I think Rocky made that last pass with just three gears. Earlier in the week he had trouble with first so started leaving the truck in second. The tuner put a little more in the bottom end for second gear - so with a good shove from Mike Rocky got moving well.
And at the end of the meet one engine didn't shift into fifth (maybe it was both) so they swapped engine and rear sprockets (there's one on either side of the drive wheel) to wind up with a ratio where they'd get that 385 in fourth. Yeah, that's really tall - but it worked. He might have got to 400 or more if he had had a good amount more of track -- evidenced by the still-increasing speed at the end of his run -- but now we'll never know, 'cause next time the bike runs (if ever) -- conditions won't be the same no matter how hard they try to duplicate 'em.
He sure does know how to ride that bike. Like - the two times he got it heeled over and a bit sideways leaving the line. You know as well as I that there's no room for body english in there (in any 'liner, car or bike) - but he caught it and got back on the straight and true within a few hundred yards of where he had the "issues".
With only three shifts - he got it into "high" gear early enough that he (later) told us that he knew he was on a fast run, pinmned the throttle and enjoyed the ride. Lucky stiff -- wouldn't it be great to be able to ride a race vehicle like that - the fastest motorcycle in the world?
We're at O'Hare now, awaiting the puddle-jumper plane that'll take us back to way up north. I'm part way done with a press release about the Shootout -- I'll send it to the group of you that has requested it that way, and I'll remind the rest of youse that I'll be happy to do what I can for your local media.