Landracing Forum
Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials => Bville Motorcycle Speed Trials General Chat => Topic started by: peterdallan on August 13, 2013, 06:53:07 AM
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Hi,
I'm flying over from the UK next week and running a bike this year at BUB. My bike is currently in customs at Las Vegas and I'm based there for 3 days before I drive up to Wendover.
I'm planning to drive from Vegas to Wendover on Friday 23rd and I see it is about a 6 hour drive using I-15, US93 and NV318.
Would you advise I try to set up pits on the 23rd if I can, or do you have to wait till the 24th when the event actually starts. I don't want to be building a canopy and try and get the bike right for tech at the same time preferably.
Also what is left on the salt overnight normally. I'm aware of the winds so the canopy obviously but the bare frame stays up and bolted down I presume. What about bike, bench tools etc, are they loaded up into the van each night and driven back to our lodging?
Thanks for any help submitted here.
Regards
Peter
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Sounds complicated coming over the pond from UK Peter, setup begins on saturday the 24th at 9:30 am mountain time 1 hour later then Las Vages, set your clock at Wendover. Everthing is normally safe on the salt havn't ever heard of any problems like you said you are aware of tying everthing down. Chris Vetter "Vetter volocity" with team Tracy.
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Hi Chris
It certainly is, what with the shipping and logistics of getting everything we can't ship over here. It's why I have a couple of days in Vegas to find canopies, chairs, tables, drinks cooler yada yada yada, will start with the usual Lowes, Home Depot etc. all part of the fun and adventure of a trip like this.
Peter
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Get what you can before you arrive , Wendover is a bit light on for that sort of thing, between Smiths at the other end of town and the $2 shop nearer the salt you can usually get by but not with first choice items , we now have a real cool leopard skin look shade umbrella after forgetting to pack one
very unlikely you will be left wanting on the salt
security is very good overnite , but do pack it up weatherproof or you risk running over your items on the track the next day
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Hi Peter.
Well done for pulling it together and shipping one from the UK. Looks like we will be following you out there but, alas, without a bike.
I am sure you have this on your list of things to buy, but get a tarpaullin to put on the ground or the salt will get on to and into anything, also a broom.
Security on the salt is pretty good overnight I believe. But tie downs straps etc to make sure nothing blows away in what can be some fairly strong winds.
Good luck, hopefully we will be able to meet up and say hello. Listen out for our english accents :-)
regards
John Kennedy
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I have a whole list of stuff to get while in Vegas, I'm treating Wendover as if there is nothing there.
John, I shipped a 20ft flagpole and Union Jack with the bike so look out for that too. I'm trying to co-ordinate things with the Brough team so we sit side by side. We both raced bikes at the recent Pendine Sands event. I know Eric, the rider, from his Kempton Autojumbles. I've added my number below if you can't find us.
Regards
Peter
Barons Speed Shop
369 & 3696
Tel +44 7595 042 114
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I will come and find you, probably be on the Saturday as we will be busy from then on, and I am not sure where exactly we will be posted to.
It's a shame that John renwick wont be there as well this year. I saw the footage of his incident at Pendine. John was telling me the cones were too low and he couldn't see them.
What are you running Peter?
John
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I'm running a 1960 Triumph 650 in both A-PF and APS-PF.
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I ran my Tiger 100 at Pendine, but it was overgeared as we were expecting the flying mile but weather meant we only got a standing kilo. Best speed 97.20 mph. Great weekend though
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As you are looking for supplies in Sin City. Try a place called Sports Authority, they have cheap prices on canopies, folding chairs etc. They do sell quality stuff too but I go for cheap on the salt since sometimes it is a one way trip that stuff regardless of how much you spend. Cycle Gear is a good outfit to get your tiedowns, wheel chocks and things like that for the bike. Welcome!
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Beautiful Triumph!
Keep in mind 93 is a two lane, quiet road. Hope you are not in a huge hurry.
I drive home to SLC every night, so if you end up needing anything, let me know and I can grab it for you.
#663 Mark Atkinson
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Its good to read over the rules one last time before you go. We all forget at least one thing, usually. It is a good idea to bring photo copies of everything you sent and received from BUB, entry wise.
We race a Triumph so we have all the essential hammers, pry bars, air grinders, torch, etc you might need for routine adjustments. Look for bike #7497. - Bo and Gretchen
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Thanks for the advice and suggestions.
Plan to leave LV early on the 23rd so don't have to rush up to Wendover. I'm a sucker for a photo opportunity so can sometimes get waylaid!
I'm going to buy a cordless screwdriver to help me unpack the crate, apart from our UK centric tools we have with us, any other power tools we should invest in or are we likely to find most of it there with people happy to help out if necessary?
Happy to get stuff if needed, but as mentioned, most of it won't be coming back with us.
