There is a magic attaching to Bonneville Salt Flats that, in motorcycling terms, exists nowhere else. It is a magic linked to one of the greatest mechanical challenges, for the terrain is vast, changeable, and 4400 feet above sea level, factors that combine to provide riders and engineers with unforeseen difficulties. Englishman Noel Pope, the fastest ever motor-cyclist at Brooklands, went to Bonneville with a streamlined Brough Superior some 60 years ago but, sadly, suffered a high speed crash on his first test run. Though not badly hurt the project had to be abandoned. Brough, if you like, has unfinished business at Bonneville.
Mindful of the engineering challenge Brough Superior will revisit Bonneville in August 2011 with a newly constructed Brough Superior SS100 Retro. Targeting the VGA Vintage Class for rigid frame, girder forks, and un-streamlined, the Brough will run on pump gasoline. Piloting the 1150cc machine, will be the experienced English rider Eric Patterson, who achieved his first LSR at Bonneville in 2008 on his own Norton, in the pre-1956 pushrod Production Category at 121.79 mph.
The Brough Superior SS100 Retro for Bonneville 2011 has been Designed and built by Alastair Gibson; Brough Superior’s Chief Engineer in England. Alastair was formerly chief race mechanic for BAR Honda Formula One, and states, “When I was approached by Mark with the prospect of running such a sound retro design I was immediately inspired. On my previous visit to Bonneville in 2006 we broke the existing record with our Honda Formula I car, so I do know the enormity of the task with which we are faced!”
Mark Upham, Brough Superior's CEO, says, “We are under no illusions concerning the setbacks we will encounter on our first visit to Bonneville which, to us, is the Blue Riband of competition. But, with such a beautiful product – and the care that Alastair has invested – I am confident of success!” Mark went on to thank the group of sponsors [see listing below] without whose help and enthusiasm this project would not have been possible.
ENDS
By Mike Jackson
Jay Leno's Garage The Big Dog Garage: www.jaylenosgarage.comhttp://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the-garage/motorcycles/1939-brough-superior-ss100/
Diamond B: www.diamondb.com
Lewis Leathers: www.lewisleathers.com
Alastair Gibson: www.carbonart45.com
Ruby Helmets: www.ateliersruby.com
The Vintagent: www.thevintagent.blogspot.com
British only Austria: www.vintage-motorcycle.com
Men's File: www.mensfile.com
Nick Clements Photographer: www.nickclements.co.uk
Ralph Lauren: www.ralphlauren.com
Bonhams: www.bonhams.com
Revivalcycles: www.revivalcycles.com
Ace Cafe: www.ace-cafe-london.com
Ace Cafe Events:http://www.acecafeevents.com/
RRL : www.ralphlauren.com
FitzSimons Engineering: www.fiteng.com
Oakbridge - International storage & freight: www.oakebridge-international.com
Bonhams/motors: www.bonhams.com/motors
Victor Olson, Restorations Phone: 8023875963 mail: olsoneng@gmail.com
Helm: www.helmhandmade.com
Progresscoffeeroasting: www.progresscoffeeroasting.com
Mr. Charlie Jones: http://buildingimagegroup.com/index.html
Robert Iannucci, President - Team Obsolete Promotions Inc. .... :http://www.manta.com/g/mml114hw/robert-iannucci
Andrew Paul, special thanks for your generous support.
The "Retro Brough Superior" will be on display at the Double RL store in Los Angeles on the 24th of August 2011, prior to shipment to the Bonneville Saltflats.
www.speedtrialsbybub.com
More fotos fom the record on flickr.com www.flickr.com
BROUGH AT BONNEVILLE from "THE VINTAGENT"
Motorcycle USA.COM
Prepared over the last nine months by Brough’s chief engineer and designer Alastair Gibson [in his Brackley, Northants, workshop] the un-streamlined vintage Brough, running on pump gasoline, was ridden exclusively by 65-year old Eric Patterson, a former 120 mph record breaker....................
Read More: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/499/11034/Motorcycle-Article/Brough-Superior-Breaks-Salt-Record.aspx
Motorcycle Classics
Brough Breaks Bonneville Record
by Richard Backus
The specially constructed 1,100cc SS model Brough Superior completed two opposite-direction runs through the measured mile at Bonneville Salt Flats on September 1, 2011, at a mean average speed of 124.98 mph, breaking the AMA 1350-A-VG Speed Record established by a 1350cc Indian in 2005 at 114 mph!
Read more: http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/blacksidedown-brough-breaks-record.aspx#ixzz1XzoHGn00
Brough Superior Launch Party Ace Cafe USA
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.270905426272425.79158.174526842576951&type=1
Londonbikers.com
Ace Cafe London is thrilled and privileged to be able to confirm being part of the Brough Superior Team heading out in August to the famous Bonneville salt flats, Utah, USA with a motorcycle based on the iconic 1927 SS100, a machine sharing heritage and fame with a Col. T.E. Lawrence - "Lawrence of Arabia".
Read More:http://londonbikers.com/news/21331/ace-cafe-takes-a-brough-to-bonneville-usa-2011
Adventure Sport Rider
Fully 62 years later, a factory-backed speed record attempt by Brough Superior coalesced on the vast white plain of the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Brough name has been in continuous usage since George Brough himself last assembled a motorcycle in the late 1940s; GB maintained an engineering works for years, then sold the name to new owners, who each hoped to resume production of the grandest name in motorcycling. I was standing with Mark Upham the day his own Brough lightbulb lit up; in May 2008 at the Legend of the Motorcycle Concours, Bonhams offered the name and rights for Brough Superior, and Upham, an arch enthusiast of the marque and #1 seller of Broughs in the world at the time (via his shop British Only Austria), decided he would own the name, and resume production himself.
Read More:http://www.adventuresportrider.com/forum/showthread.php?p=36796
chillbike.co.za (biking in south africa)
Fully 62 years later, a factory-backed speed record attempt by Brough Superior coalesced on the vast white plain of the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Brough name has been in continuous usage since George Brough himself last assembled a motorcycle in the late 1940s; GB...........
Read More: http://chillbike.co.za/enter/?p=22260
RL Magazin
The Brough Superior motorcycle has a storied past and, with its recent revival, a promising future. Picture the scene: on a lonely country lane in the early 1920s, a motorcycle is speeding along at 100 mph, at that time a shocking velocity associated with science fiction rather than reality. The gleaming bike slows to a stop in front of its creator. George Brough (rhymes with "rough") is pleased.......
Read More: http://entertainment.ralphlauren.com/magazine/editorial/su11/broughsuperior.asp
londonbikers.com
Brough Superior breaks Salt Record!
Racing at Bonneville, unstreamlined and with a specially tuned JAP V-twin engine running on 'pump fuel, in the category1350-A-VG, the new Brough Superior SS100 Retro clocked two runs on the morning of Thursday 1st September at 127 & 122 mph respectively, giving a mean AMA record speed of 124.98mph......
Read More: http://londonbikers.com/news/22806/brough-superior-breaks-salt-record
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - BROUGH AT BONNEVILLE 2011 (PDF | 117,61 kb)