Blue Grass bike breaks 100 mph

Blue Grass bike breaks 100 mph

By Rich Holman • Contributing Writer

Former AMA Superbike Pro Thad Wolff hits 108.65 mph on the Norton Electra built by Brian Richardson in his Blue Grass farmhouse. The cycle is entirely battery-powered, and performed far better than expected last weekend. (Photo courtesy Shaun Pierce)

LEXINGTON, Ohio — With a 108.6 mph perfor­mance on a racetrack in Ohio last weekend, Brian Rich­ardson's kitchen-built electric motorcycle answered a question that had been nagging him since he first rolled it out of his farmhouse: How fast will it really go? The first real test of Richardson's Norton Electra proved the bike had all the power of a gasoline-fired machine, and then some. It was tested by a professional former American Motorcyclist Association superbike champion, who flewacross the country to ride the motorcycle built by hand in the home of a country lawyer. At the racetrack of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, the answer became clear for the group of supporters who accom­panied Richardson on his latest adventure: The bike is faster than even Richardson expected. There was also time at the track for that California racer, Richardson, and his Virginia team to forge bonds of friendship that will likely last a lifetime.

Each July, the AMA holds its Vintage Days events at the Mid-Ohio track. Road races and exhibitions take place on the racetrack while vintage dirt track events are held at other locations on a large complex.

One of the largest swap meets in the world sets up on several acres for three days of trading, bargaining, buying and selling. Everything from the most obscure parts for the rarest of motorcycles to completely restored classic and antique bikes can be found here if you have the time and fortitude to wind your way through the bewildering maze of vendors. Major motorcycle manufacturers bring truckloads of their latest models for test rides by many of the 60,000 or so who attend. Some of these folks return every year and camp at the track or stay in nearby in the wide radius of the small town of Lexington.

This year, a new event called the TTXGP or eGRAND­PRIX was added to the schedule. The TTXGP is an event featuring motorcycles that are fully powered by electric motors. The first such competition in the world was held in June at the legendary street racecourse on the Isle of Man in Europe. The Ohio TTXGP, first ever in the USA, was intended mainly to be an exhibition and demonstra­tion of electric motorcycles. It is also part of a plan to build up a series of similar events in the United States while moving gradually toward more competition. Richardson, of Blue Grass, built his motorcycle last winter, learned about the TTXGP, and was encouraged to bring his Electra. Since he was still testing the bike and knew the racetrack was the proper place to put it through its paces and learn about its capabilities and reliability, he decided to make the trip. Dr. Robert Prins of the engineering department at James Madison University, who had been involved with Richardson's project, decided to go as well, and bring an engineering student along. Pickerington, Ohio, just south of Columbus, happens to be home to the American Motorcyclist Association Hall of Fame Museum. This was the setting for a reception hosted by TTXGP officials on Thursday evening, July 23. Space in the museum was provided for the electric bikes to be displayed as teams, owners, riders, and officials got acquainted. It was exciting to imagine one or more of

these electric bikes might some day return to the museum for a permanent stay as an example of the early days of development in this emerging field.

Richardson gives his kitchen-built motorcycle a last look before it gets tested on the racetrack. (Photo courtesy Rich Holman)

After the reception, Richardson and his team headed north to the racetrack to set up camp and get ready for the next day's events. The team stumbled into the "Family Camping" section where there is all-day shade and less nighttime noise. These campsites were conveniently located near the paddock and trackside. Anyone oversleeping would not do so for long as racebikes being prepared in the paddock roar to life shortly after dawn and hit the track for practice. But the electric bikes contributed not one decibel to the din. They sat silently waiting for their turn at the fine, 2.4-mile track.

As the gasoline bikes conducted their practice sessions Friday morning, the electric bikes were on display at the TTXGP tent. The Norton Electra, with its distinctive styling, was a favorite, and Richardson got plenty of attention and questions. People were intrigued by the retro look of the machine. Richardson, ever patient despite the anticipation of putting the bike on the track, quietly answered questions dozens of times over the course of the weekend.

Brian and Thad are about ready to go. (Photo courtesy Rich Holman)

To the frequently asked question, why did you build this as a Norton, his answers were always, "I just like Nortons," and, "I wanted a 2009 Norton, and in order to have that, I had to build it myself."

Apparently the new Norton factory is not yet producing bikes for sale and Richardson may have the only 2009 Norton in existence right now.

The Norton Electra team had been joined by Thad Wolff, the former AMA champion who had flown from California to ride Richardson's bike. Wolff had responded to a query Richardson sent to a leading motorcycle magazine looking for a rider. After talking with Richardson, Wolff decided this might be a history-making opportunity. He took a lot on faith and came on his own dime, but he and Richardson, with a common purpose, bonded quickly. Wolff has never met a stranger, and he made a whole new set of Virginia friends with the members of Team Electra. He joined Richardson and Prins, going over the bike to be sure it was ready for its first session.

Thad Wolff takes the Electra on the front straight at more than 100 mph. (Photo courtesy Rich Holman)

Race or exhibition?

The format for electric bike sessions on track was one lap around following a pace car followed by three or so laps of open riding. As first call came over the PA system, riders, bikes, and team members headed for the staging area. The pace car led them around for the first lap, and then riders were free to ride as hard as they chose.

