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Written by Yaani-Mai Gaddy
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Sunday, 30 November 2008 22:30 |
Land Speed Record Holder Garth Hill
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Fast Facts:
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Charlie pIctured on the left, Garth pictured on the right. |
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Name: |
Garth Hill
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Home: |
Michigan, USA |
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Age: |
63 |
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Hgt: |
5' 10" |
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Wgt: |
140lbs |
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Ride: |
350cc Buell Blast
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Wins: |
ECTA, M-PG 350cc 109.99 mph
ECTA, SC-PG 350cc 90.10 mph |
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Barker
Parts: |
Barker handlebars
Barker exhaust
Barker connecting rod
Custom engine work
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| With his quiet demeanor, you'd never know 63 year old Garth Hill, is a speed freak and land speed record holder. Not surprising, the Michigan native and AC Spark Plug retiree has always loved going fast. In the mid-sixties, Hill bought his first two bikes, a 305 Honda Superhawk and BSA 441 Victor (Scrambler). In the mid-seventies, he joined forces with Charlie Williams to race drag cars. With Hill driving, the duo set five national records in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). But all the while, Garth dreamt of someday setting a land speed record. |
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| After the 2000 NHRA Nationals, Hill and Williams sold the drag cars to pursue Hill's speed goal. They started the journey by purchasing a Buell Blast from Saginaw Cycle Sales. Knowing that precision mattered in the quest to build a record breaking bike, they entrusted the chassis to Mike Bowen and the engine to Tim Barker. |
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In May 2004, Garth and Charlie took the Buell to Maxton, North Carolina to have a go at the East Coast Timing Association's (E.C.T.A.) records and, with Garth riding, set a record in the M-PG 350cc class at 96 mph. In October that year, they took the bike to the Bonneville Salt Flats to the Southern California Timing Association's bi-annual meet. While there, they set a record in the M-PG 350cc class at 98.4 mph.
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In 2006, Garth reset his ECTA record in the M-PG 350cc at 109.99 and set a side car (SC-PG 350cc) record at 90.10 mph.
Also during '06 the SCTA record was broken to 108 mph. In 2005 and 2006, they've attempted to reset the SCTA record, but have been rained out.
Hill says they have definite plans to return to Bonneville in 2007. After that, he says with a smile, "There might be plans for a new racing venture."
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Saturday, February 04, 2012
