The official home page of the dry lakes racers australia. Incorporated cities in bonneville county include ammon, idaho falls, iona, irwin, swan valley, and ucon. A british rider will soon be travelling to the famous bonneville speedway in an attempt to break the current 250cc motorcycle world land speed record. British rider attempting to break 250cc land speed record. The late cal rayborn held the record with his harley davidson streamliner for five years before giving way to don vesco. Their website also gets updates throughout the week on race results and you can find those race results here. The book is a fascinating read for anyone who has any sort of affinity for the bonnie.
Vesco also holds a record in this car, set in the lighter class i. Triple treat of bonneville speed trials books riders library. Save the triumph bonneville is the story of this experiment as much as it is the story to keep the iconic motorcycle in production. New book chronicles bonneville history and pursuit of the motorcycle land speed record grass valley, ca in his new book, worlds fastest motorcycle, author john. The bub streamliner that has held the outright motorcycle streamliner record several times. When mark upham, ceo of the revived brough superior the rolls royce of motorcycles showed up at the bonneville speed trials in 2011, it signaled brough superiors first return to the salt since 1949 when british rider noel pope raced and crashed a specially prepared brough, the streamlined silver fish, at racings holiest of shrines. Valerie is the first woman in the seat of the target 550 streamliner as a result, she could become the first woman over 400 mph both in a car and motorcycle. Check the rule book for details on current class structure. A 2006 production model bmw k 1200 s has set a world land speed record in the 50 cc stock, partially streamlined, naturally aspirated motorcycle class at utahs famed bonneville salt flats. During all these desperate struggles, the triumph bonneville became the bestselling motorcycle of its class, winning the coveted motor cycle news motorcycle of the year award at the end of the seventies. She is the former coowner of high five cycles with alan lamb, a used motorcycle dealership in north dallas. I am also aware that i will be discussing some bonneville motorcycle class records that were set by hardworking individuals chasing their dream. Gary ilminen shows off the 1974 honda 350 fourcyclinder motorcycle he used in 2014 to set a landspeed record in its class at the bonneville salt flats in western utah. It set three absolute land speed records, the last at 526.
Today, the bonneville is loved by riders of all ages who appreciate a bike with a timeless style and appeal unmatched by any other motorcycle. If there is not a record listed for a particular class, that record is considered available. All that is required to be listed in the bonneville records is for somebody to make two passes a record qualifying pass and a back up run on a class legal motorcycle. Muller at bonneville in 1956 in the blown fuel class at 121. Trials, denis manning, the staff at the bonneville motorcycle speed trials and the ama. If the subsequent riders will be running the motorcycle in a different class, an separate full entry is. Its a genuine, incredibly low mileage, onefamily owned, stunningly original piece of twowheeled history. I also look at the car streamliner records to see how the same cc class does. Lepp and the more complete second one by louise ann noeth.
A saltflat dream becomes reality for lone rock motorcyclist. That relates to the engine displacement class, measured in ccs. The fastest record certified by the fim is that set in 1964 by the jetpropelled tricycle, spirit of america. Rishel recognized the bonneville salt flats as a viable course for races other than the bicycle course he was seeking. How to build a bonneville salt flats motorcycle documents the construction of the worlds fastest panhead, conceived and assembled by keith ball, former editor or easyriders magazine and current owner of, the most popular biker stop on the internet. Idaho falls, originally called eagle rock, is the county seat. Scta certified records for land speed racing on the bonneville salt flats. There are lots of engine displacement classes, accommodating everything from 50cc tiddlers to 3000cc monsters, and in some classes.
