Old Royal Enfield Bullet going racing again

A streamliner built from an old Royal Enfield Bullet is reborn.

 Dan Holmes' old Bonneville Bullet is going racing again.  

Tim Lewis, an experienced SCTA competitor, sent this message to let me know: 

"It’s back. Now happy in California, it will start its racing season at El Mirage Dry Lake with the SCTA in May." 

The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) has been hosting land speed racing meets at El Mirage Dry Lake in the Mojave Desert Since 1937. 

Tim, of Costa Mesa, Calif., is the motorcycle land speed racing consultant for Team Bucket 372. He had been president of Red-E-Rentals tools and equipment, where he had a 45-year career. 

Dubbed "the Bonneville Bullet," the streamlined racer went up for sale in October, 2022.

It was originally built around an obsolete, iron-barrel 2003 Royal Enfield Bullet by a volunteer team led by Dan Holmes, a onetime Royal Enfield dealer in Goshen, Ind. 

Despite wind, rain and a blown motor the partially streamlined speedster eventually did set a record after Bonneville attempts in 2009 and 2013.

Holmes repeatedly came back from life threatening illness and accident in his uphill fight to make the Bonneville Bullet a record setter. He died at 63 in October, 2020 from complications of a heart transplant. 

Tim Lewis emailed me again this week with "the latest news from the old Bonneville Bullet.

"We took the Glen Kyle magneto and put it in the collection. It is a Joe Hunt prepped 'farm engine' mag without an advance mechanism. It has a second set of points that retard the spark when the starter switch is engaged, after that it's 34 deg. A way better part to be displayed on the wall than a modern engine.

"Salvaged from the spare motor is the Royal Enfield point system; it has a mechanical advance like most old school distributors. It is easy to see why the previous crew blew it up with the NOx. We are looking at the programmable ignition unit from MSD; however, without the NOx we will be fine with our nitro mix and points.

"The rear wheel had to go. Having a rear sprocket cast into the brake system is not a land speed item. I used a flat track wheel with an alloy rim, spokes and aluminum hub. Adding a disk on the right required a custom adapter for a R1 front rotor. This will stop the beast!

"The drive side got a 520 aluminum sprocket drilled to fit the hub. The wheel has the almost one-inch bearings so a sleeve was machined to use the Royal Enfield rear axle and adjusters. The front sprocket will be narrowed to the 520 'GP' chain size. With some racing in the brain, we started with two less rear teeth.

"Racing is what it is."

Reading back over some of Dan Holmes' reports from 2008 it is apparent that he was concerned about the electrical issues and, under extreme time pressure, was having to guess and make do.

Something of his anxiety can be caught in this July, 2008 report from him on the Classic Motorworks Forum:

"It is with great enthusiasm that I am sharing that we have finally chased off all of the gremlins and I have successfully tested the Bonneville Bullet with all of the complex systems working. I had an exhausting (time), with multiple problems overlapping. I had some support from Phil when he was available and was ultimately rescued by Glen Kyle our engine builder as we discovered the timing was going away. I was able to determine that the timing had changed and Glen diagnosed the mag was at fault.

"We have a mag designed to operate the opposite direction that the Royal Enfield turns and therefore the impulses are unscrewing the two-piece shaft and retarding the timing. Glen was able to pin the shaft and prevent the armature shaft from unthreading. I assumed as Phil and Glen did that this was the solution; ironically the mag had a bad condenser and this ultimately caused an ignition glitch and in the process we discovered a defective plug cap...

"As the story goes if it were not for bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all; well at least I am persistent."

In 2009 the streamlined bike was sidelined at Bonneville by jetting problems, but Holmes left the Salt Flats thinking records were in reach. He overcame health challenges, weather and more gremlins to finally score in 2013, but remained modest. He wrote, at the time:

"So, Heart Break Hotel. We lost Wednesday due to wind; we lost Thursday due to rain... We left the salt with a record but it is sort of shallow: our two-way record is 105 mph and this was with a 120 mph pass and a return run of 91 mph coasting. We are confident we can run 130 plus; just did not get a chance to prove it!" 

A former Royal Enfield dealer, Holmes' DRS shop in Indiana was legendary in the early days of Royal Enfield's return to the U.S. Holmes not only sold the the Indian made Bullet motorcycles, he became a chief authority on them. He offered practical advice and marketed a "shift kit" that cured some of the ills of the notorious left-side shift bodge on motorcycles sold in the United States.

Dan Holmes, left, with son Nathan at Bonneville in 2013.

Royal Enfield record setter up for sale

This Royal Enfield set records at Bonneville.

 The record breaking Royal Enfield semi-streamliner Dan Holmes and his DRS Cycle team ran at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2013 is for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Warsaw, Ind. 

