Introduce Yourself

[Mossy]

The Triumph Thunderbird was the Hayabusa of its day.  It is amazing how fast people went on those bikes.  They are truly a significant LSR vehicle from a historical viewpoint.

You're right, I've found a few old Bonneville records;
28/8/58 Bill Johnson, Class C, 500cc – 133.395 mph
28/8/58 Bill Johnson, Class C, 650cc – 147.42 mph
25/8/61 Gary Richards, Class AA, Prod based, Alcohol, 650cc – 159mph

Class C was supposedly pump gasoline but I would be interested in knowing the octane rating of pump gasoline in the US in the fifties. I'm guessing it may have been more than the 98 octane we now have in Australia

Cheers Mossy

[wobblywalrus]

Type "Bobby Turner" and "Wonderbird" into your internet search engine.

Aviation gasoline, rather than pump gas, would be needed to go those speeds, based on my experience with those old engines.  They need octane.

[Mossy]

I agree, I'm guessing they were running 110 octane avgas. From memory the poster I have of Bobby Turner says the bike had 13:1 pistons in it.
I have also come across some AMA minutes on the net, from 57 I think it was, where they talked about limiting the gasoline in Clasas C to 100 octane.
Cheers Mossy

[jangleguy]

Welcome Scotty (Jangleguy) to LSR. I was just in Medford last Thanksgiving. 

Small world, man. I was here too!

My brother races at the local drag strip with his son.

Drags are my main thing. I raced and worked there. Will watch for Barry.

We all have long storys about our racing at El Mirage, Muroc and Bonneville, just let us know if you need details for your book. ha-ha.

Well, it would be fun to meet you, next time you're around here. I dig Avantis.
 I think you will enjoy getting the salt fever like the rest of us.

Too late! Had salt in my shorts since the 70s.

Take care and enjoy,  Dave

[Seldom Seen Slim]

"...Had salt in my shorts since the 70s."

Many folks, you might be surprised to hear, wash their undies at least every once in a while, even when at Bonneville.

[Glen]

does that cause salt peter???

[4-barrel Mike]

Good one, Glen!

Mike

[Richard 2]

does that cause salt peter???

I hope not! 

[409deuce]

Hello all!
Mid 40's male from British Columbia, Canada. My fondness for land speed goes back a ways. Probably as far back as when I was a child shoving 1-64th streamliners through the shag rug. More recently (well 30 years ago) I remember helping my mother set up her table at a crafts fair in our home town. Next to us was a middle aged gentleman selling his wares. I noticed how badly his table legs were corroded with rust. After a couple hours I had to ask "whats up with the legs on your table"? He says "bonneville". He told me about his numerous visits with his motorcycle, very cool. Anyway, I would like to get my father and son to speedweek while dads still capable of the journey. We're all pretty jacked after watching the Worlds fastest indian. Anyway, I'm going to sit back and take in all the info in I can absorb on the forum. Who knows maybe we'll bring the 32 down for a hit one year, tech ready of course. Thanks allot!
Glen   

[wobblywalrus]

Hello, Glen.  It is nice of you to visit and bring people.  Hope to see you sometime and welcome to the forum.

[actionpatrick]

Hello, my name is Patrick and I have already learned so much from reading through your posts.  I have been involved in some form of racing or another from my youth.  I grew up in the Reno area and spent my childhood blasting through the desert with anything motorized.  Spent some time as pit crew for Rod Hall in the desert, and really loved my time with a circle track car in the dirt.  I've made my living as a mechanic and currently manage Action Automotive in Eugene Oregon.  That's where the user name comes from.  So for the last several years many people that know me said I should see the movie "The worlds fastest Indian" finally one customer who said this had a copy of the movie and sent me home with it.  I saw the movie and had to go, World finals 2010 were just a few weeks away.  I could only make it for Saturday but WOW this is so cool.  I now have terminal salt fever.  My crew is very diverse with many talents so we are hoping to take at least 4 bikes to World Finals 2011.  We are working on a 50cc that we hope can make 100, we have a Triumph Rocket that should fit the M-G class, and a zx14 that is still stock.  I'd really love some advice from SSS on what to do with the zx as that is my best chance to break 200.  I'll save the other questions for after the rule book is ready, I know I'll have lots.  Thank you for the great board, and sharing my dreams with me.

[salt27]

Welcome Patrick,
I remember an Action Automotive in Eugene but that was 35 years ago.
The owner had a black Sunbeam Tiger.

Don

[fredvance]

Welcome Patrick, always good to have new bike guys. First get a rule book, if you dont have one. Read it 47 times. Then keep it with you at all times.
I dont know much about Kawi's, but several people do.

  Fred

[Jonny Hotnuts]

I've made my living as a mechanic and currently manage Action Automotive in Eugene Oregon.

There are a good number of racers from Oregon, including myself and got my start pitting for the Tubby Racing Hudson (Eugene). Dennis Murray owner of 'Chili Pepper' is also from Eugene.

Good to see another Oregonian in the mix.

~JH

[fredvance]

Is that the Dennis Murray that makes my headers?