Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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VOL. 53 ISSUE 30 AUGUST 2, 2016 P49 Wheeler was among the two-wheel land-speed racing elite, one of three teams cur- rently reaching for the 400 mph barrier. Wheeler was known as the "privateer" against the big teams of Mike Akatiff and Denis Manning. During the famous 2006 showdown at the Bonnev- ille Salt Flats, where the world record was shattered three times in one week, Wheeler set the fastest one-way time of the meet. After the Manning team set a new world record of 350.884 mph, Wheeler reached a speed of 355 mph in his E-Z Hook streamliner, a machine he designed and built himself. But shortly after exiting the speed trap, Wheeler's front tire blew. Without a front tire replacement, Wheeler was unable to make his return run that would have etched his time into the record books. Wheeler was famous for his humble demeanor, and never had much to say about himself, but his friends and peers, such as Rick Vesco, brother of land- speed racing legend Don Vesco, were never short on praise for him and the inventive design of his E-Z Hook streamliner—far smaller and lighter than the big horsepower teams he was com- peting against. "Sam is probably the most meticulous builder that has ever come to the salt flats," said Rick Vesco during a 2006 interview. "If you look at his motorcycle, it's impeccable. It's high quality, super aerodynamic, he's running the smallest engine of the land speed machines and he's cut- ting a small hole through the air. Sam's machine is probably 10, maybe 20 percent more aero- dynamic [than his competitors']. For him to have the fastest time of the meet at 355 is incredible and just highlights how good a job Sam has done and how great a person he is." Denis Manning, owner of the 2006 record-setting "Lucky Number 7" streamliner also hailed Wheeler's efforts, call- ing his E-Z Hook motorcycle "a piece of jewelry" on account of his extraordinary craftsmanship. Sam Wheeler's remarkable feat in 2006 didn't go unnoticed. Through the help of his friend Dick Lague, he gained some big sponsorship backing from Parts Unlimited and Vance & Hines. Wheeler upgraded his 1100cc Kawasaki motor to a turbo- charged Suzuki Hayabusa en- gine, but it was the front wheel design that needed work. Due to the compact design of his streamliner, Wheeler was limited to a 17-inch front wheel, and was unable to find a tire capable of running the speeds he was reaching. He shifted his plans to developing an aluminum composite front wheel, which he had been running most recently. After years of rebuilding his E-Z Hook streamliner, Wheeler and his team were poised to go after the 400 mph barrier. All they needed now was some good salt, something that has eluded land speed racers in re- cent years. Conditions this sum- mer had improved and Wheeler was testing his machine when disaster struck. According to Robinson, Wheeler would definitely have been a serious contender to reach 400 mph. "He made a lot of changes since he ran 355, so he had a lot of potential. That thing probably would have been one of the toughest competitors out there. He had a real good shot at it." "We're all so caught off guard because no one expected it," Robinson added. "He's really good but he's also one of the most cautious guys out there. If just the littlest thing was wrong, he would abort the run. That was really troubling to me." The conditions of his crash are currently being investigated by the Southern California Tim- ing Association (SCTA) as well as by Sam's trusted team members. Wheeler is survived by his wife, Carol, two children Ben Wheeler and Dayna Wheeler, and granddaughter, Samantha Burr Wheeler. Sam met his wife of 42 years at Bonneville 43 years ago. "He was doing what he loved and his last memory was being on his beloved Bonneville Salt Flats," Carol commented. Read more about Sam Wheel- er's lifelong quest for speed at www.streamliner.com. Jean Turner