After a challenging Day 2 at the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials (BMST), Day 3 proved to be much friendlier to FIM Land Speed World Record racers. Two more FIM Land Speed World Records were set (all results are provisional, pending FIM final ratification) by Dale Zlock and Hiro Koiso, both of whom also had records on Day 1. Koiso bumped up his own record set two days earlier while Zlock managed to collect a new record in a second class.
“Yesterday they had a little bit running concerns so we did some adjusting and a little bit of tweak on it and put it away,” said Koiso. “First thing this morning we did a little testing and a fast pass on the five-mile course, and a two-mile getup. So, short shifting and I rolled on the sixth gear and the bike felt good and kept accelerating through the timing mile. The down run we managed to do 246 mph (395 km/h). On the return run we opened up a little bit earlier and we got 251 (403 km/h) on the time slip. So we bumped up the FIM record.
“Now we’re going to change to the new fuel system and we might change to the seven-mile course tomorrow.
And by “new fuel system,” Koiso means nitrous oxide.
“It’s go time,” Hiro Koiso said with a smile.
After collecting his first FIM Land Speed World Record on Sunday aboard his Suzuki SV 650 (sleeved to a 600), Dale Zlock spent all day Monday swapping out the engine so that he could take on the 750 division next. The effort paid off on Tuesday morning when Zlock put together two great runs for a new record.
“It’s been a lot of work,” said Zlock. “It’s not an easy task to do. People tell you that aw, you can swap out an engine in two hours… That’s in your shop. You know where all your tools are, you have everything all laid out exactly where you need it. Out here on the salt, it takes longer than that! [laughs]
“I didn’t get qualified for a return run the first go, but we put the nitrous in, the wind calmed down, it was only four mph when I made my qualifying run [of 156 mph (251 km/h) on a 151 mph record (243 km/h)].
“For my return run I had a little bit of tailwind so that never hurts,” Zlock laughed. His return speed of 160 mph (257 km/h) was more than enough to seal a new FIM Land Speed World Record. “Zlock Racing, my brother Dan and I, we build a lot of race components for Suzuki and SV 650 engines for road racing and everything else, and now we can claim to have the world’s fastest SV! In both classes! I’m pretty happy with it.”
For other competitors, the day was a success simply by virtue of completing their first runs of the meet. Takushi Chikakane, who made the voyage from Japan with his 125cc special construction project motorcycle, was worried on Day 2 that he might not be able to complete repairs to his machine. But through the help of the land-speed racing community and a never-quit attitude, Takushi San now has his motorcycle running, and made his first attempt on the salt today.
Jim Cole also had his hopes dashed at the end of Day 2 with an engine failure. But through hard work and cooperation in the pits, Cole has found the parts he needed to repair his turbo-charged Hayabusa, and he will hopefully return to action tomorrow for Day 4 of BMST.
The Torus Moto team arrived with their electric motorcycle, the “Retro Electro” and made their first passes of the meet on Day 3. The team is all smiles after reaching 100 mph (160 km/h) on multiple passes. While it is well short of the existing FIM Land Speed World Record, the team is enjoying the thrill of speeding on the historic Bonneville Salt Flats, and exploring the limits of their all-new Retro Electro motorcycle.
There is more action to come tomorrow on Day 4, the final full day of racing at 2021 BMST (which will be followed by a half-day on Thursday, September 2, Day 5 of the meet).
Story and Photo by Jean Turner