Built around a 2003 Royal Enfield Bullet, the speedster set a record despite wind, rain and a blown motor. The team ran out of time to compete fully in both gas and nitrous oxide classes. 

"So, Heart Break Hotel. We lost Wednesday due to wind; we lost Thursday due to rain... We left the salt with a record but it is sort of shallow: our two-way record is 105 mph and this was with a 120 mph pass and a return run of 91 mph coasting. We are confident we can run 130 plus; just did not get a chance to prove it!" Holmes said at the time. 

It was the Streamliner's second try at Bonneville. Holmes first took it to the Salt Flats in 2008 but it was sidelined by jetting problems that year. The team still set three records that year, with a different Royal Enfield. 

One of the dealers who brought Royal Enfield back to the United States after the brand was reintroduced here in 1995, Holmes' DRS shop in Goshen, Ind., was known for supplying parts to customers in those early days.

Holmes not only sold the the Indian made Bullet motorcycles, he became a chief authority on them. He offered practical advice and marketed a "shift kit" that cured some of the ills of the notorious left-side shift bodge on motorcycles sold in the United States.

Quoted in a 2014 New York Times story about the success of Royal Enfield in the U.S., Holmes told about those days. In 2003, his best year, Holmes sold 35 Royal Enfields, the article states.

Dan Holmes on streamliner at Bonneville.

No longer a dealer, Holmes took his love for the Bullet to the Bonneville Salt Flats to attempt to pursue speed records instead of sales records.

He continued his efforts through heart troubles and a serious fall from a motorized bicycle he built. He never expressed a moment of discouragement in his communications with me.

The Facebook advertisement offers the streamliner and related speed shop equipment for $16,500.

"Bike starts and runs great and was ready to go to Bonneville this year until the rain (there) flooded it out," the ad states.

According to the ad: "The frame has been modified. It has a five-speed transmission instead of a four-speed that was standard.

"Current records it holds is at 106.266 in the 500 APS VF and 109.622 in the 500 M VG classes.

"I tore down the engine this past summer and installed a racing crank from Hitchcocks. Removed the Nitrous system but will be included in sale. It will go 120 mph with current setup. More if nitrous is put back on.

"Comes with a bunch of spare parts, Spare engine with fresh top end. Extra transmission. Fiberglass molds that were used to make the body. Also comes with a motorcycle dyno used for runs and tuning. Dyno works with a laptop and updated software."

Royal Enfield Bullet team sets a record at Bonneville

DRS Cycle team makes its record run at Bonneville.

Dan Holmes and his DRS Cycle team left the Bonneville Salt Flats this year with a record despite wind, rain and a blown motor. The team ran out of time to compete fully in both gas and nitrous oxide classes.

"We were disappointed that we were unable to run our spare engine in fuel," Dan wrote me.

"We were lined up waiting for hours after having made a heroic effort to change engines and run the spare for the first time. We ran 105 mph in gas, which was the exact same speed we ran with our A motor, only with higher temperature and humidity.

Team owner Dan Holmes.

"The density at altitude is a major factor and normally aspirated engines are at the mercy of Mother Nature. We realized since it will run we needed the NOX to create our own atmosphere. We jetted it for the max — we consulted Glen Kyle, our engine builder, and he said go for it.

"Incidentally the reason we were in this situation is we ran a 10 horsepower call in fuel and went 120.9 one way — we then went to a 20 horsepower call and we believe we were running 120 mph plus when it went bang!

"We later found out that the tank vent was plugged; we fixed it and hurried back. We wanted so very much to be billed the World's Fastest Indian Bullet!

Dan Holmes with son Nathan.

"In any event we suffered through and were waiting and waiting; then the rain came. We were hoping it would pass by but it was a gully washer.

"So, Heart Break Hotel. We lost Wednesday due to wind; we lost Thursday due to rain...

"We left the salt with a record but it is sort of shallow: our two-way record is 105 mph and this was with a 120 mph pass and a return run of 91 mph coasting. We are confident we can run 130 plus; just did not get a chance to prove it!

"We do have a record, so mission accomplished, sort of!"

You can see more pictures of the Bonneville Bullet team in action on the DRS Cycle Facebook page. Johnny Szoldrak was the rider, Jim Myers was the team's primary team sponsor and electrical engineer.

Johnny Szoldrak, Jim Myers, Nathan Holmes and Daniel Holmes at Bonneville Salt Flat.

Bonneville Bullet makes an offering to the God of Speed

They hope to be the world's fastest Indian-made Royal Enfield Bullet.

There's no time for more than terse updates from the Bonneville Bullet team racing at the Salt Flats in Utah this week.

