At-Risk Teens Off Streets And Into Shop, Building Land Speed Racer
Helping with Horsepower is a non-profit organization helping at-risk teens find purpose and clean up their act. Its founder, Laura Klock also has a love for speed, specifically on two wheels. The holder of multiple land speed records, this August she’ll attempt another run down the Bonneville Salt Flats, on a Victory motorcycle built by the same teens HwH helps support, as described in the above video by Lou Young and CBSNewYork.
The teens are students at Pine Bush High School in New York, and will be fabricating and assembling every piece of the motorcycle — with the help of an experienced hand, of course. Pine Bush High School principal, Aaron Hopmayer, is passionate about the program, telling CBSNewYork “We’re going to take a damaged motorcycle and ultimately rebuild it, almost like some of these kids’ lives.”
With various different bodywork designs, the group are aiming to top 200 mph at Bonneville — no small task, even for experienced builders and racers. This will mark the first time Klock and HwH have organized a build with a school, and the kids plan to work during their summer break to ensure the bike is completed on schedule. As an added bonus, they’ll all travel to Utah to deliver the bike to Klock in person.
Funding for this project was all sourced through private sponsors. To donate to this or another project, or to simply learn about the build, visit Helping with Horsepower.
Troy's been riding motorcycles and writing about them since 2006, getting his start at Rider Magazine. From there, he moved to Sport Rider Magazine before finally landing at Motorcycle.com in 2011. A lifelong gearhead who didn't fully immerse himself in motorcycles until his teenage years, Troy's interests have always been in technology, performance, and going fast. Naturally, racing was the perfect avenue to combine all three. Troy has been racing nearly as long as he's been riding and has competed at the AMA national level. He's also won multiple club races throughout the country, culminating in a Utah Sport Bike Association championship in 2011. He has been invited as a guest instructor for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, and when he's not out riding, he's either wrenching on bikes or watching MotoGP.
More by Troy Siahaan
Comments
Join the conversation