Bobby Winters photo

Behind the gun at Daytona 2000

By Bob Barker

A special thanks to Garry Bird and Mike Dixon, who spent Monday and Tuesday recording speeds on the front straight just past start/finish at Daytona.

Obviously Gary and Mike could not get a speed on every machine in every race. They recorded 364 speeds over the two days, and I am impressed! A job well done.

Top speed is a result of horsepower, aerodynamics and correct gearing. At Daytona, top speed is important and correct gearing with the changing wind conditions becomes very technical. Too much “gear” (low overall ratio between crankshaft and rear wheel revolutions) will not allow the engine to reach maximum horsepower. Not enough gear (high overall ratio between crankshaft and rear wheel revolutions) will allow the engine to over-rev—and that’s not good!

In most classes the fastest recorded machines finished in front. In 500 Premier, for instance, Gianfranco Bonera (MV Agusta, 143 mph), Pat Mooney (Norton, 139) and Doug Jones (Norton, 130) had the three fastest speeds and finished 1-2-3.

The highest speed recorded from this point on the track—not necessarily the fastest point—was 159 in Sound of Thunder (David Podolsky’s Aprilia Mille R and Geoff Sawyer’s Ducati 996). The fastest vintage machine was the Honda 750-4 ridden by Don Canet in F-750 at 150 mph. Slowest was a F-125 motorcycle going 64 mph.

Gary Bird adds: Mike and I ran the speed gun both days. Actually Mike ran the radar gun, and I wrote down bike #s and their speeds. Sounds easy until you try it. I think we could have had it pretty well under control as long as there were 10 or fewer bikes in a race. Never happened. Some races had up toward 50 starters in two waves. When I heard complaints from the scorers that a number plate is hard to read, I used to think, “So what?” I now see the problem and oh too well.

Lesson for you racers: Make sure your number plates are clean, your numbers are plain and the surface you put them on is reasonably flat. Fancy numbers on curved surfaces make for some interesting visions. In case you want to know what those numbers look like, take your favorite pair of sunglasses, clean them with 10w-40, face into the sun and read your number plate at 50 feet. If you can tell if it’s right side up, you win.

Hot tip from the radar trap: The 2000 Aprilias were invisible to the radar gun. We tried numerous times to get a speed on an Aprilia to no avail. I probably shouldn’t mention this, but we had to take the radar gun back to the hotel with us to recharge it, and so we “tested” it a bit on the 40-mile drive from Daytona to Sanford. Remarkable how many brake lights are directly attached to the radar detectors.

Machine #

 Rider Make Speed

PRE-1940 GRAND PRIX
1 Norbert Nickel BMW 95
26 Al Knapp Harley-Davidson 97
27 Beno Rodi Norton 87
35 Doc Batsleer Indian 93
351 Art Farley 87
46 Alex McLean Norton 99
18 Will Harding Indian 81
44 Dick Miles Velocette 86
209 Erich Bley BMW 94
CLASS C FOOTSHIFT
996 Carleton Palmer II Vincent 104
27 Beno Rodi Royal Enfield 98
103 Delbert Busche BSA 89
46 Alex McLean Norton 104
CLASS C HANDSHIFT
1J Al Knapp Harley-Davidson 94
435 Tim Droege Harley-Davidson 71
69 A. "Moon" Mullins Harley-Davidson 98
31 Michael Burke Indian 87
94 Rusty Lowry Indian 116
780 Dennis Leggett Indian 96
213 Steve Coe Harley-Davidson 72
CLASSIC SIXTIES
1L Rusty Lowry Harley-Davidson 112
784 John Cygnor Harley-Davidson 111
11X Pat Mooney Norton 118
91 Fred Mork Matchless 108
92 Tim Stancill BSA 101
283 Geoff Ryan Triumph 111
41X John Cooper BSA 113
884 Willi Rutenacht Matchless 118
44 Dick Miles Norton 114
529 Josef Brenner BSA 112
41 Lon McCroskey AJS 114
58 Norm Nelson BSA 104
346 Allan Johncock Matchless 97
793 Peter Gagan Matchless 88
46X Bobby Winters BSA 97
74X Jason Bessey BSA 101
47 Alex McLean BSA 107

