2004 Thoughts by Max Lambky

Quite a bit has happened in the last 25 days with the LSR attempt. Much good and some not so good. All offensive measures and equipment were readied for the attack on the 322.149 mph record. I was not alone in this quest. Three other streamliners were being prepared with the same end in mind. Three of the four machines, one of which is Black Lightning, are new. Two of the LSR machines have been tested both in private salt time and rented runways. Only one of the four arrived on the salt, a new machine with no testing other than start ups in the garage and run ups through the gears with no load. Also that machine depended on novices in the cockpit. All of this proved to be an insurmountable task to overcome for Black Lightning and the people who gave their best both financially and in talent to make it happen during Speed Week 2004.

During Speed Week, Sam Wheeler, with his green, beautifully prepared (designed by Cal Tech) streamliner, which was built some 10 years ago and has not missed one year of testing and running during this time, captured the LSR record for motorcycles at a speed in excess of 332 mph, upping the previous record by 10 miles per hour. Sam made it look easy. However, if you were to ask him, I do not believe that he would say it had been easy. Over the years engine failures, minor crashes, fires, this didn't work, that didn't work and so on would fortify his certain answer, "It ain't easy guys."

Sam was about six vehicles in front of us. The lines were terribly long, as I heard there were over 450 entrants. The waiting time ranged anywhere from 5 hours to 3 hours in line. This is a tremendous handicap for all participants, but especially a handicap for those such as myself running an untested all new streamliner. Sam's first run was 330 mph and change. The bike performed beautifully and was doing everything that Sam asked of her. All of the Black Lightning crew felt the record was about to fall. Steve Doherty, a crew member of Black Lightning, in anticipation of Sam setting the record, bought a bottle of chilled champagne.

Sam went to impound after the 330 mph run. He readied his machine for the back up run. If I recall the back up run was made around 11 o'clock and produced a speed of 334 mph. Now that's putting it all together and flat cooking!

We were about to make a run and while proceeding to the starting line Black Lightning's crew stopped for a moment at impound where Sam's bike was being checked for engine size. After the check was made and the record was official, Sam was leaving the officials booth, carrying the chilled bottle of bubbly. He asked us, "Where did the champagne come from?" Don Angel said, "From the Lambky's Liner team". We all congratulated Sam. He was quite touched and appreciative of the fact that his competitors recognized his feat and were giving him his due.