The Salt Ghost - pre-unit Triumph land speed bike

[lowbrowcustoms]

This article was written by Wes White of Four Aces Cycle and originally appeared on ChopCult. I am reposting this for your viewing pleasure!



The “Salt Ghost” first came out of hiding around 2005 at the Bub Speed Trials, where some old guy rolled it out of a trailer at that event’s swap meet. Keith Martin of Big D Cycles in Dallas bought it without a second thought. Keith and his crew got it running in a few hours and rode it back to the old guy, who seemed mighty impressed that they could exorcise his demon so quickly. Keith took it back to Dallas, where it remained in his office until Wes White, another learned student of Bonneville lore, started bugging Keith about the machine a couple years ago. In September of 2009, Keith Martin succumbed to Wes’s prodding and sold his LSR time machine to Four Aces Wes and fellow partner in grime Tyler Malinky of Lowbrow Customs.



Along with the bike Wes and Tyler got a box full of trophies, memorabilia and documentation proving the Salt Ghost’s racing pedigree. One such piece was a photo showing bike and owner/builder doing a buck-forty and change at SoCal’s El Mirage dry lake in 1969. The man behind the bike was Theo Ozen, the president of an El Mirage racing club called the Rod Riders in ‘68 or ‘69.



The Salt Ghost is a classic piece of dry lakes racing history, complete with badass speed parts. A 1961 Bonneville engine powers the bike, and the chassis comprises a 1948 Triumph rigid frame with a swingarm pre-unit Triumph gearbox mounted with custom alloy engine/gearbox plates. The Bonne mill has a later nine-bolt head on a 650 barrel with Harmon and Collins roller tappet conversion. The cams have yet to be identified, but they have serious lift, enough for the valves to require .008” and .010” clearances when stock was .002” and .004”.



Two Amal GP carburetors dump fuel into this fire-breathing motor through not one but two Amal Matchbox floats. These floats are like an open or shot trap door. Since GP carbs have no idle circuits, keeping the Salt Ghost lit requires revving the throttle constantly. Both the stock primary and final drive chainguards are functional works of art with just enough meat to save the rider’s foot from turning into hamburger. This open approach was necessary to facilitate speedy gear ratio changes. The oil tank is another super tricky piece that was made to fit into the place where the generator on the stock bike would have been. It probably holds a couple pints—just enough to keep the motor lubed for the three-mile stretch at Bonneville. The clip-ons are barely there, and the rearsets with no-frills brake and shifter linkage are pure function, no flair at all.

[lowbrowcustoms]

Rolling stock on the Salt Ghost is a cornucopia of goodness for vintage part nerds. The front rim is a WM1x21 Borraini Record, and the rear is a WM1x20. The front wheel is shod with an Avon Speedmaster and the rear boasts a shaved Beck “TT Special.” Shaving tread was low-buck speed mod back in the day to reduce the rolling resistance and rotational mass of a racing bike’s meats. The crowning glory for this bike is the ultra-rare 1957 Tiger 100R/R gas tank, which is distinguishable by its angled petcock fittings and its super-slim shape, to say nothing of its original, stock paint. Where is the seat you ask? It is on top of the fender, and after sitting in a barn for the past 30 years it has become a taint breaker without equal.



The Salt Ghost’s new owners are justifiably thrilled by their latest acquisition, but remain circumspect about their machine’s future. Could a resurrection on the hallowed grounds of its birth be in the Salt Ghost’s racing log? Time will tell. Today only one thing is certain: The Salt Ghost’s spirit is destined to live on in the greasy, nurturing hands of two very dedicated and capable patrons of the Brit bike arts.




This photo credit: Hugh Swingle

[JuhaP]

WOW! That is one of the best looking bikes I have ever seen. Rebuild the engine, if needed, but dont touch anything else... Its perfect.

[Choptop]

I should have bought it when I first saw it... but I didnt have room in the trailer to bring it back from the Salt. Damn.

[GothboY]

That thing is just sex on wheels man. Glad it has a great home now.
-GothY-

[drumrooster]

restore that bitch and go back and break the record or maybe die trying...get video either way..nice score man..

[hillbillyhell]

Tyler. You are an asshole.

[gasketscraper]

What a cool piece of history. I'm glad its in good hands! Makes you want to go W.O.T. on the salt! Maybe someday.

[No honestlyitsme]

wow, great piece of history right there, nice post its cool to hear about the oldschool modifications they made on the cheap

[servi53]

ride and history, cool as hell, get it going and ride

[skinthead]

Originally Posted by hillbillyhell

Tyler. You are an asshole.

Your saying this makes me even more interested to meet Tyler in person....hahahah! But why you say that is beyond me.

very cool find guys! I am with whoever said rebuilt the engine and take her back out and try to romp another record out of her!

[horror]

I liked the bike a lot when i saw it before. good story too.
I'd like to blog about it

[joes bakery]

very,very .... kool

[Dirty_Kustoms_LA]

beautiful, glad its with a good set of guys!!!

[hillbillyhell]

Originally Posted by skinthead

Your saying this makes me even more interested to meet Tyler in person....hahahah! But why you say that is beyond me.

YOu should want to meet Tyler because he has a dreamy physique, not because I called him an asshole. I just call him that because Tyler is abusive towards me, and regularly mocks me in public. He did not consider my feelings before buying this fine motorbike. hahaha, it could all just be an inside joke

Good on Tyler and Wes for buying this thing. I know a bit about what they're doing with it, and they deserve great praise.

[Okie Pete]

Wow great piece of history. Rebuild it , ride it and add to the story.

[el diablo]

Originally Posted by gasketscraper

What a cool piece of history. I'm glad its in good hands!

you don't know that for sure !!

it would be better in my hands
race the thing ..it was build for just that !

[not45blesk]

race it to oblivion

this year my projects to go to the salt drowned in shallow water, but man you got it

take it there and race it ... against the race chic or the race correct...

great find and great story

[Lurkingclass]

If I were to state my true sentiments regarding the acquisition of this motorcycle, I would most definitely be referred to as a "hater" so I will abstain. I'll just say nice score.

[barndoor]

Great Read. Thanks for sharing.

I'd keep it the way it is.