Sleeving the Buell

 It doesn't get more revolutionary than this; or some may say, more weird.

The Buell has undergone displacement reduction surgery. The cylinders have been sleeved, the heads filled in and new pistons designed in order to create a stronger, better breathing race motor.

As a 500cc twin, the Big Bad Nitro Buell will move more air faster, running at increased rpm which we hope will translate to greater speed at the Salt Flats.

There is much work to be done as the engine comes together. Our thanks to Ken Weber at 10 Litre Performance, to L.A. Sleeve, and to JE Pistons for their support in the design and production of this one of a kind motor.

Okay, Butch, you thought it up. Now let's see how it comes together.

Aprilia Progress

Alcohol or gasoline: the Aprilia will be able to switch fuels with the switch of a carburetor. No changing jets and minimal adjustment. Rob and Steve at AF1 are currently looking at the feasibility of using forged 50 cc pistons from Wiseco Pistons, made in the USA.

Six months till the BUB Speed Trials

The Power Plant Arrives

The 'Busa motor arrives from George Dean Racing Engines

Out of the box ...

... and on to a lift

Rob has plenty to do, as George Dean has sent the Hayabusa's engine back.

It truly is a beast. It contains four JE Pistons specifically designed for nitro methane and GRP aluminum connecting rods that cushion the shock to the crankshaft.

Using a Web Cam Racing Camshaft, the nitro methane will be supplied through four 200 pound fuel injectors supplied by a Kinsler Fuel Injection system and fed by a massive Magnafuel pump, all of it run by a deep-cycling Optima Yellowtop Battery.

Linnea has sent out the invitation for the 2012 BUB Speed Trials, and Big Bad Nitro Daddy accepts.

Certified

World's Fastest 50cc Motorcycle (nonstreamlined)

                                                             What else need I say?

Dyna-Mite!

The dyno comes together

The concept

Every well equipped garage should have a dynamometer, and now the Big Bad Nitro Daddy garage is no exception.

Rob thought it was too much work to load the Apilia up and take it to Speedwrench whenever we wanted to test it, and all he really needed is a comparison between pulls,nothing terribly sophisticated or precise. One wheel and tire, brake and gauges, weld together a frame and there we are.

Up and running (with the Buell in the bbackground)

It is perfect for the Aprilia, and will probable handle the Buell, but Randy will still be seeing us at Speedwrench when the Hayabusa goes back together.

And the Beat Goes on

It's mid-October, and already we're working hard toward 2012.

My job is finding Rob the money and products we'll need through sponsorship. Even though we won't be racing again until August, most sponsorship packages are awarded in October for the following year. I'm spending evenings filling out forms, trying to convince race-associated companies that Big Bad Nitro Daddy will be an asset.

Rob is working on the bikes, as always. We have plans going on with all three bikes. The Aprilia has the opportunity to push up the FIM record, and of course, we want to capture the AMA records. The Hayabusa is what it is; a nitro methane monster, Rob promises me motorcycles get more stable the faster they go. Counting on that.

The Buell is really looking fun. Rob is doing a lot of engineering, and we'll have to figure out what class the bike will run in. It seems like we have plenty of time, but deadlines must be met, and efforts must be focused.

Ten months and counting ...

... and the new world's record is ...

81.398 mph.
Pending ratification by the F,I,M,

Life at Bonneville was frustrating for the first day when I could barely keep the bike running at low revs. It sure made it hard to start as the bike struggled in first gear and took over half a mile to climb up into the exciting part of the power band. A new ring gave it back the compression we needed, and the Aprilia rewarded us with four runs over 80 mph.

On Tuesday, August 30th, we ran 82.574 down, with a return run of 80.255 mph. That gave us the average of 81.398 mph through the mile, breaking the previous record of just over 77 mph.

World's Record Fastest 50cc Aprilia RS-50

In addition, the organizers of the BUB Speed Trials awarded Big Bad Nitro Daddy the "Highest MPH/CC Ratio" for our fastest run of 82.673. Pretty amazing when you consider that speed is being generated by a piston and cylinder the size of a shot glass.

Thank you AF1 Racing for building the "mad little monkey" motor, and Optima Batteries for providing the electrical power. Already we're planning how to go faster next year.

And wait till you see what's been happening to the Buell!