Appropriately named…Team Subtle Crowbar, headed up by longtime Guzzi aficionado, Bill Ross, set out in 2007 to build a fast Guzzi.  The team’s singular (or should we say v-twin) goal was to set a new speed record at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats. 

A land speed racer, based upon a 1987 Lemans SE with much attention to aerodynamics and extensive top end modifications began to take shape.  The bike, named the Mandello Meteor would run in the 1000cc Modified Partial Streamlined Push-rod Gas class. The record for that class was held by a highly modified Harley powered Buell XB9 and stood at 169.2 mph.

Before the Mandello Meteor was to be put to the test at Bonneville, Ross would run the newly modified Guzzi at the SCTA (Southern California Timing Association) event at El Mirage Dry Lake Bed on June 22, 2008.  Ross made an early morning pass, clocking a 161.048 mph run and earned the Mandello Meteor her first entry into the SCTA record books in the Altered Partial Streamlining Pushrod Gas 1000cc class. 

The June 2008 El Mirage team consisted of Bill Ross, Jon Ohnstad, and Phil, Janett and Brandon Wyatt.

“ Team members really put in the extra hours to get the bike ready for El Mirage and no matter how much preparation and math you do, you really don’t know what you have until you twist the throttle to the stop,” said Team Owner, Bill Ross.  The AirTech Streamlining bodywork from friend Kent Riches was very instrumental in helping us reach our goals. We were thrilled with the results at El Mirage and knew our bike was ready for Bonneville.” 

Three weeks prior to the USFRA ` World of Speed ` Bonneville event, the team suffered a disastrous blown motor that resulted from dyno operator error. With much scrambling and team effort, Team Subtle Crowbar made it to the flats with barely a half hour break-in time on a very fresh motor. Special thanks go to Phil Wyatt, Greg Field , Eric Hjeltness and Web Cam for their last minute efforts.

The record in Altered Partial Streamlining Pushrod Gas 1000cc stood at 161.050.   Ross and the Mandello Meteor ran a qualifying run of 171.246 averaged over the mile and backed it up the next morning with an average 170.467 run for a total average of 170.856 mph. The team’s first Bonneville record smashed the old record by almost 10-mph formerly held by a Buell team, set in 2000.

“Our new APS-PG record is also about a 1 1/2 miles faster than the current record in the Modified Partial Streamlining class, which we were after, 169.20 mph, held by a factory special built Buell by HD`s product development corp. as well,” explained Ross. “The Meteor wasn`t eligible to run in that class this year due to a new vague bodywork rule change.

Following the APS-PG record, the team decided to remove the fairing and run in the Altered 1000cc Pushrod Gas.  The result was another record of 150.908 mph over the previous record of 147.191 mph.

Ross concluded that, “As far as we can tell, we have the fastest aspirated pushrod, 1000cc, gasoline powered bike in `ANY` record book and the only one in excess of 170 mph!!!“

The Bonneville `World Of Speed` 2008 International team consisted of Californians Bill and Domani Ross, Canadian Crew Chief Fred Ghyselincks aka  `syrup head` ,  Canadian Daniel Vallee,  Texan Tony Statz, New Mexico`s Ray Bland, and Bob Ross and Bill Ensley of Lake Havasu, Arizona.

What’s next for the team?  Team Subtle Crowbar has plans to continue to compete in other 1000cc  pushrod classes and ultimately would like to move up to the 1350 class and seek membership in the exclusive ` 200mph club’. 

And in their Subtle Crowbar fashion…chances are that they will do just that! 

Team Sponsors Include:Guzzitech.com Racer Contingency Fund,  Vintage Motorcycles On Line - www.vintagemotorcyclesonline.com , Phil Wyatt, Performance Induction, Master Machinist, Calliope Industries - www.calliopeindustries.com, Moto International, Moto Guzzi Motorcycles, Parts and Service - www.motointernational.com,  AirTech, Motorcycle Bodywork, Custom OEM Vintage - www.airtech-streamlining.com, Precision Products, Titanium Engine Components - Website: www.pppcenter.com, Action Motorcycles - Website: www.action-motorcycles.com, American Battery Supply,  Motorcycle Dynamics, Land Speed Racing & Fabrication - www.motorcycledynamicsracing.com, MPH Cycles, Moto Guzzi Parts and Service - www.mphcycles.com, Carrillo Racing Rods, Hi Performance Connecting Rods - www.carrilloind.com, Mike Rich Motorsports, Moto Guzzi Performance Parts and Service - Website:  www.mikerichmotorsports.com, Moto Guzzino, Vintage and Classic Italian Motorcycle Parts - www.guzzino.com, Moto Guzzi Classics, Moto Guzzi Parts and Service - www.motoguzziclassics.com, North County Motorcycle Center  New/Used Motorcycle Parts, PostNet, Labels, Decals, Transfers, WebCam Inc. Racing Camshafts - www.webcamshafts.com, CP Pistons - www.cppistons.com, Euro MotoElectrics - www.euromotoelectrics.com, Shuster Oil Company, Myster Metal Pants Racing, Mouse,  Larry `lupo` Andrade, Bill Duree, Jon Ohnstad, Dan Ray, Bob Dickman, Mark Foley, Dennis Stoeser, Ron Purrington, Daniel Kalal, John Cerilli, William Cavanagh, John Althaus, Fred Ghyselincks, Peter Cadorette, Henri Chaperont, Matt and Wilma, Woody Stebbins, John Althaus, Jon Margrave, Tony Statz, Tom Short, BJ Schwartz, David Knetzer, Mike and Janice Stewart, Erik Anderson, Terry Whitaker, David Wilson, Scott Brown, Eric Hjeltness, Greg Field, William Henry , Sheldon Payne, Richard Rodriguez, and Webmaster Steve Perry.  Special Thanks go to Bill`s son, Luke Ross.

For more information and photos or to contact the team, go to the team’s website at:  http://www.teamsubtlecrowbar.pitpilot.com/