Another idea I had was to rent a unit in Wendover to dump everything after the event and share the contents with the next Brits that are over. We could then dump and borrow as necessary and save money. Or will everything be a rusty mess by the time we return a year later?
Thanks
Peter
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Peter: you might also try "Harbor freight" 3 locations in vegas 1 at 2240 Nellis Blvd no. of Sahara Ave. Nice place for cheap tools, tie downs, bungies, conopy, ground cover tarps and Home Depot has large nails 8" long borrow a hammer at salt to nail down tarp. Also be sure to top off fuel in Ely or any were else when down to half tank. Gas is few and far between. Chris
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Great info Chris, thanks. Can see now on google maps what you mean, and Ely is right on route.
Thank you.
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Its good to read over the rules one last time before you go. We all forget at least one thing, usually. It is a good idea to bring photo copies of everything you sent and received from BUB, entry wise.
We race a Triumph so we have all the essential hammers, pry bars, air grinders, torch, etc you might need for routine adjustments. Look for bike #7497. - Bo and Gretchen
Will certainly do so, as I mentioned we will fly a Union Jack and we are numbers 369 and 3696, same bike though, different class
Peter
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Quick question
Does it get cold in the evening or is it nice and temperate ie do I need to bring a coat. My weather app is suggesting one won't be necessary.
Cheers
Peter
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Usually the eveings are great. comfortable enough to sit around the pool with a BBQ and a beer, but, the rain can sting! I would say stick a jacket in just to be sure. It really shouldnt be cold. Early AM on the salt is certainly chilly enough to want a fleece on. It gets pretty cool overnight and takes maybe utill 08.00 or 09.00 to start to warm up. But you'll soon defrost come 11.00 and onwards don't worry 8-)
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Would you advise I try to set up pits on the 23rd if I can, or do you have to wait till the 24th when the event actually starts. I don't want to be building a canopy and try and get the bike right for tech at the same time preferably.
Pit set up/pre-registration check in and tech on SATURDAY the 24th. You will not be able to set up on the 23rd because you will not know where the pits are. Racing does not start until the 25th. XOXO-Linnea :-D
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That's great, thank you, will not have to rush from Vegas now and can take a leisurely drive with a couple of stops.
See you on the 24th!
Peter
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That's great, thank you, will not have to rush from Vegas now and can take a leisurely drive with a couple of stops.
See you on the 24th!
Peter
Welcome to our beautiful USA Peter. Enjoy a more leisurely ride, plenty of great National Parks and scenery to take in. Your Triumph looks Great !
Good luck on the salt. Stop by the Gray Ghost pit anytime for a cool H2O - We always fly the Stars & Stripes, not hard to find.
Jimbo
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I will Jimbo. I took the family to Vegas last year for my sons 21st but while they soaked the rays I drive to Page for the Horseshoe Bend and the Antelope Canyons, I got some of the best photos I've ever taken. So much of your country I've still to see, can't wait for the time I have 3 months to just drive around at will. Havasu Falls next I think.
The Triumph I am running at BUB is different to the red one, it's this one. Looking forward to meeting you all.
Peter
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Very nice bike Peter. Good shot. What do you use? Nikon, Canon?
Absolutely agree on the 3 month thing. One day, one day we will be able to do the same.
We are stopping at page on the return run from the salt this this year for the same reason.
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I use a Nikon D300s. I keep toying with upgrading to full frame but this camera has proved to be excellent.
You won't regret going to Page, make sure you take a tripod to the Antelope Canyons, each exposure is 10-30 seconds. Horseshoe Bend is a mile walk from the car park, no safety railings so you have to hang over the edge to get the best shot, I was shaking a bit, 1,000' drop below.
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/16/zu4ytanu.jpg)(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/08/16/uta6ytep.jpg)
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very nice. That little boat down there gives some scale, blimey it's big. I have wanted to go to Horsehoe bend for years. about 5 years ago we went through Page by accident and I didnt realise where it was in relation to horshoe bend. Been kicking myself since. So this year we are stopping overnight there.
I use a D90 and have been thinking about going to full frame for a while.
Anyway, I seem to be hijacking your threads.
Moving on
Petrol, methanol, petrol, bikes. Nitrous, salt, petrol yeah. :cheers:
only 1 week to go 8-)
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If you get the chance spend some time in the area , we were there for a couple of days , took a tourist boat up Lake Powell to Rainbow Bridge
That was a great great way to see the scenery .
At Horseshoe bend it took us a while to realise there were people walking at the base of the far right of the bend .
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I think the boat down there carries 15 people, something to give you an idea of scale. Amazing!
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Well we made it from London, bike in one piece, checked in ok but minor issues meant we didn't get a chance to go to tech, but passed no problem this morning. We're hoping to get our first run later today.
Peter
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Hi Peter.