Dan Holmes and his DRS Cycle team are struggling just to keep their semi-streamlined Royal Enfield Bullet in the race. The Bonneville Bullet is competing both on gas alone and with a nitrous oxide system.

The first day of competition Sunday, running on gasoline, was encouraging.

"Our first run was 101 in fifth gear and our second run is 105.9 in fourth. Our (times) are really close, so we are going to make our fuel runs (Monday). We are hoping the wind stays down and we make two good passes. We made it through tech for fuel and we are ready to race today!" Dan advised Monday.

The God of Speed had other plans.

"Dan called me this afternoon so that I could pass on some news from the Bonneville Bullet effort on the Salt Flats," wrote Phil Myers from the team's home state, Indiana.

"After setting up the nitrous for a 10 horsepower boost, Johnny Szoldrak passed through the traps at 120 mph and change.

"On a return run and with another step up in NOS the piston failed and Johnny coasted home at 90 mph for a combined two-way average of 105 mph or so.

"They have figured that the mixture went incredibly lean with a possible failure of the fuel boost solenoid but that is just a guess at this point. The team is now changing engines to continue to search for more speed in both gas and fuel categories. I don’t have much more info than that and I’m certain that they have their hands full with the engine swap. More to follow. Wish them luck!"

Dan himself wrote later, no doubt after a long night. His message was a short as a telegram from the War Department:

"Went 120.9 one way today, 91.9 on return and blew it up. Switching our spare motor and hope to improve tomorrow. Dan."

The most concrete encouragement anyone can offer right now would be a donation to the team's PayPal account dch23@yahoo.com

PayPal provides a space for your personal note to the team. Include your mailing address. Dan has promised an 8x10 autographed photo of the team to all donors.

Bonneville Bullet races for world's fastest Indian Bullet

Going racing again is the Bonneville Bullet.

"Dyno Dan" Holmes and the Bonneville Bullet will return to the Salt Flats this week in a second effort to become "the world's fastest Indian Bullet."

His DRS Cycle team, based in Indiana, will use a partially streamlined 500cc Royal Enfield Bullet with crankshaft and cams by Hitchcocks Motorcycles and "hope to do 120," Dan told the Royal Enfield Yahoo Group on Aug. 3. The Bonneville Bullet will compete both on gas and with a nitrous oxide system (NOS), he wrote. It will use a 22-tooth front sprocket.

In 2008 the team set three records with a road racing Bullet it brought along, but the semi-streamlined Bonneville Bullet was sidelined.

"Our nemesis last time with this bike was jetting. We were being cautious not to burn it up and were taking baby steps. Anyone who has jetting experience would understand that going down six jets sizes all at once is reckless! We ran out of time as many remember we were on the starting line with the engine running and they closed the track due to a fatality. In any event we are going back and we will make our best effort," Dan wrote the Yahoo group.

Dan Holmes, left, with electrical engineer Jim Myers.

The AMA Racing BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials are Thursday Aug. 24-29 this year at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Dan provided these details:

"Glen Kyle is our engine builder and Phil Myers is our tuner, Jim Myers has become our sponsor and our electrician, and tuner for the past few weeks...

"Once again we will be accepting donations to our PayPal account if anyone is inclined. We are still a grass roots race team, so thanks in advance!" The PayPal account is dch23@yahoo.com

When you donate, include your name and address in the space provided for a note to Dan.

"We will send a autographed photo of the team members and bike on a 8X10 to all donors. I will need them to include a mailing address of course," he wrote me.

Aside from money, a volunteer is needed to update the team's website.

"Many people claim to have the worlds fastest Bullet, but they increase the displacement and so it is a frivolous claim," Dan wrote. "I am hoping that DRS Cycle will prove to have the worlds fastest (500cc) Indian Bullet!"

Holmes was one of the early Royal Enfield dealers when the brand returned to the U.S. in the mid-1990s. His DRS shop in Indiana marketed a "shift kit" that cured some of the ills of the notorious left-side shift bodge on four-speed Royal Enfield motorcycles then being sold in the United States.

UPDATE: Dan asked that I add the following note to this item:

"My son Nathan who was a big help with the road racer is accompanying me, as Phil is unable to attend this year due to work scheduling. Nathan actually owns the road racer and it is on display in the Hostetler's Hudson Museum in Shipshewana, Ind. My oldest son Jason will inherit the Bonneville bike when we retire it. Both bikes will likely end up at the museum, however the partial streamliner may see more service if there is anything useful left after Bonneville!"

Royal Enfield record run video still for sale

Dan Holmes' own video account of the land speed record attempt at the Bonneville Salt Flats is available on eBay. The 2008 run for the record pitted his team of Royal Enfield enthusiasts and only 500cc of power against the clock.

