YouTube Shorts from the Flats
History as told by the people who push the limits of man and machine
Some say there is a fine line between passion and obsession. At the Salt Flats there seems to be no line at all .... people are gathered together with one goal in mind - speed. Join the cast of characters and hear stories of fun, friendship and determination while they chase their dream in Bonneville Stories. This is the next best thing to flying through the measured mile yourself.
Click on a story title below to watch the YouTube videos. PLEASE CLICK LIKE ON YOUTUBE PAGE
Valerie Thompson Worlds Fastest Female Motorcycle Racer 304 MPH
Valerie Thompson becomes the world’s fastest female motorcycle racer at the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials with a 300.263 MPH average in the timed mile and a top speed of 304 MPH.
This is one of many cracks Valerie has made in the glass ceiling and she has only just begun. Thrilling to see her perspective from the cockpit of the “7” Motorcycle Streamliner.
Valerie Thompson World's Fastest Woman on a Motorcycle 294.782 MPH
Valerie Thompson just put another crack in the glass ceiling by setting a new motorcycle land speed record of 294.782 MPH.
Watch her reactions as she pilots the "7" Streamliner down the 7 mile course. Thrilling, and she's not done yet.
Gray Ghost II New Record Bonneville 2014
The 2014 Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials were pulled off under some of the most extreme conditions imaginable. I call it the 2014 Slush Fest.
The pits were just that – But – the BMST volunteers had two tracks on higher ground/salt, and had them groomed very nice. Big Kudos to all the BUB Volunteers who returned this year. Rex & Tom in the tower, you guys rock. So after a couple of hair on the back of your neck standing up, maybe even a fresh pair of shorts runs we clocked a good record run. A 185.57 qualifying down run & a 189.336 return run for a new record in the APS-PF 1650 class of 187.45 After nine years going to Bonneville, I have to say this year was the most challenging". Jim Fischer
© 2010 Lou Fischer
KillaJoule, World's Fastest Electric Sidecar Motorcyle
Eva Hakansson Electric Motorcycle Innovator
Eva Hakansson and Bill Dube are an amazing husband and wife team. Both engineers, they are using the Bonneville salt flats and assorted drag strips to test and prove the viability of electric powered vehicles. Bill and Eva are having fun and setting speed records everywhere they go. Their race team KillCycle and KillaJoule, though still in the early days of development, continues to innovate and break speed records.
In this video, filmed at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials 2013, they tell their story of the love of everything electric- as Eva likes to say "Gas is sooooooo last century!"
214 MPH Electric Streamliner Bonneville 2012
Eva Hakansson Electric Motorcycle Innovator
Born in Sweden and grew up in a family of engineers, Eva and her father Sven, who is a champion racer, motorcycle designer, and over all genius engineer built Sweden’s first street legal electric motorcycle. “ElectroCat”
She is now teamed with her husband, Bill Dube - owner and designer of the world’s quickest electric motorcycle “KillaCycle” 0-60 MPH in under a second! Eva is passionate about electric racing.
“It’s like chocolate without calories: it gives me everything I want – power, speed, torque, without the things I don’t want - pollutions”.
Dan Kinsey is a 7x land speed record holder. He worked for years at S&S Cycles in Viola, Wisconsin, both as a machinist and performance tester. Early in his career, Dan tested and rode S&S Performance motorcycles as his day job. The machines included gas and nitro methane ‘sit on’ bikes as well as a nitro burning streamliner. Kinsey talks about the legends he worked with, including George Smith-both father and son, as well as Warner Riley and Denis Manning who were both legends in motorcycle land speed racing. Illustrated with archival images and film footage, Dan talks about the thrills and hazards of racing on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Reunion on the Salt - 1970 World’s Fastest Motorcycle Land Speed Record Stream Liner
Warner Riley and John Yeats meet after nearly 40 years after setting a world record for the fastest motorcycle. It was the Denis Manning’s Harley Davidson Stream Liner.