These sessions were billed as "exhibitions," and they were, but there were a couple of intervening factors. The builders and owners wanted to see the performance their bikes could muster. Combined with the fact that professional racers were aboard the two fastest bikes, and the "race" was on.

The Norton Electra, being ridden for the first time by Wolff, led for two laps and posted a top speed of 105.95 mph. He and Poole, rider of the other front-running bike, put on a spirited exhibition during which, Wolff said, "We got to racing a little bit."

Team Electra go to meet famous motorcyclists at the races. Pictured are (l-r) Brian Richardson, Tommy McDermott, Thad Wolff, Bobby Hill, and Dick Klamfoth. (Photo courtesy Betty Mitchell)

Richardson was thrilled with his bike's performance on its first outing. The top speed exceeded his expectations by nearly 20 percent. "I was so thrilled when Thad took the bike over 100 mph," he said. He set about checking over and readying the bike for the second session on Saturday.

The weather in mid-Ohio can be unpredictable. Lake Erie is not far away and thunderstorms with strong winds and rain can travel over the relatively flat landscape with surprising speed. Early Saturday morning, campers were treated to just such a storm. Gasoline bike practice was delayed and the day's schedule was uncertain for a while. By late morning, however, the sun was out, the paddock and track were drying, and the electric bikes were being readied for the next session.

Autographs of early motorcycle racing greats adorn the tail section of the Nortan Electra. Rider Thad Wolff wrote, "Thanks, Brian — that was electrifying." (Photo courtesy Brian Richardson)

Richardson thoroughly checked and prepped his Norton. At first call, he took the bike to the staging area as the skies again looked threatening. After the pace car cleared the way, Wolff on the Norton, and Poole on the other bike, put on a thrilling performance. Richardson and his team were delighted as the Electra hit a top speed on the back straight of 108.6 mph. The bikes had just made it back under the tent when the skies opened up and drenched the track and surrounding areas once more.

Sunday morning dawned on a more relaxed group at Team Electra. Good performances had been turned in for the first two sessions and Prins and his engineering team were flush with data for later analysis. The weather was a question mark as storms and strong winds were predicted. Electric bikes were to run at noon under an adjusted schedule. A mistaken call over the PA system at 10 a.m. of "second call for the electric bikes" provided some drama, as the seemingly unflappable Wolff made a record sprint back to camp, and got into full racing gear in less time than it would normally take for him to don his helmet. All for naught, as it turned out; the run was still set for noon.

Round three resulted in a duel between Wolff and Poole — with a twist. Riders must wear a lanyard that will pull a pin and shut the bike down if rider is separated from motorcycle. Wolff accidentally yanked the pin and the "unplugged" bike coasted to a stop before he could reconnect. He came in on the pit lane and waited for Poole to come back around and then joined him for a fast last lap that produced another 108.6 mph reading for the Norton.

Although Poole's bike had a slight power advantage, the Norton, with the streamlining provided by its fairing, coupled with Wolff's experience as rider, it led at times in all three sessions and the give and take between the two bikes was always close.

Back at the tent, Wolff joined others in autographing the tail section of the Electra. "Thanks, Brian. This was electrifying!" he wrote.

It was equally electrifying for Team Electra. Richardson's wife, Betty Mitchell, repeatedly said over the weekend, "This is really fun." The JMU student, Michael, could not stop smiling after the team presented him with a rolling and running project Honda 350 motorcycle purchased at the swapmeet. Young Tony, another electric bike privateer who brought his bike to the event, said, "I came here solo and never dreamed I would be having dinner with such a great group of people."

Prins took lots of video and looks forward to putting together a film he can use to advance his diagnostic work for the bike. A friend of Wolff's, who joined the team and kept everyone smiling with his sunny disposition, promised to try to come down from his home in Canada to visit his new Virginia friends. And there was Dan, who drove his own truck and towed the JMU Engineering Department trailer; he was always ready to help with anything else.

Roger Canfield, Richardson's "sprocket brother" from their Highland radio show, and David and Lee, provided team support and had the pleasure of making the trip on their own bikes.

What's next? Wolff, who had been complimentary of the Norton's handling, was asked what improvements would be appropriate. He said the most obvious and immediate way to provide better handling would be to upgrade the suspension and tires. This can be done by using more modern forks, shocks, etc.

Richardson, ever the innovator, will likely find other paths to improvement as he reflects on last weekend's experience and looks at the video and other data collected at the track.

Where do Richardson, his team, and the electric Norton go next? Team members are clamoring for a trip to the Isle of Man in 2010, but all are aware such an outing would come with major costs. Wolff dropped a hint about his thinking when he threw out the word "Bonneville" - as in Bonneville Salt Flats, where land speed records are set and broken.

Richardson, though, is not saying much as he savors the success of his innovative privateer efforts thus far.

"Thad fulfilled a dream for me when he took that bike past 108 mph," he said.

Not many people own a bike they built from ground up, much less one that ran competitively on the racetrack with the electric bike competition. And Richardson now has a motorcycle that has been in the AMA Hall of Fame Museum, if for only a few hours.

Could the Norton Electra return to the museum some day? Stay tuned.