The Bonneville Salt Flats located in Wendover, Utah were created when an ancient salt water lake evaporated millions of years ago and is presently 36 square miles in size. The Southern California Timing Association has been hosting the Bonneville Nationals since 1949 when early hot rodders arrived on the scene and discovered the world's largest natural dynamometer.
Bonneville is considered to be the best and the most challenging location to obtain high speeds. Soft surfaces, combined with a high elevation and hot temperatures can limit a vehicles's top speed potential and horsepower. It does however, provide the longest stretch of unobstructed flat land in North America without speed limits. Today, Land Speed Racers from around the world converge on the Salt Flats in their quest to go faster than anyone has ever gone before.
At the 2000 Speed Week, Beairsto Racing ran 162 mph on a modified 1986 suzuki GSXR 1100. Our initial goals were to build a race bike that would pass technical inspection and survive on the salt, to earn competition licenses, and gain some land speed racing experience. We succeeded in meeting our expectations while learning a great deal and having lots of fun. It also sparked a desire to go much faster.
For our trip to the 2002 Speed Week, as part of a more serious land speed effort, we modified a 2001 Suzuki GSX 1300R Hayabusa with a high compression 1397cc engine and a lowered chassis. Competing in the 1650cc Modified Frame, Partially Streamlined, Gas (MPS/G) class, a year's preparation and determination resulted in a 203.724 mph qualifying run backed up with a 205.351 mph return pass, averaging a new record of 204.538 mph. Scott became only the 2nd Canadian to have ever raced a motorcycle into Bonneville's 200 MPH club. It is also a rare accomplishment to go over 200 mph on the salt without the aid of nitrous oxide or blown induction.
We looked forward to competing at the 2003 Speed week. The Hayabusa gained a stroked crankshaft, raising the displacement to 1509cc, in addition to an extended swing arm and a custom lowered gas tank. We has to pay our dues however. A lack of traction coupled with blistered tires from spinning the rear at over 235 mph held us back to a top speed of 205.220 mph. We had more grief; a cracked fitting led to il loss and resulted in an engine failure on a 200 mph run. this only motivated us to try harder for the next year.
Currently, we are preparing for the 56th Annual Speed Week, August 14th-20th, 2002. the Beairsto Racing Suzuki Hayabusa will see further modifications; a "big block' cylinder block will push the displacement to a 1580cc, reworked suspension, a raked frame and added ballast will improve traction and a new more aerodynamic body will help us reach towards our goal of 220 mph on gas, naturally aspirated.
Beairsto Racing will continue to compete in the 1650 MPS/G class in addition to the 1650 M/G (no fairing) class. The current records for these classes at Bonneville are:
1650 MPS/G 215.443 mph (3442709 kph)
1650 M/G 158.726 mph (253.962 kph)
To learn more about Southern California Timing Association, log onto: www.scta-bni.org |
