| Author | Message | ||
     Jima4media |
Don Vesco passed away today, December 16, 2002 at 2:30 PM in Scripps Mercy hospital in San Diego. He has been battleing prostrate cancer for about a year, and the cancer won. The time and date of the services will be posted on this site as soon as they become available. The racing world has lost a great competitor, a true champion and a friend. This news saddens the Land Speed Racing community. For so long Don has been racing and putting smiles on everybodies faces. Don had been racing on the salt for so many years. He accomplished so much and was going to accomplish so much more. Don and I had agreed upon a partnership on a current bike project which he was going to ride along with me. I was looking forward to this project and having the "King of Speed" along with me for the project. This was such an honor I was overjoyed. He will be missed more than words can say. I will miss his laughing, his smile, his super white hair and all that he did for the sport and the people within it. He had so many ideas, and did what so many said was not possible. We had a goal to acheive in the next year, and I will continue that goal with his name on it, and all the memories that will come with it. God Speed Don, our sympathies go out to the family and friends, Jonathan Amo Landracing.com Don Vesco bio taken from their website http://www.teamvesco.com Don Vesco, driver, and co-creator of the Turbinator with his brother Rick Vesco. Don currently holds 18 motorcycle and 6 automotive records and held the Motorcycle LSR record for 19 years at 318.598 MPH. Don has turned the fastest time in history in a motorcycle at 333.117 and the fastest time in a wheel-driven vehicle at 459.021. 1955 -- First ran a motorcycle at Bonneville Salt Flats at age 16. 1961-1962 -- Road raced RC 161 Honda 250cc, 4 cylinder for American Honda Co. 1963 -- Won the 125-mile U.S. Grand Prix Open Class at Daytona Beach, Florida on a Yamaha 250 cc, providing Yamaha its first ever American victory. 1963 -- Became a member of the exclusive Bonneville 200 MPH Club in John Vesco's (Father) # 444 Offy powered 4 wheel streamliner with a 222 MPH average. 1970 -- On Sept. 17, Don was the first person to drive a motorcycle at more than 250 MPH, with a two way average speed of 251.924 MPH over a measured mile, in this motorcycle streamliner powered by twin Yamaha 350 cc engines. 1973 -- Don added 40 inches to the middle of the 11 streamliner and replaced the 350cc engines with two Yamaha 750 cc engines. 1974 -- On Oct. 1, Don set a new AMA record with an average speed of 281.702 MPH at Bonneville, with a motorcycle streamliner powered by twin Yamaha TZ750 road racing engines. 1975 -- Sept. 15, Don was the first motorcyclist to exceed 300 MPH, setting a new AMA record in the Silverbird of 303.928 MPH for the mile and 302.657 for the kilometer. 1978 -- Aug. 25, set a new record at 315.892 with two 1015 cc turbocharged Kawasaki modified KZ-900 engines. On Aug. 28, the record was raised to 318.598 MPH during filming ofABC Wide World of Sports TV special. On Sept. 27, during Speed Week, Don turned the fastest speed of the meet, including cars, at 333.117 MPH. October 1978, Don crashed the Lightning Bolt I at El Mirage Dry Lake after setting a record at 209.302 MPH. Most of streamliner body was destroyed but Don wasn't injured. 1980 -- Built motorcycle streamliner with two turbocharged 6 cylinder Kawasaki 1300 cc engines. Had aluminum wheels and timing belt driven drive train. 1982 -- Constructed a 4 wheel(6) streamlined vehicle for world record attempts using a turbocharged Drake-Offenhauser Indy engine. Had 2 rear wheels, 2 side wheels and 1 front wheel. Front of vehicle used the drivers compartment from the Lightning Bolt I. Rain canceled meet at Bonneville. 1983 -- Rained out at Bonneville. In November, set a record at 210.280 at El Mirage Dry Lake in Elliott Estrines fuel streamliner powered by a 1015 cc turbocharged Kawasaki modified KZ-900 engine. 