Bonneville: The Expirience

I am a life long NASCAR fan, and have been to the PIR race every year for the past decade +.  I am blown away by Bonneville.  Where as every other form of racing has been dominated by manufacturers and money, here is racing and hot rodding where there is room for everyone.  The car made of junk yard scraps next to the multi-million dollar streamliner.  And everyone has a chance to win.  I saw cars that came out of the gate looking like they'd be lucky to break 110 and go over 200, and I saw the multi-million dollar streamliner never be able to get the engine up to song and had to pull off at the half mile mark.  There are surprises everywhere.  I've had a dream of running my 1965 F-100 here powered by a vintage 352 FE engine, what do I find in the pits?  A 1963 F-100 powered by a 292 Y-Block.  Here at Bonneville there is room for everything and everyone.  It is a hot rodders heaven.  Due to financial constraints I do have to miss the NASCAR race @ PIR this year, but I am not really missing anything, am I.  :-)

Bonneville Bikes: 215 - 1969 Triumph T-25

No one around to talk to, but the old Production Pushrod bike was.  It is running in P-PP meaning it is an unmodified production frame and unmodified production pushrod engine.  Beautiful bike.  Was sold at this event.  Won't be run this meet.  It's top speed in the past is 70MPH.

Bonneville Bikes: 7373 - Custom Triumph

The owner Doug Flaherty and his team Randy, Tiffany, and Marie were nice enough to discuss the bike with me.  This is a pushrod Triumph powered bike running on gas.  1971 Triumph TR-25W engine.  This is 3rd year it has run.  In the previous 2 years it hasn't made a timed pass.  The chassis is completly home built over 2 months.  They came in from Monterey, Calif.

1st Run:  Doug had some technical difficulty and had to pull off early.  Not to sound too misty eyed here, but Doug and his team do make me think of the World's Fastest Indian and Burt Munroe.  He has done it all from the ground up in his back yard.  Out of everybody here, I am pulling for Doug and 7373 more than anyone.  Good luck Doug!

WARDROBE MALFUNCTION!!!  Just spoke with Doug, and yesterday's fouled run was due to his leathers being sucked into the intake!!!  :-)  Anything can happen.  He had to replace some fouled plugs due to the overly rich condition but he is in line ready for run 2.  Can't wait to see him go.

Run 2:  CONGRATULATIONS DOUG!!!  It appears that Doug has made his clean rookie pass.  I will check to confirm but I did here him get all 4 gears and the bike sounded clean.  :-)

CONFIRMED:  Doug has his rookie run out of the way running 72MPH on a 91MPH record.  Reports from his crew are that the bike ran really strong and he was only pulling 3/4 throttle so there is more in the tank.  There was another wardrobe malfunction during this run where apparently Doug's leathers unzipped during the run and he was burning his junk off on the tank!!!  They're planning on getting the bike back to the pits and hopefully will get a qualifying run in later today.  Great job Doug and crew.

Run 3:  On Wednesday Doug and team went after the third run.  It looked good and the engine sounded clean up through 3rd gear.  After third I could not hear the engine as other cars were warming at the line.  Had I been able to hear I would have heard the engine bog in 4th and Doug pull off early.  Upon return to the pits a number of problems were discovered.  Along with a siezed primary drive chain Doug had also noticed that the intake valve was leaking.  Upon further inspection it was noticed that he had about .750 of an inch of valve lash on the intake valve instead of the normal .010 inch of lash and on further inspection it was noticed that the intake valve spring was broken.  But true to the nature of Doug and his team that I have learned over these past 4 days, they left the salt with a smile on their faces and their heads held high, they achieved their goal of having a clean pass.  I can't wait to see them run next year!

Bonneville Bikes: 868 - 1972 Honda 175

Talked to Carl the owner of 868.  The bike has been bored to 200cc and is supercharged running on alcohol for the first time.  He does hold a record for 175cc blown gas.

I got a report on this bikes run today and was told it was running seriously lean.  More to come.

76.79 was the qualifying run made for class 250cc M-BF was a record run so he is in impound right now.  :-)

Got a message from Carl today.  The bike set the record for 250cc M-BF at 68.772 MPH.  They were never able to get the bike up to full song as they just couldn't get it rich enough to run.  So I am sure we will see Carl out there smashing that record next year!!!

Bonneville Speed Week: Trip to...

Leg 1: Phoenix to Wickenburg...

Uneventful but slow going through Phoenix on Grand Ave.  Averaged 60 MPG and was able to cruise 75 the whole way once out of Phoenix.  Only got sprinkled on, so that is good.  Had to stop for fuel since Kingman is just outside of the fuel range.

Leg 2: Wickenburg to Kingman...

Lots of climbing meant the little TU had to work hard.  With the snorkel removed though this is the first time I have been able to maintain the speed limit (65) on mountain highways.  That is a nice plus.  :-)  Still only caught sprinkles.  There is a nice Mobil gas station just north of I 40 on US93, they have tables to relax at for a nice drink.  :-)  205 miles down.

Leg 3: Kingman to Las Vegas...

2nd shortest leg of the trip, just 100 miles...  still staying mostly dry :-) and it is the first time I have used the Hoover Dam bypass bridge...  It makes there be no traffic, but it is purposely built so you cannot see the dam. :-(  Now in North Las Vegas having  McLunch.  320 miles down, now the two longest legs of the journey coming up.

Leg 4: Las Vegas to Caliente...

Long leg.  =-O  Starting to get fatigued.  I hear there is a lot of rain ahead of me.  462 miles down.

Leg 5:  Caliente to Ely...

Longer leg!!!  Have avoided rain so far, but had some very wet roads.  So slick I thought I might have a flat and actually stopped and checked.  595 miles down.

Leg 6:  Ely to Bonneville...

Don't know how I got through all those angry clouds with no rain but did.  :-)  After 14 and a half hours and 725 miles I have made it safely to Bonneville.

Bonneville Speed Week: All Packed And Ready To Go!!!

700 miles to go tomorrow, if all goes well I will make it in 1 14 hour day.  Bike has been serviced, packed and ready to go.  She is up to 2800 miles right now so I performed the 3000 mile service a couple miles early, but since I have 1400 to go in the next week, it seemed prudent.  Supposed to be thunderstorms on my route, so a little wetness is probably going to happen.  So you can see the little TU all packed for the journey.  She is wearing a Bilt Magnetic Tank Bag (review to come), Bilt Saddlebags (review to come), and a Vietnam War era military A.L.I.C.E. pack.  See you all @ Speed Week!!!

One Week To Bonneville Speed Week 2011!!!

As announced, you can get all of your 1/4 liter motorcycle coverage right here.  I will be making the whole 1400 mile round trip on my Suzuki TU250X.  I plan on making the 700 mile one way drive in one day.  I will be missing the first day Saturday as I will be travelling that day.  Come Sunday morning though I will be seeking out all of the 1/4 liter particapants and will get pictures and hopefully specifics on each bike.  Be sure to see how your favorite does. 

I will be making pretty much the entire journey from Phoenix to Wendover on US93, if you'd like to catch me en route just follow the blog as I will post updates on every stop.  I will be leaving Phoenix via US60 to Wickenburg @ about 5AM Saturday morning.