See you on the Salt

I spent the morning filling out entry forms for the 2012 BUB Speed Trials. At this time, we have four bikes entered: the Hayabusa on nitro methane, the Buell on gasoline, Randy Miller's nitrous oxide Buell, and the 40cc Aprilia which will run on both gasoline and an alcohol/nitro methane fuel mix.

We have exactly four months before opening day at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Lots of work to do.

More Power to the Aprilia

Carburation of the Aprilia has been an issue for Rob.

While little Pinocchio runs just fine on race gas, it seizes every time Rob runs it on alcohol. Regardless of the jet size, the carburetor can't deliver enough fuel to evenly cool the cylinder and piston. That has turned quite a few pistons into mantel pieces.

Enter Richard Bruckner of High Gain Tuning, who specializes in Aprilia bikes and scooters. Richard has the ability to build a fuel injector for the BBND Aprilia, thereby improving its fuel delivery and atomization throughout the range of performance.

We are excited about the prospect of working with High Gain Tuning as we look to breaking our own records in August.

                                                           www.highgaintuning.com

Just Add Air

Rob demonstrates the air movement through the can by adding compressed air at its base. Even with a small volume of air, enough of a vacuum is created at the holes to suspend a paper towel.









Mounted on the BBND Hayabusa, the vented exhausts will emit significantly cooler gases, while increasing the thrust generated at the end of the pipes.

Venting the Exhaust

Rob drills guide holes at the base of the cans

That's going to be extremely hot air being pushed out those Hayabusa pipes when they start venting nitro methane exhaust, so Rob is drilling holes to draw in cooler external air.

The actual exhaust pipe runs inside the cans to carry the hot gases from the engine. Just adding a dead air space between the pipe and the outside adds a layer of protection from the heat.

Each hole is three quarters of an inch in diameter

By opening vent holes, Rob is creating an active air exchange. As blazing hot exhaust rushes through the pipes, it will pull cooler air through the holes. That will lower the temperature of the exhaust, while creating extra force.

The area of the the holes is approximately equal to the area at the end of the can, making a vacuum that should make a dramatic effect. 

Blood Sacrifice

Every one of you has experienced it: the blood required to breathe life into machinery. Why did God give us knuckles if it wasn't to bust them on head bolts, removing spark plugs, or in this case, operating the band saw. Maybe Rob just felt he needed to infuse the Hayabusa with his own life blood. Too many vampire books.

Waking the Sleeping Giant

It has sat quietly for months as activity focused on the other bikes, but now it is time to breathe life into the Giant. The Aprilia is part of a long and noble history, the Buell is a marvel of engineering, but the Hayabusa will carry me into the 200MPH Club.

Over the weekend, Rob mounted the monster engine that George Dean built with GRP Connecting Rods and JE Pistons. This is a single purpose motor, built to take the power of nitro methane and turn it to speed.

Five months, and counting down.

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.