Visit to Thunderdome

[Kansas Bad Man]

                 Bub Meet Day Five
                     
                       by pilot

               Hartmut Weidelich

We loaded the bike.  I was very confident that Max was right and this was to be a good run.  at the pre-stage we had to wait until 9:30 before the first officials showed up. so time was tight, as I wanted to make a side car return run as well, and give Don at least one fast solo run at the end of the meet, which was noon.

We were finally signed off at the zero mile, and drove down there quickly to unload the bike.  Top 1 Ack Attack was the only one in front of us.  I suited up while I watched Rocky Robinson get into the Top 1 liner, but they were having a problem.  Rocky climbed out, so the track was ours.

Got into the Vincent streamliner. Don and Marc strapped me down tightly and closed the canopy.  I put my left foot on the brake, gave the "thumbs up" signal to the crew, flipped main and ignition switch over, and the engines were fired.  I played the throttle a bit, and noticed that Lenny had connected the tacho again, so I had a reading as to what revs the engines were doing.

I felt that the clutch was spot on, as there was no notice of drag below 2500 revs--good for clearing out the engines and getting the motors into the rev range where they generate enough torque to pull the liner away properly.

                                   H.W.

[bvillercr]

you're killing me here with your suspense!

[fredvance]

me too

[Geo]

I love it!  This is a great story and is being told in wonderful intervals. 

Max, no matter the outcome we are with you and the crew the whole way.

Geo

[Kansas Bad Man]

                   Bub Meet Day Five
        
                          by pilot

                   Hartmut Weidelich

Max came into view on my left and gave me the signal to go, so I released the brake and pushed the pedal down about half way.  The engines responded instantly and the clutch started to drag--the liner left the line.  I switched the clutch's water cooling on, as all the heat in the clutch is produced when the machine starts to move.  As the liner wasn't lined up properly when unloaded in a hurry, I had to steer full lock to the left to get into the middle of the track.  Max had done a wonderful job in redesigning the bike over the past year.  The liner is now very easy to steer--all my fears of losing control, and the constant fight of keeping the beast on course are completely gone.  This bike just goes where I point it.

I kept the throttle at about half, and waited for the clutch to lock up as revs raised.  At about 3500 on the tacho I felt that the clutch was fully home, and the liner came on song.  all vibration one by now, and I could clearly see where I was going.  Now I put the pedal down completely--the engines responded accordingly-- no splutter or missing, and within 1 mile of breathtaking acceleration, the tacho showed 5500.  The red flags on each side were flying by very quickly.

I switched off the clutch cooler to save some water for chain cooling later in the run, as I figured I had enough heat in the engine by now to cope with all the fuel that we press in.  I switched the cylinder head cooling on, lifted the pedal and switched to second gear.  I felt a nice clean shift--something I never had before inside the liner.  I started to smile and nailed the throttle.

Now the beast really came on song, and I was pressed into the seat, as those big motors at my back showed their raw power.  They pushed me forward hard--I couldn't count the red flags anymore.

The mile 2 sign approached and was gone in a split second.  The needle raised ever faster--clear view--no vibes at all--red flags flashing by.  I realized this was going to be a quicky.

The tacho showed 5500.  I saw the mile 3 sign and was getting ready to shift into high gear, when suddenly the mighty roar and giant push from behind was gone.  I heard an idle blubber at my back and no response to my right foot, so at least, I thought, it didn't seize.  I switched the ignition off.

                                  H.W.

[4-barrel Mike]

you're killing me here with your suspense!

At least it's not one new segment every Saturday afternoon 

Mike

[Kansas Bad Man]

                     Bub Meet Day Five
 
                              by pilot

                     Hartmut Weidelich

As I was only 1.5 miles away from the lights and still very fast, I dicided to go through the lights after I cleared all the timing equipment.  I didn't want to end up somewhere between the lights or time keeper tower, as this would have cost a lot of time to the other liner at the zero--Top 1 Ack Attack.  The Lambky liner is very slippery, almost no air drag, and will coast for many miles.  So I rolled along the course with switched off engine, and occasionally pushing the brake to slow down a bit, while trying not to over heat the single disc at the rear.

The timing mile was done, and I thought I'd pull the low speed chute to lose some more speed before leaving the course.  Left the course, steered full lock to the left, and almost made it to the return road.  As I exited the liner, I realised that only the pilot chute was out of the rear end, so I was already too slow when I released the main chute.  Anyway, the engines and gearbox were not seized and the feelings that I had when the liner lost momentum was that there could only be something wrong with the blower, hopefully a broken belt again, as this could be repaired quickly.

The pick-up crew came after a few minutes and I told Max what had happened.  We deided to pull the bonnet to see the problem.  This time the belt was intact, but the blower drive spindle had sheered.  Nothing could be done to that here on the salt, so we all knew that this was the last run.

                                      H.W.

