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Jonneville
26-01-2013, 12:28
Although my user name gives you a hint, every year I race at Bonneville Speedweek on the salt flats in Utah. For the last few years I have driven there and back from upstate New York with The Rolling Bones in my '32 roadster, which we have then stripped and raced. This year the '32 had a break as we were racing a "new" racecar, a '29 roadster.

Truth be told, I've been putting off posting any photos since pro photographer Jere Adametz who co-drove my '32 roadster there and back this year, gave me a disc with over 7,000 shots on it, so it was difficult to choose. Jere put a bunch of those in high res, so here is that selection.

These cars are as analogue as it is possible to be, built with the "Post-war, pre-Elvis" era in mind.

A pal built this '34 5W out of a four door sedan - you've probably seen it on the HAMB. Andy has a tough life, splitting his time between building hot rods, restoring vintage guitars and playing in a band, putting out albums on vinyl...

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0090_zpseeeefe30.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0093_zps280a9243.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_2208_zpsfe1501ef.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_2171_zpsc2ca6757.jpg

Arrival at The Holy Land...

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_9935_zps2c3cf9b7.jpg

The fuel tank is an old aircraft de-icing tank...

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0229-1_zps605257b9.jpg

This was the debut of the '29 so it had a thorough check at tech but passed with flying colours. Funny how I always end up doing the bail-out in tech...

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0234_zps397e8099.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0301_zps5f847e4f.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0313_zpsb8f8a7f8.jpg

First day of racing on the salt...

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0443_zpsf75b4420.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0804_zps0b82f74b.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0804-001_zpsb75295ed.jpg

Setting up for a Peter Vincent photo shoot...

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0813_zps23a79a17.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0845_zpsf6277939.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0873_zps4d323978.jpg

Startline for the 3 mile special course...

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0887_zps4caca321.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0985_zpsf470bb62.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_1015_zpsd33e8bb9.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_1025_zps44488d46.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_1066-1_zpsb294ae98.jpg

Keith ran over 185 in this '32 coupe, we just missed 140 in the '29 before the motor let go - not bad for a sidevalve engine. This year Keith is shooting for the big 2 and we're hoping to push the XF/GR record. It's going to be a busy year as we're running the '32 as well, possibly for the last time.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_1136_zps4bd7cc75.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0335_zps023b1fee.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0367_zps5f37b8b6.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/ss14/StampeSV4/IMG_0473_zps3c180337.jpg

Regards

Jon'.
Dominic Harper
26-01-2013, 12:33
This has to one of the coolest things posted!
Many thanks for sharing.
StanleyB
26-01-2013, 12:38
Can you give us more details about the engine you are running? Is the gearbox a standard one or has it got longer gears? And what kind of fuel mixture do you use for track days?

I would love to go there and try to emulate Jack Munro, but on a British bike. Maybe a Norton with a Wankler engine?
walpurgis
26-01-2013, 13:04
I see you're using an old 'flathead', which one and what size is it now? What's the carb, a Holley? Are you using pump gas or something a bit special? Looks like a lot of fun, I'd like to take a bike to Bonneville. A suitably modified seventies Kwaka H2 would suit me.
Jonneville
26-01-2013, 13:33
Glad you like the photos. I have many more from my many trips Stateside - I racked up about 20,000 miles in the roadster last year on various road trips, driving coast to coast, to Texas and to Bonneville.

Both the '32 and '29 run flatheads. We have three engines for the two cars, the road engine in the '32 is an early-type ('39) and there are two race engines, one early-type with three 2 barrel Strombergs and a later-type with a 4 barrel Holley - that one's been punched out to 304ci. The engines are swapped around between the cars. Can't remember which octane we run - probably around 105 but in one car I ran back in '07 and '08 I used 118 octane. It's around 175mph that things start to become interesting...

