Back to Battle Mountain - WHPSC 2008

A record that has stood since 1986 was broken tonight by Chuck Royalty in a vehicle designed and built by Raymond Gage. In fact, it was not broken, but shattered. Chuck's speed of 66.08 eclipsed the old mark of 63.01 by a full 5%, an almost unheard-of margin. Both Raymond and Chuck feel there may still be some improvement possible. We'll just have to see.

The highlight for me of every WHPSC is the show-and-tell session on Tuesday, and this year was no different. It is great fun watching the 3rd and 6th graders look over the machines, ask questions, and get autographs. An added touch this year was a slide (yes, real slides) presentation by Bill Gaines showing a little of the history of the IHPVA and some of the bikes that had gone before the those on display today.

Larry and Tom did some minor tweaking on the bike, then had the bad fortune of having a chain (one of four on the machine) derail about half-way through the course. The interior of the bike is so loud, however, that Tom in the rear could not hear Larry in the front saying that he could no longer pedal, so he kept pushing and could not understand why the speed was not increasing. He finally got the message, and they crossed through the time trap at 51.5 mph. That means more tinkering tomorrow to keep that from happening again.

Other Results:
Morning
Tanya Markham (Fred's daughter and former Junior record holder) - 57.97
Tomas Van Shaik (the third Dutch entry riding the same bike as Hans) - 62.57
Aaron Williams - 52.71
Jay Henry (17 year old who build his own machine, but also dropped a chain) - 27.35
James Schroeder - 49.63

Afternoon
Sam Whittingham - no time due to malfunction of BOTH independent timing systems
Fred Markham - 72.04
Ellen Van Vugt - 62.92
Chuck Royalty (deserves another mention) - 66.08
Aaron Williams - 54.16
Hans Wessels - 40.67
Warren Beauchamp - 61.80
Jason Erickson (brought a kit last year and did not run) - 60.19

It's always fun to watch the bikes and riders arrive for this event. They run the gamut from 'ready'; bike complete and running smoothly, to 'kit'; various bits and parts that will at some time be a vehicle. Larry's Goliath II came in pretty much ready, so we headed out this morning to do some test rides. The special goal was to verify the proper functioning of the very ingenious starting cart that Larry had devised. The brown patches on the sides are skid protection in case of fall during testing.

Keep in mind that this is a BIG machine. Two riders, seated back-to-back, separate drive systems for each wheel, with a good deal of fiberglass enclosure. Only the pilot can see out, the stoker being entombed in the rear for the duration of the flight. Tranporting it it the bed of a standard pick-up was a feat in itself, hanging off the rear a good six feet. Having said all that, it is actually quite easy to move around, albeit in three pieces.

The loading sequence is as follows: 1) with bottom supported by side-stands, the rear rider sits in, 2) the rear fairing section is fitted and secured, 3) the launch cart is attached by shoving it tightly onto the rear, 4) the bike is now stable so the side-stands are removed, 5) pilot sits in, 6) front fairing section is fitted and secured, 7) final taping of seams. Starting is accomplished by simply peddling away. My job then is to run along behind with a wad of straps in my hand and when given the shout by Larry to sharply pull the straps and disengage the cart.

It all actually worked very well this morning - a tribute to Larry's forethought and skills. A minor mishap did occur when the rear tire blew out during the second run, caused by a fairing rub. The landing was fairly soft and no major damage was sustained. Some judicious grinding eliminated the problem.

At the riders meeting this evening all those who had attained 50 mph and above were given hats accknowledging their achievement in 5 mph increment 'clubs'. I took posession of a 60 mph Club hat, very cool. Even cooler, though, the organization presented me with a beer mug emblazoned with my having been the first person over 50 to break 60 mph. I was not expecting anything like that, at all.

Tomorrow, qualifying runs bright and early, so I need to got my beauty sleep.

Saturday & Sunday, October 6 – 7, 2007 – Saturday was the long drive south. Got away at about 6:15 in the wind and cold (television said 28 F, but it wasn't quite that bad). The clouds from the previous day were hanging on the peaks of the hills but most of the sky was clear. There was a good deal of snow that looked to start at about 5500 ft.