The teams goal is to break the current conventional wheeldriven, pistonpowered automobile class speed record of 415. First of all, youll invariably notice that there is a number in the engine class designation. Mbpg cc class is modified not stock naked bike, no faring allowed blown, pushrod, gas, 751 to cc. The event features motorcycles ranging from 50cc to 3000cc, as well as electric classes. World motorcycle records dry lakes racers australia. Personally, as the owner of a newly completed class g bonneville. And while the bonneville was the fastest production bike when it was launched in 1959, todays recordattempting triumph infor rocket pays homage to triumphs rocket iii which, at 2. The book covers the races to 1938 and at the back lists the first three in each class. With this bike he broke several international speed records at the bonneville salt. More on motorcycle land speed records set at bonneville. Dec 28, 2011 see more in two great books titled bonneville salt flats, the first by george d.
Bubs speedtrials 2007 rider bill gillis from boston, ma leaves the starting gate on the bonneville salt flats for a record breaking pass in the 250cc modified production category. The 50th anniversary of burt munros speed record posted on july 26, 2017 updated on october 24, 2017 by joeri leave a comment august of this year will see the 50 th anniversary of the worlds fastest indian, a remarkable event in motorcycling history. Land speed books land speed racing history greg wapling. Since late 2010, the ack attack team has held the motorcycle land speed record at 376. The highest ama record for a 50cc motorcycle was set by h. Keith walks the reader through all the steps involved in the creation of a true bonneville salt flats motorcycle. Keeping track of who set the historic class records and when through bonnevilles first century would be a daunting task. Bonneville speed week results 2018 optima batteries. On may 16, at the hanford classic motorcycle show, this triumph bonneville won the best original motorcycle class with a judged nearperfect score of 99. All the current national records are listed in the back section chapter of the ama rule book. Leslie porterfield was named as the 2008 american motorcyclist association ama racing female rider of the year, holds three landspeed records and is a member of the bonneville 200 mph club. Worlds fastest motorcycle the running of the bonneville national speed trials this year saw records falling left and right, the most impressive of which was the longsought worlds record. Cobra 50cc motor powers land speed record at bonneville salt.
When the car is a recognizable shape, like in the production or competition coupe classes, the number of people freaking. How to build a bonneville salt flats motorcycle custom. Classes are determined by engine displacement, modification levels and various degrees of streamlining, and encompass everything from smalldisplacement racers to highpowered, custombuilt streamliners made for the sole purpose of. The guinness book of motorcycling facts and feats, guinness superlatives. Some of them are friends and bonneville acquaintances of mine. Rulebook class speed records bonneville entry driver name date speed electric vehicle e 1 byu streamer j. Its eastern border is also the state border of idaho and wyoming. Everything you need to know about the bonneville salt flats.
Land speed racing can be a cruel mistress, as george poteet hurts his a motor and records a coasting 129. Interesting to note that out of 64 records, 33 were running against no record. Even if you can barely get your scooter to break 0. Fia world land speed records federation internationale. Yet within just a few years of this, meriden and the bonnie were finally gone.
Bonneville salt flats recordsetting motorcycle to be. The rules permit a 50% displacement advantage to flathead motors, as used in pre1970 ama class c, not the previously used drop of two classes. Short course system, vehicles under 175 mph, is a 3 mile track 2 miles to get up to speed, then one timed mile. I suppose that some will take offense at what follows, but thats not my intent.
To all competitors, we wish a safe, memorable, and of course a fast week of action on the salt. Heres what a 427mph crash on the bonneville salt flats looks like driver robert dalton walked away from crashing his streamliner at over half the speed of sound. There are lots of engine displacement classes, accommodating everything from 50cc tiddlers to 3000cc monsters, and in some classes even larger. All records set at bonneville are by a qualifing run over exisiting record. Bonneville motorcycle speed trials 2018 the cycle source. Its heavy going for anyone with only a passing interest. Grandnephew of burt munro adds his name to the scta record book, looks for further success at bonneville. Ilminens garage in lone rock is home to 11 motorcycles. Guthrie appears frequently in the bonneville salt flats motorcycle record books.
