Hot
Rod Surf O.R.M. Turbo Charged Chopper takes a Bonneville Speed Record!
8-13-07
Part of the tradition
of Hot Rod Surf is to try cool new things and then put the new ideas
to the test which inevitably  leads
to some sort of adventure. A few weeks before the world land speed races
at the Bonneville Salt Flats I decided to design and build a custom
turbo charging system for the Hot Rod Surf O.R.M. Harley chopper. My
oldest son Walt and college friend and former rock & roll band mate
Pete Szendroy headed out for the trip to Bonneville. The Bonneville
salt flat races are a huge undertaking. Thanks to the hard work and
commitment of the men and women of SCTA a barren stretch of desolate
salt flats is turned into a race course with pit areas, guide cones,
two seven mile race courses, timing towers, pre stage area, tech pit,
and impound area. Race fans and enthusiasts from around the world gather
to race their vehicles and enjoy the unique environment of the salt
bed.
The first run on
the O.R.M. chopper was all about tuning. We needed a rejetting of the
carburetor and overall tune up to compensate for the higher altitude
and non-oxygenated event gasoline.  After
the initial retune I ran the O.R.M. chopper until we certified the record
in the Pushrod Turbo Charged 1350cc Gasoline with special construction
frame class. When you break or set a record at Bonneville you need to
back up the run with an as fast or faster second run and then go to
the impound area for a second inspection. In the impound area you are
asked to disassemble your engine so the inside components can be measured
and record certified. The Hot Rod Surf O.R.M. passed the impound inspection
without a problem. I reassembled the engine and turbo system for the
drive home in one piece, sun burned, and totally stoked with the new
record!
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