Who's Going to Bonneville?

Any plans for Speed Week this August 13th-19th? Somehow, I was invited to pit for a gentleman who's running a faired late-model Triumph Thruxton. He ran 137 (?) last year, and is hoping for close to 150 this year.
Now, I know it's not a Norton, but it's Bonneville! I'd love to meet some of you face-to-face if you're going. Let's do a little dance to the salt gods that we have good weather this year.

Nathan

Too far for me to go.
Dereck.

Nater_Potater said:

Any plans for Speed Week this August 13th-19th? Somehow, I was invited to pit for a gentleman who's running a faired late-model Triumph Thruxton. He ran 137 (?) last year, and is hoping for close to 150 this year.
Now, I know it's not a Norton, but it's Bonneville! I'd love to meet some of you face-to-face if you're going. Let's do a little dance to the salt gods that we have good weather this year.

Nathan

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Well look for Sir Eddie's bike or Irken's setup. I will be one place or the other. Jim

comnoz said:

Nater_Potater said:

Any plans for Speed Week this August 13th-19th? Somehow, I was invited to pit for a gentleman who's running a faired late-model Triumph Thruxton. He ran 137 (?) last year, and is hoping for close to 150 this year.
Now, I know it's not a Norton, but it's Bonneville! I'd love to meet some of you face-to-face if you're going. Let's do a little dance to the salt gods that we have good weather this year.

Nathan

Click to expand...

Well look for Sir Eddie's bike or Irken's setup. I will be one place or the other. Jim

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Jim, We are going to the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trails Aug 27th to Sept 1st...

Son of Siredward said:

comnoz said:

Nater_Potater said:

Any plans for Speed Week this August 13th-19th? Somehow, I was invited to pit for a gentleman who's running a faired late-model Triumph Thruxton. He ran 137 (?) last year, and is hoping for close to 150 this year.
Now, I know it's not a Norton, but it's Bonneville! I'd love to meet some of you face-to-face if you're going. Let's do a little dance to the salt gods that we have good weather this year.

Nathan

Click to expand...

Well look for Sir Eddie's bike or Irken's setup. I will be one place or the other. Jim

Click to expand...

Jim, We are going to the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trails Aug 27th to Sept 1st...

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Of course, I wasn't paying attention.

Bonneville has always been on my bucket list and at 72 I need to go soon. Is this a place for spectators, or is it just for the racers and crews?
Thanks,
Jaydee

jaydee75 said:

Is this a place for spectators, or is it just for the racers and crews?
Thanks,
Jaydee

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Well, it was about a hundred years ago (okay, more like thirty-five) that I was there, and spectators were milling around the pits unhindered (myself included). At least back then, you just had to stay clear of the staging area. From the SCTA Rookie Orientation Booklet 2014, it states Our racing boundaries are clearly defined by cones and signs and are patrolled by SCTA volunteers to ensure members of the public remain outside the dangerous areas (where the racing is taking place).
I take that as no real change since I was last down there. Just use common sense, and stay clear of the cones. Things are well organized in the staging area. Unlike road racing and the like, It's pretty obvious when something's about to happen. No photos from in front of the staged vehicles!
Keep in mind, this isn't racing in the traditional sense. It's more about being around the new technology and history all rolled into one. Like an open-air, living progression of speed being played out right in front of you.

Where the hell did that come from? 'Better check my man-card's expiration date...

Nathan

Nathan

jaydee75 said:

Bonneville has always been on my bucket list and at 72 I need to go soon. Is this a place for spectators, or is it just for the racers and crews?
Thanks,
Jaydee

Click to expand...

I went in 2011 for the first time as a spectator. It is one of those bucket list things that you better do. Pits are about a 1/4 mile from the timing line across from the short coarse and you can see the car or bike but cant make out the number. They broadcast the event over the radio so be sure and have a portable radio with FM or park you car at the end of the pits at about the 3/4 mile marker. You can either go to the SCYA Speedweek which has Cars and Bikes or the Bonneville Speed Trials (Bubs) event at the end of August which is only bikes then after the Bubs event hit the Miller Raceway for a great Vintage Bike Race event starting on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend,

I have also been to El Mirage in So. Cal where they let you get 20 feet from the staging area and where they take off as well as parking parallel with the mile coarse. Between the two you have to hit Bonneville. Bring a folding lawn chairs, a couple buddies and cold beer and you will have the time of your life!

