Bonneville Bantams

Looks like another one chasing my dream:

http://www.bsabantamclub.com/forum/general-discussion/bantams-on-the-salt

Anyone know them?

Good Evening John,

I believe they got three records while over there.

Kind Regards


Eddie

so what speeds did they achieve ? does anyone know !

the pages referred, do not say, what they managed !

other than 18/19 hp and 13,000rpm ! at the back wheel !

I understand this is a short stroke but large bore and has the same mod my Iron Barrel has for cooling, top fins turned off and alloy top fins shrunk on.

details anyone, please dont refer me to other Forums, just say if you know what they achieved.

Derek

From Their FB Page:

"First record was secured in the 125cc MPS-VG class with an average speed of 79mph.
That bike was then modified to allow it to change class to 125cc MPS-VF, and Nick secured his record with an average of 82mph.
Steve finished off the week on his bike in the 125cc APS-VG with a record, average speed 84mph."

Thanks Ed- are these wind corrected, as for if they do have 18/19hp they should have been able to achieve a much higher speed than they did ?

regds Derek

I will try and have a word with the guys involved and see if the can come on and explain things.

Thinking!

Trying to send a picture ....

Feel like a real dumb-dumb - I missed something somewhere --I don´t think it functioned ...

Cheers!

send it to the usual email address John.


Kind Regards


Eddie

JB,

I received the email but nothing was attached!

Kind Regards

Eddie

Hopefully the guys are gonna send me some info to post up.

Kind Regards


Eddie

Edward Pickering wrote:

From Their FB Page:

"First record was secured in the 125cc MPS-VG class with an average speed of 79mph.
That bike was then modified to allow it to change class to 125cc MPS-VF, and Nick secured his record with an average of 82mph.
Steve finished off the week on his bike in the 125cc APS-VG with a record, average speed 84mph."

non of the above guys from what I gather are bantam/two stroke experts, they got a lot of help,worked really hard and I personally think they did well, lots of us dream of getting out there (and one day I will even if it's my boys scattering my ashes) they dreamt it then did it.

I know folk that have been out and say it's an whole different ball game altitude setting up (jetting etc) riding on salt, winds, engine gremilns etc

There was a guy that ran a 250 Bultaco who ran out of jets, bike stayed far too rich, bogging down, but was happy with his 68mph! Its hard to compare anytimes we've done on Bantams think I've hit 84mph + terminal at the end of just a 1/4 mile heaven knows what it would of done for the rest of the 3-5 miles(nipped for sure!) you can do at Bonnevile.

here's the best bit folks

THOSE RECORDS ARE THERE TO BE BROKEN

SLAT FEVER   

Hello, thought I would give a quick post and sorry to Ed for being so slow with supplying him some info.

We did indeed take two Bantams to Bonneville, and returned with three land speed records.

It was hard work, and we did receive a lot of help. Not least from reading this website and extensive communication with Alan.

We designed and built the bikes and engines from scratch in the last 18 months, finished final construction of the bikes at the campsite in Wendover having carried the engines over with us as luggage on the plane. The bikes moved under the power of the race engines for the first time off the line on the salt. Please note I would recommend that anyone wishing to follow in our footsteps get a little more testing and tuning done beforehand!!

If you want to go on holiday avoid speedweek, it is one of the hardest two weeks I have ever experienced but oh so so enjoyable.

Hard work was compounded by our lack of logistical experience, and that is still evident....the bikes are still stuck in USA.

The figures supplied for the records earlier in the thread are spot on, final run on both bikes was over 85 mph. Both bikes got faster every day that we were there, and there is no doubt at all that they will go a lot faster. Still less than 20 miles travelled for both bikes, they are nearly run in! In fact we managed to seize both engines out on the salt, one was rebuilt during a manic 4 hour period in the record impound prior to making a return run.

We would like to thank all those Bantam guys that helped and supported us (you know who you are), and it is of note that the records secured by the Bantams were all taken away from Harley Hummers. Some of whom were more graceful than others, to quote one rider 'These damn Brits are kickin my ass'.

It was a dream for us, and if we can share any of our experience and the lessons learned with others to help tread the same path we would be more than happy.

Beware of Salt Fever.......

Good Evening Karl,

No problem, thank you for taking the time to provide us with an insight and information. Well done on the records. You never know we may end up all coming together at the midland meeting eventually.

Kind Regards


Eddie

I hope so too Ed, we have a bit more time on our hands now so should be able to make it. Let me know when the next meeting is.

Just picking up on an earlier post, our extra fins did allow some extra cooling but the primary reason for them was that we removed the original fins to allow us to lay down some brazing prior to the porting work, otherwise our exhaust port would have broken out through the barrel.

Good Morning Karl,

When something has been organised I will let you know.

Out of interest did you use the heads you made/designed on both bikes?

Kind Regards


Eddie

Well done, to them, sounds like Alan came through sounds like an excellent event/result, and very typically Bantam with seizures and problems welcome to a wonderful club .

I wonder if anyone has the speed trap figures for the isle of man (TT 1974), I'm sure the fastest Bantam ever recorded through a speed trap (and not in the pits) was Tony Jones at 110.mph

The fastest top speeds recorded ! at UK short circuits was the speed trap at Snetterton 1986 / 87 /88. There is a list of all front runners trapped in MPH "all above 90's but "not one above" 100mph. sadly loads of 107mph being branded around the paddock, just like the rest of the B.S talked out of many a camp !! "those were the days".

regards Derek

Hi
Tonys bantam went through the speed trap at 106mph chasing me on my Maico at 112mph I just managed to stay in front of him we fiished 7th and 8th gaining silver replicas.
Bill.

Oops
Senior moment this all took place at 1974 125 TT.
Bill.

Well done to you all. I am now waiting for the DVD the worlds fastest Bantam to be released. How many seasons racing do that cost?

Hi Ted /Bill

I got the speed trap figures from one of the motorcycle mag news clip, who did almost a full page on Tony and George H's developed Bantam. perhaps the 110MPH was and over enthusiastic writer but Im sure it said through the speed trap on the drop down highlander or cronkyvody, not sure, I will get it out and re-read it when I get a mo.

I,m Interested to see "The worlds Fastest Bantam"

Kind regards Derek

Just for Derek:

1957 115MPH

Karl are you and your team mates doing Pendine Sands next year by
any chance? If its on? I was thinking of having a blast?
Regards Mike

Hi Mike,

We would certainly like to get another few miles on the bikes, if we ever manage to get them back from America.
Pendine would be an excellent opportunity, soak up some land speed racing history.

See you there.

Derek
My speed trap figures are from The Motorcycle TT issue 15th June 1974 the trap was through the Highlander not the fastest spot for a 125 a few other points probably faster Kates to Creg Creg to Brandish bottom of Bray hill etc your flat out for a long time on a 125 but not Cronk y voddy it was that bumpy it killed top speed.
Fastest 125 Rod Gooch Yam 114mph
B Kirkwood Maico 112mph
F Launchbury Maico 111mph
T Jones joint 8th with 2 Yams 1106mph
I believe the speed trap was run by the National sprint association
An interesting point Fred me and Tony all used Launchbury fairings
Tonys fastest lap was 26 46.2 which is 83mph+ [ from ACU results sheet] Was this fastest TT lap by a Bantam?.
Bill.

It's no wonder Tony Jones won so many races 1106 MPH I didn't stand a chance !