Provost Man Part of New Canadian Motorcycle Speed Record
Ross Cuthbertson blasts off on one of his record-setting motorcycle runs. Photo by Photonow.
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A Provost man is a part owner of a motorcycle that was the top performer in the modified class at Ashcroft, B.C., taking first place at the Canadian Motorcycle Drag Racing Association (CMDRA) competition.
Ryan Batty partnered with his daughter Carrie (McNalley) and her husband Ross Cuthbertson of Fort St. John, B.C. own the custom made motorcycle together.
Batty told The News that with 37 year old Cuthbertson driving, the new Canadian record was set September 21 and 22 with an elapsed time of 8.745 seconds in a quarter mile roaring up to 146.86 miles per hour.
The old record was 8.795 seconds held by Rick Bailor of the USA.
Cuthbertson also set a new 1/8th mile track record the same weekend with a time of 5.493 seconds and a speed of 123.91 MPH.
The modified class is the first step into professional racing.
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The new bike took two years to build and although Batty was reluctant to say how much money was spent building the 110 cubic inch unit his daughter said in a telephone interview that “My new house is going down the track a couple of times a year.” But “we love it . . . we live for it” and adds that some day she hopes to ride motorcycles in competition.
Batty adds that they have the world record now in their sights. The world competition is next season at Las Vegas in October but have not made final plans if they will be able to attend.
Cuthbertson, who works in the oil industry when he’s not racing began the season in May at Mission, B.C. and also ran the bike at Calgary, Prince George, Edmonton and twice at Ashcroft. Although riding for a lot of years Cuthbertson has been racing for three years—and last season took the rookie of the year award.
Batty, who has ridden motorcycles for years himself, though not competitively was injured 14 years ago when he lost control of his bike and rode into a ditch near Provost. He broke his leg and spent two months in hospital. The 47 year old said if not for that incident maybe he would have stayed on bikes. His job now includes helping to maintain a crew and deal with travel and other expenses like parts and maintenance.
At each race a variety of conditions are taken into account before Cuthbertson climbs aboard: temperature, sea level, oxygen content, humidity and wind are all worked into a computer program which offers settings for carburetion, RPM, clutch adjustments and more.
The motorcycle, Batty says is “one of a kind” and there is not another one like it in North America.
He will get the computer print-outs of the record breaking runs framed. The winner had to break the record twice in one day for it to stand.
Briefly:
•Five wins, one second place and one tie this season.
• The bike took two years to build by D & G Chassis of Largo, Florida. The motor was designed by Dan Baisley of Portland, Oregon, Lee Uhrich of Jarz Performance, Abbotsford, Jim Hoye of Hoye’s Place, Kamloops, B.C. and a friend of the bike owners—John Andres of Abbotsford (who lost his life in a Spokane motorcycle crash this year).
• The motorcycle is 200 horse power, S & S sportser style, four cam case, dual Lectron injector carbs, Dyna 4000 Super Pro electronic ignition that drives a five speed Zipper full race transmission made in Maryland—all sitting on an eight and one half inch drag slick rear tire, covered by a custom-made fibreglas body.
• Between 2500 and 10,000 fans can show up to watch the events.
• Batty and Cuthbertson’s custom machine takes only 8.745 seconds to travel a quarter mile—at up to 146.86 miles per hour. Your car, by comparison may take twice as long—15 seconds and accelerate to a whopping 50 miles per hour in a quarter mile—if you’re lucky.
Full story and picture in October 2 edition of The Provost News
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