Products - Moto Guzzi pushrod engined Land Speed Record assault

Moto Guzzi Pushrod Engined Land Speed Record Assault

2003 Maxton Results

April 26,2003
Hey Y'all

Team Cooked Goose and the MGCL had a good weekend at Maxton. Alice Sexton flew in from California to co-ride the Sport 1100 ("Acala the Great", conqueror of the entire known world, particularly Milwaukee!). Alice is an absolute delight and the perfect size for a Land Speed Racer. She has some track experience and I suspect is a very competent street rider. She has a calm, 'no drama' riding style.

Saturday, the weather was very blustery. The skies were boiling and as we came close to Maxton it started to rain. We unloaded the bike, went through tech inspection.........the first time the inspector has ever allowed us to bring the bike inside the tent......and then went to Laurinburg for lunch. By the time we returned, the rain had stopped and there was a parade of vehicles running up and down the track to dry it out. In that part of the country, after the rains fall down, they fall up! It was reeeeeeealy muggy and the machines and riders were kinda gasping for air.....scuba gear would have been nice but not allowed under the current racing regs.

Since TCG currently has all of the production (sorta stock) class records we were running in an unfaired class. It was a bit unfair to have Alice do her Rookie runs and her record attempts whilst being beaten up by the winds but she took it with very good grace. Her Rookie run, where you have to ride below 125 was made at 103.304. Her final run on Sunday was 137.979. A pretty good step up in performance. No?

Sunday morning was a bit more sunny and clear but there was a gusting headwind which swung around about 80 degrees to a crosswind about every 5 minutes. Keep in mind that there's a dogleg in the track at about the 1200 foot mark so you can see that riding this track isn't quite cut and dried. Alice's launches and speeds were getting better and better and her shifting was excellent. On one of the runs, I could hear that wonderful Guzzi howl all the way down the track. First, second, third, fourth.....dead silence! Urk!! Remembering that I had promised her husband Ed Milich that I would take good care of her and that he's 6'4" I hopped on the pit bike and screamed down the drive-out strip. A couple of minutes later, a dejected looking Alice drove by in a pickup truck towing the Spot. She jumped out laughing and said, "The yellow light came on and the bike stopped"! Hhmmm, thoroughly embarrassed pit crew member (me) hadn't put in enough fuel! I usually put in the minimum amount to keep the weight down but I had miscalculated a bit.

I did one run and then Alice did her final one. We came home tired and happy, after taking another Harley record. This one was the 3000 cc record which they had held. We're working our way up the food chain and hope to make this an all-Guzzi sweep by the end of the summer. Bonneville will be the icing on the cake!

Sidney in NC

ps.......I want everyone to send Alice an email of congratulations and to beat her up a bit because she won't let me join the Women's International Motorcycle Association. Is this not discrimination?

Alice on one of her bikes.
It's Not a Moto Guzzi, but it's not a Harley!

Getting ready for a run!

March 29, 2003 - Another Record

Hey Y'all

When we set out for Maxton - "we" being great guy Bob Latanzi aka schoolbusbob - and me, the skies were threatening and it was misting. Maxton is about 120 miles from Charlotte and by the time we got there the light rain had stopped. However, it was heavily overcast and there was a very strong wind out of the South....an advantage. By the time Tech Inspection was done on the 1100 Sport, the rain was falling so we holed up in the trailer to wait. The rain came in two strong waves, only minutes apart. By the time it stopped, there was a lot of water on the track. The sun came out and combined with the winds and about a dozen cars and trucks running up and down the 1.9 mile track, it eventually dried. The humidity was almost stifling for a while and vehicles and drivers were gasping for air!

I got in two runs. During the first, a plug wire fell out (my fault for not inserting the cap fully after a plug change). Now we know that an 1110 Sport, at least this one, will go 104 mph on one cylinder!

After a jet change downward, I did another run and made just under 152 mph. This obliterated the old 2000 cc Production Pushrod record, which Cooked Goose held at 142. Shift points were 9200 RPM......there was plenty more left but I elected to preserve the engine since it's going to be a long season leading up to Bonneville.

Tomorrow, I start on some of the currently held modified records.

The concensus of opinion, held by spectators, participants, organizers and competitors is that the bike is probably the most beautiful and unique one there and that it definitely has the best sound. It's sorta like an angry giant growling in a deep well. I can envision a new CD coming!

