The Adventure Begins

Big Bad Nitro Daddy tests the nitro  methane percentage

It's all about preparation, and as usual, when it came to the end there wasn't much time.

With just a week to assemble the bike and test the systems, Rob was really pressed. There are still some glitches to be worked out, and we picked up a new Digitron gauge as we drove out of town, but we hope it will all come together on the Salt.  

This morning we loaded the trailer and ran through the check lists. If we don't have it now, we'll have to buy it, borrow it, or do without. As I write this, we're traveling west on I-80, counting the pronghorns. Should be at the Salt Flats tonight.

Seems like a lot of trailer for such a little bike!

It's Hee-rre!

Thank you Steve and all the people at AF1 Racing! The Aprilia's engine has arrived.

With only a few days before we leave for Bonneville and the BUB Speed Trials, Rob has plenty to do. Already the engine is installed, and a fuel tank in place. Now he's going through safety wiring and securing all parts.


Meanwhile, I've been working with Ken Brunton of Accessories Inc to make decals for sponsors and number panels. Applying decals seemed intimidating at first, but Ken made it easy for me.

The Itty Bitty Nitro Lady Aprilia is almost ready to make records!

Final Two Weeks

It's the push to the finish for the Itty Bitty Nitro Lady Aprilia now.



True, it still looks like this,

but the Haybusa looks like this

and the Buell looks like this

Narrowing the Focus

It's all about the Aprilia now.

The Hayabusa pistons are awesome things: thick and strong, like none seen before. The Buell pistons are incredible: hunchbacked and powerful. But both motors have been put on hold. This year the only bike Big Bad Nitro Daddy will have at BUB will be the Aprilia.

Time became short and there is no benefit to rushing these projects. I had hoped to be on the Hayabusa; this will be the second year I have not been able to ride it.

But the Aprilia is the only class in which I have the potential to break an FIM World Record, and that is where we will aim.

Breathe easy, Leslie, this year your record is safe. But watch over your shoulder. I'm coming after you.

Helter Skelter

First up, then down, then back up again.

Time was growing short to early register the bikes for BUB Speed Trials, so I contacted Linnea at BUB who also reminded me that I need to apply for my FIM license if I plan to attempt a world record in August.

No problem. That just meant some paper work and—unh oh!—a physical exam. I called my M.D. and she said, No problem. Since my last exam was recent, she could just sign off except—unh oh!—I needed an echocardiogram. No problem. We can schedule one before my deadline, but unh oh!—the cardiologist is on vacation. No problem, I can go outside network, pay cash and have the EKG done today! Funny how that works.

It took some pressing and urging, but all the paper work was completed and turned in. Now I just hope it’s all correct and acceptable. I want that FIM international license so the Aprilia and I have a chance to break records at the BUB Speed Trials.

Fingers crossed!

Revolutionary New Design

I told "Butch" to keep thinking, and that's what he's been doing.

Rob's been thinking about the violence with which the nitro methane explodes in the cylinders, and the forces that the engine components must withstand. He's been talking to people he knew in his drag racing days, and people he met since. They've come up with come revolutionary ideas.



Unlike the rods in gasoline burning drag motorcycles which are made of steel, the Big Bad Nitro Daddy Hayabusa will have custom-designed aluminum rods for both gasoline and nitromethane. GRP Connecting Rods of Denver, CO, has created light, strong aluminum rods that will cushion the Hayabusa's crank shaft from the shock of the nitro methane explosion. In combination with newly developed aluminum forged pistons from JE Pistons of Huntington Beach, CA, the engine of the BBND Hayabusa will be a completely new powerplant, designed and built for one application: chasing and surpassing the Land Speed Record.

Rob assures clearance of the new GRP Connecting Rod

Progressing on Three Fronts

Lucky for me, I just go to work every day, and leave Rob to work with the motorcycles. We only have four months to put together three race-ready bikes, and that doesn't seem nearly long enough.

The Aprilia is on the back burner with the motor coming together at AF1. Parts are coming in from Europe, and Steve sounds quite excited about its progress. What really caught my fancy are the ceramic bearings, used in such applications as the space shuttle. Mighty special for a little 50 cc two-stroke.

Next on the Hayabusa will be mounting the Mickey Thompson Bonneville tire on the Performance Machine "Heathen Chrome " wheel. What a beautiful wheel it is, too. I can't help believing it will give us a tremendous increase in traction. George Dean is building a strong engine, and Rob has been fabricating fuel injectors designed to accommodate the the amount of nitro methane that will be blasting into the cylinders.

Right now, it's the Buell that is absorbing most of the time and energy. It is Rob's plan to sleeve down the cylinders and run the same bike in three different displacement classes. Certainly an intriguing idea, but the logistics are tricky. He is perplexed at the best way to create enough valve clearance in the heads.

Keep thinking, Butch. That's what you're good at.