A few weeks ago Im at the local BMW motorcycle club (RCB.ORG) Wednesday weekly dinner ride at Old Town Pizza in Lincoln Ca. , and sitting next to me is Rocky Robertson. I had no clue who he was until we started swapping bike stories. Very nice guy and very fast. Im sure if your a Salt-Flats fan or participate you know of him.

http://www.rocky-robinson.com/

I just made reservations for a room in Wendover for the Aug. 28th. and 29th. (sunday night/monday night).
My woman and I are going to ride over and do some spectating.

It is certainly something to see. The technology was shrewd and nothing I had expected but once I saw it, it made sense. As an example, there were all sorts of wheel and tire concepts you just don't see on the street or on a race track; I won't be a spoiler for those that have not been and seen. I took my young sons there twice. The participants and pretty much everyone were very friendly, accommodating and more than happy to chat. Bring water and sunglasses and shade/sunscreen/hats etc.

Entrance is by turning north off the interstate onto the frontage road a ways east of Wendover. You travel maybe a few miles east on the frontage road then it turns north and the asphalt ends and you are looking at a flat nothingness of white salt. There is a sandwich board there that warns "Keep left of cones!" So I set there and look and look and look and think WTF! I decided to start going due north then spot a cone, then another cone. Soon I see a little black spot off on the horizon (which I eventually find out is the whole bloody paddock with a few hundred people then I see a white rooster tail of salt on the horizon off a bit to my right and figure out that is the start line. All was good after that.

Highly recommended.

Well we're sure getting close now, I hope the salt is good to you guys who are going. I love reading about it all and am "rooting for you" as we say in the USA, (I guess that means something else in other parts of the world.
Lance

So, in my initial post, I had the dates wrong. I am going to be there Aug 27th-31st! Look for the late-model stock silver Triumph Thruxton, and the fire-engine-red fully-faired Thruxton, both piloted by Jerry Adams (but not at the same time, chariot-boy!). Shoot me a PM if you'd like my phone number so we can try to find each other.

L.E.N. said:

...and am "rooting for you" as we say in the USA, (I guess that means something else in other parts of the world).
Lance

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Well, according to the Urban Dictionary, it's a crude Australian term for love-making... In that light, it does lend a rather comical minds-eye when used in the Colonies!

Nathan

Look for these three bikes in the pits. I'll be the one hovering around the red rocket, as I'm now its official mother.


In the background is the pilot trying to cool off in our lovely evening heat.

'Hope to see you there!

Nathan

The bike is packed and ready to go.
The plan is to ride today and camp tonight somewhere around Tooele, UT and then make it out to the salt early tomorrow morning.
I'm pretty excited!

We had a great day one. Paul set a new record with the first run. We plan on breaking it tomorrow. Jim

Most excellent! Congratulations to Paul and the rest of the team. It's an impressive effort by all of you. Wish I could have been there.

Ken

That's great!!!
What kind of numbers are you talking about Jim?

Pete

Great to hear Jim, I feel a smile coming from above. Great work you guys do, I really wanted to make it but things just got in the way. (wife) :roll:

Day #2 is done.
We couldn't have ask for a better day. We upped our record in the un-faired class by about 5 mph -to about 120
and set a new record with the full fairing at around 124. The wind became an issue late in the day.
So far we have been tuning very conservatively at 1000 rpm below our peak power and the bike has been rock solid.
Tomorrow we plan on getting a bit more aggressive and find out what the bike is capable of.
Two days and eight runs and every run has been better than the last. It's been great having the time to make tiny steps toward the goal.
Tomorrow the torque setup comes off and the horsepower setup takes it's place. Fingers crossed. Jim