Your piloto,
Sidney in NC


	April 26,2003 Hey Y'all Team Cooked Goose and the MGCL had a good weekend at Maxton. Alice Sexton flew in from California to co-ride the Sport 1100 ("Acala the Great", conqueror of the entire known world, particularly Milwaukee!). Alice is an absolute delight and the perfect size for a Land Speed Racer. She has some track experience and I suspect is a very competent street rider. She has a calm, 'no drama' riding style. Saturday, the weather was very blustery. The skies were boiling and as we came close to Maxton it started to rain. We unloaded the bike, went through tech inspection.........the first time the inspector has ever allowed us to bring the bike inside the tent......and then went to Laurinburg for lunch. By the time we returned, the rain had stopped and there was a parade of vehicles running up and down the track to dry it out. In that part of the country, after the rains fall down, they fall up! It was reeeeeeealy muggy and the machines and riders were kinda gasping for air.....scuba gear would have been nice but not allowed under the current racing regs. Since TCG currently has all of the production (sorta stock) class records we were running in an unfaired class. It was a bit unfair to have Alice do her Rookie runs and her record attempts whilst being beaten up by the winds but she took it with very good grace. Her Rookie run, where you have to ride below 125 was made at 103.304. Her final run on Sunday was 137.979. A pretty good step up in performance. No? Sunday morning was a bit more sunny and clear but there was a gusting headwind which swung around about 80 degrees to a crosswind about every 5 minutes. Keep in mind that there's a dogleg in the track at about the 1200 foot mark so you can see that riding this track isn't quite cut and dried. Alice's launches and speeds were getting better and better and her shifting was excellent. On one of the runs, I could hear that wonderful Guzzi howl all the way down the track. First, second, third, fourth.....dead silence! Urk!! Remembering that I had promised her husband Ed Milich that I would take good care of her and that he's 6'4" I hopped on the pit bike and screamed down the drive-out strip. A couple of minutes later, a dejected looking Alice drove by in a pickup truck towing the Spot. She jumped out laughing and said, "The yellow light came on and the bike stopped"! Hhmmm, thoroughly embarrassed pit crew member (me) hadn't put in enough fuel! I usually put in the minimum amount to keep the weight down but I had miscalculated a bit. I did one run and then Alice did her final one. We came home tired and happy, after taking another Harley record. This one was the 3000 cc record which they had held. We're working our way up the food chain and hope to make this an all-Guzzi sweep by the end of the summer. Bonneville will be the icing on the cake! Sidney in NC ps.......I want everyone to send Alice an email of congratulations and to beat her up a bit because she won't let me join the Women's International Motorcycle Association. Is this not discrimination?

		Alice on one of her bikes. It's Not a Moto Guzzi, but it's not a Harley!

	Getting ready for a run!
	March 29, 2003 - Another Record Hey Y'all When we set out for Maxton - "we" being great guy Bob Latanzi aka schoolbusbob - and me, the skies were threatening and it was misting. Maxton is about 120 miles from Charlotte and by the time we got there the light rain had stopped. However, it was heavily overcast and there was a very strong wind out of the South....an advantage. By the time Tech Inspection was done on the 1100 Sport, the rain was falling so we holed up in the trailer to wait. The rain came in two strong waves, only minutes apart. By the time it stopped, there was a lot of water on the track. The sun came out and combined with the winds and about a dozen cars and trucks running up and down the 1.9 mile track, it eventually dried. The humidity was almost stifling for a while and vehicles and drivers were gasping for air! I got in two runs. During the first, a plug wire fell out (my fault for not inserting the cap fully after a plug change). Now we know that an 1110 Sport, at least this one, will go 104 mph on one cylinder! After a jet change downward, I did another run and made just under 152 mph. This obliterated the old 2000 cc Production Pushrod record, which Cooked Goose held at 142. Shift points were 9200 RPM......there was plenty more left but I elected to preserve the engine since it's going to be a long season leading up to Bonneville. Tomorrow, I start on some of the currently held modified records. The concensus of opinion, held by spectators, participants, organizers and competitors is that the bike is probably the most beautiful and unique one there and that it definitely has the best sound. It's sorta like an angry giant growling in a deep well. I can envision a new CD coming! Your piloto, Sidney in NC