Yesterday, at the East Coast Timing Association's Ohio Mile - 80.4 mph. Vaporizing burner, no electrics. Photo at [plus.google.com]

Not my vehicle... Hopefully the builder/operator will chime in.

Kelly

This was the longest standing speed record set in 1896 by Sylvester Roper.

Kelly-Bill,

The thing that just irritates me no end. Is it forbidden to shoot such an interesting bike exept from a block away when you can't see any detail? A remote operated GoPro would have done a great job, along with shooting it in the pits before or after the run.
Although claims notwithstanding, did that Gillenwater steam bike ever get actually timed? I have a good half hour Super 8 sound movie of the day Dave Salrln and I got it running after he restored it. DVD anyone?
Jim

Thanks for your reply, We do have video at here at home and also at Wilmington. We will post them on youtube this week. We just got home today.I do have video on youtube when we were building it under steamisthestuff. According to Buck, the owner of the Roper motorcycle, and I'm sure Coburn Benson, will tell us the record of 1 mile in 2 minutes and 13 seconds--a speed of 26 or 27 mph. This was never broken officially on a steam motorcycle. Our goal was to beat that record. I took my wife our 2 dogs,and our camper. We made a lot of new friends and had a great time. Bill Barnes

Bill
What Stanley engine did you use and what was your engine RPM on the run.
Rolly

Pictures [bangshift.com]

Congratulations! Excellent job and really straightforward with traditional hardware. I have been following steam motorcycles since 1963 and this is the first timed run heard of and three times as fast as Roper. I went to the run pics and they are great considering they were taken by a third party. Looks like I need to get some good stuff for a Bulletin article...

Karl Petersen

Hello, Jim Crank, I have always enjoyed your posts the most. I don't want you irritated, I want to see you happy, so my wife is trying to load some videos on youtube right now and here are some more pictures. Thanks, Bill [www.landracing.com] [www.youtube.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/29/2014 08:41PM by bill.

Love that Stanley valve handle peeking out from underneath!

Bill,
That is very kind of you; but I will not use any of these social network sites. Several friends used Twitter, Facebook and U-Tube and got their computers hacked very badly.
Anyhow, your record is just wonderful and congratulations for sure. Never thought the steam motorcycle speed record was set so long ago by Roper and never challenged since then.
Jim

Back in 1896, Sylvester Roper's top speed recorded during his final 1/3 mile lap at Charles River Park in Cambridge, Mass., was 32.4 mph. Charles River Park was a poor track for a motorcycle trial, but it was perhaps the only place nearby where Roper could be officially timed. It is said that he got his bike up to 40 mph on a straightaway south of Boston a short time earlier. On Nov. 15, 1899, a Stearns steam pacing tandem was officially timed at 45.56 mph during a mile race in Chicago (actually it was Major Taylor, the cyclist being paced who was timed, but the pacing machine was going at least the same speed) and that's the top steam motorcycle record that I'm aware of. Until now, that is.

Sad to say, we just got word today that Buck Boudeman, who owns the Roper bike, passed away last Tuesday, Sept. 23. He was 73 - ironically, the same age as Roper. I only met him once, when he visited the Stanley Museum a few years ago with his beautiful little Moxie Stanley delivery wagon - I was just in awe of the man's skill.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/01/2014 10:04PM by Jim Merrick.

Bill,

Not to be critical, but the linked YouTube video was not very helpful. A shot of the bike with an unintelligible conversation? I see a lot like this, and wish someone would just do a simple voice over to explain what's happening. Talking over the equipment noise rarely gets the point across. Sorry, just one of my pet peeves. Post more stuff when you can.

That said, congratulations on your record!

Tom

We just came home from a great time at Hershey car show, If you have never been there, you should go. We just downloaded some more videos on youtube . [www.youtube.com] Thanks Bill