Bonneville Speed Week

Canuck Plumber

Canuck Plumber

Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!
So, I've dusted off the tools, started polishing the bike and making a few repairs to a bike that has sat in my shed for far too long. My Dad has come up with the idea of a few of us (eight in total) heading down to Speed week in August for the most part on bikes. I'll be bringing the Double Shot down on a trailer as having a 250 lbs man ride a 450cc Cafe for three days to get there and three days back is what most guys over the age of 40 would call "a bad idea". The bike would make it, I on the other hand...not so much. We will be staying in Wells as there are no hotel rooms available during speed week in Wendover, which I'm told is where most people stay.

I would like to ask other DTT'ers if they would like to join us down there for speed week, as apart from the honourable Loco Leon, I've never met anyone from this fine bunch of greasy bastards. I would also ask, if any among you have been to Bonneville during the trials, do you have any advice on the trip or the time spent there? Any comments would be mostly appreciated. I would like to ride the bike on hallowed ground, although once again, a 250 lbs man on a 450cc bike isn't going to be breaking any records.

It's going to be wild and I'm wearing my DTT patches.

Jaeson

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Would love to make the ride, but alas I need a running bike first. BTW, how do you like your bar end mirror inverted like that vs. upright?
 
I'm a function follows form kind of guy. It's not bad mind you. It's there more out of legal requirement than purpose. I always shoulder check regardless of the mirror. God hates a coward. :) Hope you get your bike running. We leave here (Calgary) on the 18th.

Cheers.
 
Finally a thread I know a little something about. SpeedWeek is one of those meets you have to make at least once in your lifetime. Its a dangerous place to go to. It draws you back year after year. I'm planning on being there with the sidecar. There are no rooms available right now. They book out as soon as reservations open. But usually by Tuesday rooms become available. The really fast guys will have either set records or broke and be on the way home. Wells is a ways away. But thats the problem. Wendover is in the middle of nowhere and there is nothing close.

I'll be staying at the Bend in the Road. Which is literally what it is. The road comes off the freeway and runs for a mile or so and makes a 90 deg. bend and another couple of miles to the salt. You'll find everything from pup tents to 1/2 milion dollar motorhomes. Worth thinking about and beats the crap out of commuting from Wells every day. There is a restaurant with great food and showers at the off ramp. A lot of people use them.

Getting on to the salt is $15 a day of $40 (best deal) for the week (BLM charges not SCTA). Transport is necessary as its about four or five miles to the pits from lands end and the start area is three miles from the pits. The pits can be up to a couple of miles long. Not real wide but long.

Heres a short video from last year. Kenny, one of the crew, did it had I had no idea. The first bike out is Willie Buchta on a 1000cc Harley sidecar. The second bike I don't know and then me.

Screwball sets World Land Speed Record at Bonneville 2010



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There will be a good gathering. Tyler and Kyle from Lowbrow Customs, Wes White from Four Aces Triumph are going to be there. Lars Nielsen is bringing his blown Indian from Denmark. The Denmark in europe. Not the Denmark in Minnesota. Talk about commitment!!! I'm putting a blower on the sidecar to run in the blown 500 sidecar class. Should be a hoot. Hope to see you there. Look for a 30 year old RV pulling a beat up trailer and that'll be me. We'll have the Screwball Racing T shirts with us. If anyone is interested in buying one PM me and I'll give you details.

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Hoping to make a trip in the next few years. How's Speed Week in regards to family? I would like to bring my daughter with me if it's not a bunch of rowdy blokes like Sturgis. (I'll do Sturgis on my own till she be a bit older)
 
MNBikerPup said:
Hoping to make a trip in the next few years. How's Speed Week in regards to family? I would like to bring my daughter with me if it's not a bunch of rowdy blokes like Sturgis. (I'll do Sturgis on my own till she be a bit older)
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SpeedWeek is a family affair. Most wives, sons and daughters crew for hubby. Or if the better half is driving hubby will be the crew. We go to race not to pose and act macho. Every guy that leaves the start line for a run down the salt is betting his balls he'll make it. Theres no need to prove you're a tough guy. Your daughter will be as safe as a kitten.
 
