1972 Norton Commando Tackles the Bonneville Salt Flats

By Daniel Peirce
Published on December 10, 2013
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Randy Johnson’s 1972 Norton Commando on the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah.
Randy Johnson’s 1972 Norton Commando on the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah.
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What’s the first thing you do when you get out of the truck after a 24-hour drive? You head for tech inspection.
What’s the first thing you do when you get out of the truck after a 24-hour drive? You head for tech inspection.
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In a production class, the bike must be both safe and factory stock.
In a production class, the bike must be both safe and factory stock.
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Initialed inspection stickers are a badge of pride.
Initialed inspection stickers are a badge of pride.
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Randy Johnson’s 1972 Norton Commando on the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah.
Randy Johnson’s 1972 Norton Commando on the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah.
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The trailer has enough room for working on the bike inside when needed. Here an official seals the tank and initials the tape.
The trailer has enough room for working on the bike inside when needed. Here an official seals the tank and initials the tape.
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Randy Johnson chats with a race official while waiting for the course to clear.
Randy Johnson chats with a race official while waiting for the course to clear.
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Rick Gold, owner of ERC Racing Fuels, reads the spark plugs from Randy’s Norton.
Rick Gold, owner of ERC Racing Fuels, reads the spark plugs from Randy’s Norton.
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Cleaning salt off the bike is critical.
Cleaning salt off the bike is critical.
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The slip from Randy’s best run.
The slip from Randy’s best run.
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“One up, three down, turn to the right.” Randy Johnson on his 1972 Norton Commando on the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah.
“One up, three down, turn to the right.” Randy Johnson on his 1972 Norton Commando on the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah.
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Randy Johnson’s 1972 Norton Commando on the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah.
Randy Johnson’s 1972 Norton Commando on the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah.

Guy: “This Norton has a speed record of 126mph?! In 1974 my Norton did 130 with my girlfriend on the back!”

Racer: “That’s cool … but did you do it at Bonneville?”

It’s hot and the air is thin. And salt isn’t the best surface to go fast on. But if you want to have a land speed record in the books, you have to do it on the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah.

The backstory

I received an email from the North Texas Norton Owners Association. NTNOA member Randy Johnson was looking for a volunteer to help with his 1972 Norton Commando land speed record effort in Bonneville during the Bonneville Speed Week in August 2013. After thinking about it for two minutes, I was that volunteer.

Randy’s regular crew chief, Steve Adkins of Big D Cycle in Dallas, couldn’t make the run. In 2012, Randy Johnson and Steve set the record in the 750cc Production Pushrod class at 126.434mph. The yellow 1972 Norton Commando also ran an unofficial speed of 129mph. Randy was out to break his own record, with a goal of 130mph.

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