August 28, 2009 - Update from Leslie on Preparing for Bonneville
As the time to return to the salt rapidly approaches, I prepare myself and my machine for another attempt for a record. I loathe the gym, so I opt for other means of exercise. I run with my dogs, which aren’t appreciating it during this time of year. As the temperature in Dallas climbs to over 100 degrees, I retreat to Colorado to build a deck and do some off road riding. The weather is much milder and the scenery is fantastic. Then back home to the heat, where I continue my exercise regimen. In between photo shoots and interviews, I’m back at the shop doing everything from rebuilding toilets to selling bikes. I find myself shorthanded in my service department and occasionally work on bikes. I do payroll, pay bills and taxes, and start on a remodel on a rental property that I have. I don’t ever find myself bored.
Reservations for hotel rooms are made months in advance for me and all of my crew. We have guys from all over the country to coordinate transportation for. I rented a garage at Miller Motorsports to park the tractor trailer between the two events- Speedweek and the BUB Speed Trials. Considering that I live in Texas, and the Salt Flats are in Utah, I decided on this option to keep the truck and a place to dismantle and get ready for the next event. The salt is so corrosive that the bikes have to come completely apart between meets. Scott just got the new stainless case bolts and crank studs from Automotive Racing Products, and they look almost too good to use! The next event after SCTA’s Speedweek will be the BUB Speed Trials - where the AMA and FIM world records are set. Hopefully both the motors will be functioning, preparation between the two meets will be minimal, and I’ll be off August 30th to BUB to chase more dreams. The BUB Speed Trials are a motorcycle-only event sanctioned by the AMA and FIM. Dennis Manning, the guy that is responsible for the event, has created a wonderful venue. Its spectator friendly and the only place you’ll see two-wheeled creations of its kind. People from all over the world come to this event in hopes of attaining an FIM record. In between the two meets, I plan on a detour to Keystone, Colorado for the AMA Women in Motorcycling conference. August will be a fun-filled month.
My motorcycle is more difficult to get into shape. I have previously done some damage to my engines, so Scott Horner from Head’s Up Performance, my engine builder and turbo guru, is staying busy fixing things out west.
Getting all of the bikes ready for Bonneville is a lot like herding cats. I grenade my starter which took out a piece of my cases on my 1350cc class motor, and find myself still struggling to get replacement parts together for the 2000cc class motor after throwing a rod through the cases at about 240mph last September. Considering the minimal amount of time, I might be just a little worried about getting everything together in time- which is usual. The 2000cc class motor that I broke the record at 232mph last year remains apart in California at Scott’s shop. It’s been quite a task getting everything together. I decided to run the 1350 motor without a starter for an event, but shortly afterwards had to get it out to Scott to fix the damage I had done. I found myself limited by gearing last year, so this year I got some BST wheels from Brock’s Performance that will give me more options. A new lockup clutch arrives from MTC engineering, bodywork from Airtech, sprockets from PMP (a local sprocket company). I beat up both Hayabusa transmissions, so they were sent out to R&D to get repaired. With both motors apart, I called up Dave and Laura Conforti from Worldwide bearings, and they fixed me up with sets of ceramic bearings for both motors. I’m helping out the Swiss Performance team by getting things for them in the states so they don’t have to bring everything overseas. Boxes arrive daily. My new leathers are on the way, but I have yet to see them. There are so many loose ends to take care of.
Last year American Honda loaned me a test bike to try to set a world record on. Much to my surprise, I spooled up the bike to an AMA and FIM record average speed of 192mph at the BUB Speed trials. Honda is going to loan me another bike for me to try and up the production record again this year. Impressed by the CBR last year, and with my philosophy of everything should be turbocharged, it was time to turbo a CBR 1000. Perhaps this year it will rival the speeds of the Hayabusa…. It’s small and fits me well, so perhaps the aerodynamic advantage will equal some killer speeds. In theory it sounds good, and I’m about to find out what it does in the real world application. The turbo bike has yet to be fired up as of now. Yes, it’s only a few weeks until I venture back to the Salt for Speedweek, but time seems to fly by as fast as my bikes go. Right now most of the Honda sits in California, while the motor is apart in San Antonio. Apex Speed Technologies is greeting me with much patience while I change my mind on Engine Management Systems. Traction Control or no traction control? Liquid or air cooled intercooler? This and much more to be decided prior to running on the salt. Everything has to be fabricated and fitted to the new bike. It’s an extensive project that has required much head scratching and imagination to complete. The bodywork supplied by Airtech that was retro fitted to the Honda makes it look like an egg, but I don’t care much about aesthetics as long as it goes super fast. (Obvious by the way my Busa has looked for the past couple of years)
I’m fortunate to have the Hayabusa with two motors and the Hondas to run this year. It gives me more options for more records, and I hope to increase my top speed as well. Although it seems chaotic right now, I’m sure everything will fall into place as I make tracks to Utah. It’s an exciting adventure, and I look forward to seeing all of my friends on the salt again.
