
82.30		 16.00 80.19 17.35 78.26 16.47 81.98 16.86 80.61
9 Brian White BSA 16.30 17.09
17.35		 75.28
77.16		 16.53
16.67		 79.10
79.10		 16.30 78.86 16.32 78.98 16.55 79.10 17.85 74.12
189 Denis Wears HRD 16.67 20.94
16.91		 70.79
81.92		 18.13
17.17		 79.07
81.44		 18.39 76.72 17.42 76.97 16.67 78.94 17.41 77.49
11 Howard Smith Yamaha 100 16.71 17.12 76.35 17.18 73.93 17.57 76.79 16.71 76.88 18.42 75.30 17.08 75.02

 

Class 2 - Up to 250cc Racing

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
M45 Mike Nelthorpe Aprilia 12.72 13.58 109.78 15.60 104.57 12.78 108.32 13.30 111.06 12.72 112.21

 

Class 3 - Up to 350cc Racing

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
50 Keith Laker Honda 13.78 14.25
14.05		 93.06
95.53		 13.91
14.16		 96.85
95.26		 14.32 96.71 13.90 97.68 13.78 96.00 13.93 96.87

 

Class 4 - Up to 500cc Racing

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
86 Terry Homan Weslake 10.66 10.66
12.21		 135.15
120.97		 10.69
12.06		 135.73
122.16		 10.90
12.03		 136.02
123.72		 11.18 131.62 10.77 135.32 10.85 136.39
563 Steve Green SGS 11.24 12.95 110.71 11.27 117.63 11.24 116.77 11.24 116.90 11.25 114.80
S116 Richard Adams Special 13.68 14.50 102.39 20.97 67.08 13.97 102.32 13.68 102.94 13.76 102.49

 

Class 5 - Up to 750cc Racing

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
107 Dave Ketcher Kawasaki 10.24 10.24 132.59 10.42 132.55 10.39 132.47 10.47 128.77
523 Geoff Cox Suzuki 10.60 11.14
10.53		 131.11
133.98		 10.66
10.51		 136.23
134.06		 10.69 133.18 10.60 135.40 10.73 134.75 10.65 132.39
98 Mick Deevy Triumph 11.36 11.56
11.86		 114.44
114.56		 11.91
11.46		 112.18
117.67		 11.70
11.58		 115.93
117.36		 11.36 116.53 11.58 117.29 11.57 116.41
126 Daniel Hands Suzuki 12.16 12.43
12.10		 108.11
109.46		 12.32 108.90 12.16 109.51 12.16 109.38 12.37 106.87 12.18 108.48
123 Roy Hands Suzuki 12.31 12.66 106.09 12.41 107.51 12.54 108.48 12.31 108.45 12.54 107.13 12.47 107.67

 

Class 6 - Unlimited Racing

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
M500 Harold Wolfenden Suzuki Bandit12 9.37 9.94 146.68 9.78 147.89 9.53 149.57 9.48 151.14 9.37 152.68
517 Steve Page Suzuki 10.30 10.30 138.72 10.33 133.18 10.91 128.48 10.44 132.16
452 Jeff Haines GPz Turbo 10.35 10.35 139.93 16.65 54.04 11.47 146.29 11.13 141.30 10.42 141.66
586 Matt Ketcher Yamaha 10.78 11.38
10.69		 124.82
133.06		 11.16
12.17		 127.96
77.61		 11.42 130.81 10.78 131.38 11.15 130.88 11.29 131.31
M611 Stuart Thompson Kawasaki 10.85 11.35
10.58
10.56
10.65		 128.92
132.12
131.38
131.85		 11.10
11.03
10.58
13.53		 130.50
130.31
133.62
91.58		 11.63
10.46
10.54
10.83		 128.81
133.38
131.73
124.23		 10.89
10.68
12.37
10.73		 130.54
131.04
77.29
130.31		 11.01
10.67
10.85		 130.27
132.24
132.47		 10.85
10.86
10.81		 130.43
131.69
130.43
M558 Janet Wolfenden Suzuki Bandit12 11.24 11.45 131.19 11.28 132.87 12.74 123.51 11.24 130.96
461 Edward Wears ZZR1100 12.84 16.26 69.77 13.57 82.75 13.46 80.59 12.97 105.63 12.84 96.73 12.96 89.28

 

Class 7 - Up to 250cc Road Legal pre 82

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
41 Paul Baker Suzuki X7 14.51 17.51
14.64		 74.36
87.29		 15.01
14.76		 88.46
86.11		 14.64
14.67		 87.48
87.67		 14.75 88.55 14.66 87.31 14.51 90.23

 

Class 9 - Up to 750cc Road Legal pre 82

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
220 Colin Lloyd Kawasaki Z650 11.89 11.89 113.46 12.07 111.42 11.97 109.27            

 

