Werner ran just over 60mph on his bike for an AMA record in his class. I am a proud father and I will let him post his own story.
The Triumph was ready, sort of. The cam chain is badly worn. I discovered this during a last minute valve adjustment. The cam trailed several degrees behind the crank. I heard the chain whipping around when I rode the bike but I did not know how serious the problem was. My plan was to make two runs, maximum. It was not worth the danger of a broken chain to make any more.
In the past I wound out forth gear and made a high speed shift to fifth. This made the bike jiggle and increased the chances of a high speed wobble. I would not do this anymore. Also, I would slowly reduce the power during the mile after the traps. This would keep the bike's nose high and it would reduce the chance of a wobble. I would pull of of the course between mile 4 and 5. Also, I would tuck down and look through the windshield. I was always afraid to do this in the past. I practiced it this summer on the street. I am used to doing it.
The last year's last run ended in a bad speed wobble. I have raced enough now to know how dangerous it really is. This was a new chassis setup and I did not know how it would act. I was really scared and I wanted to puke while I was at mile 0 and waiting my turn to go. The starter flagged me to the line and my head cleared. He waved me off. I slowly accelerated through all five gears. At mile 1.5 Bonnie was at about 5,000 rpm in fifth at half throttle. I made sure I was pointed straight down the middle of the course, I snuggled down behind the shield, and I pulled the throttle to the stop. The bike moved out. It was at top speed just before mile 2 pulling 7,000 rpm. This is the perfect engine speed for sustained use. Everything was dead steady. No goofy handling. I zinged through the traps and slowed the bike down under power. No speed wobble. I was still alive and very happy. On the salt I cannot tell how fast I am going. My daughter, Gretchen, brought me the timing slip. 127 mph. This was 7 mph faster than last year. I could not believe it.
Now for the return run. I did exactly what I did before. I had my hand on the clutch lever. I would pull it in quick if the cam chain snapped. The engine stayed together. 123 mph against a 4 mph headwind. They measured the engine in impound on Tuesday afternoon and it passed. 790 cc is well below the 1000 cc class limit.
I looked at the data on the timing slips and I thought about it while driving back to Oregon. We had no money for engine work and none was done. The engine is the same as last year with 6,000 additional street miles. The changes that possibly increased speed are lower bars from a 2009 Thruxton so I can tuck better, Nology ignition coils and wires, a Metzeler radial front tire, and the new streamlined back end.
Lots of folks helped me and I have thanked them personally or I will thank them soon. Thanks to all that have helped me on this forum, either by direct advice or by posting things for others that have helped me. These were the fastest times of my life and it was on a steady handling bike. It does not get better than this.