 Landspeed Racing Page
DESCRIPTION
Meet the Pilot of Nebulous Theorem IV
Name: Nick Rock
Age: 49
Home: Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Prop-maker for the film industry
Everyday ride: Honda RC 51
Race Vehicle: Motorcycle Streamliner the Nebulous Theorem IV
Vehicle Owner/Designer/Builder: Jack Costella
Club Affiliation: Eliminators
Entry-name: Costella-Rock #5050
Race class: S-G / S-F 125cc and S-G / S-F 250cc
Crew: Nova, Ed Burke, Rick Carmody, Steve Burnes and Kristine Compton
Nick’s first visit to El Mirage was in 2005 when he was asked to help crew the Nebulous Theorem IV. One visit to the dry lakebed and he was hooked. By the end of the ‘05 season, Nick was itching to run the Nebulous down the course. Standing a slim 5’9” tall, he’s the perfect size to fit the extremely tight riding space.
Opening weekend of ‘06 had Nebulous owner Jack Costella setting a new record and then turning the controls over to Nick to make a required rookie run. Rock has been the pilot ever since. He went on to set records at El Mirage in June, July, Sept. and one at Bonneville Speedweek.
Running with a new Swedetech engine, ‘07 finds them moving from the 125cc class up to 250cc class. The first race at El Mirage brought another record to the Nebulous IV team in the 250cc S-G class at 144.568... and an exciting ride at the end. When the chute was deployed at the finish line, it caught a crosswind and lifted the rear-end of the Nebulous IV pulling it sideways. Traveling well over one-hundred mph Nick clearly recalls four distinct ‘hops’ before it was under control. He credit’s the design of the race vehicle from stopping a roll-over and downplays his skills in keeping it level.
Look for them at El Mirage and particularly at Bonneville Speedweek. They’ll be joining stiff competition on the salt while chasing records set back in ‘72 and ‘73 by veteran landspeed racer Don Vesco.
How dedicated is Nick to the sport? He’s selling his prized Shovelhead to help cover expenses. Now that’s what ya call addicted! ( if interested in the Shovelhead e-mail ksturney@questex.com)
***********************************************************
Meet the Rider of a Harley Davidson KHR
Name: Fritz Kott
Age: 62
Home: DeLuz Canyon, CA
Occupation: Machinist, Welder, Carpenter (Whatever pays the bills)
Everyday Ride: ’75 Norton 850 Commando or ‘63 Triumph Thunderbird
Race Vehicle: 1954 Harley-Davidson KHR
Vehicle owner/Designer/Builder: Fritz and Gayle Kott
Club Affiliation: San Diego Roadster Club (SDRC)
Entry Name: Full House Mouse II
Race Class: AS-VF 650cc and A-VF 650cc
Crew: Gayle Kott and children
Sponsors: Pick-a-Part in Ontario, CA /Keenan Tatro at Tatro Machine, San Diego, CA
Fritz has been racing in one form or another for forty-plus years. He started Landspeed racing right out of high school with a Model A Roadster pick-up at Southern California’s El Mirage course. The Harley KHR he races was purchased in ’63 to be used as a pit bike. The bike itself wasn’t raced until 1979 when it made a run down the salt of Bonneville and set a record. There was no looking back. Fritz has been racing this bike longer than some of us have had a drivers license. That’s not to be rubbed in, it’s something to be envious of.
There weren’t a lot of motorcycles racing back then, and they were often looked on as orphan interlopers. In the early 80s, bikes became more popular and today are a driving force in the Landspeed racing culture. Fritz has set over 60 records between SCTA and AMA and still has 26 on the books.
Through years of racing, Kott has figured out how to do it on a limited budget. He does all his own work on the race bikes and is well-known for doing it creatively. He often travels with barrels, in the back of his pick-up filled with donated gas pumped from salvage cars It gets him back and forth from races just fine. Here’s a man always willing to lend a hand or share his vast knowledge of motorcycle racing. He can even teach you how to exist on nothing but avocados for the majority of Speedweek.
Racing is a family affair. Fritz and Gayle’s youngest son Christopher is hoping to get his rookie run in 08’ and other sons, Andy and Jason already have records on the books. Gayle used to race her ‘49 Ford and this past summer tried her hand at racing a bike..
Think Fritz looks familiar? His ticket for Hollywood was punched when he appeared in scenes as an extra in the great movie “The Worlds Fastest Indian.” Fame hasn’t gone to his head though, he still has those barrels of gas in the back of his truck.
*************************************************
Meet the Pilot of the Saltosaurus
Name: George Johnson
Age: Old enough to use AARP!
Home: Olympia, Washington
Occupation: Owner, Capitol Cars; Former owner of Johnson’s Machine & Performance
Race Vehicle: #91 Gas
Vehicle owner/designer/builder: George and Maureen Johnson
Entry name: Saltosaurus
Race Class: C-GL
Crew: Bob Johnson, Ty Bradley, John Asbach, Randy Rozar, John Allyn, Dan Laylicker and Maureen Johnson
Class record: Chasing a 272.371 record
Sponsors: Johnson’s Machine and Performance, Cut Rate Auto parts
When you ask George how he got into racing, the story starts back in ‘61. He was just a teenager when two men from his hometown went to Bonneville and came back with a record It so impressed a young Johnson, that it led to a lifelong addiction to racing. He has tried his hand at almost every form of racing available.
He was a go-kart racer long before it became popular and by the early ‘90s he had ventured into NHRA drag-racing. With his top-alcohol fueled dragster he took the championship in 1993. When the sport became too expensive, George sold his car and paid off the mortgage. He was still yearning to race when he went to Bonneville for the first time in ‘96 as a guest of Nick Aries of Aries Pistons.
The trip to the lakebed renewed his interest in Landspeed racing. As many know, one trip to the salt is all it takes. You vow to never return, or start making plans for your own build. George started planning.
Dave Haller of Olympia, Wa. gave Johnson a lakester chassis. It sat around the shop until George had a vision of what he wanted to build. It may have been easier to start with something fresh, but each idea built on the next and soon the chassis was unrecognizable. He rebuilt from the ground up.
George was aware of all the creative names in Landspeed racing using the word “salt.” Just when he’d given up on using the word at all, he came up with Saltosaurus. The big, happy, dinosaur was on the salt in ‘06, a virgin run for driver and car.
At Speedweek ‘07 the two made six successful runs, but the seventh was another story. The Saltosaurus blew a tire at 276 mph and took Johnson on a ride he won’t likely forget.
He has some great souvenirs to hang in his workshop: A blown tire, a dented canopy and a square foot remnant of the four mile marker.
There are many people Johnson would like to thank and one in particular, is his wife Maureen. She not only supported his enthusiasm, but encourages him. The team has big dreams with five engines ready to go for class changes. Look for them on the salt in ‘08.
UPDATE: George and the Saltosaurus set a new record of 273.400 at World Finals ‘07. Congratulations!
CLICK ON AN IMAGE TO VIEW FULL SIZE VERSION
FRITZ KOTT WARMING UP THE BIKE FOR A RUN |
SALTOSAURUS |
FACTS AND FIGURES
|
