6-in-2
Court Canfield, time, 09.22.2000

TEAM ELVES had a goal.  Come to the Salt Flats of Bonneville and break 4 records.  For months, Crew Chief Aaron Wilson “lived and breathed” that goal.   His focus continually honed as he sought to anticipate and plan for every eventuality.  If there has ever been a fitting example of hard work and dedication, it’s in the results of his efforts.

As the sun rose over the Flats this morning, last nights snowfall was evident on the distant peaks.   In the cool morning air some Elves set up tents, others made coffee and others prepared the bike and tended to paperwork.  Our goal was within striking distance and with the winds temporarily calm, we hurried to prepare the Buell RR-1000. 

Even though the winds had returned by the time Richard Nallin got the high sign from the starter, the Buell, once again, proved how slippery it is by posting Team Elves 4^th Land Speed Record as Nallin put a 158.553mph record for the MPS-PF in the books.

 Within the hour, Aaron Wilson emerged, suit up in his spakin’ new George Jetson leathers, to spend some quality time with his gorgeous Buell.  Wilson first run netted him a Bonneville Salt Flats driving license and, far more important, about as big a smile as you can imagine.  One more run and young Nallin was back on the bike to take a crack at displacing the very records he had posted just the day before.

The first record Wilson pointed Nallin and the Buell weapon at was the APS-PG that we’d taken from 124.017mph to 156.677mph yesterday.  Like a surgeon with a scalpel, the Buell wasted no time in raising the bar to 161.052mph in spite of a gust sending him about 30’ to the right in the middle of the 2^nd mile.  Nallin was riding Bonneville like Scott Parker’d go after Springfield!

By this point it was becoming evident that the wind, clouds and cold were here for the day and we’d have to play by their rules.  With confidence high, the bike running perfectly and Nallin flowing adrenaline like a funny car sips fuel, Team Elves launched an assault on the MPS-PG record they’d upped from the old 154.432 to 157.284mph the previous day. 

In what was becoming a “one run, one record” groove Nallin banged yet another record, posting a 161.207mph in the MPS-PG class!  The Elves were on a roll.

Following yet another gourmet Elves Buffet spread thrown by Team Chef Art, Team Elves returned to take a crack at the APS-PF numbers they’d posted the previous morning.  Alas, the wind won the final round and the USFRA sanctioning group called it a day.

As the Elves caravan headed toward the hotel the casualty toll stood at 6 Land Speed Records in 2 days.  Impressive for a group of folks, many meeting for the first time, from the reaches of the country and supported by Buell Owners from around the world.

I’m gonna tell ya something gang.  I’ve been around this Buell thing for a long time and this represents one of the most impressively planned, executed and successful efforts I have ever seen. 

Need a glimpse of HOW impressive Wilson, Ron Dickey and Joe George’s engine work was?  Not ONCE during the setting of these 6 records was that engine touched.  Try it . . go tell your Harley buddies that you know someone with an XR-1000 engine that made 14 max-effort high speed throttle to the stop 4 mile runs in 2 days and never touched the engine.  This is amazing.

Indeed, the entire event has been a tribute to Erik Buell’s design and Aaron Wilson’s attention to detail during preparation.  I’ll be honest with you, it’s gonna take me a few days to catch my breath and grasp the magnitude of just what’s happened here over the past couple days.

But, I can tell you now, it’s more than we ever dreamt………

Ride safe, lean much and smile more,

Court

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