MOTOR RACING / SHAV GLICK : Everyman’s Cycle Is Fastest in World

Joe Teresi, owner-publisher of Easyriders magazine, had an old 23-foot-long motorcycle in his garage in Malibu that he thought was capable of setting a world land speed record for two-wheelers.

But he needed financial backing.

Teresi got the idea to have readers of his magazine kick in $25 each to help pay the bills. For that they would have their signature stenciled on the sides of the aluminum shell of the Streamliner and a T-shirt proclaiming them as co-sponsors.

“We got 10,000 signatures and they just about covered the entire body,” Teresi said. “That raised $250,000. We spent that much again, but it was all worth it.”

Driver Dave Campos, 48, of Albuquerque, N.M., rewarded Teresi and the signatories when he rode the Streamliner across the Bonneville Salt Flats on July 14 at 322.150 m.p.h. for a flying mile, breaking the mark of 318.598 set by Don Vesco of San Diego on Aug. 28, 1978.

The Easyriders Streamliner, which is two feet wide, three feet high and weighs more than 2,000 pounds, was powered by two Ruxton-Harley-Davidson engines totaling 3,000 cubic-centimeter displacement.

“One reason we’re so excited about getting the record is that we did it with an all-American bike with American power,” Teresi explained. Vesco’s former record-holder was powered by two supercharged Kawasaki engines totaling 2,032 cubic centimeters.

“I’ve been riding motorcycles for 40 years,” said Teresi, 49, “and like most kids who get a bike, I was always obsessed with being the fastest kid on the block. I started out that way, and as I got older I found myself always wanting to go faster and faster. Now I’m the kid with the fastest bike in the world.”

Teresi, however, has never ridden the Streamliner. “It’s a question of size,” he said with a laugh. “I could never fit in it.”

The rider sits inside a narrow shell, in a roll-cage cocoon, near the nose of the cycle.

The Streamliner has been around a long time. In 1974, it set a class record of 274 m.p.h. with Campos aboard, but after that it gathered dust until Teresi and crew chief Keith Ruxton, also of Malibu, reconstructed it for the land speed record attempt. Ruxton, who began work on the machine in October 1988, designed and built the two engines and re-engineered the driveline, wiring and chassis.

The record run almost didn’t come about. Two weeks earlier, Campos lost control at better than 280 m.p.h., and the cycle went into a slide and barrel roll that caused extensive damage to the body.

“Fortunately, Dave wasn’t hurt, except for a bruised knuckle, and the crew patched up the body so that we could make the record run,” Teresi said. “It looks pretty battered, but when he got the record we didn’t care. You can still read all the names on the sides.”

Records are established by a two-way average over the same relative mile depending on the course length. To qualify as a record, a vehicle must exceed the existing record by at least .001 m.p.h. The record run has been approved by the American Motorcyclist Assn., but is awaiting formal recognition as a world record from the International Motorcycle Federation.

“I imagine when we broke his record, it stirred Vesco up, and I expect to hear about him planning to come back and try to break our record,” Teresi said. “We’ll just wait and see what happens. It was a learning experience, even while we were breaking the record. We have at least 50 ideas of how to modify the equipment in hopes of going even faster.”

MOTOCROSS--The United States 500cc Grand Prix will return to Southern California Sunday for the first time since 1986 when former world champion Roger DeCoster presents the Motul USGP at Glen Helen Park in San Bernardino. Team Kawasaki rider Johnny O’Mara of Simi Valley will attempt to become the first to win all three USGP classes. O’Mara won the 125cc in 1980 at Mid-Ohio and the 250cc in 1985 at Unadilla, N.Y. Eric Geboers of Belgium, who clinched the world 500cc championship two weeks ago, will ride in his final race before retiring.

In addition to O’Mara, the U.S. contingent includes Rick Johnson of El Cajon, who won the 1986 U.S. 500cc race at Carlsbad on a Honda, and Jeff Matiasevich of La Habra Heights, O’Mara’s Kawasaki teammate, who will making his debut on a 500cc bike in major competition. After practice Saturday, the first of two 40-minute motos will be flagged off Sunday at 1:30 p.m. There will also be two 125cc support class motos.

SPRINT CARS--John Redican, early leader in the California Racing Assn. season before being passed by two-time champion Brad Noffsinger, has rallied to close to within 20 points of Noffsinger going into Saturday night’s 30-lap main event at Ascot Park. Redican won last Saturday night at Santa Maria. Also on the Ascot track will be the second Dura Light Racing match races featuring Redican, Noffsinger, Rip Williams and defending CRA champion Ron Shuman.

STOCK CARS--Nostalgia will take over Saugus Speedway on Saturday night when the track honors past champions. Scheduled for a parade lap or two are Walt Price, 1962 track champion; Oren Prosser, five-time Saugus champion; Tru Cheek, 1981 champion and one of the most popular drivers in the track’s 30 years; and Gabby Garrison, once renowned as the oldest competitive stock car driver in the country. The old-timers will share billing with a regular Winston Racing Series sportsman car program.

Ascot Park points leader Marcus Mallett has moved into eighth position in the Pacific Coast Region of the $10-million Winston Racing Series. However, he is being pressed for the track lead by Bill Meyer Jr., who closed to within 29 points with a victory last week. Meyer’s brother, Ron, won in 1986-87-89. . . . Cajon Speedway will run a double feature Saturday night to make up a rainout last June. Two 30-lap main events will feature points leaders Dennis Wooldridge and Jerry Gay. . . . Dirt cars and late models will race Saturday night at Santa Maria Speedway. . . . Stock and modified pony cars will be featured Saturday night at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino.

MIDGETS--Two United States Auto Club series for midgets and three-quarter midgets will be at Bakersfield Speedway in Oildale Saturday night and Ascot Park on Sunday night.

SPEEDWAY BIKES--Mike Faria and Bobby Schwartz will resume their year-long rivalry tonight at Ascot Park’s South Bay Speedway. Racing also continues Friday night at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa and next Wednesday night in San Bernardino. . . . Gary Hicks, who returned from the British League last week to ride locally, is sidelined because of a broken collarbone.