2011 BUB MOTORCYCLE SPEED TRIALS..........reflections.

Over for another successful year,the 2011 Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB was a tremendous event,made possible by many people,volunteers,staff,BUB officials,the brainchild of BUB himself,Dennis Manning,and the racers who come from far and wide to pay the entry fee for the privilege of running their motorcycles on the Bonneville Salt Flats,a dry lake bed from thousands of years ago,as fast as they possibly can.


I ride out for New York City tomorrow(Monday 5th Sept)in order to photograph Team Red,White and Blue's NYC Memorial Run.

So before I go,I wanted to put up some more images of the BUB event for those who may not have seen them,or who were not lucky enough to be there in person.

Rex,Tower Control.

Tom Burkland,Tower Control.

"TR",Keeper of The Salt.

There were two bikes that for me were my favorites of the 2011 BUB meet this year.Jim Moshers twin engine Indian is one.
This bike has to be seen in person to fully appreciate the quality of construction and design that went into producing it.

And for that "awwww" moment,this is Jims dog "Scout" when she was a pup.

This was the other bike,which was the #1 bike of the meet for me.
Sgt.Robert. M. Bennett,A Company,3rd Battalion,39th Infantry,9th Infantry Div, built this bike to commemorate and memorialize the men of his company who never made it back home.

The names of the soldiers who didn't make it back will go along with Sgt.Bennett when he get's to run at 200mph,the goal of the bike.

It's a very powerful piece,made all the more intense in the interview I did with him when we sat down to talk about the bike.Due to this fact,I have decided not to post up the video just yet until Sgt.Bennett sees it and agrees  to let it be published.It is without doubt an incredibly personal interview,a look inside a mans soul of the pain and grief that he and many like him still carry to this day,many years later,and to whom we all owe a great debt of gratitude to.

 Set-up for the 2011 BUB.

 Dave,James and I went up to one of the peaks overlooking the course to set up the repeaters for the radio communications.

For those who have never been to a Land Speed event out here on the Bonneville Salt Flats,this is a Drag,towed behind a vehicle and used to "drag" or "smooth" the salt or course that the racers race on.It's basically 5 I-beams welded together,and when dragged along will either cut or smooth out the rough course.

I'm signing out now,I have some packing to do for NYC.

Thank you to all for the continued support,especially to Joe Amo and Garth Graham for their generous contributions for,as they both put it the same way,"Blog and Facebook coverage and entertainment".

Joe Amo used to own Landracing.com,so he knows how much work goes into event coverage like this.

For those wishing to buy prints,I will have my SmugMug account straightened out for this shortly.

My next blog/Facebook update will be en-route to NYC.

Until then......

Murph.

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.........Pt 2.

This was crater lake I believe at the end of July last year.I lost track of time a little bit,days flow into weeks which is  flowing seamlessly into year two on the road.But I was thinking on just how much has happened over the last year on this trip,and how much is changing.

It`s been an interesting year,and a very busy week too.

For year two there are some changes coming up,a lot of changes.

For starters,i`m selling this:

...my beloved `76 Toyota Landcruiser FJ40.

Here`s the link on Craigslist if you know anyone in the market for a go anywhere on road/off road FJ40.

I`ve had this rig for a while now,took it to Moab and never rolled it either.BUT,the money will be used to turn my two wheeler motorcycle into this:

...the three wheeled version with a sidecar.

After getting snowed in in Steamboat and not being able to ride,I had to figure out a way to be able to ride all year in all weather,including snow,otherwise i`ll be severly limited to when and where I can travel.

There are a few downsides to a sidecar,like technically it`s not a motorcycle anymore for one,but the upside if you`re going to stay on the road for a few years,which is my intention, is worth it for me.I`ve always had a thing for hacks,nearly every single one seems to have a personality all of it`s own.

Meanwhile I had shipped the panniers from the 1150 down here to Fl in December to do some work on them while visiting with me Mum.I`m adding a 5" pull-out drawer to the bottom of each one,for tools,camping stove and such.

These drawers will give me about 13 litres of extra space per drawer per pannier,in addition tools and oily stuff are out of the food and clothes boxes.

The reason for making all these changes to the bike is twofold.

The first obviously is ergonomic,they are additions that are going to make it more comfortable and safer to travel for extended periods of time,like a few years.

I have always wondered how it would have felt to be standing on the summit of the Matterhorn back in `77,since I only made it to the Hornli Hut.So,either late this year or at the latest the beginning of 2012,a Euro trip will come to fruition.If I have to work at Burger King to finance it,so be it,but like I have mentioned before,sponsorship will play a big part in this.And seeing as i`ll be in Europe,I may as well keep going over to Turkey and Nepal and try to get on a Climbing Expedition to K2.

I get so much mail from all types of riders,weekend warriors,dirt riders,long distance cruisers,guys and gals who would love to be able to do what i`m doing right now,but for whatever their reasons,just can`t.So I feel really privileged that so many people follow me and live a small part of their lives through this blog.It`s great,thank you.

And speaking of blogs,don`t forget that Motorcycle Picture Of The Day blogspot appears to be no longer,thanks to Blogger.I feel terrible for Steve having lost three years of his work,and it seems to be irretrievable.

So,for all who follow Steve also,this is his other blog,and this is the new and improved MPOTD blog.

Meanwhile,some more "Year In Review" pics from the Salt Flats in Wendover UT last year.

Murph