Worse things happen at sea
Gilbert wasn’t completely surprised at the recent loss of the live cattle export ship in Typhoon Maysak off the coast of Japan with the loss of almost all of the ship’s company, including New Zealand and Australian crew members and all of the 6000 dairy cows. He says that some combinations of ship and weather are very dangerous.
The dredges he has mainly worked on aren’t designed for, and don’t often make, long ocean passages. When they do, they wait for a forecast of an extended period of mild weather. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. One time he was second engineer on a cutter dredge that was caught in a severe storm in the Indian Ocean. When the bad weather hit, the plan was to attempt to seek shelter in the lee of the island of Mozambique. The wind was so strong that it blew the waves flat, but there was a powerful storm-swell racking the vessel.
Dredges have a large channel in the bow that the cutter suction-head is lowered through and the violent movement caused the two sides of the channel to start to move independently. Metal bent; welds cracked; the crew became somewhat concerned. But as quickly as it appeared, the tempest gave way to calm, pleasant weather and all was well.
However, it brought home to Gilbert that if the weather is bad enough, some types of ship won’t survive.
Gilbert first planned to go to the South Australian dry lake in 2012 as engineer for Steve and Teena Williams’ big block Chev V8–powered 1934 Plymouth coupe. He also shipped his 585cc BSA single-cylinder bike to Australia, but the speed trials were cancelled due to flooding.
The following year the same team returned, the salt was in great shape, and the Plymouth achieved a speed of 201mph over the timed section and set a new record. Gilbert was impressed with the efficient running of the venue. The BSA’s ignition failed at the two-mile mark while travelling at 96mph.
Gilbert began building the twin-engine bike immediately on returning home.
Gilbert shipped the twin-engine bike to the US in 2015. After he had received permission to import the bike from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), arranged shipping, paid for a carnet — a refundable bond designed to ensure that a vehicle temporarily imported into a country, without paying any duty, actually leaves — and booked accommodation at Wendover, the nearest town, Speed Week was cancelled — again due to flooding. He did get to run the bike on the salt, participating in the Mojave Mile, which is held at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
Return to Bonneville
Gilbert planned to return to Bonneville this year, but Covid-19 thwarted his plans. Conditions were perfect apparently, and many records were set.
The SCTA has strict safety rules. For instance, motorcycles are only allowed a rear brake. Experience has shown that when things go bad at speed, the tendency is to harshly apply all available brakes. This often makes matters a lot worse. Gilbert had to ensure that the racing leathers worn for record attempts met the required standard. He gets the leathers made in Auckland and the young woman who makes them told him that she has a number of other New Zealand customers, who have the ‘salt fever’ and run at Bonneville.