Fastest Confirmed Speed on a Laverda

Fizzled out. A bit of damage to beachside businesses, but all the debris was cleaned into neat pile for pickup in 36 hours. In fact, I’m on the beach right now on a chaise lounger in the shade. Temp is in the low 30’s
 
Another big one heading for the poor old Philippines so you might just get "lucky".
Some visitors to the FNQ tropics said it would be interesting and exciting to go through a cyclone, about on a par with a train crash I said.
 
Yep, I've heard that many times down here in Briz Vegas.
I just look at them and say 'obviously you have never been anywhere near a bad one'.
 
Got caught in one many years ago.
Terrifying.
Listening to the roof strain to stay attached while hoping against all seeming odds that something would be leftover.
Ever been so scared that the bath seemed like a good place to hide! It was an old caste iron jobby.
 
That was the last-ditch hope for plenty when Tracy blew Darwin away. Hoping the plumbing saves you. After Tracy, the Building Code of Australia was completely revamped, and it started having fires as a big thing originally, but Tracy made it clear that Wind Loads had to become a priority, especially in cyclone-prone areas. So categories based on location in Oz occurred, not just up north. The risk increases if you're in an open area compared with being surrounded by wind brakes, eg other houses, it becomes complicated. The highest category involves adding threaded rod and physically bolting your house down to the Concrete Footing.
 
This is a photo of me blasting across Baja California on Mexico Highway 3, from San Felipe to Ensenada, with a couple of significant mountain range crossings along the way. On the speed gun (courtesy of the Policia Federal de Mexico), 138.44 MPH. Official La Carrera records have me at an average speed of 109.87MPH for the route San Felipe to Ensenada. Sea level to sea level, the Sea of Cortez, aka the Gulf of California, to the Pacific Ocean, mountain passes over 7000'. I do believe that is the fastest I have ever ridden my '78 Jota....although downhill on the Amboy Road I may have gone faster, but I will deny that in any Traffic Court. I do like speed.
La Carrera, Laverda riders included Pete Davies (Monty), Wes Cooley Sr. (SF750), Kosmo Kelley(74 SFC 750), and James Craig (Jota 1000)
 

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motoddrob said:
What was the overall distance Dave?
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The distance was 115 miles, or 185 kilometers, which sounds much more impressive. So 185km's not including the 1.3km detour to Esparanza's Cantina and Pension for fast sleepers,(what a beauty) wink wink, just kidding. The Race I remember well, the festivities the evening following the race remain vague. Hey, it was Mexico. 'What happens in Mexico no one remembers. 222 kmh, much more impressive. Esperanza, a love lost, ha ha.
 
Statistics don't lie, Dave. Impressive, especially that average for 115 miles! And plenty of faired bikes around you on the start line ... at those speeds you could have benefitted greatly with a fairing.
 
piranha-bro2 said:
Statistics don't lie, Dave. Impressive, especially that average for 115 miles! And plenty of faired bikes around you on the start line ... at those speeds you could have benefitted greatly with a fairing.
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Duane Summers on the North America Ducati/Cagiva F1B with a hot-rodded Montjuich engine prepped by Eldo Ferracci averaged 116.33 MPH (187KPH).
Duane started behind me and passed me at a leisurely pace. As he passed, he upshifted to 6th gear, little f....r!

A week before the event, I got the cylinder head back from Mr Eraldo Ferracci's Fast by Ferracci shop. Eraldo had performed his magic on the triple cylinder head. I'm not sure he was aware it was for a bike going up against his rider, Duane.
Eraldo went on to win the first two World Superbike Championships for Ducati.
 
78jotadave said:
The distance was 115 miles, or 185 kilometers, which sounds much more impressive. So 185km's not including the 1.3km detour to Esparanza's Cantina and Pension for fast sleepers,(what a beauty) wink wink, just kidding. The Race I remember well, the festivities the evening following the race remain vague. Hey, it was Mexico. 'What happens in Mexico no one remembers. 222 kmh, much more impressive. Esperanza, a love lost, ha ha.
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I seem to remember a bit of a high speed ride in the outback that the fuzz didn't see kindly to, just before you took off for the southern continent of the Americas.
 
Tippie said:
I seem to remember a bit of a high speed ride in the outback that the fuzz didn't see kindly to, just before you took off for the southern continent of the Americas.
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Yes, Lee, those outback roads back in the days of yore, when we were young and brave, were a lot of fun, no loads of fun, and no 'Speed Cameras'.
This was Mad Max country before 'Mad Max' swung a leg over a Kwaka. As usual, I was late getting back to work after holidaying on the eastern side of the continent, searching for curves and a good time, which may have more than one meaning.
The copper in the 78 XC, well, I didn't know he was behind me until I slowed for the roadblock.
Surprisingly, I was permitted to continue my ride after completing formalities and signing for receipt of the citation, $120, with a promise to pay, which I did via mail. $120 was a lot of money for me back in those days. I was happy not to be going to lock-up or worse.
The police officers manning the roadblock were pleasant to deal with, the copper chasing me not so much; the f....r was blowing a fuse.
I am happy I experienced life the way we did back in those days. Along with riding motorcycles, we had freedoms we did not know we had :cool:(y)(y)
 
Not familiar with this story, Dave! But not surprised, I must say ;-). Why would a copper get all in a tizz because someone on a one litre moto is going fast on a road out in the middle of BFN!?!
 
Sounds a bit like my buddy Dave with the pink-and-purple GT Bevel. We were somewhere south of Sydney with Dave out front. We arrive with him pulled over by a Cop, apparently the Cop was behind him, lit up with Scirene going for a very long time, Dave just hadn't noticed. They don't like not being noticed.
 
piranha-bro2 said:
Not familiar with this story, Dave! But not surprised, I must say ;-). Why would a copper get all in a tizz because someone on a one litre moto is going fast on a road out in the middle of BFN!?!
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Adrenaline I reckon. Difficult to come down from a good chase quickly. Just on Sunday my pit crew said quietly “I’m right here, you don’t need to shout”, after a particularly exciting dice at the track 😁
 
Well done Dave, conviction and no fear, well not obvious...

Heathcote road, late night time, driving my partners ( her the passenger ) step dad quick Alfa GTV6, normal speed, cops pulled me over, when i did not get out straight away, he pulled a gun on me.... as Gary Foley noted "thug coppers" en mass.

BTW, quickest has more meaning than fastest, 220kms out of a bored 1200 i put together, rear drum brake, all spoked wheels... once only. Of good handling, mates RGS could be handed its second place with ease from my 981cc small valve head ( theres a story )180 series 2 a very good handler by some happenstance, into corners i just did not brake, he was at least 50-100 meters astern once on the straight, he would pass, i would not brake... what are mates for but to hand them second place, sorry riding skills...j
 
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