Team 5-Ball Racing launches the assault on the 2006 Bonneville Speed Trials by BUB, September 3-7. The team is gearing up with three snarling race bikes and two hungry female pilots to master the salt and bring home a world record. This effort is also a tribute to Bikernet.com’s 10th year in business.
Below you'll find 10th Anniversary Run To The Salt info, descriptions of the bikes, the team members and Sponsorship info. You’ll be able to check on bike-build progress and female racing success weekly, right up until the day we pull out on the 10th Anniversary Bikernet Run to Wendover, UTAH and the Bonneville Salt Flats. Hang on!
Bikernet 10th Anniversary Run to Wendover, Utah– for the Bubs International Motorcycle Speed Trials. No, this is not our 10th ride to Bonneville. It’s a first time run and tribute to the 10th Anniversary of Bikernet—we survived. Click on the Bubs banner to grab a room at the Nugget from the 1st to the 7th of September (if you plan to stay for the time trials).
We’re riding out from Wilmington, California, Wednesday, August 30th. We will make arrangements at a hotel between Los Angeles and Wendover for our first Party night layover. There’s no charge to ride out, but you’re responsible to cover your own expenses and hotel rooms. Hell, we’re trying to raise Sponsorship funds to offset the Bikernet expenses for our staff and crew.
More info on the ride out will be forth coming as we get our shit together. Everybody’s welcome!
The Team Members
Valerie Thompson, www.VTRaceGirl.com, Sponsored by Monster Energy Drinks, will take charge of the Custom Chrome derived 120 Panhead V-Bike and the 45 Bonne Belle Flathead. Valerie is a successful drag racer and rode a Turbo-Charged V-Rod over 153 mph on the flats last year.
Suicide Blonde, aka Nicole Hoffman, Sponsored by D&D Exhaust Systems, www.blondeonwheels.com, will commandeer the Chop and Grind sled along with the builder Larry Petri. Nicole is a successful road racing champion.
Team Captain of this expedition is Bikernet’s own, Bandit. He’s got a salty history. Back in July of 1990 he crewed on Dave Campos world record run in the 23-ft-long Easyriders streamliner that was powered by two 1,491-cc Ruxton Harley-Davidson engines hitting an overall speed of 322.16 mph. That overall motorcycle world land speed record stands today. K. R. Ball is also a three tour Navy Vietnam Veteran. He’s also the major builder for the 1940 Bonne Belle and 120-inch Panhead, Salt Shaker.
John Vantrump, is the Bikernet young gun, Bandit’s bike building assistant. He grew up at the MMI school, and worked at H-D dealers and for Yamaha.
Barry Wardlaw, President of Accurate Engineering, is designing the Panhead Engine Package for the Salt Shaker, Sportbike Panhead. He will kick the salt and be responsible for tuning, gearing and Salt Shaker performance.
Lee Clemens, the Master of Departure Bike Works, Richmond, Virginia. He’s responsible for the Bonne Belle engine and transmission hop-up. On the Salt he’s our tuning master with years of drag racing experience.
Sin Wu, The Bikernet Team CFO, CHR, CPR, CDR, CCK and babe.
Larry Petrie will pilot the racer, with years of experienced racing and motor building. A USMC Gulf War veteran and 10 year plus veteran Harley Davidson mechanic.
Bob T is doing all public relations and Chop N Grind rattlecan painting. Also a USMC Vietnam Era veteran and former crew member of the Jammer-Easyrider Streamliner Designed by Bob George.
“OC” Danny McPherson pit crew chief and renegade mechanic, Navy Vietnam era veteran. He was riding before the word Old School was fabbed.
Big Steve Arrona Chief fabricator, designer and ass kicker
Rob T. Jr. K9 Officer with his attack dog “Koenig” keep’s guard on the Bonneville racer and a watchful eye out for spies from the 5-Ball Team. He is our all-around photographer.Rogue, the official Bikernet, 5-Ball Racing Team journalist and whiskey drinking hot head.
The Machines
Bonne Belle, a 1940, 45-cubic- inch flathead built by the 5-Ball Racing Team at the Bikernet Headquarters. The engine and transmission are being worked over by the team at Departure Bike Works in Richmond Virginia. It will run in the vintage 750-cc class and shoot for speeds closing on 150 mph.
Chop N Grind– 100 horsepower big twin built by Chop N Grind team. As part of the BikerNet Bonneville Race Teams, they are located out in the Southern California High Desert. Their Bonneville bike project is being done by “The seat of their pants” with a small budget and big dreams.
Bandit’s Bonne Belle and that goddamn Salt Shaker, Better get on the ball, because we are not messing around with all the glitz and glamour Hollywood people. Chop N Grind is getting Down N Dirty, no frills here just old school technology. No fancy paint or new blue jeans. Yeah, they call us “The Sand Snortin Desert Bastards”. That’s just fine with us. Our team is a bunch of roughnecks ready to kick some ass.
The Bonneville racer is a100 inch Harley Davidson EVO with a Twin Cam top. We are running a BDL 3-inch belt drive, old Bartell`s race pipe found in the desert rusting away with our unknown technology we were able to bring it back to life, ridged frame from Midwest, oil tank came from flat tracker Don “Snuffy” Smith, we will run it in his memory.
The class we are running in 1650 cc APG (Altered, Pushrod, Gas) class. The record is 168mph plus, we aim to beat it.
We’re too busy building to figure out what class we’re running in, but there’s a notion that we could put Valerie into the 200 mph club. Her goal for Monster Drinks is to become the fastest motorcycle girl on the salt. We’ll see
BIKERNET BONNEVILLE 2006 5-BALL TEAM SPONSORS
“So far our sponsors include AMSOIL, BMC Choppers, Jims USA, AVON Tires, S&S Cycle, Leinweber Cams,” Bob T. said. “We also have help from my brother at Expressive Designs in Oahu, and LMC Concrete Pumping. We want to thank each and every sponsor and we will in our articles, on our Bonneville Banners, truck and bikes.
Bikernet Platinum Level
Custom Chrome Inc.
Accurate Engineering
Baker Drive Line
Departure Bike Works
Bikernet Gold Level
BDl
Avon Tyres
Nick’s Performance and Amsoil Oil
BMC Choppers
JIMS USA
U.S. Choppers
Leinweber Cams
Bikernet Silver Level
Chris Kallas
Nick Roberts
Bikernet Reader Level
Rick Krost
Glen and Kerri Priddle
