Hey all,
I have been reading this thread for some time and refused to give my 2cents up to this point until today. I'm not a PHD, I'm not an accident investigator with years of experience. I have not come off a 2 wheeled vehicle doing LSR. I am however building a bike that I hope will take me to my first goal level of going 250 to attain my AA license. I feel confident I will achieve that goal. I've always said that everything after that was pudding. I saw Dave go. I Was the one that invited Guy Lombardi from Florida to race Maxton who died on his first pass. I also witnessed the latest death of Gerald Deneau at Wilmington. After hearing of Bills passing attempting to do what I want to do at Loring, I have stopped, stepped back and given some very deep thought to what I'm trying to do. I spent yesterday in Vista, Calif. at AirTech installing modified forks on my bike where it is getting some LSR skin made for it. I have been documenting my every move in articles so that all in the LSR and bike building world can see what I am doing and give me advice, thoughts and challenges to my build.
I've never built a high HP bike that could possibly go 300mph.
I do NOT want to die, but I will not give up on my dream of achieving my goals. I am very interested in any tidbit of information from any source that would allow me to make the best LSR high speed bike I can. As I have told everyone during my build, I am surrounding myself with the best I can find in each discipline of my build to give me the edge I need to be as safe as I possibly can. I have built fire suppression into my program, the best brakes I can find, I will be dressing for the crash with every safety device at my disposal.
I will be making a new body work cage to eliminate bodywork deformation at high speeds possibly causing me to not go straight. I will NOT be running if there is the slightest side winds causing issues with high speed runs by any rider on the course. if I go to a race and never get the chance to run because of winds, then so be it.
I will also not be allowed to make any pass at Wilmington without the approval of both the Chief Timer, Race Director and my many friends who is always at or in my pits. Dean, Ransom, Greg and so many others.
But... Trying to be so safe as to never take it to the edge to achieve the ultimate goal on a given run will be my decision and mine alone. I will be successful and live and achieve my goal or not. When all is said and done, I will have done it, My Way. (My best Sinatra voice)
I have instructed certain people that in the event of a mishap, that all data, videos (on and off board) be made available for a complete analysis no matter what happens. I would want any info I could to help me just as all of you would want. A complete analysis is the only way we can figure out how to make what we do more achievable and hopefully safer.
For those of you that know me, I have been very blessed to be associated with the best in our sport. I can only hope that this last goal doesn't do me in.
Okay, I'm done and sorry it was more than 2 cents.