Had a chance to meet the Lowe Bros yesterday and snapped some photos. What a great story. I will try to post some of my shots. They ran 82 yesterday but seem to be just getting started.
Any word on how they are running? The BUB site seems to be about as much use as 80 grit toilet paper when it comes to updates.
I wish the Lowe brothers great success. Anyone have news? I wish I could have been there, but could not afford to stay that long. Maybe next year..........
Got home a few hours ago. Sad to report the little Honda failed in it's mission to regain it's AMA records. We were way too optimistic with our gearing this time. First run on Sunday netted 80 mph in 3rd gear. It just wouldn't pull 4th. A gear change netted close to 84 on Monday. Sure isn't the Bonnville of the 60's. One run a day is about all you can do. BUB had 264 entrys. I don't know how anyone can get a run in with SCTA and over 600 entrys! For Tuesday we dropped to a gear just slightly higher than the '69 gearing. Jack was off on what sounded like a much more promising run when just as he entered the 3 mile, the engine said enough. It was starting to lose power, and Jack cut it off, but not before it melted the top of the piston and the debris hung the intake valve open. Game over. We had what we now realize were dreams of running faster than we did in '69. We leaned on the motor pretty hard with 75% in the tank, and learned the hard way a 45 year old 4 stroke simply cannot make the power a modern 2 stroke can. Didn't get the records back, but we had the time of our lives, made some new friends, and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and well wishes.
Dean Lowe - Thanks for the update ... bummer about the melted piston ... but glad to hear you "two kids" had the time of your lives, made some new friends, and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Dean, thanks for the report. It is just not as easy as it sounds to make a successful run at Bonneville. Sorry you melted the little fella down. I do hope you rebuild it and go at it again. We discovered that there is a real "trick" to hitting your shift points just right and peaking your revs through the traps. Just making the effort and getting it down the salt makes you guys winners.
Dean, glad you had fun, after all isn't that what its all really about?? Way to go man, still ran some damn impressive numbers though!! Doc.
Sensational thread - You guys are congratulated for trying to relive the dreams instead of just talking about it over a beer!!!
Sorry to hear about the meltdown. I was really hoping you guys would pull it off. There's always next year.
Well....you guys have memories that are gold. Had you not tried, you both would have forever been regretful. Now you both know....you gave it a heartfelt effort and the most important thing of all was being able to pursue the quest after all these years with your brother....all over again. To say you failed would be an untruth. Quite the opposite. You saw the opportunity and accepted the challenge. You both have won the championship in participating in one of life's great adventures. Celebrate the moment. Doug
Well, I'm sorry to hear you guys didn't take back your records, but I'm glad that you both had a great time and I'm proud of you for giving it another try! Coming from someone like me, who's never had the pleasure of visiting the salt, you and your brother are a million feet tall in my mind for making runs on it!
Sorry to hear about you guys hurting the bike. I do hope you put her back together and try again. You guys have been an inspiration to a lot of folks.
On my first run ever at ElMo it blowed up, everyone was bummed for me but it was the best thing I ever did blowing up or not. Mabey you should get her out to El Mirage for some testing I would love to see it run. CONGRATS!!!
The Jalopy Journal
