After many years of trying, team owner and project leader Denis Manning (8th from the right) and his BUB Land Speed Record team finally enjoyed the opportunity to pose for a photo as the holder of the ultimate motorcycle land speed record. Runs of 354.832 mph and 346.937 mph gave the team a two-way FIM world record average of 350.884 mph.
 UB Enterprises’ Denis Manning had his hands full at the 3rd Annual International Land Speed Trials by BUB, held in early September at the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Manning is the creator and head promoter of the event which has enabled people to ride and experience Bonneville who just a few years ago knew nothing about it.
Thanks to his staff at BUB who were able to organize the racing activities for the event, Manning’s primary attention this year went to his purpose-built Bonneville streamliner that he refers to as “7.” After building the Harley-Davidson-powered liner that Cal Rayborn drove to a world speed record way back in 1970, Manning has participated in numerous attempts through the years to regain the record. He has been knocking at the door in recent years, but this was the year he and his BUB team were ready to make a serious assault on Dave Campos’ 16-year standing record.
Manning’s new pilot this year was none other than the legendary dirt track racer Chris Carr, the seven-time AMA Grand National Champion. Following a pre-event schedule of test runs to bring Carr up to speed on how to drive a Bonneville streamliner, the job got done quick, in fact Carr’s only runs of the meet were once up and once back, per FIM regulations to establish a world’s record and when the parachute came out he had a new record with a two-way average of 350.884 miles per hour.
But Chris Carr was not the only competitor at Bonneville in search of glory. In addition to classes governed by the FIM, and many others by the AMA, the BUB meet even featured a class called “Run Watcha Brung,” so entries and variety of machines were plentiful. There were classes for streamliners, partially streamlined, sidecars, machines running on fuel, or just gas. Even a class for diesel power. You name it, there was a class.
For information about results of the 3rd Annual International Land Speed Trials by BUB, go online to: http://www.speedtrialsbybub.com.
As with any competitive meet, the first order of business is a rider’s meeting to discuss specific methods and procedures of how things will run.
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Laura Ellison of Mitchell, S.D. was one of many female riders competing in this year’s speed trials. She set a class record of 143.686 mph in class 3000-MPS-PG on her Klock Werks-built and sponsored Harley.
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Wink Eller of Yorba Linda, CA built and rode this unique Harley sidecar with recumbent-type steering. He set a record in the sidecar class at 167.874 mph and also won a $500 cash prize in the meet for Top Time for a motorcycle with a side car.
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Bonneville has a loyal following of competitors who are usually devoted to a particular aspect of the sport. This 125cc entry from BK Racing had a best run of 123.389 mph.
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Pete Davis of Nevada rode the Drag Specialties FatBook Flyer to a new AMA record of 154.835 mph in class 2000-M-PF.
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Chris Carr had not even arrived at Bonneville yet when Rocky Robinson broke the existing world speed record in Mike Ackatiff’s “Ack Attack,” powered by twin Suzuki Hyabusa motors. Robinson’s two way average was 342.797 mph.
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Just a day after Rocky Robinson established a new record, Chris Carr arrived at Bonneville with high hopes of setting the bar even higher.
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Chris Carr brings her home. Even against a slight headwind, his return run of 346.937 was enough to give him and his team a world record average of 350.884 mph.
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Following Chris Carr’s opening one-way run of 354.832 mph, Denis Manning prepares his BUB 7 streamliner for what would be the decisive run for the record. The FIM requires machines to run the one-mile course in both directions and uses the two-way average as the official speed.
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Sensing his new place in history, emotions ran high for Chris Carr after he climbed out of the cockpit. His family was there to enjoy the moment to congratulate him.
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Roger Goldammer was another well-known custom builder making runs on the salt this year. His 250cc speedster made numerous runs in the 124 to 128 mile per hour range,
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One of the neat things about the International Land Speed Trials by BUB is that even machines in virtually stock form can come and experience a run down the salt at Bonneville.
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The J&P Cycle streamliner pops the parachute after a run. No records this year, but they’ll be back.
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Builder Matt Hotch rode this custom bike powered by a 1950s-era Vincent V-twin.
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An unexpected highlight of the event banquet was Brian Klock’s wedding proposal to Laura Ellison. After setting a class record on the salt, the 2006 International Land Speed Trials by BUB will be a memorable one for the couple from Klock Werks.
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Veteran Bonneville competitor Sam Wheeler threw himself into the middle of the BUB-Ack Attack duel at the meet when he made an initial run of 355.303 mph in his self-built Kawasaki-powered streamliner. Unfortunately, a front tire came apart as he was slowing down after the run, causing a spill. He was uninjured, but the damages to his machine prevented him from making a potentially record-setting return run.
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Sam Wheeler (right) enjoys a bittersweet moment with old friend Denis Manning, the event promoter. Even though Manning and his pilot got the world record, Wheeler’s one-way run of 355.303 mph was the fastest of the meet, earning Sam the $5,000 cash prize for Top Time of the Meet. Tire problems prevented Sam from completing his bid for the record.
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Another angle of Wink Eller and his hand-built custom sidecar. |
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