...other stuff

Jim & Jeanne's Site

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...other stuff

Motorcycles, cars, projects

The Lakes Modified chassis was rolled out for pictures in October, 2006.

The engine is a 1972 Toyota 2T-G 1600cc

Honda 450 DOHC Twin

1969 Bonneville Speed Week - two AMA records

1969 was my first year at Bonneville. My father, Hank, was my crew chief and I was fortunate to post two records. Pitted a few spots up the line was Bert Munro, from New Zealand. I had a few good visits with him, and he gave me the full "tour" of his Indian. Since the interest in the movie (Worlds Fastest Indian) I've decided to try to get the old 450 on the salt for some "time only" runs. I think some folks would like to see and hear one of the bikes from Bert's era. I don't think my old bike can run 121.102 MPH, again, but it'll be fun to make some passes.

My 450 was painted Gold, for "Speedweek 1969", but I changed it to Candy Blue for the "Wheelstand National Championships" at Orange County International Raceway in SoCal. That event was about 2 months after Bonneville.

I was able to get the bike under the current National Record for one pass, then broke a piston on my next pass. I plan to leave the color as it was when last raced. Old racers never become what they first were....parts get changed, new ideas tried, mistakes made....best to just carry on and enjoy them.

UPDATE: August 2007!! More passes down the salt on my DOHC 450.

On my 61st birthday, the old bike ran 105+

It was a great feeling to ride the same course, crouched on the same tank, reliving my 23rd birthday

click here to play video - leaving the line 2007

On the return road again, after all the years.

Speedweek '09: 40 years after my first record, I set the 500cc Pushrod record at 123.418 MPH

For Speedweek 2009 I built a new bike using an old Honda Silver Wing engine, turned sideways and converted from shaft-drive to chain-drive. In two easy passes, the bike raised the previous record from 111 MPH to over 123 MPH.

Beginning in 1995, my best friend Dan Wagner and I built this G/Blown Gas Modified Roadster. With it's 1988 Celica 2000cc engine, I set the G/ class record at over 168 MPH in 1998. The car ran over 180 MPH, before melting a piston on the return run (resulting in the "slow" 168 record).

In 2000, Dan raised the record to 181 MPH. That record still stands, and he has since sold the car.

Below is the Prius 2004 Speed Week project I helped build. I was crew chief on this car, working with Aaron Robinson (Car & Driver magazine), Dr. Hori (Prius Chief Engineer, Toyota), and Group Vice President Kobayashi (Toyota) as drivers. We achieved several passes over 130 MPH, with a top speed near 136 MPH in the middle of one pass.

My 1989 Honda Transalp has been a great ride for many years. I've ridden this bike in the Colorado Rockies, the High Sierras of California, the Pacific Coast Highway, and (shown here) the Canyonlands of Utah. This photo was made on the White Rim Trail, near Moab. This trail is a 110 mile loop and a great ride, though I'd not recommend riding in July (it was about 110 degrees).