- Competition Class: 350-cc MPS-PBG
- Modified Partially-Streamlined Chassis
- Pushrod Blown Gasoline Engine
- Starting Number: 47 (Group 2)
- First event with family!
RUN OBJECTIVE: BREAK THE REOCRD
The Red Baron was tuned up after September 2021, since the cylinder head temps were nice ‘n’ cool with new engine ducting providing ram-air cooling evenly to the front and rear cylinders.
A thinner head gasket upped the static compression ratio from 8.6 to 9.1:1, and ignition timing was advanced to 30o BTDC (up from 28o). The numbers may seem small, but the change is noticeable! The exhaust pulses are sharper and the throttle response is quicker. The last time the mighty Morini was tuned this aggressively, Smitty set the current 350-cc MPS-PBG record at 123.310 mph in July 2017 at El Mirage.
It was a special event with my mom and sister coming out to El Mirage for the first time, and with a strong and straight tailwind down course – perfect conditions. We didn’t get onboard footage of The Red Baron instrumentation during the run, but there are plenty of pictures and videos to document the day. The timing tower had a few technical difficulties, so there is no temperature or wind speed data.
The take-off was smooth, shifts were clean, and the cylinder head temps were cool. I crossed the finish line at 126.009 mph, earning my first official land speed record!
RECORD CERTIFICATION & POST-RACE THINGS
When you break a record, you have 30 minutes to get back to impound with your timing slip and the vehicle.
An SCTA official tested gasoline taken from the tank to make sure it was within class limits, and oversaw the brief fairing disassembly to inspect the engine seal that certifies the 350-cc engine displacement. With that, the record is official!
Smitty and I drained the fuel from the tank and carburetor, (mostly) reassembled the fairing, loaded the bike onto the trailer, and headed home!