There is a speed record for every combination of classes imaginable at bonneville. So, when guthrie himself called to inquire if i wanted to ride one of his bikes at. I broke an existing record years ago and then we sat down and looked at the record book for an open record, and set that one too. This book records the development, construction and operation of the last. These are the certified car and motorcycle records as of world of speed 2018 and will be reflected in the southern california timing association 2019 rule book. Same as the pushrod classes except that the class is limited to motorcycle engines produced prior to 1956. Sep 23, 2017 the bonneville week marked the second time the indian motorcycle salt team and lee had gone for top speed, having taken a land speed record of 186. Bonneville salt flats electrathon vehicle gokarts karts. The flat science fiction surface of the bonneville salt flats has been used for car and motorcycle testing for more than a century. Upon his return to his home state he convinced a local daredevil to travel to bonneville to race automobiles on it.
Indian motorcycle set three land speed records before speed week. Cathcart rode a streetlegal triumph thruxton that was prepared by capri to three records in the fims cc normallyaspirated twincylinder unstreamlined class. In bonneville a century of speed2 nd edition, motorcycle record attempts and images are given their due, making the book a comprehensive history of land speed racing of interest to motorcyclists. May 10, 2014 racing motorcycle powered streamliners is definitely the ultimate in racing the 2 wheeled racing vehicles to new land speed records. Sep 20, 2018 heres what a 427mph crash on the bonneville salt flats looks like driver robert dalton walked away from crashing his streamliner at over half the speed of sound. All of the following records were attained with a 650cc preunit triumph engine gearbox combo on a alp rd made class a special construction rigid frame and a class m modified production original triumph pre unit rigid frame. Bonneville county, in southeast idaho, is part of the upper snake river valley. They spend their time and resources in perfecting their racing motorcycle to break the current land speed record for the category and classification they are running in. Sctabni bonneville lsr vintage motorcycle class rules. Competing in the official bonneville category of 1a2b50cc, fabio fazi rode the from bologna to bonneville malossi benelli on the famous. Motorcycle racing news triple treat of bonneville speed trials books.
Additional rider preentry is recommended if you plan on running in two or more riders, it will save time and paperwork in registration. We wont pretend to comprehend the motorcycle class. The inside story of the land speed record in the sixties. Land speed record breaker, single portfolio motor book. Burt munros worlds fastest indian land speed record.
A rookies guide to racing at the bonneville salt flats i wrote this article in 2010, after my first time racing at scta speed week at the bonneville salt flats. If there is not a record listed for a particular class, that record is. Triumphs absence from the world speed record books coincided with the decline of the british motorcycle industry in the early 70s. Apr 15, 2008 how to build a bonneville salt flats motorcycle documents the construction of the worlds fastest panhead, conceived and assembled by keith ball, former editor or easyriders magazine and current owner of, the most popular biker stop on the internet. Bonneville salt flats scta speed week 2012 cycle world. The bonneville salt flats race track is listed on the national register of historic places. Scooter breaks two landspeed records at bonneville motofire. The record he set at that 1967 event was not the first land speed record he established at bonneville. While the class records are almost universally lower than the overhead cammers, the competition is every bit as intense. Salt 101 bonneville racing guide hot rod magazine hot rod. Cobra 50cc motor powers land speed record at bonneville.
Since 1909, bonneville has hosted hundreds of races and speed trials featuring scores of remarkable cars, motorcycles, and drivers. Brough superior sets new records motorcycle classics. Rollie free set 2 national class c production motorcycle speed records at daytona beach on march 17, 1938, at 111. Its been six years since i stepped foot on the salt flats of bonneville, long years. All riders are required to read the riders handbook, as well as the ama bonneville supplementary rule book and will be required to sign a statement indicating that heshe has done so. Ride bonneville salt flats posted on 30th december, 2014 by mark hinchliffe how would you like to ride a motorcycle flat out on the bonneville salt flats, competing for class honours. The southern california timing association scta is an allvolunteer organization that oversees speedweek at bonneville and they are the keepers of the record books when it comes to land speed racing at this iconic venue.
