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   World records 2007

A.N.U.S. goes International

After the 93 race Swamp and Willy were invited to a party in Georgia known as the Gator Swamp Pig Pickin. They were told that the host of this party would build a track and would show them how to ride a Drag Unicycle.  Well they couldn't pass on a challenge like that So Swamp and Willy contacted Nelson and agreed to go to Georgia to meet this mystery Pilot. When they arrived they were met by Glen Dukes who showed them his Beast known as the DIRT DRAGON a stock 650cc Yamaha on a stock tire with a rolled piece of 1/4inch plate trailing the rear fender and articulated off some pipes attached to the rear shocks. On his first run Glenn's Beast certainly lived up to its name by exploding off the line quick enough to actually rip the bars out of Glens hands. This looked as if it was going to be good so Nelson duct taped the back of his pickup truck and filled it with water to make a track side pool where everyone partied while Glenn explored the fine art of crashing for the rest of the day. In spite of the obvious handling problems Glenn promised to work them out and to attend the 94 Grand Nationals.

Up till now these events had been financed by Sidecar Willy from a small inheritance he had received when his parents died. But now it looked as if the sport of Unimotorcycle racing might just take hold and grow. Sidecar reasoned that what was needed was a professional to handle the promotion and development of  the sport.  In late 1993 Willy enlisted the aid of longtime friend Donna Knuth aka Tiny  who left her job in New York and moved to Florida with her young son Skye.  Now Tiny is a 5ft. package of dynamite and wasted no time in promoting and organizing the sport. First the sport needed to support itself so she arranged to combine shows with The Great American Rodeo who held their show at the Volusia County fairgrounds. Second she contacted the world press to let them know that Sidecar was challenging the world to race on one wheel.

The 1994 Grand Nationals was a smorgasbord of new Unimotorcycle designs. In the 0-199cc class was the HARDLY- A- DAVIDSON beast of Bob Scheskie built from a 50cc  Honda scooter package . Although slow with ET's of only 9sec. Bob said the machine was built to explore handling and steering. Well he must have got it right for this little Unimotorcycle would turn in its own length.

Now Sidecar had decided to make an attempt at the electric record and had created a Unimotorcycle called the BLUE GREEN MACHINE piloted by Terry Markatos The electric power plant was a 6volt starter motor powered by 2 12volt batteries. A unique shifting arrangement allowed the motor to run on 12 volts for the first  10ft. and then converted the system to 24volts which worked like electric nitrous. This beast set the first electric record at 7.01sec..

Last years record holder Nelson Back was definitely back with a beast known as TRIPLE TROUBLE a beautifully hand crafted aluminum Unicycle powered by a 600cc Polaris 3 cylinder with nitrous oxide. This beast lived up to its name as it dished out one problem after another. If it wasn't too much power folding the frame like cardboard it was the nitrous injectors spitting and sputtering. In spite of three days of frantic adjustments by Nelson  Murphy's Law kept him from holding on to the worlds record.

Pushing the design envelope Swamp returned with a new beast known as SWAMP THING. Still utilizing a 1000cc Sportster engine the beast how employed a custom built frame with intrigal skid plate and a 12inch wide bar lug tire. As with all new relationships between pilot and beast there is a period of adjustment necessary where one tries to find the correct C/G for the ride . This machine was nose heavy and unable to carry the front end for the full 100ft as required by the 9th commandment.

Well that guy Glen Dukes from Georgia must have spent a lot of time practicing cause he showed up with his pit crew of Ed Mullins and Wicked Wanda and without even taking a practice run proceeded to kick our asses good on the old DIRT DRAGON with 3 incredible runs under 3sec. The best being 2,50sec to establish a new World Record. Now mind you this is a stock 650 Yamaha with a bald tire

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A.N.U.S. International kind of has a ring to it. 1994 was the year that the international community responded to Sidecars challenge to race on one wheel. Canada was the first to respond, represented by 65 year old Les Defoe of Petolia, Ontario. Les is a master welder and fabricator and the beast he created was known as the  CANADIAN HOG. It was powered by a 435cc Rotex and sported a full fairing made from a wheelbarrow. Although powerful the gearing was a bit low with times of only 4.5sec.

Les                                                                  Krista

LES DAFOE  CANADA            TEPPY SHOGO  JAPAN            BOB SCHESKIE  USA

Now under Tiny's direction Unimotorcycle racing had truly gone international for in October of 1994 a unique milestone in the history of Unimotorcycle racing took place A SIMULANUS (yes Simul-anus). Tiny had learned that on October 24 1994 an event was being held in Martigny Switzerland called the 1'ere course Europeenne d A.N.U.S. This meant that the European community had answered Sidecars challenge to race on one wheel. Now it just so happens that that is the same weekend as Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach so it is decided that what is needed is a party to celebrate this momentous occasion. Behind Swamps house is a 10 acre broccoli field that's not being used and it is decided that this is the perfect place. The field is mowed and a track drug flat so that the top Unimotorcyclists in the United States could race at exactly the same time as their European counterparts . This was the first time that Unimotorcycle races were  held simultaneously on two continents. (unbelievable shit huh?)

photo's   Roger Lohrer