A little over 8 years ago, I started a journey and story here on barf to go faster than we had done the prior years. So, what has happened in those 8 long years, or at least since the time since I last checked in on teh BARF?
Life is an interesting journey my friends. Filled with roller coaster ups and downs, it challenges you with surprise wins and unexpected losses all the time. Just in the last couple years I faced an immense loss with my Son's death that turned me upside down and wanting to hang up Racing altogether. I was pried out of the hole by close friends who filled me with hope to live again another day. 2018 was not only a horrible upside down year when he died, but through the strength of my circle and racing family, we did amazing things.
Since my last update in this long running thread, I received two lifetime inductions into separate 200MPH Clubs after we banged out a 202 at the Mojave Mile and became the last Motorcyclist ever to be inducted, as the Mojave is no longer. Next, we did it in the dirt with another 202 pass in the dirty mile to become induction #2. Again, ALL Motor, no power adders.
We have accomplished a firm standing in the SCTA regular season with 5 Records in 5 Classes:
- 1650 Production, 2010 to 2020 10x Season Record Holder
- 1650 Modified Fuel - Current Record Holder
- 1650 Modified Gas - Current Record Holder
- 1650 Modified Partially Streamlined Fuel - Current Record Holder
- 1650 Modified Partially Streamlined Gas - Current Record Holder
I feel very fortunate and lucky to have done this so far, and with some set backs, we are moving on to the next and last part of the journey, our path to 275+ and on the way to 300MPH on a sit on Motorcycle.
But this hasn't been an easy journey, nor at times very rewarding. We have banging away on the new bike for years now. Each year we have accomplished something, except riding it! I've been on the NA (Normally Aspirated Bike) so long that I've forgotten what riding a blown fuel bike is like. The last time I rode the BF bike was before we tore her down, and then to build a new program on. If you recall, I took her up to past 180 in 3rd gear and started sucking valves through the tops of pistons as the motor went into over boost. That was another bad day. Nothing worse then smoking a motor as you are in the lane for top speed. It's major suckage.
So, as we started building the new program, we made a choice to go all alcohol for many reasons, but mainly to keep the motor a bit cooler and more stable as we built that package to run between 700-800HP sustained for 6 miles at Bonneville. Keeping a motor together with that much power, and sustaining it, is the biggest challenge I've faced so far. We poured tons of R&D into piton design, cylinder head design, configuration, data aq, racing ecu's, exhaust, plenum and intercooler and so much more. Thankfully, we completed the motor package at last this year and she's ready to go back into the bike. More on this later...
Then last year toward the end of the season in 2019 I started having a severe physical problem which began to paralyze me from the left side of my body down. I began losing my ability to use my left arm and hand. I was also struggling with my walking and gate to even walk straight. Towards the end of 2019, 1 month before Thanksgiving it got worse. My amazing primary Doc got me in right away to see a specialist (Neurosurgeon) after it was discovered my cervical spine was collapsing onto itself. All my disc material was gone and now my neck was crushing the nerve branches. I spent Thanksgiving eve in surgery getting donor bone and a bitchen titanium cage to keep my neck together. The best part though? I regained full use of my left arm and only have about 5% permanent damage left. That means I can ride and race again!
In December, after 1 year post my surgery, I will receive my medical clearance to race again. So, we are back in the game and thrashing on the big bike again to get it back together. We have torn her down completely, getting the frame and parts powder-coated and then the Motor goes back in, plumbing gets installed and then the new racing harness will be built. This bike has 3 fuel pumps, one intercooler pump, lots of new and very innovative stuff never done before in Land Speed Racing. The amount of time, engineering, test to fail on parts and components has been daunting. But now we near the end of all that work to re-assemble one very fast and very powerful bike.
I'll likely also race the old trusty 1650 NA bike one more season as well. At 240HP, she's no slouch and has maybe a couple more records in her as well. But the 1350 Blown Fuel Bike is now where my heart is, and 2021 needs be my year to push the envelope and learn how to ride her past 275. It's a big number, I feel good about it mentally and will train physically as hard as I can post my medical clearance to be ready.
Before I leave you until my next update, we have lost a lot of good people in LSR who have paved the way, and also, paid the highest price when we lost them. Bill Warner, Ralph Hudson and others who have also not come back after their last pass has left an enormous hole in our hearts, and the souls of many. We all go into this knowing that stepping off the bike (or any LSR vehicle) isn't an option at those speeds if you plan on making it home. This is a serious endeavor, I take it very seriously and plan on being as safe as possible. In fact we are designing an entirely different safety suit around me to do it's job if something goes sideways. So we plan for the best, we hope for the fastest, and we pray we make it home to see another day. That's the best any of us can do when we saddle up and ride.
The picture below is Jess Thomas with me at El Mirage in 2018 when we broke 202MPH in the dirty mile. Jess was the first man over 200 on a sit on bike at Bonneville in 1957. He's one of my hero's. Having your hero congratulate you is something I will never forget.
Until next time, be safe, have fun, Go Fast! --Papi