'--DREW'S NEWS--2013 BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials Recap — Bikernet Blog

Hi All,

As many Bonneville racers have been heard saying over the years “sometimes the salt wins”, and much to our dismay was the case for us this past August.Naturally it was a bit of a let down after setting an AMA National record in 2012,but we are already planning and looking forward to next year.

The old XLCR still had an issue with shifting, but after a great conversation on the salt with Dan Baisley of Baisley Performance(who drag raced Ironhead XL’s with huge success),

we will be putting all of his suggested transmission modifications first on our list during this upcoming off, or perhaps I should say non-racing winter season.

It also appears that the Hoosier Daddy on the race team got a bit over anxious with the ignition timing, and carburetor leanness, which caused a soft seizure of an exhaust valve that in turn bent both intake and exhaust valves in the front head.We had new valves and gaskets shipped Fed Ex overnight to our Motel (Thanks again to Dan Baisley),and proceeded to rebuild the head in our van/machine shop.

Unfortunately two back to back huge wind & rain storms made a lake out of the entire race course and pit area.Hence, the event had to be cancelled.

Waiting 24 hours for parts can seem like 24 years for a 20 year old rider

That is now in the past, and we are really looking forward to performing a 100% complete rebuild on our Café Sportster with great hopes for the 2014 trip back to Bonneville.

Lastly, though things went poorly for us this time out there were a few quite humorous highlights to the week.

1. Traveling from Chesterton Indiana to Wendover Utah is not exactly rocket science (at least for some).You basically get on I-80 West and drive for two 12 hour days, and stop.

However, on day one, my son woke up from a nap, and calmly asked “Dad, why are we in Missouri??” as a state highway sign flashed by indicating such. Needless to say, my comment was a rather loud WTF?!?!

After we found a highway going west again, and another heading northwest we tied back into I-80 West in Omaha Nebraska. This was nearly 300 miles later, and just in time for their evening rush hour.

Evidently I have mastered the art of sleeping and driving!

2. During the week of racing Clayton and I were approached by Dan Kinsey from S&S Cycle, and asked to please come to their pit area and have lunch with him. They had a great spread laid out for their sponsored riders, race fans, and employees who were working the race.

In hindsight I now realize that he planned our arrival when there were the most people sitting in the S&S pit.While son and I were eating he presented me with a “fake” invoice for the parts he and Jeff Bailey also of S&S had sent us. Evidently I was a bit too persistent in my request for billing. In any case, Dan hands me an envelope with the invoice inside, and insists I read it out loud. I have to admit I was a bit surprised by the “discount” pricing, HA! After everyone got a big belly laugh one rider said he thought it was funny, because my son’s eyes got wider with each line I read. Probably thinking “Mom’s gonna kill us when we get home, and show this to her”.

3. After a long day on the salt performing technical inspections, measuring engines, and running back and forth to our pit area, I wobble up the sidewalk at the front of our Motel. There sits an assortment of riders with their friends and family. I proceed to sit down to have a beer, and join in one of our nightly BS sessions.

Ron Dickey (Axtell Sales) stands up and excuses himself, because he has to go “make a phone call”. A couple minutes later up swaggers my twin brother, dressed just like me, wearing a Hoosier Daddy Racing cap, Bib Overalls, 1” thick glasses, and proclaiming “I’m Gate Drewood, and I’m the NEW tech. sheriff in town. You’re illegal…go safety wire that drain plug…I don’t like the color of your bike, come back when it’s blue…and so on”

We all just about fell over laughing, and I think this is going to haunt me for some years.

After the week of racing is over everyone gathers at one of the local Casinos for the Annual BUB Speed Trials Awards Ceremony.There is one award (sponsored by Buell Brothers Racing) that is given to any number of riders who had sort sort of engine failure.Many times it involves shrapnel, and or pieces of an engine missing.

Because of our two bent valves Clayton was one of this year’s recipients of the

“Lucky Charms Award” The good part is, history shows that most who receive this return the following year with a machine that performs very well.

Clayton & Santa Claus (Buell Brothers Racing) with Lucky Charms Award.

Racing and working on the Bonneville Salt Flats has become a huge part of my (and now my son’s) life, and of all the different racing disciplines I have ever been involved with over the years, motorcycle landspeed racing has proven to be the epitome of a close knit racing family.

See ya next time

Drew