Leslie Porterfield, who holds fastest record of any woman on a motorcycle, achieves Top Time award at Bonneville Salt Flats
Being first and breaking records is nothing new to Porterfield, who holds the fastest record of any woman in the world on a motorcycle. In 2007, Porterfield was airlifted after crashing on the Bonneville Salt Flats at 110 mph; she suffered seven broken ribs, a punctured lung and was knocked unconscious.
She returned in 2008 for a record breaking year. She achieved the FIM world record of 232 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats, became the production-class 1000cc record holder at 192 mph, and the 1350cc unfaired record holder of 209 mph. She was the first woman to be inducted into the Bonneville 200 mph club on a motorcycle in their 61 year history and was also named the 2008 AMA Female Rider of the Year.
It had rained prior to the 2009 BUB Speed Trials held last week so the salt was damp and loose, which made it difficult to get traction. Leslie explained the problems she dealt with on her Turbocharged Hayabusa throughout the week. “I battled some handling issues; I had a lot of wheelspin, overheating issues, caught my exhaust on fire, lost a clutch lever at 220 mph, and had my air filter fly off. I received a scolding and a fine for leaving parts on the track!”
On the last day, her top speed entering the mile was 246.6 mph GPS, but due to the trouble getting traction, she lost speed toward the end. She destroyed a tire on that run due to overheating from wheel spin. The tire blistered and chunked, but luckily didn’t result in a dangerous blow out.
Leslie ended up running 240 mph on a record of 227, and her return run was 228 mph, setting the new Altered Partially Streamlined Blown Fuel 1350cc class record at 234 mph. Richard Assen, who held the previous record at 227 mph, came back with two passes in the 230s to set the new record at 236 mph at the last minute! She still achieved top speed of the meet on a bike and received the Top Time Award - the first time in history that a woman has taken that award!
For those readers who aren’t familiar with Motorcycle Land Speed Records, it’s the fastest speed achieved by a motorcycle on land. Motorcycles are classified based on body style, on engine size in cubic centimeters (cc's) and based on fuel type (gasoline versus any modified fuel). The rider runs a fixed length course and the speed is averaged over both runs in opposite directions. The International Motorcycle Speed Trials by BUB, held on the Bonneville Salt Flats every year around Labor Day, is the pre-eminent event for motorcycle land speed records.
Leslie Porterfield, 32 years old, has been riding since the young age of 16. She lives in Dallas and is the owner of High Five Cycles, a successful used motorcycle dealership in downtown Dallas. Her sponsors include: WPS, Fieldsheer, Heads Up Performance, Apex Speed Technology, Arai, Airtech, Falicon, Worldwide Bearings, PMR Components, PMP Sprockets, and Spider Grips.
Photos courtesy of Werner Nennecker from BUB Speed Trials 2009
