There’s some things that most of us would take for granted if we were intending to break a land speed record. Obviously an endeavour like that would take a lot of money – so you’re probably going to need a sponsor or twelve. And you’d also be wanting a whole bunch of top shelf engineers and support crew, too. Not to mention a brand new bike and some seriously hardcore safety gear. You getting this all down? Great. Now tear the list up and come salt flat racing the Chris Bridgewater way – on a wing, a prayer and a blown, 171 HP, S&S equiped Harley.
Here’s Mike Quinones from ourcaste.com. He’s a friend of ‘Bridge’ and was fortunate enough to see the bike in action. “I can’t imagine sitting inches off the ground, completely exposed to the elements, straddling a 171 HP, and ripping at 200 mph across a barren dry lake bed… but I have a friend that can. Chris Bridgewater pilots this Harley Davidson, Pro Charger equipped land speed bike that pushes him to those absurd speeds; and all while we looked on in amazement.”
“We showed up to El Mirage last weekend to put some shake down miles on this behemoth of home-built engineering. The bike was freshly off the dyno at Bennet’s Performance, with the hand of none other than land speed legend Wink Eller tuning it.”
“From the moment this bike turns over you know it has one purpose; to absolutely obliterated speed records. The bike moves across the miles of open desert at such an incredible speed that it’s difficult to track it at times. As Bridge clicks each gear, the parched lake bed floor is shot out from under the tire as it struggles to make traction. The pound of the exhaust and the whine of that Pro Charger becomes hypnotic.”
Chris practices his 1000 yard stare
The bike is running fully worked Sportster forks at the front with a hard rear. The motor is a 100 cubic inch S&S Evo lump, pumped full of horsey goodness via a Pro Charger system with a bespoke intercooler from Chris himself. It’s running at 14 pounds of boost at 7000 RPM and the bike has been dyno’d at a rather impressive 171 equestrians. Carbs by the house of Mikuni. Elsewhere you’ll find a Rev Tech 5 speed box, Tarrozi rear sets, a modified Sportster tank and some freshly shaved Metzeler ME880s.
The Harley, alongside the Brawny Built ‘Mako’
“Bridge is an independent, meaning he doesn’t have some corporate machine fueling his land speed dream. He’s built this bike with his hands and hard-earned cash, and the occasional support of his friends and anything that they can contribute.”
“All in all, he’s what the true heart of bike racing is. And he’s what will continue to keep the sport pure. Remember, support the Independents!” Burt Munro, eat your heart out.
[Photography - Mike Quinones]
via PIPEBURN
Pour le reste, pas de changement dans les trois classes. Le team en forme est ART Grand Prix avec deux très belles performances à la clé. On notera l’arrivée de Nicolas Lapierre en remplacement d’Alex Prémat dans la McLaren MP4-12C #98. Le pilote Toyota Racing en FIA WEC fera cause commune avec Alvaro Parente et Grégoire Demoustier. Il faudra compter sur M-Sport Bentley, Saintéloc Racing, Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, Black Falcon, Oman Racing Team, Brothers Racing Team et HTP Motorsport pour jouer les premiers rôles. C’est au Paul Ricard que HTP Motorsport avait débuté sa saison en 2013 dans le championnat Blancpain avec la suite que l’on sait.
Du côté du Pro-Am, Chris van der Drift fait son arrivée chez Boutsen Ginion Racing. Marco Frezza trouve refuge sur la Ferrari 458 Italia GT3/Kessel Racing #11. Chez Graff, Lonni Martins et Roland Bervillé viendront épauler Eric Trouillet. En Gentlemen Trophy, le plateau mettra aux prises uniquement des Ferrari et Audi.
