Triumphrat

GrandPaulZ · 02-01-2010, 04:06 PM

1969 Triumph Bonneville vintage roadracer

I built this bike from spare parts I had laying about the shop and out back of the shed. Took me 60 hours from dragging out the front frame section to firing up the engine. It's basically a bone-stock Bonneville 650.

It was my 50th birthday present to myself, to go vintage roadracing with AHRMA. I managed to get in 2 events (4 races) in '07, then had my first full season as a rookie in 2008. I did 13 races at 7 venues: Roebling Road Raceway in Bloomington, GA; Daytona International Speedway; Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI; Grattan Raceway, Belding, MI; Miller Motorsports Park near Salt Lake City; the Sandia Classic in Albuquerque, NM; and Barber's Vintage Festival in Birmingham, AL.

I finished 5th out of 19 racers in Novice Historic Production Heavyweight, racing against hot-rodded 750s including OHC Honda fours!

Tight racing at Barber's-

Before getting to the race at Miller Motorsports Park, I stopped in at the BUB Land Speed Time Trials on the Bonneville Salt Flats, and managed to set a class record of 91.948 with jetting and gearing for tight roadrace tracks and totally different altitude.

I've since upped my record to 97.048 at the "Texas Mile" in Goliad, TX in October 2009, and will be attempting to break "The Ton" there this coming April.

'69 Triumph T120R 650
.020 overbore
Sparx electronic ignition
Dunlop GT 501 tires
Exhaust "upsweep" adapters
Clubman handlebars
Plastic front fender
Betty Crocker cake pan oil containment
Everything else is as stock as it gets.

For you purists: Yes, that's a '70 Bonnie paint job.

...and, NO, I didn't share a helmet with the drag race dude...

MotT3 · 02-13-2010, 03:58 AM

Well done Grandpaulz that's the pic that should be on the home page ;-)

GrandPaulZ · 02-13-2010, 06:32 PM

The best part about the whole deal is that it looks like a 99.9% chance that I'll be going to Willow Springs & Portland International Raceway for back-to-back race weekends in April & May!

TLCS3 · 02-14-2010, 12:00 AM

Congratulation....You are living the life!
No bucket list needed.

BuzzBomb · 02-14-2010, 11:49 AM

Congrats and rock on!!!!

GrandPaulZ · 02-15-2010, 12:22 PM

No joke!

My "bucket list" (as far as bikes) still has:

-Podium roadrace finish on the Bonnie < (good possibility at Willow or PIR)

-Iron Butt run (1,000 miles in less than 24 hours), but on a classic 70s Britbike

-Break the ton on the '69 Bonnie, officially

-Coast to coast bike camping

-200 MPH club on 2 wheels < (probably the least likely to accomplish)

TexasTripleNut · 02-18-2010, 11:17 PM

My favorite part in your list has to be the Betty Crocker cake pan oil containment piece. Classic!

You've done a magnificent job on the bike resurrection and it's great to see you putting it through the paces on race day! Good luck in your next two races!

richiet · 02-26-2010, 11:00 AM

I am so jealous of you guys with mechanical apptitude. I know we all ahve individual talents but to be able to make some thing 'scrap parts' and be able to ride it in 60 hours no less is impressive. Cake pan or not, the bike looks great and apprently runs even better. Carry on mate you are livfing the life.

mtnbkr01201 · 03-03-2010, 07:49 PM

Awesome job GrandPaulZ, That's a sweet looking machine you have, I hope you continue to do well.
With all this talk of you racing is getting me all excited for this spring and summer of local drag racing, my engine is nearing the end of it's rebuild, can't wait till it's broken in properly.
Bill

Catenaccio · 03-13-2010, 12:10 AM

Great bike and wonderful history you are making!