Stopped for breakfast in Austin, about 90 miles south and 2000 ft higher elevation. There was three inches of snow on the ground, though the road was clear. It was obvious that the road crews had been out early with the sand and salt. Woody did a great job on my French Toast.

Up and over 7400 ft. Austin Summit that was shrouded in cloud, with just a dusting of snow still falling, and down into the next valley to the east. The route home took us almost straight south through Tonopah and Beatty, NV, then SW through Death Valley and beyond to pick up Rte 14 back into the Los Angeles basin. The weather was pleasant for the trip, with sun and temperatures in the 60's, even in the valley of death where the scenery is nothing short of spectacular. Reached Long Beach at 7 p.m.

We found out Sunday from the Missouri U. website that the speed runs were held Saturday evening but the weather did not cooperate (as forecast), so there was no improvement by any of the racers. That means that my 61.05 mph wound up to be third place for the event. I would have liked to have been at the wrap-up dinner, but it was much better having a full day at home before flying out on a business trip Monday afternoon. All of the official results should be posted on the event website in the next couple of days. There are also photos there, and links to other websites with more, including one site that has video of bikes going through the timing area. He captured the Missouri bike passing me on Thursday evening - it's neat to see.

Also, I am still (so far as anyone knows) the only person over fifty years of age to pedal faster than sixty miles per hour.

Thanks for looking in. Drop back from time to time and check up on my progress toward the one hour challenge that should take place in April at the Nissan test track outside of Casa Grande, AZ.

Thanks again,
Thomas H. Nowak
HPVAARP - Club 60/50

Thursday, October 4, 2007 – It was windy all day today, up to and including the speed runs on Rte 305. Temperature was pleasant, but that was little consolation.

A couple of corrections regarding bikes and riders: The Missouri U. of Science & Technology (MUST) bike is the 'Streaminer', ridden by Jerrod Bouchard. Jay Henry, Blue Jay rider/builder is 16, not 14. I'll edit the previous posts.

More meetings this morning, and I thought I was on vacation. An IHPVA committee meeting and then a general membership meeting. After lunch I modified the position of the shifter controls to make my hands a little more comfortable and replaced the chainring at the pedals.

Last evening when I shifted into the smallest cog on the drive sprocket it skipped because of the angle that the chain had to make between the mid-drive and the wheel. I installed a larger chainring so that I have a faster gear combination without going to the small cog. I didn't have a ring in my stash, but it's the nature of the group that all want to see everyone do well, so I was able to borrow one from the Panther folks. Finished up just in time for a nap.

Out on the course, it was blowing pretty hard. The maximum wind allowed by the rules is 3.7 mph, and it was over four times that when we arrived. All of the bikes have a fairly large side profile, so can get pushed around a lot. Depending on wheel placement and body shape, this can mean being pushed off course and have to steer back the other way, which is the case with Orange, or being blown over and have to lean to the side in order to stay on the road.

Everyone got off OK in the first group, where six bikes were run instead of the usual five. At qualifying this morning, Raymond Gage and his big trike 'Orion' ran a faster time than the UC Davis bike, and had been put on the list in their place, but no one had told the Davis group that they had been bumped. So, when they showed up at the start the officials made an exception and let them run. The order was Valkyrie, Beluga, Blue Jay, Panther, Bessie III, Orion. The first two made it down without incident, in fact Tom Amick in Beluga pulled off a run of 54+ mph – his chase driver said at times he was leaned over what looked like 45 degrees.

The remainder of the group was another story. Blue Jay had a lot of trouble with the wind and was traveling pretty slowly. Panther caught up with him and was not quite sure what to do, but after hesitating he went into the left lane and passed cleanly. Panther's chase driver was even more puzzled, and decided not to attempt to pass Blue Jay, instead opting to sit in behind it's chase vehicle (the family's 40-something foot motorhome). Then Bessie III caught Blue Jay. As far as anyone can remember, there have been only one or two passing situations in the nine years of this event, and here's the second on the same evening. This time, however, the overtaking bike passed on the right, between Blue Jay and the shoulder. He got by and a little ahead, but then lost control, fell and spun off the road. Blue Jay managed not to collide with the fallen bike and made it the rest of the way.

Raymond Gage in the trike was taking it easy so stayed out of the fray. However, with a trike you can't lean into the wind to keep going straight like on a bike, you have to turn the front wheel. He had to turn so far that he wore the sidewall off his tire and flatted within sight of the 200m time trap. Bummer.

