AMA RACER NEWS
Motorcycle Land-Speed Records Fall At Bonneville Chris Carr and Denis Manning Reclaim The Top Spot With 367.382 MPH Effort
Chris Carr is once again the fastest man on two wheels. The seven-time AMA Grand National Champion and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer, riding the No. 7 streamliner built by fellow AMA Hall of Famer Denis Manning, recaptured the world and national land-speed records on Thursday, Sept. 24. Carr’s two-pass average of 367.382 mph in the measured mile was set at the AMA- and FIM-sanctioned Land Speed Shootout at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. The previous record for the measured mile was 358.888, set by rider Rocky Robinson and builder Mike Akatiff in 2008. “It was a lot of work. This time was hard,” Manning said. “We blew up stuff, we got blown off course. It was tough. The thing was, every time we made a run, some part of the run was phenomenal, so we knew we were near. For these runs, we made an eighth-inch change to the aerodynamics and it made all the difference.
Records Set At Bonneville Class, Team Name Rider, New Record (Old Record) 1000-A-PBG, Zen Motorcycles Laurent Dutrel, 143.99 (128.16) 750-A-D, HDTUSA Fred Hayes, 90.251 (-) 750-M-DB, HDTUSA Fred Hayes, 109.795 (107.11) 100-M-VG, James Moore James Moore, 35.926 (-) 1350-M-BG, James Ramsey Racing James Ramsey, 159.462 (-) 1000-P-PP, Team Klock Werks Erika Cobb, 126.383 (109.341) 650-M-PF, JT&S Performance Terry Parsley, 125.883 (-) 650-MPS-PG, JT&S Performance Terry Parsley, 133.828 (119.623)
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are impressive. The AMA congratulates them on this accomplishment.” The meet where Carr and Manning set the new record came near the end of the season for running on the Bonneville Salt Flats, which most of the year are too wet for competition. Earlier in the season, Aug. 30-Sept. 3, provisional records in a number of classes were also set at the International Speed Trials by BUB, and they are waiting ratification by AMA Racing. The AMA-sanctioned event, which Manning promotes, is the premier national meet for amateur land-speed racers to attempt landspeed records in classes ranging from 50cc scooters to supercharged sportbikes. For more information on land-speed racing, see SpeedTrialsByBUB.com. See the No. 7 streamliner in person at the AMA Racing Championship banquet this Dec. 4. Info: AmericanMotorcyclist.com/LetsRock.
Although Chris Carr and Denis Manning set the new world land-speed motorcycle record at a meet a couple weeks later, the AMA Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB remains the premier event for amateur land-speed racers. A number of records in other classes were set at the earlier event. Here’s the list of speeds and classes. (All times are pending AMA ratification.) 1350-APS-PG, Buell Brothers Racing Joseph Taylor, 176.29 (154.98) 1000-P-BG, South Bay Triumph Alan Cathcart, 165.405 (-) 500-M-PG, O’Brien Brothers Racing Timothy O’Brien, 113.415 (107.391) 2000-M-AG, Hangar 12 / Lloydz Motors Gregor Moe, 165.863 (163.562) 1350-SC-BF, Swissperformance Team Fritz Egli, 206.157 (146.589) 350-A-BG, Sodium Distortion Jason Omer, 107.533 (-) 1000-SC-AF, TEAM RGM Rick Murray, 144.437 (133.748) 1350-A-AF, Scott Stites Scott Stites, 177.422 (174.594) 1350-MPS-AG, Don Mills - Two Ton Racing Don Mills, 202.88 (202.685)
250-APS-PG, Dave Riggs Dave Riggs, 93.825 (91.336) 250-MPS-P, Kelly’s Kawasaki Mesa AZ Geoffrey Smith, 105.297 (-) 750-M-PP, Cafe Custom Cycles Steven McGloughlin, 91.078 (-) 250-M-P, Wyoming Sport and Salvage Thomas Johnson, 95.171 (87.624) 175-P-PP, CONWAY William Conway, 55.541 (-) 1350-M-PF, NRHS Perf / Frontline Cycles Susan Wilson, 169.743 (137.867) 1650-A-AG, Bison Racing Dick Fish, 169.521 (-) 750-MPS-VBG, Hellzapoppin Fritz Kott, 86.007 (-) 2000-M-P, Team Klock Werks Michelle Mielke, 143.154 (-)
650-M-VG, Bike Cave Michael Becker, 88.064 (84.265) 650-A-AG, Cycle Dynamics James Rispoli, 149.117 (147.471) 500-MPS-VF, Heartland Express Jason Jessup, 92.417 (-) 1350-P-PP, Buell Sisters Race Team Erin Hunter, 146.351 (130.391) 50-P-P, Gralex Motorsports Gary Alexander, 60.649 (-) 50-P-AG, Gralex Motorsports Gary Alexander, 60.561 (-) 125-S-AF, Buddfab Streamliner Eric Noyes, 186.649 (137.399) 1350-APS-BF, A-Ward Attachments Racing Richard Assen, 236.01 (217.029) 1350-P-VG, Wrecking Crew Guy Mobbley, 78.963 (-)
Photo Tom Bear
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The data was telling me that the nose was trying to dive, so we raised it up, and it worked.” Carr said that the record run was smooth. “We had the drama on the out-run,” Carr said. “We about cleaned out the side of the course on the run out with the wind blowing, but the run back was great. It actually started to slow down for me. It was not nearly as hectic as 347 (mph) was a couple years ago.” Carr first held the outright land-speed record in 2006. Manning also set the land-speed record in 1970. “The outright land-speed record is one of the most coveted numbers in motorcycle competition,” said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. “This is a number that all motorcyclists can relate to. Every time this record is set, it’s a historic moment for racing. The engineering that Denis Manning and his team invest in this endeavor, and the emotional fortitude and physical skill that Chris Carr brings to the table,