Reservations for hotel rooms are made months in advance for me and all of my crew. We have guys from all over the country to coordinate transportation for. I rented a garage at Miller Motorsports to park the tractor trailer between the two events- Speedweek and the BUB Speed Trials. Considering that I live in Texas, and the Salt Flats are in Utah, I decided on this option to keep the truck and a place to dismantle and get ready for the next event. The salt is so corrosive that the bikes have to come completely apart between meets. Scott just got the new stainless case bolts and crank studs from Automotive Racing Products, and they look almost too good to use! The next event after SCTA’s Speedweek will be the BUB Speed Trials - where the AMA and FIM world records are set. Hopefully both the motors will be functioning, preparation between the two meets will be minimal, and I’ll be off August 30th to BUB to chase more dreams. The BUB Speed Trials are a motorcycle-only event sanctioned by the AMA and FIM. Dennis Manning, the guy that is responsible for the event, has created a wonderful venue. Its spectator friendly and the only place you’ll see two-wheeled creations of its kind. People from all over the world come to this event in hopes of attaining an FIM record. In between the two meets, I plan on a detour to Keystone, Colorado for the AMA Women in Motorcycling conference. August will be a fun-filled month.
My motorcycle is more difficult to get into shape. I have previously done some damage to my engines, so Scott Horner from Head’s Up Performance, my engine builder and turbo guru, is staying busy fixing things out west.
Getting all of the bikes ready for Bonneville is a lot like herding cats. I grenade my starter which took out a piece of my cases on my 1350cc class motor, and find myself still struggling to get replacement parts together for the 2000cc class motor after throwing a rod through the cases at about 240mph last September. Considering the minimal amount of time, I might be just a little worried about getting everything together in time- which is usual. The 2000cc class motor that I broke the record at 232mph last year remains apart in California at Scott’s shop. It’s been quite a task getting everything together. I decided to run the 1350 motor without a starter for an event, but shortly afterwards had to get it out to Scott to fix the damage I had done. I found myself limited by gearing last year, so this year I got some BST wheels from Brock’s Performance that will give me more options. A new lockup clutch arrives from MTC engineering, bodywork from Airtech, sprockets from PMP (a local sprocket company). I beat up both Hayabusa transmissions, so they were sent out to R&D to get repaired. With both motors apart, I called up Dave and Laura Conforti from Worldwide bearings, and they fixed me up with sets of ceramic bearings for both motors. I’m helping out the Swiss Performance team by getting things for them in the states so they don’t have to bring everything overseas. Boxes arrive daily. My new leathers are on the way, but I have yet to see them. There are so many loose ends to take care of.
Last year American Honda loaned me a test bike to try to set a world record on. Much to my surprise, I spooled up the bike to an AMA and FIM record average speed of 192mph at the BUB Speed trials. Honda is going to loan me another bike for me to try and up the production record again this year. Impressed by the CBR last year, and with my philosophy of everything should be turbocharged, it was time to turbo a CBR 1000. Perhaps this year it will rival the speeds of the Hayabusa…. It’s small and fits me well, so perhaps the aerodynamic advantage will equal some killer speeds. In theory it sounds good, and I’m about to find out what it does in the real world application. The turbo bike has yet to be fired up as of now. Yes, it’s only a few weeks until I venture back to the Salt for Speedweek, but time seems to fly by as fast as my bikes go. Right now most of the Honda sits in California, while the motor is apart in San Antonio. Apex Speed Technologies is greeting me with much patience while I change my mind on Engine Management Systems. Traction Control or no traction control? Liquid or air cooled intercooler? This and much more to be decided prior to running on the salt. Everything has to be fabricated and fitted to the new bike. It’s an extensive project that has required much head scratching and imagination to complete. The bodywork supplied by Airtech that was retro fitted to the Honda makes it look like an egg, but I don’t care much about aesthetics as long as it goes super fast. (Obvious by the way my Busa has looked for the past couple of years)
I’m fortunate to have the Hayabusa with two motors and the Hondas to run this year. It gives me more options for more records, and I hope to increase my top speed as well. Although it seems chaotic right now, I’m sure everything will fall into place as I make tracks to Utah. It’s an exciting adventure, and I look forward to seeing all of my friends on the salt again.