Speed Freaks Converging On Bonneville Salt Flats This Week For 2013 BUB Speed Trials

Troy Siahaan
by Troy Siahaan

The Bonneville Salt Flats can mean only one thing: speed. For 2013 that time has come again, when motorcycles of all shapes, sizes and engine displacements come together for the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials. The event started Saturday, Aug. 24 and continues until Thursday, Aug. 29.

Over the course of six days, purpose-built motorcycles ranging from 50cc to over 2000cc will take to the salt in an attempt to break new records.

Land-speed racing is one of the most unique disciplines that we sanction, from the motorcycles, to the diversity of the participants to the venue,” said AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. “The AMA Land Speed Grand Championships…are the sport’s premier event, and the level of competition this year is going to be some of the highest ever.”

One battle that should bring a lot of attention is the run for the outright land-speed record on two wheels. Two streamliners are currently registered, the BUB No. 7 Streamliner that will be piloted by AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer and seven-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr and a Triumph streamliner with AMA Pro Racing road racer Jason Disalvo at the controls.

Both Carr and Disalvo will have their eyes on the current record, 376.363 mph, set by rider Rocky Robinson and builder Mike Akatiff in 2010. Carr is a former world record holder, running 367.382 mph in 2009.

Other riders expected to lay down some fast times at the event are Al Lamb, who currently holds the sit-down, partially streamlined record at 262.471 mph, and Jim Hoogerhyde, who rides the all-electric Lightning SB220.

The AMA Land Speed Grand Championships run through Thursday, Aug. 29. Results will be available at www.americanmotorcyclist.com and www.speedtrialsbybub.com following the event.

Troy Siahaan
Troy Siahaan

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.

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