1984 -- In June, set a record at 188.679 at El Mirage Dry Lake in Elliott Estrine's fuel streamliner powered by a 960 cc turbocharged Kawasaki modified KZ-900 engine. At Bonneville, made four runs with Skytracker using a 2600cc turbocharged Drake-Offenhauser engine. Speed of 235 was attained before meet was shut down due to rain. 1985 -- Qualified for record runs with Skytracker at 318 mph. Blew a rear tire on record runs and crashed end-over-end 5 times at estimated speed of 350 MPH. Car was destroyed, Don received slight concussion and broken bone in right foot. 1986-1987 -- Joined forces with brother Rick on the construction of a new twin engine car. 1988 -- The new twin engine car's first runs reach 285 MPH. 1989 -- Car was clocked at speed of 351 MPH with air speed indication over 390 MPH. 1990 -- Was hired to test drive and trouble shoot Chet Herbert's 4 engine LSR streamliner. 1991 -- Drove car #111 TeamVesco streamliner with twin 160 cubic inch turbocharged Drake-Offys to a speed of 372 MPH. 1992-1995 -- Hired by BMW Motorcycle Co. to ride as a team in a series of races called The Battle of The Legends, a race that attracted 52,000 spectators at Datona in 1995. 1996 -- Raced the legend series with BMW Motorcycles including a race in Hockenheim, Germany. First runs of TeamVesco gas turbine powered LSR car at Bonneville. 1997 -- Turned 349 at Bonneville Speed Week in Turbinator car. Problems with drive train prevented further runs. Turned 439 MPH in kilo at World Finals. Set Bonneville Nationals gas turbine record at 400.833 MPH. 1999 -- Inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in July. Set new Bonneville gas turbine record and Land Speed Record at 417.529 MPH in August at Speedweek and 427.832 MPH in September at the World of Speed. 2001 -- Turned 459.021 at Bonneville Speed Week in Turbinator. Broke Donald Campbell's gas turbine record of 403.135 while setting new International Land Speed Record (FIA) for wheel driven vehicles at 458.44 MPH. | ||
| Ncbueller |
Condolences to the Vesco Famly. Don accomplished many great deeds in his life. He will be missed. Go in Peace, Don. Tom | ||
| Stubby |
snowdave, i've benchpressed several aircooled volkswagen engines and one porsche 914 engine into place. oooh rah! Semper Fi! \s\ Stubster | ||
| Court |
I am getting the "clean up" order for 202MPH shirts placed. My apologies to those who have been waiting...based on feedback, the wait will be well worth it. Phillyblast..you paid for 2 shirts. Please e-mail me the size. Court | ||
| Court |
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| Ara |
Court - "Perfect ergonomics?" The only time that's possible is when something is made specifically for a single user. Example: The gloves they made for Apollo astronauts were fashioned using plaster casts taken of the astronauts' hands. Another: Medeaval body armor was tailored to the specific user, fashioned based on extensive measurements and quite a bit of test-fit trial and error. Mass produced "perfect ergonomics" simply isn't possible. | ||
| Court |
>>>Mass produced "perfect ergonomics" simply isn't possible. Thanks. I am going to be talking to Steve, who wrote that, in a bit. I'll let him know. Court | ||
| Henrik |
Good friends and good times are good to have! Thanks guys Henrik | ||
| Iamike |
Don, Your dog doesn't look quite as unhappy as he did last summer when I was at your back door. I get along great with dogs but also show them much respect when I'm intruding on their turf. I didn't hang around long enough to catch his name as I was backing out of the gates. I had a good friend's German Shepard take exception to my arm once while his owner was saying "gee, I've never had him do that before". After the second time he bit me I decided I wasn't coming in his house anymore. I am lucky I had my leather cycle jacket on at the time or I most likely would have some nice scars on my arm. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Henrik,you're welcome.Now what was that all about--or just in the Holiday spirit? P.S. I have a very special puzzle spread out on my work bench right now--can you say Aerocharger. | ||
| Court |