Box in the '32 is a 5 speed - the only modern part in the car but you need the long 5th to keep the revs down on the freeways and preserve the flathead, which doesn't like revs. Box in the '29 is a Muncie 4 speed.

Rear end in both cars is a Halibrand quick change so we can swap ratios. On the road the '32 is geared to pull 90/95 at under 3,000 revs, which it will do all day long.

Norton took one of their modern bikes there a few years back.

Best film about Bonneville is "The World's Fastest Indian" about Kiwi record breaker Burt Munro on his old 1920's Indian Scout, starring Anthony Hopkins - inspiration for many and credited with the current Bonneville renaissance.

A few weeks ago the BBC showed a 2 part documentary on some British bikers who went to Bonneville last year, which was called "Speed Dreams" - it's currently on BBC iPlayer and the first episode has some great one-liners in it.

Regards

Jon'.
Marco
26-01-2013, 14:08
Very, very cool, Jon! Looks like TONS of fun... Thanks for sharing! :respect:

I'll move this into the Abstract Gallery, where it deserves to be :cool:

Marco.
BTH K10A
26-01-2013, 16:15
Wonderful photos, nothing like keeping nostalgia alive
BTH K10A
26-01-2013, 16:19
I see you're using an old 'flathead', which one and what size is it now? What's the carb, a Holley? Are you using pump gas or something a bit special? Looks like a lot of fun, I'd like to take a bike to Bonneville. A suitably modified seventies Kwaka H2 would suit me.

How about an HRD Vincent?

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/Rollie_Free_record_run_zps5b0cce17.jpg

Aerodynamics and weight are important so you'll need to strip down a bit :D

......and pray the rear tyre doesn't delaminate and rip though the mudguard :eek:
anthonyTD
26-01-2013, 17:40
Fantastic!
I would love to go there one day, saw a documentary on the TV recently telling the story of a few teams going out there, they were characters from all walks of life with a common interest, to race at Bonneville.
Also thought the film The fastest Indian was great too, a record that has yet to be beaten to this day.
A...
synsei
26-01-2013, 17:53
I watched that documentary too Anthony, it was truly inspiring. I've a lot of respect for all the participants but I've a particular soft spot for the guys who took their dead mates Triumph out to the flats.

Fabulously evocative photos Jonny thanks for sharing ;)
anthonyTD
26-01-2013, 17:59
I watched that documentary too Anthony,
it was truly inspiring. I've a lot of respect for all the participants but I've a particular soft spot for the guys who took their dead mates Triumph out to the flats.

Fabulously evocative photos Jonny thanks for sharing ;)
Totaly agree Dave.
Human nature at its best! :)
Great picks Jonny, i am sure you will be envied by many here!
A...
walpurgis
26-01-2013, 19:22
Best film about Bonneville is "The World's Fastest Indian" about Kiwi record breaker Burt Munro on his old 1920's Indian Scout, starring Anthony Hopkins - inspiration for many and credited with the current Bonneville renaissance.

A few weeks ago the BBC showed a 2 part documentary on some British bikers who went to Bonneville last year, which was called "Speed Dreams" - it's currently on BBC iPlayer and the first episode has some great one-liners in it.

Regards

Jon'.

Yes, saw the film and the TV series. Both highly enjoyable.

Nothing like that in the UK really, shame. I used to go to Santa Pod for the drag racing instead. At least I got to see the 1/4 mile world record set by Sammy Miller in 1985, 3.58 sec @ 386mph. Amazing!

Just an irrelevant note, but I remember the sixties (shows what an old git I am) TV series 'Run For Your Life', with Ben Gazzara. The beginning titles showed film shot from a car at Bonneville and I worked out from the visible markers they used then, that it was travelling at well over 400mph.
Jonboy
26-01-2013, 23:51
Stunning photos Jon, one day perhaps i will make it over there, flat head v8's just love em
Alex_UK
27-01-2013, 00:17
Amazing!
goraman
27-01-2013, 08:00
Fantastic pictures of real racing!