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.

Optima Batteries Electrify Big Bad Nitro Daddy

I am thrilled to welcome Optima Batteries as a sponsor of Big Bad Nitro Daddy.

Optima batteries are ideal for our racing team, even though they are not designed for motorcycles. In their traditional application in the BBND transport truck and trailer, these powerful batteries will be a welcome addition to our effort, but it is on the motorcycles that Optima will really shine.

In land speed racing racing, each pass of the motorcycles will use a total loss system. The bike will draw amperage from the battery without recharging it during the run, then have the battery replaced with a fresh unit for the next run. The deep-charging capability of Optima batteries makes them perfect for our needs. The Hayabusa and the Buell will use full-sized Yellow Top batteries. Obviously, Rob will need to build custom mounts for the batteries, which will showcase another of Optima's features: the ability to mount them in any orientation.

Optima Batteries employ an advanced glass mat system, which makes them more resistant to vibration, and allows Big Bad Nitro Daddy to mount a battery sideways on the swingarm. While the Aprilia is so small and light that adding a full-size battery would be impractical, on the Hayabusa and the Buell the Optima batteries will play an essential role in setting world records.

Thank you, Optima. Big Bad Nitro Daddy is excited to have you on board.

And in the Center Ring ...

With the Aprilia off to the side, the Big Bad Nitro Daddy Hayabusa once again moves into the spotlight. It doesn’t look very big and bad right now though, stripped to the frame and broken into its components. It’s all in preparation for making it badder than ever.

Rob took the engine out alone, but Andrew spent much of the day with him, tearing it apart and inspecting each piece. Everything looks good, no serious damage. It just needs a little tweaking to be an all-nitromethane engine. Into a box and off to George Dean Racing Engines for Carillo rods, etc, etc

Time to start thinking about tire concerns and weight distribution, too. So many problems to work out and just nine months to make it happen.

Happy New Year.

A Red Green Christmas Tree

Give Rob a task and a little latitude, and stand back to see what happens.

My daughter Piper came home two days before Christmas, so she, my son Nigel and I were shopping for a Christmas tree through picked-over selections. The good news is that discounts were deep. We found a perfectly acceptable six-foot fir for only five dollars, with a tiny two-foot tall tree thrown in for good measure.

One tree is enough for us; we gave the small tree to Rob.

Now it has been years since Rob put up a Christmas tree. He doesn't even have a stand or decorations for one, but to placate me, he took the tree and promised to do his best with it.

The first problem was how to erect the tree. Nothing a vice can't hold upright. Of course, one can't be too careful about preventing a toppling catastrophe, so he counterbalanced the vice with a couple of 15 pound weights, held in place by a handyman's best friend, duct tape.

What to do for lights? Well, the Aprilia isn't using its turn signals right now, nor is the Hayabusa in need of the LEDs that serve as caution indicators. Tail lights from the trailer acted as spot lights.

And ornaments? What could be more ornamental than the twirly scraps of aluminum that came off the edges when he cut the template for the Aprilia's new seat. He even shaped one into a star for the treetop.

The whole tree blinked merrily if a bit audibly when Rob connected the turn signal flasher. Click, click, click.

A motorcycle Christmas, and God bless us, every one.

Aero Aprilia



Me on the Aprilia with the
tank in place



Rob is taking large steps toward making me small, aerodynamically speaking.

With all the bodywork off the Aprilia and its engine removed, we sat me on the bare frame to see how well I fit behind the windscreen.

Turns out, not too badly. I’m short enough that I can lie flat on the frame where the fuel tank once was. With just a little padding, the position becomes quite comfortable. Of course, we’ll need to fabricate a new tank in a less obtrusive place, but since it won’t need to hold much fuel, the tank needn’t be large. Even with leathers, boots and helmet, I should be able to create a small profile. It will take some tweaking, but we should achieve a sleek position that I can easily hold for the length of a Bonneville run.

The Itty Bitty Nitro Aprilia may grow into a mad little monkey, but I want it to be able to use its power for speed, not for pushing my bulk through the air.

Now we just have to decide where to mount the camera.

Low on the bike