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Yamaha 1500 Silver Bird 1975
The Californian Don Vesco has earned the
reputation of being one of the finest preparers and tuners of two-cylinder
Yamaha Grand Prix racers. He has also built himself unusual-looking vehicles
nicknamed "flying cigars," actually racers used to establish new world records.
In 1970 Vesco joined two Yamaha TZ 350 engines to make a motorcycle with a
two-stroke, four-cylinder 700-cc. engine. On September 17 he rode it at the
Bonneville Salt Flats to set a new world record.
One month later Vesco lost the record to the American champion Cal Rayborn, who
rode a Harley-Davidson 1500 more than 10 m.p.h. faster. Naturally Vesco did not
resign himself to defeat. In 1974 he came back, this time with two four-cylinder
Yamaha 700 two-stroke racing engines. He linked them together, mounted them on a
streamlined chassis, and headed for Bonneville. There he regained the
title of the world's fastest motorcyclist, this
time with the fantastic speed of over 280 m.p.h. His next goal was to surpass
300 m.p.h.
Vesco spent another year getting ready. He powered up his eight-cylinder to
1,500 cc. and built a lower chassis with a body that needed only wings to look
like an airplane fuselage. On September 28, 1975, Don Vesco brought his speed up
to over 300 m.p.h. with his "Silver Bird."
Motorcycle: Yamaha 1500 Silver Bird Manufacturer:
Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd., Iwata. Don Vesco, El Cajon, California Type: World record
Year: 1975
Engine: Two Yamaha four-cylinders, paired. Two-stroke cycle with cross-port
distribution. Displacement 1,500 cc. (66 mm. x 54 mm.)
Cooling: Water
Transmission: Six-speed block Power: 220 h.p.
Maximum speed: Over 300 m.p.h. Chassis: Openwork, tubular, with safety
reinforcement for rider Brakes: Rear, disk. Two parachutes to
open at different speeds
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