If you poke around youtube there are plenty of videos on Bonneville. This is one of the few places where you can see a Vincent being being used for what it was designed and not posed at a show with its owner hovering close by in case you get too close. I was in line to run behind these guys. Beautifu machine! Ran over 160 with the fairing.

http://youtu.be/ibMu1dBf894

Wes White and his Triumph.
http://youtu.be/s5YCXdBctKY
 
MNBikerPup.. Thanks.. its been a great time building it. We'll be coming your way on the way back.

HoofHearted. Thanks for all the information. That's a great help. We tried to find a place in Wendover, but like you said, it sells out fast. Wells was the closest. We figure on about an hour ride. We will definitely keep our eyes open for you. I'll be wearing a large DTT patch on my back. How hot does it get? Any troubles with stock air cooled engines?

Cheers
 
Canuck Plumber said:
How hot does it get? Any troubles with stock air cooled engines?
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It can get into the high 90s. But the humidity can be down in the single figures so it doesn't feel that hot. The sun reflects off the salt so if you're wearing shorts make sure you put sunscreen on the family jewels. The average fish has more fins than my Weslake and it runs flat out for three miles with no problem. Your engine won't have any problems. I don't know how many days you've booked in Wells but like I said by Monday or Tuesday there will be rooms available in Wendover. When you get to the salt check out the Bend in the Road. Its a large flat area where all those who can't afford rooms stay. RVs to pup tents. A lot of fun.


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Ran the world's fastest BMW 2002 at Bonneville in 2007-8-9, building a cb750 to return in 2012.

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Awesome event for any gearhead and Hoofharted ir right... don't get Salt in your veins as it is very addictive.
Hotel rooms do open up, staying at the Bend in the Road is great, too.
Don't miss the nightly rod show at the Nugget parking lot every evening early in the week.

cheers,
brad in Hugetown
 
Hedrives, Nice Honda. Are you bringing it to SpeedWeek or BUB? Woops, sorry, should have read your post a bit more carefully. 2012. I was going to ask if you were coming out this year.

How did the BMW run? Trying to figure the class. Modified Sports?
 
Hoofhearted said:
Hedrives, Nice Honda. Are you bringing it to SpeedWeek or BUB? Woops, sorry, should have read your post a bit more carefully. 2012. I was going to ask if you were coming out this year.

How did the BMW run? Trying to figure the class. Modified Sports?
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Hoofhearted: Thanks! Bringing it to Speedweeks 2012.
We were hoping for this year, but my buddy's CB450 is behind schedule and we decided not to try this year.
Who needs the stress?

The BMW fit into G/GALT.
We built that car for road racing (actually won a BMW national championship), then decided to run the Salt for fun and got addicted running 2007-8-9.
The BMW really didn't fit anywhere else due to being stripped, so Gas Altered it was.
We ARE the world's fastest BMW 2002, though, at 131.763.

Definitely will look you up in 2012.
Really cool sidecar rig you got.

brad in Hugetown
 
Just came in from the garage for some lunch. Got the sidecar back together to the point I could fire it up. I wanted to check that the blower belt ran true. So far so good. It fired right up and the belt stayed where it was supposed to. It must be me but I get nervous as a kitten when it comes to firing up after a long downtime (hasn't run since Sept. El Mirage). But it fired and I'm a happy puppy!
 
I'll be there again this year. I'll be helping crew for Lars and his friend George again. Last year we set the 100cc m-bg record. This year we hope to improve on that record. We too will be staying at the bend in the road. Hope to see you there.
 
Lars told me he bought an RV and is looking forward to using it. It looks like he will be at the Bend too. Congrats on your record! Its always great to leave Bonneville with a record cert in your back pocket!
 
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