200 GRAND PRIX
40 Chuck Davis BSA 89
656 Cary Nyberg Honda 76
89 Charles Sexton Bultaco 95
436 Dennis Poneleit Honda 98
56X Dennis Macaluso BSA 81
957 Simon-Pierre Smith Honda 81
556 William Orazio Honda 88
626 Gary Smith Triumph 74
10 Mike Kirby Honda 83
196 Vic Nowak Harley-Davidson 92
47 Edward Sensenig Ducati 88
250 GRAND PRIX
1C Ron Melton Bultaco 97
17X Jonathan White Ducati 104
13 Jay Richardson Ducati 105
63 Richard Bonelli Yamaha 99
692 Jody Hance Ducati 97
16 Gregg Bonelli Suzuki 88
147 Butch Sprain Honda 97
752 Peter Crew Ossa 91
5 Maurizio Massimiani MV Agusta 106
957 Simon-Pierre Smith Honda 80
515 Robert Bryson Bultaco 91
72X Dean De St. Croix Ducati 105
518 Todd Mahony Ducati 93
442 John Stephens Ducati 103
626 Gary Smith Honda 99
350 GRAND PRIX
921 Johnny Demoisey Triumph 111
987 Christopher Hawksley Norton 113
1C Ron Melton Bultaco 101
47 Edward Sensenig Ducati 109
539 Alberto Fernandez AJS 90
692 Jody Hance Ducati 103
7 David Roper AJS 110
679 Floyd Jennings Honda 106
66 Erik Green AJS 110
413 Ron Kalanquin Suzuki 85
700 Richard Friese Ducati 104
220 Mike Chapman Ducati 103
500 PREMIER
1 Stuart Carter Norton 123
21X Larry Poons Seeley 127
94 Rusty Lowry Harley-Davidson 129
13 Jay Richardson Norton 127
987 Christopher Hawksley Norton 122
11X Pat Mooney Norton 139
467 Ralph Auer BMW 117
6 Gianfranco Bonera MV Agusta 143
539 Alberto Fernandez Norton 127
26X Nigel Smallbone Triumph 121
44 Dick Miles Norton 109
41X John Cooper BSA 117
978 Bernando Fernandez Norton 120
778 David Martinez Matchless 113
173 Doug Jones Norton 130
795 David Breetwor BSA 108
346 Allan Johncock Seeley 110
46 Alex McLean Norton 110
738 Mike Tiberio Ducati 115
700 Richard Friese Ducati 110
135 John Kain Matchless 126
529 Josef Brenner BSA 128
7 David Roper Matchless 126

