Pages From Life

[T L Cole]

BUB Speed Trials
September 2 – 5, 2007

It is one of those desires a little kid has when he is ripping the cord out of his SST and sending it flying across the floor; to actually be inside flying across the ground at warp speed. Well, forty some years later I found myself perched on my Triumph Speedmaster headed full throttle across the Bonneville Salt Flats.

After all the preparation all I had to do was drive the 1,900 miles across the country from Nashville, TN to Wendover, UT that took all of 36 hours. Arriving Saturday late afternoon I drove straight to the entrance only to be turned out because they had closed for the day. Since I wasn't scheduled to arrive until Sunday I had no hotel room for the night, so I slept in the truck at the "bend in the road." It is another story but I met an 80 year old man from Indiana that was going to run a V-Rod; in 1955 he ran a duel Harley engine bike for a one way speed of 157.2mph.

Sunday found me back and out on the salt in line for my first run. At 1:10pm it was my turn. Three deep breaths and I watched the green flag drop. Let out the clutch and gradually twisted the throttle through 1st into 2nd. The first half mile was a bit rough and loose so the hand is controlling the throttle - inside I wanted to just rip through the gears like I would on the pavement; not very smart when on salt. 3rd gear into 4th - the heart is pounding - 1 mile marker is approaching quickly; up into 5th just as I enter the measured mile. Full throttle and looking straight ahead; by the 1 and 1/2 mile marker I am settled in and believe it or not - enjoying the view. Looking through my visor I see nothing but flat white salt with the mountains in the distance. This is what the little kid in me had been waiting all these years for! Exit the 2 mile marker with a gradual deceleration and a lift of the head, followed by a yell for joy of accomplishment.


Back to the pits and straight to the booth to pick up the timing slip - 105.567mph for my first run. Monday brought a second run of 111.101mph. For my third & fourth runs I changed gearing down one tooth in the front but experienced fish tailing and loose salt which required me to slow and then accelerate again for runs of 106.106mph and 106.190mph respectively.

What an experience it has been. I met some of the friendliest people, saw some great machines, and had the experience of a life time. Now what am I going to do with the "Salt Fever?"