Work continues on both the bikes.
We have just started the documentation of the nitro injected bike involving the jet cans, plumbing and controls. The age of the rear tire on this bike has necessitated its replacement, even though is has less than 150 miles on it. Searching for a legal tire is a bit of a task as we use the same tire on both the turbo and the nitro bike, and when you tell them the turbo can spin the tire at nearly 245 miles an hour they start to get a bit vague as far as saying the tire will work.
We have finally gotten the seating, footpeg, and lever position finalized on the turbo. Still waiting for the new handlebars from Sam Wills to nail that part down. We just moved the rear tail section back 1 1/2 inches which doesn’t sound like much but took ten hours. Fred is working on getting the fans to come on sooner to compensate for the hotter temps in August. We ran into a bit of top end speed heat accumulation in August 2017. A dead cold start came to be necessary, but until the motor made some heat it was running on the cold-start circuit and not as clean as hoped. Can’t give up any distance to get a run at the brass ring.
Some testing has been going on on the blower bike as we have a date at Wisconsin International Raceway July 7 for Doc’s Country Drags. It is a gathering of racers, including fuel Harleys and one lone Ducati fueler (guess who).
We made four hits and finally got it sounding right on the last one. Well, 60 feet out it laid down and Rick Erdman, the rider, clicked it off. The head gasket had made an unscheduled appearance, but boy did it sound great and ran well right up to then.
So we got repairs made and changed a few things in anticipation of the festivities at Doc’s. No time to test before then with all the work yet to do on the Bonneville bikes.
I was also hoping to talk about our super sponsors re-upping for this trip. Everyone’s name is still on the tail and we have had four sponsors step-up. They say it is difficult to discuss money and I would have to agree. The big difference is that we are going to Speedweek, August 10 – 16 and the possibility of a rainout is virtually zero. The salt should be in much better shape with the extra attention by the environmentalist groups. It is still a bit weird to be pairing racers and the environmentalists for the preservation of a world treasure, but it makes perfect sense when you think about it. We both want the same thing! So if you want to be a part of a unique effort (again), please feel free to contact us, the help is always appreciated. Over 120 years of racing experience is being brought to bear on this record assault. I can’t wait!
I am trying to be more regular on the blog, but the 12 hour days, usually seven days a week doesn’t leave a lot of time, but thanks for hanging with us!
All the best,
Bill
The Bonneville Project 