Please allow us to start this update with an introduction to the two newest members of our team.
Our regular readers will have noticed our regular footers regarding the people and places we have been. This year was no exception and we were honoured to get to know two exceptional gentlemen.
Rich Stratford a long term friend of Bruce’s is a hugely experienced auto technician. He is heavily involved in teaching the next generation of car mechanics and in helping the state of California get the clean air (Smog) regulations fair and correct.
Bruce and Rich spent many hurried hours outside of work commitments building, tuning and perfecting the engine in the car. Words can not express our gratitude for both of their efforts.
Our next inductee is another Richard, this time Richard Lopez. Richard has been making the trip to speedweek for many years now.
He had intended to support some friends with another race car but, upon seeing the weather forecast they had decided, last minute, not to attend this year. Their loss, our gain!
Upon, getting to know Richard, we were reminded of various prison film characters. You know, the guy that always seem to be able to supply anything that may fit the plot!
Within his camper van seemed to be an endless supply of food, tools and supplies.
Once again, we are stuck trying to express our gratitude.
At the end of this years adventure, we bade farewell to our buddies at the Bend in the Road. The good humour and general messing about made what could have been a very stressful event a lot lighter. Thanks guys!
We have all now made it safely back to our various homes. All tired and weary but also with a sense of optimism.
After leaving the salt, Andy B, Steve B and their buddy Chris headed with the silver Triumph and the Kawasaki to another workshop in California. The Triumph had been suffering with the altitude and an intermittent misfire on one cylinder. The Kawasaki was still factory restricted and proved that it left some performance on the table.
The plan is to get the bikes to a Californian tuning house to try and get these issues sorted.
The two Ian’s and Bruce headed back to Bruce’s workshop in the high desert of California to try and get the worst of the salt removed from the car, the bike and the hire truck.
After a much less hurried drive across ‘the wild west’ they took their time and took in some of the sights and hotspots along the way.
Once back at the workshop, the hard work began again. Due to the wet conditions of the salt this year the stuff got literally everywhere!
Once everything was cleaned and packed away the two Ian’s flew home, taking the opportunity ro reflect on what they achieved.
None of the vehicles reached their potential. Mainly due to weather related issues and the state of the course, speeds were down across the board. The fastest car at the event was almost 200 mph down on it’s potential.
More importantly, none of the bike riders were now rookies and Ian had the chance to experience driving on a completely different surface to his last visit to Bonneville.
However, when the SCTA (South California Timing Association) released the fastest speeds of the event list, imagine our pride to discover that every one of our vehicles was fastest in its class!
It’s too soon to be planning next steps at the moment. We all need to recover both physically and financially.
But, suffice it to say, we have started on the list of both procedual and practical items to improve any future runs.
