In 2009 I was going after my second land speed record but
seized the engine on my vintage 1954 BSA 650cc A-10 Golden
Flash, so I was out of the running. George accompanied me
and a couple other buddies out to Speed Week to observe
the races first hand and we all learned a lot by prowling the
pit area, taking a lot of photos and asking a lot of questions of
the racers. Also in 2009, he accompanied a group of racers
that were also friends of now deceased Danny Macias to the
BUB race event on the salt flats where the team attempted
to better Danny’s prior land speed record as a tribute to him.
In fact they did better the record but, unfortunately, during the
engine tear down at tech inspection (required to certify the
engine size), a technical infraction with the displacement put
the bike out of the 350cc class and caused disqualification for
the record.
By 2010 George had his land speed bike complete and
with his team “Old Age and Treachery, Land Speed Racing”
got three runs in at Bonneville in the APS-PG (Altered
Partial Streamlined – Pushrod Gas) 650cc class. This was
a “shakedown” year to find the bugs in the bike and he only
achieved two runs (76 mph and 89.9 mph) before his hand
made aluminum tank split open from vibration. This was a
disappointing end of his first year of racing with no record to
take home.
But the story is far from over. George made further
innovations on the Turbo bike but due to heavy rains Speed
Week was cancelled in 2014 and 2015.
It’s frustrating
waiting a full year to for the next event but patience and
persistence come with age so George is resigned to watch
the clock slowly ticking until he can race again. Hopefully,
Speed Week will not be cancelled in 2016!
To connect the dots of history further, George has also
purchased his old friend Danny Macias’ bike and has fitted
a new cylinder and piston to make it compliant with the
Bonneville technical standards for the M-PF (Modified –
Production Fuel) class 350cc which has a current record of
79.702 mph. So it looks like George is destined bring home
at least two more trophies to add to his collection and in the
process honor his old motorcycle Buddy, Danny Macias. At
75 years of age, I would say George is one of my role models
and I look forward joining him on Bonneville Salt Flats at the
next running of Speed Week. So in closing, a quote attributed
to the late actor James Dean, “Plan like you will live forever,
live each day like it’s your last”!
In 2011, he constructed a new tank and made other
innovations and that year got the bike up to 108 mph before
his front fender supports collapsed at speed and ended his
further assault on the record of 114.567 mph. Now he was
in the zone!
In 2012, George came back with a vengeance and ran 112+
mph but burned a hole in his piston! Bonneville is a cruel mistress
and his racing was finished for the year. To further frustrate his
efforts another racer came out in the same class running an
unbelievable 150.176 mph on a Honda and moved the goal out
of reach. Time to drop back and regroup, and George not being
a quitter did just that.
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By 2013 he had reworked the bike
for the APS-PBG (Altered Partial
Streamlined – Pushrod Blown Gas) class
which had no established record so his
chance of being the first to set the bar
would only defeat him if he fell off or
broke the bike. Well, happy to say he
did neither and reached a credible speed
of 116.05 mph and the legend of “Turbo
George” was born with his first victory at
Bonneville. He was even honored by a
member of the French team who crafted
two beautiful oil paintings of George and
his bike at Bonneville.
So this is George’s story of persistence.
Starting back in 1959 and after a 56 year long
history of building and racing motorcycles it
yielded him the prestigious title of Fastest
Land Speed Racer in the world in his class at
the tender age of 73 years.
www.thunderroadscolorado.com
September 2015
Thunder Roads Magazine® Colorado 11