Mr. Turbo Propels Sam Wheeler to Fastest Motorcycle on the Planet

On October 18, 2003, sixty-year old Californian Sam Wheeler, of E-Z Hook Streamliner fame (streamliner.com), became the fastest motorcycle rider in the world, driving his Mr. Turbo powered Kawasaki ZX-11 to a 334.048 mile-per-hour clocking during a run at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

For Wheeler, the performance was the culmination of a lifetime effort he has been racing at Bonneville for over 30 years. Known by all Bonneville regulars for his many years on the salt, racing and setting numerous two wheeled records, it has been common knowledge that the E-Z Hook Streamliner was built for one thing: to be “The Fastest Motorcycle on the Planet.” For drag racing enthusiast, Wheeler is to land speed racing what Elmer Trett was to drag racing, a true legend.

After 13 years of developing and honing the E-Z Hook Streamliner, his efforts have paid off. Two years ago Sam approached Terry Kizer of Mr. Turbo in Texas for help with his project. He needed Big horsepower that would be reliable at 300 + mph. So Terry went to work on building the engine, turbo and fuel system needed for the quest.

Setting a land speed record for a motorcycle is very elusive and the ultimate goal sought after by man since the world of motorized two-wheel transportation began. Achieving the fastest speed ever recorded in the category is very rare. After all there are only two absolute categories: Automobile (four wheels), Motorcycle (two wheels). Of course there are hundreds of combinations of classes in each but there can be only two men on the planet that can claim World’s Fastest. Sam Wheeler becomes the first new guy in 13-years to make the claim.

The current top speed record for motorcycle is 322.149 mph set by the Easy Rider Harley Davidson Streamliner in 1990, the same year Wheeler finished his streamliner for the first rounds of testing. It has taken 13 years to get close to a record once owned by Mr. Bonneville himself, Don Vesco, who set it at 318.598 in 1978 on a Kawasaki streamliner.

The official record itself is tough to establish. In the world of drag racing, oval racing, or closed course racing, a single clocked best time or speed at a sanctioned meet gives you the good fortune of being top dog. In drag racing, to establish a record, the performance has to be backed up within one percent. At Bonneville you have to make a return run in the same measured mile on the same day. One must get back to the area designated “impound”, re-prep the machine in a four-hour time frame, and make it back to the starting line.

After the first leg of the record was set, it was discovered that a gasket in the exhaust system had failed resulting in a minor fire that damaged wiring critical to the electrical system. Wheeler will have to wait for Speed Week next year to try again. But for now he will just have to settle for being “The Fastest Man on Two Wheels.”

We talked to Mr. Turbo owner Terry Kizer, a motorcycle legend in his own right and brother of AMA/Prostar president Keith “Scooter” Kizer, about his involvement in land speed record attempts at Bonneville.

Dragbike.com: How did you find yourself in Bonneville when we are used to seeing Mr. Turbo at Gainesville?

Terry Kizer: Sam called me a few year ago asking for help with his project. I had heard of this bike before, so I was curious. Soon after that, I had had the opportunity to visit Sam on a trip to L.A. Marty Kane, my brother Charlie and I went to see Sam one night. After taking one look at this bike we just stood there in awe. I have seen some of the finest equipment on two wheels in my time in the racing business but I had never seen anything this well executed. Marty described it best when he called it the Space Shuttle of motorcycles, I couldn’t agree more. It’s obvious when you see it, that it is truly a work of art. Years of blood, sweat and tenacity have honed this project to its present state.

DB: What was your part in the project?

TK: My job has been to simply put the reliable amount of horsepower in place to do the job. The same system that we had developed for our ZX-11 Funnybike and Pro Mod bikes as well as the same system used in our horsepower shootout bikes is a proven setup that I felt very confident with. So we built the engine based on what worked in the race bikes, matched the turbo for the power needed and installed our EFI fuel system on Methanol. I’ve been very pleased with the results of the system in the past so this was going to be the ultimate test.

DB: What has been Sam’s response to your involvement?

TK: I guess the results speak for themselves, I just really appreciate Sam allowing us to be involved”. I’ve worked with Sam on this project for two years now, and help at Bonneville by working on and sharing Crew Chief responsibilities with Sam. The more I work on this bike, the more I like it. As is the case with every race bike I’ve owned or ridden, you just fall in love with these things and treat them like they’re your kid or something.

DB: What were some of the challenges on this project?

TK: Unlike drag racing, we can’t get to the track every week to test, not to mention that I’m a thousand miles from Sam, so progress takes time. We can only go to the salt two maybe three times a year, but the result we were looking for are finally taking place.

DB: Describe the magic moment.

TK: Hearing that number come over the radio was incredible. I thought I was going to cry thinking about how hard Sam has worked on this project. Wow, 334 mph is very cool! Especially when I see my name on it. I am very proud of Sam, and most thankful for the opportunity to be involved.

DB: Where do you go from here?

TK: The goal from the beginning for Sam was to become the world’s fastest motorcycle rider; the goal for me was to make sure he had the engine and turbo system to pull it off. Guess we were brought together for a reason, because this combination has proved successful for both of us.

Driver/Owner: Sam Wheeler
Team: E-Z Hook Streamliner

Bike
Chassis designed and built by Sam Wheeler, 1990
Body designed at Cal-Tech wind tunnel

Engine
1109cc Kawasaki ZX-11
Mr. Turbo turbocharger w/ EFI fuel system on Methanol.

Special MTC pistons, Carrillo Rods