Now the second group. Sam went off fine, as usual. Damjan also got off without incident. Rob in the camera bike decided that it was too windy for him and scratched. I considered that but figured I'd use the run as a training ride. So, I set off into the gathering night. The wind was no fun. At about 40 the bike really took on a mind of it's own, so I cruised along in the upper 30's until nearing the timing area. I picked up the pace at that point because I did not want to go through at less than 40. Soon after finishing, Jerrod Bouchard in the MUST Streaminer went past me, which meant we were in the timing at the same time – another first for the event. I slowed way down and let catch deal with him before I came on the scene. Once again, those guys did a marvelous job.

At the meeting we found out that Rob had decided to start after all, and followed MUST. Unfortunately, his first thought turned out to be correct when he did not get far before being knocked down. My speed for the run was 43+. Before each group tonight Eli Mueller, who is 13, rode his faired trike though the traps to establish 25+mph as the record for his age group. In the photo are riders (L-R): Eric Ware, Sam Whittingham, Jay Henry, Damjan Zabovnik, Rob Hitchcock, Jarrod Bouchard, Larry Lem (kneeling), Steven Day, Tom Amick, Eli Mueller, Raymond Gage, Steve Spencer, Yours Truely.

Tomorrow the weather is supposed to be worse.

Tuesday, October 2 - Good day all around. Show & Tell at the Civic Center this morning at 10, so we started with installing the LED lights in the nose of 'Orange'. The folks in the catch area have trouble seeing some of the bikes in the low light, so in addition to the orange color we thought it would be cool to have lights (and my crewman is a whiz at such things). There is now a row of six red LEDs up the bow of the bonnet that blink in sequence two at a time.

The session at the Civic Center with the school children is a kick every year. They run around going "oooh" and "aaah", and asking for autographs. Most of the grade-schoolers have pictures of HPVs that they've drawn - many good ideas for future projects. The middle school folks are more suave, but still have big eyes. The lights were a hit, and lunch was on the house (the BIG sub).

In the afternoon we added a couple of blocks to the bonnet along the bottom edge to make it easier to assemble at the start. We also picked up a second crew member who will ride shotgun in the Habitat during the speed runs. This fellow, Dan helped us last year. He and his friends are in the area on vacation to see this event and are camping nearby. They fish and see the sights during the day and watch the runs in the evening.

The speed runs are arranged into two waves of five vehicles, due to the amount of time that the road can be closed. The faster 5 bikes make up the second wave because that is when it is most likely to be calm winds (and potential record speeds). Each wave goes off fastest to slowest so as to decrease the likelihood that anyone will be overtaken. Tonight I am the last rider to start.

Temperature is at least 10 deg warmer, better for speed, and the wind is down some (but still a factor). Another clean start and I am down the road. I start out a little fast again, so coast a bit, then pick it up, trying to keep to a speed schedule that I've worked out might get me to 65. The road is still rough (imagine that) and I get some buffetting from the wind. Speed up to 50 at 2 miles to go, somewhat behind schedule. Got to pedal harder. Climbing toward 60 as I get to the timing trap, but not quite there. - Coast down and clean catch by those good folks.

Sitting in the bike as the lid was raised, someone asked if I needed help getting up. I said no, then needed help as my quads were not up to the task. I stood bent over laughing and said to no one in particular: "This is too #%$@ing much fun."

Got my official speed of 59.2 mph at the meeting. Top speed was Sam Whittingham, a little over 78, with another rider, Damjan Zabovnic at 74+. Mine was the fastest speed of the mortals. The other contender in my speed range, Rob Hitchcock did not make it down the course. He steers using a video camera and monitor because his machine has no windshield, to take advantage of improved aerodynamics, and his primary monitor died half-way through the run. Two other Southern California boys, Tom Amick and Larry Lem are sharing a new bike that Larry built, called Baluga for its resemblence to a creature of the same name. Tom did 54+ tonight.

Post-mortum thoughts are that coasting was a bad tactical decision. It meant that I had to use valuable energy in re-acceleration. If I get ahead of schedule, I need to back off but keep pedalling so as not to slow down. That and less wind, and who knows.