Hear and see the backstory with all the ups and downs and on the fly ingenuity to make it the Fastest motorcycle in the world
Edwards Racing at Home at Bonneville
Edwards Racing is a family team of two bothers Simon, David and their father
Edward Edwards. They tell their story on how the Bonneville experience has help change their lives in a good way.
Simon's return home after serving in Afghanistan as an Army Special Forces Medic and finds himself feeling a bit lost until discovering land speed racing at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
David Edwards 177+ mph Crash Bonneville 2012
Edwards Racing a family team has had many successes with there 2006 Kawasaki ZX-14. David Edwards last year ran a 193 mph and brother Simon ran a 188 mph. David was piloting the bike into the timed mile at 177 mph when a high speed wobble brought down David and the bike.
Riley • Fischer • Wit Gray Ghost II 6 Land Speed Records
A lot of people have been asking for More Helmet Cam. So I compiled runs from the early testing at Union Grove Dragway, BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats and finally ending 2012 at ECTA Wilmington Mile.
East Cost Timing Association Wilmington Mile September 28th - 29th 2012
Warner Riley, Jim Fischer and Mike Witt of the Gray Ghost Project II establish 3 new AMA land records speed records at BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials 2012 on the Bonneville Salt Flats. One month later the Gray Ghost II team set 3 more new land speed records at ECTA's Wilmington Mile In Ohio.
Gray Ghost II Project 2012 Set 3 Records at Bonneville
Warner Riley, Jim Fischer, Mike Witt join forces along with S&S Cycle to build a 1650cc Harley Davidson Sportster to run at this years BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials.
The event was a huge success with achieving 3 back-to-back record runs to conclude with an AMA National Land Speed Record of 169.627 MPH and a Top Speed of 170.552 MPH.
Build Test Tune for Bonneville
Gray Ghost II Project 2012
Warner Riley, Jim Fischer, Mike Witt join forces along with S&S Cycle to build a 1650 cc Sportster to run at this years BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials in pursuit of an AMA Land Speed Record.
Tom Burkland for Love of Family, Friends and Bonneville
Tom Burkland shares his experience and family racing archives that started in the late 60's on the salt. He also is one of the track coordinators at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials where history is made every year and where this story is told.
Tom, Linda, Gene, and Betty Burkland own the fastest piston-powered SCTA record in history. On October 16, 2004, Tom Burkland climbed into his family's PPG Auto Finishes Orange AA/BFS streamliner at Bonneville and cranked a new two-way average of 417.020.
Sodium Distortion More than records
Father and son team, Lee Omer and Jason Omer, exemplify the spirit of BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials. They will work on a stranger’s bike to get it salt ready to pass tech before they even prep their own bike for racing.
Their team has grown over the years to include racers from all parts of the country.
It’s a personal commitment to make Bonneville a memorable experience for all Team member, Bill Wood, set a land speed record on his home built, lay-down motorcycle but it’s more than a record that keeps him coming back.
Valerie Thompson's Need for Speed
Scottsdale Arizona resident Valerie Thompson has set her sights on becoming the "World's Fastest Female." Thompson has risen from a top competitor in the All Harley Drag Racing Association series to become a 2-Time Land Speed Record Holder at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats.
Valerie is managing her 200+ mph motorcycle land speed racing team, or preparing to pilot a 50,000 horsepower supersonic land speed vehicle!. Valerie ran a "personal best" top speed of 209.5 mph at the premier event of the 2012 Mojave Magnum 1.5 Mile Speed Trials
Jody Perewitz The first woman to go over 200 MPH on an American V-Twin
A father and daughter race team make history at Bonneville. During the 8th Annual BUB Bonneville Speed Trials Jody Perewitz became the first woman to break the 200 MPH barrier on an American V-Twin
The bike is a complete custom built Perewitz Cycle Fabracting using a Daytec frame and a Jim's 100 cubic inch engine assembled by R&R Cycles and tuned by Dan Thayer. With the help of an Intercooled B-1 ProCharger Supercharger this small engine combination pushes over 200 rear wheel horsepower! During her five mile Bonneville run she had a top speed of over 205 MPH and an average of 203.111. Weather and an unrelated technical issue conspired to keep her from backing up the speed, but still new records were established and the team is hungry to go even faster in 2012.