They did not come away empty-handed.

Holmes and his team raced in what is simultaneously one of the most forbidding, beautiful and respected (for speed) landscapes in the world. As time passes with no announcement of a renewed effort by this team in 2009, last year's run may be the one for the history books.

The video is priced at $20, with free shipping.

Dan Holmes tells Bonneville story on disks

You can experience Royal Enfield's record-setting visit to the Bonneville Salt Flats in a video and a slide show of still pictures, both now available as a package from Dan Holmes, the man who led the campaign.

I've viewed my copies and was impressed by the quality of the video and still photos, and by the sit-down interviews with Holmes and other participants.

A nice touch is that Holmes put his autograph on the video disk, just as he left his mark on the team effort that took Royal Enfield to the Salt Flats. And it was a team effort, Holmes emphasizes again and again on screen, as he thanks the people who supported, built and drove the Royal Enfield racing motorcycles.

You might have expected that. But you also get more than you bargained for, including a view from the side hack on the run that set a record for fastest Cozy sidecar. Needless to say, that one was pulled by a Triumph, not a Royal Enfield Bullet.

Holmes gives us a brief tour of Wendover, Utah and its famous former airbase, and shows us around the Salt Flats themselves, surely one of the strangest places on earth. Mere men and machines seem lonely in this vastness, even when surrounded by competitors and officials.

The still pictures are stunning, the video is high quality. It is all excellent material; there is just too much of it. I lost count of the number of gorgeous sunset pictures in the slideshow and the video runs about an hour, much of it backed only with music. Some images are repeated, stretching the show past what most people will want to see. Here's a tip: You can easily set either disk on fast forward and still hear the narration. In fact it's kind of fun to get an impressionistic understanding of the event that way.

The best parts are the interviews with Holmes and others describing what it was like and the video shots of motorcycles and people in motion.

The production does not answer the question of whether or not Holmes will go back to Bonneville this year. Looking at the high quality effort he ran in 2008, it's hard to imagine pulling that together two years in a row.

The video and photo disks come with a donation of $30, with shipping. The video comes at the $20 level plus $5 shipping. Previous donors to the Bonneville effort are being offered the photo slideshow at no additional charge if they order the video. If you are entitled to it, be sure to ask for the bonus slideshow. You can donate through your PayPal account to dch23@yahoo.com

Royal Enfield's trip to Bonneville on video

The video account of the record setting Royal Enfield Bonneville Bullet team is available now from Dan Holmes, the man who led the 2008 effort at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Packaged with a DVD slide show of still photos, it costs $30 (including shipping) and may be ordered through your PayPal account to dch23@yahoo.com

The video by itself is $25, with shipping.

The video teaser here provides a taste of the experience Holmes and his team had. Enthusiasm seemed to triumph over the usual racing challenges as the best made plans went awry. The team left Bonneville with their name in the record book.

Income from sales of the video could help fund a return to Bonneville, but that would no doubt depend on finding heavy duty sponsors for the attempt.

"We realize the economic times are uncertain and we are doing everything possible to go back one more time," Holmes writes.

"We have one more record to set and maybe we can do it, but we need your help! I have always emphasized that their is no I in team, this is a grassroots effort and we are hoping to write another chapter! Please do not consider this as a brag but I have been told our video is awesome for a first time home video! Please take a look! Dyno Dan."

Bonneville Bullet video tells Salt Flats story

Dan Holmes and his team put Royal Enfield into the record books at the Bonneville Salt Flats in September, 2008. Now Holmes has produced a video account of that improbable triumph. A taste of the production is on YouTube now.

Holmes told me he hopes to have the finished videos in hand Tuesday to begin shipping. You can reserve yours now, for $20, through PayPal to dch23@yahoo.com

"We are hoping to raise enough money to go back and that may or may not happen. I can tell you at present no sponsors are committed -- we are on our own," Holmes said.

The 2008 results (109.622 mph for rider John Szoldrak) were amazing enough from a single-cylinder motorcycle that was never designed for speed. Even the effort was heroic, given Holmes' own health problems and a lucky break when a sponsor found him.

Even so, Holmes left the Salt Flats thinking more records were in reach next time -- if there is a next time. A former Royal Enfield dealer, Holmes' DRS shop in Indiana was legendary in the early days of Royal Enfield's return to the U.S. Holmes not only sold the the Indian made Bullet motorcycles, he became a chief authority on them. He offered practical advice and marketed a "shift kit" that cured some of the ills of the notorious left-side shift bodge on motorcycles sold in the United States.

Previous contributors to the racing team are entitled to a bonus photo DVD at no additional charge, Holmes said. But be sure to ask for your bonus DVD when you order the video.