Named to celebrate the 1956 motorcycle land speed record smashing triumph streamliner, and built to deliver class leading performance, upon the addition of twin carbs to the tiger 110, the bonneville. National records 58 50cc displacement classes 58 100cc displacement classes 58 125cc displacement classes 59 175cc displacement classes 59. Stuart swift will be lining up his aprilia rs250 alongside world class riders like james toseland, in the centenary year of bonneville speed racing. A separate form and medical information is required for each rider in addition to the original rider. These are the certified car and motorcycle records as of speed week 2019 and will be reflected in the southern california timing association 2020 rule book. Here then is your bonneville bike classification primer.
It is particularly noted as the venue for numerous land speed records. A rookies guide to racing at the bonneville salt flats. The motorcycle landspeed record is the fastest speed achieved by a motorcycle on land. I look at all of the records for that cc class and the ones above and below to see how competitive the record is. Setright, the guinness book of motorcycling facts and feats, 1982, 2e ed. California to set the records with the iconic british motorcycle at its namesake race course. The crowning gem to any classic motorcycle collection.
The beginners guide to bonneville speed week roadkill. This photo history features all of the marques, both automotive and motorcycle, that have campaigned the bonneville salt flats over the past nine decades. There are great deal of teams running motorcycle powered streamliners and you can gain more information about them by reading the various motorcycle classifications as listed further on in this web page. This day favors the lower classes, as 37 more records were set. The rules are in the scta rule book page 149 section 7. Bonneville salt flats history november 1962 cycle world.
Bonneville speedway also known as the bonneville salt flats race track is an area of the bonneville salt flats northeast of wendover, utah, that is marked out for motor sports. Engines size doesnt keep them down either as there are classes for racing motorcycles on the bonneville salt flats ranging from 50cc all the way up to 3000cc. Bonneville records are set on a long and short course system. Grandnephew of burt munro adds his name to the scta record.
Were giving you the salt 101 this month to make sure you know what youre looking at. Jul 22, 2014 a bonneville saltflatsrecordsetting motorcycle will be auctioned as part of the mecum auction at the pennsylvania farm show complex and expo center in harrisburg, pa. New book on chasing land speed records at bonneville now. Heres what a 427mph crash on the bonneville salt flats. Land speed landspeed trials are all about going faster than anyone has gone before on a milelong course over perfectly level terrain at bonneville salt flats. It is standardized as the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over. Burt munro was the subject of a 2005 film, the worlds fastest indian, based on a composite of his bonneville speed runs.
Bonneville land speed records these are the certified car and motorcycle records as of speed week 2019 and will be reflected in the southern california timing association 2020 rule book. Check it out here on or in the january 20 issue of hot rod magazine. Bonneville is a place like no other, and it brings out the wild and wacky among bike builders. Rider medical information is submitted as part of the entry form. Bonneville motorcycle landspeed record run 250cc youtube. It was a very good day for the record breaking, as 34 new names were added to the record books.
The record attempts are standardised over a fixed length course and averaged over two runs in opposite directions. Free was often called upon to tune, then ride or drive he raced the indy 500 three times. Every issue delivers exciting and evocative articles and photographs of the most brilliant, unusual and popular motorcycles ever made. Racing at bonneville and breaking land speed records has been going on since 1896 when w. This film depicts a determined old man who, despite facing many difficulties, travels from new zealand to the usa to test run his motorcycle west of the great salt lake. Cobra 50cc motor powers land speed record at bonneville salt flats news dirt rider magazine. Some of the prices for entry may not be completely correct as there can be changes over the years. Acknowledgements bonneville motorcycle speed trials. This is not a rule book, just a simplistic, plain english description of the basic categories.
1004 1331 370 1150 677 818 855 1092 1327 623 340 495 776 1220 491 734 605 700 972 960 1054 1094 979 902 76 1175 1416 375 1394 1281 728 1482 1448