land speed racing, maine, 2019

[dorset]

we're headed for maine in a week.

running a 1965 triumph 650, and looking for 140 mph.



this machine has done 135.259 so far, with a production frame, no aero aids, running on gasoline. it's the fastest triumph bonneville that's ever been, to my knowledge.

we'll see what we can do.

[Hoofhearted]

Good luck with Maine. Hope to hear some good news. Whichever way it goes report back.

[Goldy]

I wish my buddy would hurry up and get his machine ready to run...I've been waiting to go for the past two years! Good luck Dorset!

[whittiger650]

Kevin,

Where in Maine and when is this ? If I can make it, I would love to see it and meet up with you

[govmule84]

Fuckin' right! Get some!

[dorset]

Originally Posted by whittiger650

Kevin,

Where in Maine and when is this ? If I can make it, I would love to see it and meet up with you

it's way up so far north the far end of the course has your cellphone switching to canada. i am not kidding.


safety inspections are wednesday, 10 july, and racing continues through sunday, 14 july (or saturday if everybody is broken).

loring air force base. an old B52 runway up in limestone, maine.

https://www.facebook.com/loringtiming/


it's not just me. there's a 67 BSA hornet that'd done 131, and an 850 norton that's crossed 150 at least once. and a super-annoying BSA B50 single that does 154 and embarrasses all the twins.


go in the driveway and follow the edge of the concrete to the left. when you see the kids picking wild strawberries just off the pits, that's us.

[Ducbsa]

More here: https://www.loringtiming.com/

[whittiger650]

Originally Posted by dorset

loring air force base. an old B52 runway up in limestone, maine.

That is super cool ! As luck would have it, I am working every day through that weekend until the 18th and 19th which are my days off. It was beyond ambitious when I posted to think I would be able to be there. Why I thought so escapes me

Anyway, I welcome you to stop by if you are coming through Vermont near Montpelier as I know I can work that out.

[dorset]

oops





still don't know why, but we took a rod through the cases.



ran the machine on the side track up and down, up and down, to continue breaking in the new rings on the honed old bore. then took it out an an easy run down the course, 5000 rpm through the mile at 95 mph, then opened it up to reach 126 at the mile and a half.


went around again and ran a hard run. 131 at the mile, then it tightened up and poked a rod out the front.


so this motor is history, and i'm not sure what else is broken. won't have time to put another motor together for the next event at the end of august, i don't think.


but my daughter now has the one-mile record for P/P 250/4 on a 2007 ninja 250EX, at 102 mph, with 103 in the mile.


her first race.

[rhysmort]

Congrats to your daughter for the excellent result, sad to see that engine destroyed. I would hazard if you've thrown a rod through the case the rest won't be a pretty sight either.. Very strange for it to do that... here's to hoping you have something together soon.

[Hoofhearted]

Ouch!!! I hate to see that happen to any engine. Especially with all the work that went into it. I guess the post mortem (in due course) will reveal what happened. Congrats to your daughter.

[Thunderbird]

more 'offerings to the God of speed', trust something can be learnt from it when you pull it apart. Sounds like a case of the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree with your daughter, well done to her.

[joe49]

Congrats to your daughter.
RIP to the engine, hopefully it will live on as a organ donor to the next one.

[dorset]

i have six weeks to put another motor together. have to look inside, but the important part is the head. its a 1972 9 and a half bolt head, the last of the 650s. ported by rob hall. need to see how banged up it is.