Now This Is A Speeding Ticket

NOW THIS IS A SPEEDING TICKET

THIS PAST JULY, SUSAN Robertson became the first woman to top 200 mph on an open-wheeled motorcycle at a Southern California Timing Association-sanctioned event.

Robertson surpassed the milestone on a turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa detuned to about 400 horsepower to offset poor conditions on the 1⍑-mile course at El Mirage Dry Lake.

Two women set out to be “first over 200.” Robertson’s rival Michelle Derwin is down to earth and her boyfriend, Bonneville-regular John Noonan, is old-school-he could care less about how his Hayabusas look, just how fast they go. By contrast, Robertson rides for Falkner/Livingston, a polished, media-savvy team relatively new to land-speed racing.

Licensing rules meant that the race to be the first woman over 200 would take place with excruciating slowness. First, for the runs to count, both women needed a “B” license, earned by making a mn between 175 and 199 mph.

Robertson already had the prerequisite runs, but F/L’s Hayabusa was bone-stock-no way could it do 200 at El Mirage. Derwin had to “license

up” from scratch, making progressively faster runs at monthly meets. At least she had access to Noonan’s fully developed turbo ’Busa, on which he had already flirted with 250 mph. Livingston needed a comparable machine, so he borrowed friend Hank Booth’s 500-plus-hp monster, skinning it with F/L’s Makitasponsored bodywork.

That set the stage for the July meet. Derwin lined up for her “B” run, with Robertson right behind her. After a long delay to clear an end-overend-at-God-knows-whatspeed crash, Derwin vanished into her own dust. Moments later, SCTA radios crackled back news that her speed was

only 145 mph, nowhere near fast enough. Minutes later, Robertson pounced, with a run of 205 mph.

Robertson didn’t just top the double-ton. Team GPS data indicated that she’d briefly hit 210-tantalizingly close to the class record at El Mirage. “Let’s see how she does with another 50 horsepower,” Booth said, adding boost.

In the end, the big Suzuki refused to fire for a second run. But there was certainly no disappointment in the F/L camp. Robertson may not have left with a record, but she established a new milestone.

Mark Gardiner