Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Tek) 9/26/83; site teklabs.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!tekcrl!teklabs!donch
From: donch@teklabs.UUCP (Don Chitwood)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Bonneville Speed Record
Message-ID: <3214@teklabs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 2-Oct-85 14:00:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: teklabs.3214
Posted: Wed Oct  2 14:00:36 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 4-Oct-85 05:45:23 EDT
References: <583@Shasta.ARPA>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 39

Now for something a little bit different.

A friend of mine just returned from Speed Week at the Bonneville
Salt Flats in Utah.  The condition of the Salt was reportedly
the best in memory; something to do with the high water level
helping to level things out during the winter.

The record of interest to me was achieved on a Vincent (definitely
not stock).  The machine was constructed by Dave Matson of Detroit,
a Speed Week participant for at least the past 25 years.  The 
engine displaced 1700 cc, had fuel injection, and was massively
modified.  (my choice of past tense is deliberate).

After numerous trial/qualifying runs, Dave finally got a record
in his class of 202.* mph, UNFAIRED.  Got that--no fairing.
This speed is an average of two passes, down the course 
and back.  His best one way speed was 212.* mph

Even on the record run, his engine was not running as well as
he knew it could.  So the many runs were for tuning and sorting
out other problems.  Apparently after the record run, he put on
a custom-built fairing to compete in another class.  This one almost
ended in disaster when a fire broke out where the exhaust pipe was
contacting the fiberglass fairing.  Dave was shouting for someone
to extinguish the flames, particularly because he was still astride
the bike and the tank still had lots of nitromethane fuel in it.
Well, the fire got put out, but the bike blew its engine shortly
thereafter.  Apparently very little was salvagable.

At least the Vincent name resides again among the record holders.
The marque has a long and glorious history at the Salt Flats.
I was there in l981 and was quite surprised to see the enthusiasm
and respect people had for the Vins that ran that year.  Word
would pass back through the long line of competitors "Hey, there's
a Vin about to make a run.  Listen to this one, you won't hear it 
very often!"  Watch for pictures in cycle publications; it is a very
neat and exotic looking machine.

Ah, nostalgia.  Hope you enjoyed hearing something different on the net.


Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com