The Big Wheel

Keywords:
Summary:

There was a discussion about a one-wheeled motorcycle a few months back.
Ironically, I'd run across one at the Bonneville Salt Flats and had
pictures. But, being a lazy **** who hates coding html, I didn't have a
webpage. Well, I got it up (the webpage!). It's crude, but effective.

The story is, I was heading to CO to visit relatives and had a little time
to spare. I'd always passed the BSF, never having time to stop for a look
see, so I figured I'd just stop and check out this famous high speed salt
shaker. Well, imagine my delight when I discovered there was an official
meet going on, one of just 2-3 per year. It was an invitational for favs
and regulars and it was only $7 admission. Where do you get such a deal
these days?

I saw all kinds of cool stuff, from serious high-buck 2 and 4 wheel
streamliners to silly shit like that battery powered bar stool. One guy
even had a unicycle made from a car drag racing slick, the foot peddled
kind. See, there's two ways to get a land speed record at Bonneville. One,
beat the standing record in an already existing catagory. Two ...and this
is where the silly comes in... set any ol' speed in a new vehicle catagory.

So anyway, I finally make my way up to the line. That's where I see the Big
Wheel. Turns out this guy competes regularly, here, and has 2 or 3 versions
of this beast. All the spectators who were familiar with him assured me he
also has ...and runs... a much bigger version with a V8 engine. Yikes.

In the end, it was a anti-climactic. He could barely get off the line and
that two stroke he was running was missing on at least one piston. Maybe he
got it to hit on all pistons when he got to the lights but I was off
checking out other fascinating vehicles. Bonneville is great for spectators
cuz there's no such thing as the spectator's area and the pits. If you're
there, you're everywhere ('cept out on the track).

One last thing. Anyone know what the heck my last picture is. It appears
to be some sort of civic art standing on the side of US80, about 10-15 miles
East of Bonnevile. Looks like some sort of giant Christmas ornament plant
with couple of broken bulbs on the ground. It's way the Hell and gone out
in the middle of nowhere. It's huge, so it didn't come cheap. Very strange.

Oh ...here's the pics:

http://home.comcast.net/~n.bob/

Unfortunately, the trip was not on my bike. I was in my van cuz no one has
come up with a pair of saddlebags that'll hold a full size GE refrigerator.
If anyone wants to see the rest of my BSF pics, let me know. I'll flog
another site together.

nb

 

strange.

Yeah, I'm curious about that thing myself, wondered what the hell it was as
I passed it by once...

 

That sounds like Kerry McLean's monocycle:

http://www.americanroadshop.com/The_Monocycle/the_monocycle.html

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/TRANSPORT/motorwhl/motorwhl.htm#mclv8

Mpeg's at the second site..


cds

 

Sweet pics big thanks. Must've been some trip. Yeah I've seen that
gruesome work of "art" in the middle of nowhere. We even stopped to see if
there was any plaque or info, neg. It's only noteworthy because it is the
only feature for miles aside from the vast plain. Post some more pics!