[Kansas Bad Man]

                       Bub Meet Day Five
         
                           by pilot
 
                    Hartmut Weidelich

I felt bad when Max told us earlier that this might be his last try to set the Land Speed Record with his Vincent streamliner.  All his endless work over the years to improve the bike has made this motorcycle now a powerful and easy handling machine, which is from a pilot's point of view, easily capable of setting a new World Land Speed Record for Motorcycles.  If we didn't have those salt gremlins come our way we might have done it already--and this should be the end?  NO WAY!

Max's face was even brighter than when I talked with him after my ride.  He smiled and said, "Well if one inch isn't enough for the blower spindle, I'll make it one and a half for next year!"  all faces around smiling as we now know that we'll be back to show the rest of the world what we know this bike can do.

The Salt Crew lined up, pictures were taken, and the liner was shoved into the trailer.  We headed back to the pits.

John MacDougall said to me, "Never do that again--it frightened me to death!"  I didn't understand, and he explained that when he approached me and saw the liner pointing to the start, he thought I had serious handling problems, and had spun out!

In the pits the liner was unloaded and all the salt thoroughly blasted off with a steam cleaner.

Somebody turned the rear wheel while cleaning the rim and noticed a wire loop sticking out of the rubber.  I checked with some water.  Yes, it bubbled around the wire.  I might have been lucky after all, that the blower drive sheered before going really fast--I checked the wire thoroughly, and to my relief found it was of a different size than the one we'd been using all week.  As I was doing most of the wire locking on the bike, I was sure I didn't lose any cut-off ends.  So this wire loop must have been picked up from the track.

Now that I have every confidence I can handle the bike and the speed, I really look forward to another Bub Meet in 2009.  I'm sure we'll do better than ever.

A big cheer to all the supporters of Max Lambky's streamliner, to the always helping volunteers on the salt, and of course the Salt Crew.  You guys know who you are.  Thanks for all the help.  One thing left to be said, WE'LL BE BACK!

                                   H.W.

[Dick in SD]

Hi, my name is Dick Milne. I live in San Diego. I bought my Ducati 900 SS from Sonny Angel and ride with Don on their monthly runs in the "twistys" out side of town. The Angel family have been good friends for 50 years! (forgive me but I'm new to this on line thing) What I'm trying to find out is any info on how that big inch Vincent is doing. Have they been able to make any full runs or they still haveing trouble hooking up all of that power? Any news would be much appreciated.    Thanks for your time, DM

[John Noonan]

Dick,

First of welcome to Landracing.com!

All of the crew and the machine are back home from where they came from, the event has been over about a week or so, Max and crew ran in to some salt gremlins and hope to return next year to again try their best to achieve the title of "Worlds Fastest"..

John

[Kansas Bad Man]

Hi, my name is Dick Milne. I live in San Diego. I bought my Ducati 900 SS from Sonny Angel and ride with Don on their monthly runs in the "twistys" out side of town. The Angel family have been good friends for 50 years! (forgive me but I'm new to this on line thing) What I'm trying to find out is any info on how that big inch Vincent is doing. Have they been able to make any full runs or they still haveing trouble hooking up all of that power? Any news would be much appreciated.    Thanks for your time, DM

Information about the 2008 Bub Meet runs can be found on this thread, beginning on page 13, September 10.   You might also check out the thread, "A Racer's Protest".

                                         Max

P.S.  I've been friends with Don and Sonny for about 50 years too.  Met him when I was in the Navy in San Diego.

[Kansas Bad Man]

                      Bub Meet Day Five

When we got to the line Ack was already there and was preparing the make a run.  I can't remember the reason, but I think he let us go first.  Hartmut was strapped in; the engines were fired; I gave Hartmut the go signal; and for the first time of the 2008 meet the liner responded like it was supposed to, hard acceleration off the line.  It accelerated briskly for a little less than a quarter mile, then the acceleration was really hard and it instantly disappeared into the horizon.

We loaded up the starter, and the crew got into the back of the pick up to chase the liner.  At the mile mark the spotter was jumping up and down with both thumbs in the air, grinning ear to ear.  When we reached  two mile marker, the spotter looked like a clone of the first, thumbs up, jumping up and down and grinning ear to ear.  When we appoached the three mile marker, the spotter indicated by a quick gesture across the throat area, that the engines had quit.  I told Steve D., "I bet the blower belt broke again."  We chased the liner down to the seven.  what we found was a very happy Hartmut grinning ear to ear.

I know the story, but I'd rather let Hartmut tell it in his own words.

I computed the gear ratios, rpms, tire size, etc.--the liner with side car, was running 275 mph before entering the three mile marker.  The reason for shut down of engines was the blower drive shaft broke.

                                       Max

Someone asked me in the 400 mph m/c tire thread how fast the liner has gone.  You'll find the story and speed in the quote.  Also, if you read further on into this thread, you'll find rider Hartmut Weidelich's account of the run at Bub 2008.

                                       Max