Writer's Note: It’s finally Friday, and the Bonneville races have officially ended. I’m on a plane back home to USC and I just finished watching The World’s Fastest Indian once again. Let's see how it measured up to my experience.
My Bonneville Experience
I’m on the starting line about to do a run on a 1949 500cc Vintage Triumph. I can feel my heart pounding through my old mustard Bates leathers while my hands shake as I grasp the clutch. There are people crowded around everywhere I look excitedly waiting for me to take off. The National Geographic camera crew is standing in front of me zooming in the lens to my nervous eyes. I repeat the steps I learned at American Honda school a few months prior in my head: ease off throttle, pull in the clutch, shift, slowly release clutch, accelerate, cruise, repeat.
My mind crosses Burt Munro and how he used to borrow this exact bike from Isky when he was in Los Angeles. But all I can think about is crashing into the wall the last time I sat on the magenta seat of this bike. What will happen this time? Are the bumps in the salt going to throw me off? Will the engine fail? Will I be able to shift with the new clutch and the new awkward positioning of the pegs? My team leader, Kenny Lyon says “kickstand up”, I pull in the clutch, and he puts me in first. I signal “two” to Bill Taylor, letting him know that I will be pulling off after the 2 mile marker, and he starts waving me forward. Now my heart is pounding. I try to remember all the quotes I told myself that led me to Bonneville.
I slowly start releasing the clutch waiting for the gears to engage, releasing, waiting, releasing, waiting. Am I in neutral? I’m barely holding on at my fingertips now. One more millimeter, the bike is rolling forward and I’m off the starting line. Riding down the flats, everything’s bumpy, I need to get into second, and I need to adjust my positioning.
Ok, where are the pegs? Reach my feet back, lift them higher, alright I reached them. Feel the shifter with my right heel. Got it. Ok, pull in the clutch, kick down with my heel.
Let go of the clutch, everything is sputtering, pull back on the throttle, alright, I did it! This feels great. Do it again to third. Clutch, shift, clutch, throttle. I see the 1-mile marker. Should I shift up into high gear before I reach it? Let’s do it, one more time. Now I’m in fourth! I can feel the air blowing all around me. I duck behind the windshield, imitating what I imagine Burt Munro would have done when he was on this motorcycle. Now it’s just about accelerating. I start singing my favorite song in my head motivating me to eliminate any fear and go faster.
The handle bars are vibrating through my fingers damaged from a crash, the gas tank is vibrating on my chest, my knees tucked into the sides can feel the engine heat up, the salt is bouncy, I’m holding on. Accelerate more, you only live once. I look down at my old World War II airplane tachometer displaying “30.” This should be around 65 mph. I’m going through the Mile 2, accelerate a little more, see if you can bring it up anymore, 2 º. I did it. I set a record.
— Kenny Lyon 310 637 6094
kenylyon@hotmail.com
www.projectgoldwing.org
www.goldwingracingproject.info
I’ve heard some people come to Bonneville all their lives and never set a record. I’m 20 years old, before January ‘06 I had never rode a motorcycle. Since then, I have been on a bike 6 times going a max speed of 30 mph. The last time I rode this Triumph, I crashed into a cement wall, bent the handle bars, broke off the clutch, and rewarded myself with some bloody fingers, scraped up arms, bruised legs and deteriorated confidence. I had just completed a run of 73 mph. Probably one of the slowest records to be set at Bonneville, but for me, this was huge.
Barbara, the other lady rider for Kenny Lyon, and I, went on to set four records during one week, before the bikes began giving up due to salt conditions, wear and tear, or just exhaustion. I was able to get my D class competition license on the Goldwing, and Barbara was able to set two records of 132 and 140 on the GoldWing
I need to thank Kenny Lyon for giving me this opportunity. Not many people would have faith in someone with my limited level of experience.
Thank You.
–Kimberly
