TLN Motorsports/Ace Performance at Maxton

The Kawasaki ZX-6RR of TLN Motorsports/Ace Performance set the fastest recorded normally aspirated 650cc class speed with a pass of 180.038 mph in the MPS/G-650/4 class.  That was the 1st normally aspirated pass at 180 mph.  The bike is part of a family team owned by Tracy Neal and ridden by Greg Neal.  The builder of the bike is Sal Spatafora of Ace Performance in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl.  TLN/Ace had several normally asperated passes in the 177-179 range over the weekend collecting 4 Land Speed records during the event.  The fastest pass for the team came in the MPS/BG-650/4 class where the ZX-6 blistered the mile with a speed of 181.712 mph.  While the bike is all motor that class allows for a turbo so it is not considered a NA record. The team currently holds 10 ECTA Land Speed records.  

Congrats on the record guys!  

Can you give a basic run down on mods/cost so people have an idea what it takes for a 600cc bike to reach those speeds.  

What's the next step, are you guys going TURBO also?  

No turbo for us.  We like being normally aspirated.  The 181.712 made us very happy, but not completely satisfied.  Our data logger had quit working so all of the air/fuel tune was being done by feel of the bike.  The only data we had was from a Saturday run where we were very fat.  Sunday was spent pulling fuel out all day trying to catch up with the weather.  Will we equal the 181 pass again, who knows.  We all think so.  The belief is there is possibly a 183-185 top speed in the bike if we hit on the tune and the conditions are right.  May 15-17th at Maxton we will be shooting for it.  Also the 1.5 mile Loring AFB course will provide an opportunity at the end of July.

As far as the mods all I can say is it was a combination of the normal stuff you think of and my builders secrets.  Ace Performance is known to put out fast bikes.  I guess I have about 6 grand in engine and associated parts right now.  Another $2,500 in set up parts.  It's money well spent though.  To be the 1st over 180 normally aspirated is a big achievement for a team who works out of the front room of the house they live in.  

Thanks for the acknowledgement.  

Very nice and thanks for posting the info.  I've talked to Sal a few times at the Texas Mile (real nice guy) so it's good to hear he's helping break these records.    

Sal is one of a kind.  He has all of my bike work from now on.  People ask why I drive 12 hours to take my bike to a builder.  It should be obvious with the 180 mph passes.  I trust Sal and if he tells me something it happens.  if he is home working and I have issues at the track he is expecting a call from me.  I can send him the data and he will either tell me something to try or make a fuel map for me.  The guy is amazing.  

At the end of last year I got serious about the run to 180.  I dropped 35 lbs over the winter and started training again.  I have always raced for most of my life.  MX, Cross Country, Flat Track and Road raced.  The Land Speed stuff looked so easy.  I learned quickly.  You have to be perfect with everything.  The tune the shifts, the tuck.  I mean perfect, shifts have to be precise or you loose speed.  I'm hooked and will be around for a log time.  

wow that's killer!
nice one.