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I set a 204 mph Land Speed Record.
Walter Kudron |
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| I DID IT !!!!! After months of preparation, I set a new land speed record at 204.592 mph at Maxton, NC, USA riding my turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa putting 350 Horsepower (SAE) to the ground. This was without a fairing, windshield or any bodywork running in the "naked" class. I went 215 mph the day before with bodywork in another class, but decided to try and run naked. Most importantly, it got me in the 200 Club as a Lifetime Member. Just going over 200 mph does not get you in the club. You have to break a record over 200 mph, and these records have been around for years and are not easy to break. It was really an awesome ceremony done by a great bunch of people. I am truly honored to be a member. I am very fortunate to get in, especially since this was only my second time racing. I believe I am only the 5th person to ever ride a naked bike at this venue at over 200 mph, and maybe the first one to get in the 200 Club here this way. I may also be the 15th person in the country to ride a naked bike over 200 mph. It is completely different than hiding behind a windshield. You are just laying on that tank and holding on. I rebuilt and tuned the entire engine myself, including performing over 300 dyno runs (all done by me) on a brand new engine with no break in and integrating two (2) separate computer operated tuning systems for 8 injectors (4 main, 4 secondary) on the engine. It was my first time tuning the Microtech MT-2 unit that controls my secondaries, but it proved to be fairly simple once I learned the particulars. My fueling was very consistent after I solved some voltage issues I was having with my fuel pump. I only got to ride the bike on the street for an hour before racing it. I finished everything at 8pm the night before I had to leave. I had a lot of help from my friends and did not do it on my own. Thanks to my wife Sandy, Joe and Mike at JDS Cycles, Dave Owen, Scott Guthrie, Greg Smith, Ken Klein, Mario Scollo, Pat Coakley, Mike Shank, Motorhead, and many many others who helped. I had to have both Jason's tape up my leathers with duct tape around and around my chest as they were flapping in the breeze and slowing me down, and with the 95+ degree heat it was sweltering. I then had the bright idea not to untape between rounds because it was getting near the end and I needed all the runs I could get in. I was taped up like a sausage and could barely breathe. Then I started seeing stars, grabbed on to my bike and yelled at one of the guys to untape me. They came running and helped me out. My main worry was that if I passed out that they wouldn't let me run again. 2nd to last run, I was taped up so tight the jacket and helmet started choking me at 190. I tried holding my breath, but that wasn't the problem, it was pinching my neck and cutting off the blood. I was literally grunting, yelling (I lost my voice for a day) and doing all I could to hold on, seeing a few stars again, and didn't back off, but it wasn't enough (only 201 mph). Then thankfully Scott Guthrie, the "Sultan of Speed", took pity on me and gave me tips on my tuck, feet, elbows, rear end, and helmet position, plus he had me tape up my lower jacket. (Me: "Scott, if I put my head down looking at the tank, I can't see." Scott: "You don't need to see, it's highly over rated."). We then removed my bar ends and I borrowed Ken's Catalyst Heavy Hitter race seat. So I launched harder than I had all weekend, wheelied in 3rd gear all the way, and wheelied even harder in 4th gear all the way. I knew it was my last pass before they closed the track. I am glad I took the basic and advanced wheelie school this spring. I looked at the tank the last 200 yards, and not at the course, which was a bit freaky at 200+ mph, but it worked. No mechanical problems all weekend. This was fairly significant to me since it is the first water cooled double overhead cam engine I have ever built and did not have a clue how to do it when I started. Thanks to everyone who gave me a hand, especially my wife, who had to deal with 2 small kids at home and start a new job at the same time as all this madness was going on. I haven't got more than 2-4 hours of sleep a night for the past month and I am looking forward to catching up. Next event is in October, and I am going to try to do the Bonneville Salt Flats next summer. Link to 200 club list (I am # 73) http://www.ecta-lsr.com/?page_id=9 Link to new records page: ( I am near the bottom, #1060, under "1650 cc Non Pushrod Records, M/BF 1650-4") http://www.ecta-lsr.com/RecordsMoto2.php Link to article about me entering the 200 Club (I am at the bottom): http://www.ecta-lsr.com/?%20page_id=73 Link to article about Naked 200 Club http://www.ecta-lsr.com/2006/?page_id=18 Walt |
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