BEARS
80 Bob Goodpaster Norton 126
67 Glenn Campbell BMW 127
118 Scott Strickler BSA 118
42 John Long Triumph 98
96X Rob Tuluie Triumph 136
542 Steve Maney Norton 127
341 Shin'ichi Yokoi BMW 126
194 Tim Gunlach Moto Guzzi 110
899 Tom High BMW 122
38X Frank Shockley Triumph 118
496 Andrew Murray Norton 118
31X Dave Todd Norton 109
74X Jason Bessey Triumph 122
3 Jerry Wood Triumph 109
FORMULA 125
1H Jack Seaver Honda 100
620 Jim Killy Honda 64
751 Terry Gates Honda 89
556 William Orazio Honda 103
516 Sakis Vasilopoulos Honda 99
44X Glen Christianson Yamaha 100
767 Russ McCallister Honda 95
FORMULA 250
1G Jerry Herman Honda 115
484 Bob Merkel Honda 97
47X Kris Jepsen Yamaha 114
920 Chester Hamblin Suzuki 89
511 Billy Kennedy Yamaha 109
566 Harry Barlow Yamaha 123
244 Les Trotter Suzuki 111
637 George Taylor Yamaha 123
869 John Lawless Honda 94
521 James Dallarosa Yamaha 113
515 Robert Bryson Yamaha 108
443 John Walters Honda 99
FORMULA 500
1F Christopher Spargo Yamaha 133
394 Kyle Corser Yamaha 134
169 Hikaru Miyagi Honda 113
49 Oral Molden Yamaha 131
864 John Rickard Yamaha 99
566 Harry Barlow Yamaha 129
833 Paul Gaskin Suzuki 122
515 Robert Bryson Suzuki 118
547 Richie Baulch Kawasaki 112
511 Billy Kennedy Yamaha 112
664 Ken Driggers Yamaha 120
969 TG "Woody" White Yamaha 105
514 Matthew Hinkson Yamaha 85
626 Gary Smith Honda 118
FORMULA 750
1E Adam Popp Honda 149
18 Norbert Prokschi Honda 136
40 Chuck Davis Harley-Davidson 138
67 Glenn Campbell BMW 121
93 David Fulkerson Moto Guzzi 132
393 Hasse Gustafson Ducati 138
542 Steve Maney Norton 142
274 Charles Cole Moto Guzzi 119
9 Gary Nixon Honda 139
33X Jean Basselin Triumph 121
970 Dave Rosno Honda 139
2 Don Canet Honda 150
3 Jerry Wood Ducati 124
42 John Long Triumph 120
295 Jesse Morris Triumph 128
616 Malcome Tunstall Ducati 131
131 Stan Keyes Norton 117
FORMULA VINTAGE
1P Will Harding Honda 133
719 David Temple Yamaha 118
266 Mike Azzar Yamaha 119
894 Ed Britt Norton 128
707 Cliff Murray Yamaha 121
393 Hasse Gustafson Ducati 148
18 Norbert Prokschi BSA 120
833 Paul Gaskin Suzuki 126
382 Jeff Morr Yamaha 105
173 Doug Jones Norton 129
864 John Rickard Yamaha 88
970 Vic World Honda 113
552 William Pitcher Honda 102
138 Craig Charles Triumph 126
791 Jim Struke Norton 121
302 David Dickerson BSA 118
2 Don Canet Honda 148
969 TG "Woody" White Yamaha 96
87 Keith Campbell Harley-Davidson 96
645 Chuck Smith Honda 102
SPORTSMAN 350
73 Blake Wilson Honda 113
451 Chuck Smithson Honda 93
886 Buff Harsh Honda 113
75 Frank Smith Honda 106
610 Dale Nincehelser Honda 96
752 Peter Crew Honda 110
497 Keith Johnston Honda 110
717 Gary Raff Honda 109
47 Edward Sensenig Ducati 103
387 Chris Marshall Honda 114
SPORTSMAN 500
1N Tim Stancill Honda 114
467 Ralph Auer BMW 107
60 Andrew Cowell Triumph 114
871 David Rutherford BSA 113
752 Peter Crew Honda 113
95 Larry Campbell BMW 105
886 Buff Harsh Honda 118
295 Jesse Morris Triumph 119
451 Chuck Smithson Honda 90
520 Brent Hensley Honda 100
450 Mike Mathews Honda 118
501 Bob Gerberich Honda 109
42 John Long Ducati 115
236 Todd Narduzzi Honda 112
717 Gary Raff Honda 110
74X Jason Bessey Honda 113
SPORTSMAN 750
719 David Temple Yamaha 122
241 Tim Lile Triumph 114
324 Stuart Knigge Norton 120
894 Ed Britt Norton 115
266 Mike Azzar Yamaha 119
707 Cliff Murray Yamaha 118
840 Geir Jacobsen Rickman 130
295 Jesse Morris Triumph 130
641 Michael Eiland Yamaha 129
138 Craig Charles Triumph 129
475 Tony Kwiatkowski Yamaha 101
48X Jamie Linxwiler Triumph 126
501 Bob Gerberich Honda 111
811 Mark Nadelkov Yamaha 108
236 Todd Narduzzi Honda 103
149 Mark Dolan Triumph 105
692 Jody Hance Yamaha 118
296 Bob Demetrius Triumph 117
302 David Dickerson BSA 109
341 Shin'ichi Yokoi BMW 127
SUPER MONO 2
1X Mark Hatten BBM 122
92 Steven Enter Honda 117
181 Stoney Turner Yamaha 105
45 Chuck Campbell Yamaha 128
144 Colin Fraser Honda 122
14X Chris Kelleher Yamaha 112
173 Doug Jones Norton 130
667 Bill Stoneman Honda 101
220 Mike Chapman Ducati 107
118 Mike Tiberio Ducati 124
SUPER MONO
34 Jeff Nash Ducati 141
92 Steven Enter Honda 117
783 Bill Birchfield MuZ 117
99X Bruch McLaughlin MuZ 115
46 Bob Robbins Bimota 123
14 Per-Olov Ogeborn Rotax 141
760 Tesfai Konig Ducati 142
333 Nigel Manning-Morton Tigcraft 137
250 Ronad Kretz Yamaha 103
919 T. Bruce Brown MuZ 118
42 Al Charles Ducati 134
962 Richard Herrington 115
SOUND OF SINGLES TWO-STROKE
1Y Jim Struke Honda 131
71 David Podolsky Honda 132
513 Alicia Struke Honda 123
29X Jim Bach Yamaha 122
SKORPION CUP
26 Mike Kindelin Sr. MuZ 115
99X Bruce McLaughlin MuZ 115
483 Craig Hunley MuZ 114
783 Bill Birchfield MuZ 114
46 Alex McLean MuZ 115
919 T. Bruce Brown MuZ 117
481 Paul Conley MuZ 115
416 John McGowan MuZ 97
127 Guenther Weickert MuZ 111
BATTLE OF TWINS FORMULA 3
66 Charles Burnett Honda 143
89 John Staska Kawasaki 142
100 John Ryti Laverda 129
64 Tommy Wagner Suzuki 131
54X Jonathan Forman Suzuki 134
204 Rick Patrolia Suzuki 138
127 Gunther Weickert Suzuki 130
274 Charles Cole Moto Guzzi 126
600 Bob Demetrius Kawasaki 136
673 Todd Ross Moto Guzzi 129
28X Dan Hankle Norton 125
31X Dave Todd Norton 115
63 Thomas Dorsey Suzuki