Class 10 - Unlimited Road Legal pre 82

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
96 Mark Patman Kawasaki 10.83 10.83 131.27 10.92 127.93 10.86 130.05
229 Eric Frith Kawasaki 10.85 11.01 123.41 10.86 124.82 10.97 123.07 11.28 122.26 10.96 123.34 10.85 125.52

 

Class 11 - Up to 500cc Post-War Vintage

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
267 Steve Green RUS 2 13.29 15.00
13.46		 84.41
97.76		 13.60 94.22 13.43 99.55 13.29 99.44 13.75 96.64 13.60 98.00
222 Shinya Ishigami Triumph 13.69 14.45
18.32		 82.04
57.70		 14.15
17.39		 87.09
66.85		 21.71
17.02		 28.62
85.95		 14.37 77.56 14.22 79.62 13.69 90.87
273 Donald Daly Norton 14.15 16.06
14.31
14.01		 78.25
92.74
94.74		 14.32
14.44
13.96		 92.97
92.41
94.80		 14.30
14.31
14.05		 94.34
94.10
95.31		 14.61
14.23
14.04		 93.38
92.33
95.79		 14.15
14.24
14.08		 95.08
95.43
95.22		 14.24
14.13
14.23		 93.55
95.02
94.24
66 Kevin Hunt Triumph 14.89 14.89 85.41 15.09 85.42

 

Class 12 - Over 500cc Post-War Vintage

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
298 Colin Moss Triumph 11.52 12.10
11.56		 110.68
113.95		 11.66
12.41		 115.21
111.06		 11.65
11.84		 114.47
116.11		 11.94
11.72		 110.87
114.71		 11.75
11.73		 115.90
115.24		 11.52 116.32
291 Len Hunt Norton 13.03 13.11
13.06		 103.51
104.16		 13.18 103.32 13.03 103.51 13.09 103.41 13.10 104.01 13.08 103.87

 

Class 13 - Pre War Vintage

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
316 Steve Green BSA JAP 15.07 15.07 85.49 16.44 77.24 15.19 85.21
164 Dave Benge JAP 15.07 15.82
15.39		 84.57
84.00		 15.36
15.12		 84.78
85.08		 15.23 85.28 15.24 86.08 15.07 87.10 15.14 86.73

 

Class 15 - Up to 600cc Road Legal Modern

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
M571 Andrew Grantham Suzuki 10.84 11.61 122.21 11.38 125.56 11.00 125.70 11.15 124.23 10.87 125.77 10.84 126.91

 

Class 16 - Over 600cc Road Legal Modern

Race no. Name Bike Best Run 1
Elapsed		 Term Run 2
Elapsed		 Term Run 3
Elapsed		 Term Run 4
Elapsed		 Term Run 5
Elapsed		 Term Run 6
Elapsed		 Term
M95 Mark Patman Kawasaki 9.93 10.18
10.16		 146.44
147.60		 10.12
9.94		 147.60
145.63		 9.93
9.79		 148.33
148.68		 10.19 147.74 9.94 147.16 9.96 148.13
M576 Bob Miles Suzuki 10.06 10.26 144.68 10.14 143.57 10.23 144.26 10.25 142.56 10.06 145.63 10.10 145.58
M106 Simon Coombe Suzuki 10.62 11.30
10.99		 129.97
139.15		 10.71
10.96		 136.64
0.00		 11.12
10.91		 135.77
140.11		 10.62
10.91		 135.03
140.15		 10.93
10.90		 135.07
140.02		 10.70
10.73		 135.65
140.68
514 Andrew Ward Suzuki 10.84 11.11
10.97		 135.77
138.37		 11.42
10.97		 127.78
137.35		 11.03
10.89		 135.32
138.16		 11.25 136.64 10.92 137.19 10.84 138.42
M248 Alan Cracknell Suzuki 11.05 11.28
11.38
10.90		 124.34
123.99
127.13		 11.05
11.20		 127.09
125.17		 11.17
11.20		 125.59
124.54		 11.22
11.09		 125.07
124.75		 11.33
11.18		 123.24
126.30		 11.05
11.08		 124.96
125.95
707 Martin Smith Hayabusa 11.26 12.26
11.13
11.22		 134.22
140.11
141.84		 11.52
10.97
10.83		 138.29
141.57
141.44		 11.68
11.22
11.03		 138.29
137.48
140.95		 11.80
11.28		 138.98
139.19		 11.30
11.18		 140.41
139.02		 11.26
11.05		 140.06
139.98
M120 Jason Fourie KTM 11.47 11.70 120.13 11.47 124.75 11.72 122.00 15.91 123.27 13.18 125.66
485 Tony Foster Suzuki 12.88 12.88 131.31

 

Moving picture show

Just to link you to our Bonneville video. I’d like to thank Simon for sorting this out -what a star and Dad is doing a bit better so see you from accross the pond

click here to view on youtube