Thanks to the Volunteers Song by Drew Gatewood
Raise your glass of beer and say thank you to the volunteers.
This short video is Drew Gatewood's newest song and is a dedication to all of the volunteers of the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
They come from around the world to work 12 hour days in the middle of the high desert. Many come back year after year to witness motorcycle racing history on the world's fastest racecourse.
Seth Osburnsen is approachable, down to earth, and likeable ... and rides a Can Am like no other. He rides to and from work even in the dead of winter plowing through the Bemidji, Minnesota weather with a snow tire on the back of his three wheel motorcycle.2011 Seth went to Bonneville for the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials with his everyday Can-Am and put it though its paces for 5 days. This guy has a 'can do' sprit and when you meet him it rubs off on you.
Gray Ghost Project 2011 Another Record Year
Its been a 4 year effort for Jim Fischer since he lost the 2007 landspeed record in the MP-1350 class.
He reclaimed the record this year at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials 2011. On his 1974 Harley Davidson Ironhead Sportster Jim twoice set a new two way average AMA national record with a respectable 143.503 MPH. Jim's person best speed for the event was 147.797 MPH one way.
See jim's runs and education in the pits with some of landspeed racings longtime legends.
Scooter Grubb is a freelance photojournalist
That is on the weekends and a stockbroker by trade during the week. He masterfully shoots magazine features, drag races and motorcycle events. The one that he is most passionate about is the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Scooter tells his story of photography on the flats, the incredible people he meets, and the volunteers he works with for 4 ½ days once a year.
Scooter creates photo books of the Sturges and BUB events for the public that you can preview and purchased at his web site www.scootershoots.com.
Rex Svoboda, course director for BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials,
Rex choreographs 800 pound missiles that travel at 200+ mph. Two landing strip type courses reside
in the middle of the high desert and it takes a committed team of volunteers, in the timing tower, at the starting lines, and along the length of the 11 mile race track to make it all work. Rex tells his story of how he became addicted to the salt and gives us an insider's look at life in the timing tower in the center of the Bonneville Salt Flats, the World's Fastest Race Course.
Fritz Kott was the epitome of a true racer, builder of horsepower, and lover of all things mechanical.He should always be thought of as a great husband, family man, hard worker, and enthusiastic racer. When Fritz's time came, he was working on a hotrod DeSoto in preparation of upcoming Vintage Drag Races. May we all be just as fortunate to be involved with and surrounded by what we love when our own checkered flags are waved.
The following short video explains this great man's thoughts on racing,
and better yet, in his own words. God Speed Fritz.
Craig “Peg Leg” Anderson The World’s Fastest Optimist
“I grew up loving motorcycles and was always racing or spinnin’ wrenches. I can’t imagine life without them – they are an integral part of my body.” I worked in the ski industry for 20 years. About 11 years ago a part failed on a rigging job and I was the victim of an accident that took both my legs at the knees.” This changed my life forever. I found myself wondering “OK – here you are in the middle of your life and what are you going to do? Where do you go from here?’
Terry Prince Love for Speed and Vincent Motorcycles
At the age of 16 Terry bought his first Vincent that he still races today. This Londoner embarked on a life’s work of engineering and manufacturing high performance parts for Vincent motorcycle racing.
Terry was an engineer for Fritz Egli, where he helped to create the Egli Vincent. The TPV was inspired by those machines.
Now living in Australia for the past 30 years Terry owns and operates Classic Motor Bikes a high performance shop that people from around the world get their parts for racing.
AMA Hall of Famer Marty Dickerson and Vincent Racing legend
In the 1940’s Marty Dickerson worked on Northrop’s B 35 Flying Wing. He also enjoyed flying down southern California road son this Triumph Tiger.
In 1950 he rode to Bonneville to help Rollie Free and his efforts for a land speed record, While there Marty caught Salt fever. He also meet Burt Munro and was instrumental to providing background to the movie “the worlds Fastest Indian”.