What mile marker are you planning on starting from? Seems like me and the wife are starting and wrangling etc on mountain course mile 1.
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Mountain Course 1 mile is where we plan to do our first run, 7am ish tomorrow morning.
Peter
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Great looking TRI..............belt drive for primary???....GP. Carbs...been trying to get some over here for the BSA Vintage Road Racing sidecar outfit, no luck todate.............Good luck on your Bonneville effort...............................
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We don't use a belt drive, we use a speedway chain for our primary drive Bak.
We had a great time, we only worked out what settings we needed right at the end. We were told it would be hard, but it was HARD! Dick, my engine and bike builder, has worked on pre-units for 30 years in the UK, and built and prepared lots of race engines, but he said everything he had learnt didn't apply on the salt, and when we finally felt we had it sussed, and third in line to test out our theory, the storm broke and that was that.
We have come back to the UK feeling both great but disappointed. Our bike, 'The Epsom Salt' did break a record, but we never achieved the speeds we had hoped for.
We came away having made so many great new friends, and memories of a great camaraderie. We're all on a downer that we are home now and not back on the salt.
We had a funny moment at LAS airport after dropping off the bike. As our overloaded bags went through the X-ray we were pulled aside and asked why we appeared to have half a motorcycle in our luggage. What's this sir? Intake valves. And these? Clutch plates, this? A magneto. And so it went for about 15 minutes, all fine in the end.
Of course we have salt fever. Have we block booked next years dates in our work holiday rota? You bet we have!
Thank you all again for making this trip so fun and worthwhile.
Peter, Dick, Gary, Giorgio, Laurie and Chris
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The remark that what has been learned before does not apply at Bonneville is the way I feel a lot, too. Tuning for the salt is a challenge.
A can be done. Koncrete Kid is running in the 140's on a single cylinder BSA, Jim Leininger in the SCTA is over 160 mph on a 650 cc Honda push rod v-twin, and Tom Mellor made it over 200 mph on a trident triple.
One thing all of these folks share in common is stubbornly staying with the same engine for a long time and learning it thoroughly.
Early in my LSR career there were a lot of very fast records held by Triumphs. The engine you are working with has potential.
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Hi Peter,
Yes, there's always next year!!! Still, you had a good go at it!!!
Maybe see you this Saturday next to Santa Pod for the "back to Bonneville" meeting???
Patrick
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Hoping to be there Patrick
Peter
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Hi Peter.
So did you and the team make it over to Bonneville this year? If so, how did it go?
cheers
John
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Ye we did John, but picked Speed Week to experience the cars too, as you know the rest is history............... Expensive mistake not to have returned to BUB this year. Hey Ho.
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That is a shame Peter. I was looking forward to hearign of some good times being set by you.
Next year??
We couldn't make it this year but we have already started looking for flights for 2015.
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Perhaps next year, let's see, it costs me about $17,000 a trip to bring the bike and crew over, and if there's no racing it's a total waste of money and valuable holiday time.
Not saying no but.............
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Very good point Peter. It is an expensive trip from this side of the water.
Fingers crossed. If all goes well we will see you there next year.
Best wishes
John
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Hope so John, I'll let you know what I decide
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that'll be great. Yes, keep in touch Peter.
Dawn and I will look forward to hopefully seeing you an dthe team out there.
best wishes
John
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Comet & Dawn................missed you at the starting line :wink:
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Hi Scrambler.
I can tell you Dawn and I really missed being there. It felt like the longest week at work of the whole year! We took part in a local event over here, Wings and Wheels at Dunsfold. The riders meeting was NOT the same without Rex and the team. and of course it was colder and more damp. we just looked at each other knowing what we were missing.
Top notch stuff was "parading" though. Some Vincent motorcycles,a couple of Indians, a few Bentley cars, Ferarris, and the Napier Railton was amazing. 1935 24 ltr aeroplane engined car. Blinking brilliant it was. :-D
Not long now though, only 350 days, or somewhere around that amount. Time to get fettling guys!!
cheers
John (and Dawn as well of course)
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Hey Peter. We saw you on the telly yesterday :-D. We were watching Henry Cole. An interview with you, and Dawn caught a glimpse of herself too.
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Hey John how's it going? I'm unlikely to be going to Bonneville this year after last years total washout. Planning a few sprints like Ramsgate and have booked myself down for Pendine Sands in May. Are you going back to BUB?
Peter
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Hi Peter.
Yes, we are going back this year. It is a shame you wont be there, but I can easily understand why. We are really looking forward to seeing everyone again, fingers crossed for less wet stuff, and more sunshine and dryness.
When is the Ramsgate sprint Peter? That is not too far from us.I doubt we will be able to make it over to Pendine - although you neer know. It has been on my "must do" list for a couple of years.
John
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Ramsgate Sprint is the 15/16th August, probably no good for you unfortunately.
Peter