Scott and Top Fuel pilot Wayne Pollack were awaiting my arrival and quickly had me filling out ECTA forms and signing into the correct class. (Photo: Scott Odel) » More Photos

Back at camp Guthrie, Scott and Wayne were fueling bikes and getting set for the day’s racing. Before I could take a shot at the joining the “Two Club,” I have to make three licensing runs at 125mph, 150mph and 175mph to show the ability to control a high-speed motorcycle. With no need to use the nitrous or the air shifter, items I have never used before, for the qualifying runs, all I had to do is aim the bike down the one mile course and break the timing lights at the correct speed. With a stock engine, extended wheelbase, and taller gearing, the bike was not going to be too hard to ride. Even so, the first run was the toughest, just not knowing what to expect. And, clutch less shifting up through the box, I dialed 130mph on the speedometer, broke the timing lights, and headed back to the pit to collect the timing slip and log my run. It was a record, and at 132mph it was close enough to allow me to do my 150mph-licensing run. Back in the porta-potty, heading home with a nice little record was looking even better, but it wasn’t going to be that simple.

Jumping back on the bike, it was off to the start where I lined up for my next run. T my horror, a trick-looking Kawasaki ZX-12 with the gas tank removed, a streamliner rear end, and whole bunch of nitrous plumbing was now running in my class. Sitting astride was a gentleman by the name of Vincent Hill, who I later find out ran the Daytona 200 twice in the mid-80s. Now I had some serious competition to make matters worse. I settled in for my run, clicked off a 160.576mph pass, and collected my ticket allowing me to advance to the next level. Feeling a lot more confident, Wayne and Scott checked on my progress down at the start line. Ten minutes later Vince showed up, and cheerfully announced he had just gone 173mph to take the record in our class. Now, totally focused on the job in hand, I couldn’t wait to get back on the bike. All I had to do was top 175mph to finish the last licensing run and take back my record. I just had to hope Vince doesn’t hit 200mph before we had a chance.