Herb Becker visits after Andy’s 154mph Bonneville run

Norton tuner Herb Becker honored me with a visit after he and Andy Cox took their unstreamlined Norton 920 to the Bonneville saltflats for a 154 mph run. Andy is now very close to setting a record (157mph). We hung out for a day talking tech, racing/memories and had a great time.

Photo of Andy on the Norton at an earlier land speed event.


Herb has no problem taking racing engines to the max. The motor’s innards include the monster of all Norton cams – the sifton 480 with so much lift that it pushes the limits of lifter travel. See modified BSA lifter below with added section to allow more travel and overlap in the lifter block. I think Herb is the only one who has done this.


Using huge valves (44 & 38mm) that are splayed/angled wider to avoid valve hookup with the highly overlapped 480 cam he has achieved about .220” between the valves on the seats (stock is approx .185”) This puts the intake valves right up against tho 81mm cylinder bore. The head is heavily milled to reduce the combustion chamber size – so much so that the valve pockets needed to be deepened. This required special one off pistons with the rings dropped so that the oil ring is all the way down into the pin bore (common practice with racing cars).

Below is one of the 1st sets of pistons with the recut valve pockets (cut too thin) which were replaced with unique redesigned pistons that fit right in without modifications – with a safer material thickness at the valve pockets.


Presently its putting out 95HP at the rear wheel. It made several 3 mile runs at WOT with no failures. Herb is always looking for more and more will be necessary to give Andy (who is 6’4” at 240 lbs) the speed record. Knowing Herb and Andy – they'll probably find a way.

Herb (left), his traveling friend Frank Rodgers (right) and me BS-ing at my catfish pond in Calif. They just hit the road North to Canada and I miss them already.

240? I can see several mph to be gained right there.

Herb does have a way of pulling out horsepower. 95 at the rear wheel. Impressive. What does Andy use for a gearbox to handle that output.
Cheers,
Thomas

swooshdave said:

240? I can see several mph to be gained right there.

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Yes. I was thinking a Jockey. 140 lbs and 5' 6" would up some in the speed. Or get a female rider just out of high school and fearless.
But Andy wouldn't have any fun then.
Cheers,
T

Will these gentlemen be present for the motorcycle speed trials coming up the week after next? Thx!

Cool post.

Any largemouth in that pond?

No, Herb and his buddy Frank Rodgers from High School days are doing a road trip on the Pacific Coast. I caught up with Herb at Bonneville as well as had some quality face times with Alp of Alp Racing and stuck my nose in to say hi to Stacie B. London and her 250 Aermacchi record setting LSR.

There's something magical about Bonneville and I am seriously thinking of shifting gears in my later years from road racing to LSR stuff. Andy runs a standard box and weight can be an advantage on the salt. The rear wheel percent slippage numbers I was hearing are impressive so it is a balance of traction, aerodynamics and power. As some of you may recall, Andy had himself and the bike scanned in Waterloo, ON and they did a CFD to learn where they could improve.

Also had the pleasure of meeting Sir Eddie's son Paul and buddy PJ; they are the real deal with some solid history.

Herb and Andy had some god send data logging. Without it, I can see where going on the salt, one could get into a world of hurt in a heart beat. They were logging, RPM, cylinder head temperature and A/F ratio. Very important when you are trying to get an old stove to do things it was never designed to do.

Andy Cox, Herb Becker & crew with LSR Commando
Andy Cox LSR at the line
At rest
Traffic driving home. Keep to the right of the blue line!

So they ran at the main speed trials then. The Motorcycle Speed Trials are next week I believe, so thought I might see them run. I'm going to ride up and spend a day or so spectating.

Hi all; we had a great time on the salt, indeed! The top speed was 154.4 at the 2 1/4 mile, and 154.1 at the 3 mile mark. I feel there is still areo improvements to make, and I’m excited to tweak some things for next year. I’m still on the road home, and expect to be back on Tuesday, so will contribute more to this thread then.

Congratulations on a really good run. The record in that class is a tough one, but you guys are looking really close. The pictures dances posted look like you had a pretty good time there. Bonneville really is a different world. I was hoping to make the Motorcycle Speed Trials again this year, but it's not going to happen. Maybe World Finals if all goes well.

Ken

Dances with Shrapnel said:

No, Herb and his buddy Frank Rodgers from High School days are doing a road trip on the Pacific Coast. I caught up with Herb at Bonneville as well as had some quality face times with Alp of Alp Racing and stuck my nose in to say hi to Stacie B. London and her 250 Aermacchi record setting LSR.

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While Herb is still with us, he should be encouraged to write his own "Tuning Notes" for the Commando, preferably with pictures and/or sketches. Please ask him the next time you see him!

-Knut

I'll suggest it, as with JimC., the motivation is theirs. I'll be chatting with Herb after he returns home.

Keep in mind that a lot of the elements to good tuning practices have already been published.

looks like the front fender is new

84ok said:

looks like the front fender is new

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Looks like one of these: http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/images/GSX13LSR4.jpg
Maybe slightly mod to fit.
Cheers,
Thomas

The front fender is new. It is an Airtech Streamlining Haysbusa fender, trimmed to conform to class regulations.

What's the record that you have to beat?

154mph, unfaried (and with a larger pilot) is impressive Andy, respect to you sir!

You need another 3mph for the record, is that correct?

jseng1 said:

What's the record that you have to beat?

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157.09 mph is the SCTA record in 1000 M-PG class. The funny part is that the record in the fuel class (1000 M-PF) is only 150.15 mph. If they had run in that class instead, they would have a record! If you look through the record books, you will find a lot of cases where someone has set a record in the gas class, and then set another record in the fuel class, with no change to the fuel used. All you have to do is declare that you are running in the fuel class. The only difference is that they don't seal the tank in the fuel class.

Ken

Wow! To say that I'm impressed would be a gross understatement. Nice work.