What's wrong with this picture? Philip Morris U.S.A., a global leader in the manufacture and marketing of consumer products made for adults, seeks a highly qualified individual for an intern position in our Youth Smoking Prevention Department. Our Youth Smoking Prevention (YSP) Department supports youth programs, produces advertising for parents and conducts ongoing research to help prevent youth smoking. Does this sound a bit like the "for closed course only" caveat? As I listen to folks, paid with our dollars, argue over the presumed fuel efficiency of the vehicle they "guess" Jesus would drive, I am, at the same time, alarmed and entertained. It makes it an easy time to be a writer....like I've said before, everytime I want to write something totally stupid, I just open the newspaper, you can't make this stuff up! | ||
| Mikej |
Sounds like they're looking for a subliminalist. One of those delayed brainwasher-types of peoples. Here, don't buy this, ignore the car and bike and boat in the background and the women in the vehicles mirrors. | ||
| Elvis |
(Idea for ad campaign): What kind of cigarettes would Jesus smoke?   | ||
| Peter |
FMJ, Which one did you buy? PPiA | ||
| Sparky |
Don Vesco in the 80's had a shop in Lemon Grove, Ca. where I bought one of his streamlined "Rabid Transit" fairings for a Honda GL650. I never met the man but was eternally grateful that he produced something derived from his passion for speed that could transform an ordinary bike into a sleek looking sport tourer. We've all seen S2s & S3s. Notice any resemblence?  Rapid Transit on Beemer Godspeed Don Vesco, and thanks. Sparky | ||
| Archer |
BANDERA, TX <------anyone live near there? There a concert I want to go to and I know there's some bad ass riding around that area. Looking for a place to crash near by. ANYONE????? | ||
| Scrap |
It always touches racers in a different way when such an Icon like Mr. Vesco passes on. Landspeed racing will never be the same because of Mr. Vesco's contributions, and will never be the same because of his passing. God Speed. R.N #1987 | ||
| Buelliedan |
Archer, I live in San Antonio, TX and you are more than welcome to stay at my house. | ||
| Court |
How smart is this.......? I am headed to pick up Henrik and Road Thing. It just occured to me, between the 3 of us, we've had a dozen Buells titled in our names collectively. My thinking is that if his wife sent him to see Henrik and I to "fix" him, it may have been a grave error.  And, yes, I am wearing Tony Lama boots to the Bronx. . . I get my ass kicked I am holding some of you responsible! Court | ||
| Archer |
Thanks bulliedan, Plans are still tentative but it's looking good so far. I forgot you live up in that area. I'll let you know by tomorrow. I appreciate the offer. I'll buy you a few rounds! | ||
| Dueller |
With apologies to Jimmy Buffet..... "Court's got his Tony Lamas on his jean's pressed tight, he take a little ride make him feel alright, rockin' and a Buellin' on a Bronx saturday night..... he got some money in his pocket cause he just got paid. with any luck at all he might evn get laid" (sung to the tune of Livingston saturday night) | ||
| Jssport |
There is a pic of a XB9 dirt tracker buried here: http://www.1800flattrack.com/ click on "the Dirt" in upper right corner, click on Dec 9th link which is copied below. *I can't finger out how to post pics here* "We're back with some info. Hey, you got some dirt send it in would ya?!? Anyway, a friend of our sent in this shot of a new Buell XB9 dirt-tracker courtesy of Chuck Deluxe of Casper and Gillette Harley and Buell. Apparently this will be Davey Durelle's ride when he turns Expert next July." | ||
| Ralph |
Court, between the three of you? Heck, I've had six all by my lonesome  bighairyralph | ||
| Buelliedan |
5 here | ||
| Ray_Maines |
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| Jst |
Jim, Are these the ones you're trying to post?   | ||
| Jst |
DOH!!! | ||
| Ray_Maines |
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| Jst |
LOL, Airing my dirty laundry are we? My frame should be back from the powder coater this week. JT | ||
| Tavs |
Peter: Didja find out if there are any streetfighter happenings in Holland between 12/25 and 1/8? Thanks again! Gus |
