Gear Grinders
Website Coordinators Willie & Sheri Buchta
ph: 209-681-6876
alt: 209-605-9189
charisse
Nick and Connie by Bill Lewis
Attached are photo's of an amazing couple, just
married on March 3rd, 2010. Nick and Connie.
They're pictured on the starting line at El Mirage
as they prepare for their 200mph+ runs. I know
Nick is, and I think both are 200mph club members.
Nick is 82 years old and Connie is 74. The 200mph
club has few members than those that have summited
Mt. Everest. In 2008 Connie went down at 190mph,
but she's back and running strong on her Hyabusa.
Though the twin bikes are production racers, they
are entirely rebuilt with kevlar bodies, hand formed
and painstakingly streamlined by Nick and Connie.
Below I've included their newest project. In an effort
to exceed 300mph, they've designed a 400+hp, turbo-
charged Hyabusa streamliner. The photos are of the
model, very accurately designed and fabricated by
Connie in quarter scale.
It's so well done than in some of the photo's it's hard to tell it's a model.
Note the exposed kevlar wrap visible on the interior.
Hydraulic actuators extend legs that prevent the motorcycle from falling over
at the end of a run. Note the tiny filter and the intake and exhaust manifolds
routed to the turbocharger.
The steering system actually works. The wheel doesn't turn,
it moves side to side for stability. No need for massive input.
The shell is hand formed and Connie will also vacuum form
the windshield herself on the full size bike.
When I congradulated Nick on a job well done, he said,
"Tell Connie, she did it all".
The brass tube is for the parachute. The white bottle is an accumulator for the struts.
Note the tiny heat exchangers for the engine coolant and turbocharger intercooler.
Those heat exchanger will be packed in ice for the actual bike on a run.
Tiny dual chain drive system. The turbocharger is visible in front of the tire.
The red handle is the parachute lever.
Another view of the steering system.
Very cool stuff, all hand made. All the while she was doing this
project, Connie, the world's fastest great grandmother, is in a
battle against liver cancer. She doesn't let a little thing like that
stop her.
Congratulations Nick and Connie, on your recent marriage and
on your beautiful land speed record motorcycle design.
Website Coordinators Willie & Sheri Buchta
ph: 209-681-6876
alt: 209-605-9189
charisse