“ I Like Things That go” Music by Drew Gatewood
Featuring dozens of high speed runs from the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2010. Racers and average folks from around the world and motorcycles of all shapes and sizes.
All done to the music of Drew Gatwood
Bonneville Stories XV Richard Assen's 250MPH Hayabusa
From the land that brought us the kiwi bird and Bert Munro come the A-Ward Attachment team setting a new world record for the SCTA. Richard Assen can't wait to get back to the flats because "when the flag drops the bike accelerates very fast and you redline in every gear and the air tries to suck you off the back of the bike ... it's one of the most exhilarating experience I've ever had- to be alone in silence in this great white void with euphoria washing over you-it's completely magic!"
Bonneville Stories Part XIIII “Got the will to get to Bonneville
Drew Gatewood is a man of many passions- family, speed, music and fun. His quest for speed started early when he found a 4 cycle engine and rebuilt it with his father. A passion was ignited and grew. Drew initially received his F.I.M. technical steward license 2006 and 2010 will mark his 5th year working at the BUB speed trials. There is one more passion of Drew’s in his life-music. Drew had the opportunity to go to the Berkelee College of Music in Boston but he chose a life of speed, so it is no surprise that his music is the ultimate soundtrack of the flats experience. This video has plenty of run footage that shows the speeds that can be reached on the open salt.
Bonneville Stories Part XIII the Sam Wheeler Story
Sam Wheeler had one desire growing up in southern California… to go really fast. He built his first streamliner in 1961 at the age of 18 with 20” bicycle wheels and 1/2” electrical tubing from Sears and went 93 mph at El Mirage. After that Sam’s need for speed would have to wait. He was drafted and sent to Viet Nam.
“I found myself thinking, if I ever get out of here alive, I’m going to build another streamliner.” He did and the rest is history.
Bonneville Stories Part XII ChronoLogic’s Speedy The World’s Fastest Stuffed Gerbil
James and Alan Rice are owners of ChronoLogic Timing, a tiny company that makes high precision clocks and other devices for racing. They are also engineers, belly tank racers, world explorers, major players in historic speed events, and owners of the world’s fastest stuffed gerbil, “Speedy.”
Bonneville Stories Part XI Leslie Porterfield.
Quest to be the World's Fastest Woman on a motorcycle
Leslie Porterfield loves a challenge. At the age of 16 she bought an old cruiser in boxes for 00 reconstructed it … mostly because someone said it couldn’t be done. So it is not surprising that at the age of 32 Leslie holds the fastest record on a motorcycle of any woman in the world and is the first woman to earn inclusion into the prestigious Bonneville 200 MPH Club on a conventional motorcycle. After crashing at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2007 breaking 7 ribs, puncturing a lung and suffering a concussion Leslie was determined to set some records … and she did! The record of 209 MPH on an unfaired motorcycle and again in 2009 with an unbelievable 240 MPH pass belong to Leslie. This is the first time in history a woman has taken the award. Leslie’s goals are simple and summed up in two words “Go Faster!”
Bonneville Stories Part X "Anatomy of a Streamliner"
A supremely talented and self-taught designer and fabricator, Denis Manning has devoted his life to pursuing the motorcycle land-speed record and his innovative streamliners have succeeded on more than one occasion. Manning, also the founder of aftermarket motorcycle exhaust pipe company BUB Enterprises, built the streamliner that multi-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr rode to a world-record 350.8 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats on Sept. 7, 2006.
Bonneville Stories Part VIIII 138 MPH Harley Ironhead Sportster "Gray Ghost Project
2008"Jim Fischer was captured by the spirit of the privateer land speed racing enthusiasts He rides a 74 Harley Ironhead Sportster, a former rolling basket case that his wife Barb found in '01 in the Sunday paper. He nursed the bike back to health in his garage, not really thinking of racing at Bonneville. The first year at the flats he rode it in the run "what ya brung" category and the fever hit. Salt fever that is, and the old Harley basket case was transformed three times over the next three years. Achieving the AMA land speed record in its class in 2007.
