Who the #$!% is Don Vesco?

The Bonneville Salt Flats have been a racing meca for over 100 years. Before the 1970s, American, British, and European-powered machines set most motorcycle speed records until Don Vesco and his twin-turbo Kawasaki KZ1000-powered streamliner, Lightning Bolt.

The fearless racer geared up on Aug. 28, 1978 for the back-to-back runs required to claim a new record with 27 pounds of turbo boost on his side. Vesco completed the first run at 318.330 mph and readied for his second run, which came in at 318.952 mph. Vesco had claimed the new FIM world record.

Vesco had a need for speed since he was young, and returned to the Salt Flats for a 333.117 mph one-way run in September 1978. He later partnered with Marcia Holley, a passionate motorcycle rider and Hollywood stuntwoman who went on to become the “fastest woman on two wheels.” Vesco disconnected the front KZ1000 engine and put Holley in the Lightning Bolt, who had never before raced in the Salt but hit 180 mph. Holley returned to pilot the Lightning Bolt and broke the record for a single-engine, two-wheel vehicle at 229.361 mph. Holley was indeed the fastest woman in the world and held the record for over 30 years.

Haven’t heard of Vesco? It’s no surprise, least of all to him. Vesco once printed t-shirts that read, “Who the #$!% is Don Vesco?” The self-taught, wickedly clever engineer and racer was the first person in the sport to hold both motorcycle and car and speed records. Not only did his 18 motorcycle records see his induction to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, but in 2001, Vesco and his younger brother Rick built “The Turbinator” and set the historical land speed record for wheel driven cars at 458.440 mph in the Bonneville Nationals World Finals.

The accomplished racer passed away in 2002 after a long battle with prostate cancer but Vesco’s memory and the design and innovation of the Lightning Bolt is captured forever in motorcycle racing history.

Vesco said he chased speed because, “… it’s my hobby. Some people play golf, some go fishing and some ride bikes in the desert. I get my enjoyment form the challenge on the salt.”

Today, Don’s brother, Rick, is restoring Lightning Bolt. The streamliner is a reminder of the incredible engineering behind the original engine design of the Z1 motorcycle as Kawasaki celebrates 50 years in the United States.