Bonneville Stories Part VIII "Gates 158 Cubic Inch Monster V-Twin Motorcycle"
Greg Gates of Gates Performance Engineering in Laingsburg, Mi, specializes in performance of the hand made variety. A former GM design engineer, Gates designed and machined the 230-plus hp engine hat set a new record of 171.252 MPH at Bonneville.
The monster 158ci motor looks like a Harley on steroids. I can run it at 110 mph and
crack the throttle and smolder the tire! says Gates.
Worlds Fastest Motorcycle 367 mph BUB #7 Streamliner
Denis Manning's BUB Streamliner #7 Piloted by Chris Carr set a new world land speed record for a motorcycle 367.382 mph thru the timed mile with and exit speed of 372.534 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats Utah
Bonneville Stories Part VII "BUDDFAB 50cc 150 MPH Streamliner"
If really good things can come in small packages then really fast things can come in really small packages, too. John Buddenbaum, a metal fabricator and Eric Noyes, a NASA engineer set out to go very fast with a very small engine. With an engine not much bigger than that of an average size lawn mower John and Eric set the new world record of 144.891 mph with a 50 cc engine at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2008.
Bonneville Stories Part VI - 1974 Harley Ironhead "Gray Ghost Project 2007"
This is the story of Jim Fischer, owner and rider of the Gray Ghost a 1974 Harley Ironhead and former basket case motorcycle. Jim resurrected the machine and has broken land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. He will be at the Flats again in 2009 because both Jim and the Ghost have Salt Fever. There is no cure for this malady other than going fast, really fast, preferably on salt with fellow cohorts who need speed, too.
Bonneville Stories Part V "Buell Brothers Racing Team" 20 Land Speed Records
Bonneville Stories Part V "Buell Brothers Racing Team" 20 Land Speed RecordsBonneville Stories Part V "Buell Brothers Racing Team" 20 Land Speed RecordsBonneville Stories Part V "Buell Brothers Racing Team" 20 Land Speed Records
The Buell Brother Racing Team is a group of motorcycle racing enthusiast that were bit by salt fever on the Bonneville Salt Flats back in 1995 and have been racing and setting records every year since.
Bonneville Stories Part IV - 1953 Twin Engine Harley Knucklehead Dragster
Robert Bud Schmitt, now 81 years old, built and rode THE MONSTER a two engine Harley Davidson motorcycle which ran at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1955.
The engines were eighty-inch knuckleheads with 12:1 fuel burning pistons and Bus Schaller reground cams and a carburetor on each cylinder. In 2005, the 50 year anniversary of his run, Bud returned to the Salt Flats and raced a V Rod. Best speed 125 mph.
In 2006, Bud crashed the V Rod at 125 mph and walked away after sliding 500 feet on his stomach. This is the longest recorded slide at the Flats.
In 2007 Bud rode the V Rod again best speed 132 mph.
In 2008 Buds best speed was 169 mph.
Bud plans to live to be 100 but will race until he is 92.
Bonneville Stories Part III "Z Man" Blown 1973 Harley Ironhead Sportster
This installment of Bonneville Stories concentrates on FRCP Racing. A group of friends from Chico California running a blown 1974 Harley named Young Sporty Filmed at Bub Motorcycle Speed Trials Bonneville Salt Flats. Just watch!
Bonneville Stories Part II Keeper of the Blue Flame wacky motorcycle inventors
Bonneville Stories consist of a series of interviews and images that showcase the interesting, dedicated and brave characters that make up the land speed racing community. This installment of Bonneville Stories concentrates on Hap DeSimone and Mark Boyd, two rascals who scour the alleys and junkyards of Santa Barbara looking for flotsam and jetsam with which to assemble their racing-legal motorcycles. The bikes might not be pretty . but they are 100% green and 101% fun. This years entry was a steam- yes, steam powered cycle Filmed at BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials Bonneville Salt Flats. Just watch!
Bonneville Story Part I Salt Flats Fever Song by Drew Gatewood
This is where it all started for Bonneville Stories.
Bonneville Stories is a series of interviews that take an inside look at the interesting people that have Salt Fever and why they make land speed racing a very unique sporting event. Thanks to BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials. Music by Drew Gatewood.
