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“It is said that a poor man cannot win in a rich man’s game. I am out to prove them wrong,” said James Broaddus.

A master mechanic and Union Millwright, the 54-year-old Broaddus represents the sheer guts and glory it takes to compete at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

“When you don’t have money, you learn to improvise, and you make your own parts,” Broaddus said. “My friends and I have personally made, welded and manufactured a large portion of the custom 79-cubic-inch (1300cc) competition motorcycle.”

The Bonneville Salt Flats in draw a privileged few each year to compete in setting land speed records and becoming the fastest men in the world. The location provides the perfect scenario for dreamers to achieve the unthinkable. Since 1896, racing, breaking land speed records and chasing opponents in various classes has taken place at the Salt Flats. The unique, hard flat surface of the salt provides the perfect location to race in a flat-out, open-throttle straight line achieving top speeds over several miles of smooth slippery salt.

At age 7, Broaddus saw his first Bonneville races, and his dream to compete was born. When he was 12, he began to ride motorcycles. Many years later, the movie, “World’s Fastest Indian,” inspired him to start building a Salt Flat race bike. Initially, Broaddus competed in the “Run Whatcha Brung” at BUB’s. After that experience, he knew what he wanted to do: build his own competition worthy bike, chase the record and maybe even exceed the goal of 200mph.

Broaddus and partner Mikey Johnsen of J & B Racing have built a competition bike for the 1350, APS PG Class (unlimited partial streamliner push rod gasoline). The frame is a modified Truett and Osborne chrome moly drag racer, featuring a Buell engine, Axtell barrels, J and E pistons and Kibblewhite valves. It has a 75-inch wheelbase with a five-speed transmission and weighs 340 pounds. The custom components include handmade intake and exhaust systems and stock cams rebuilt by Zippers. It’s all fueled by a 51-mm carburetor with ram air and all handmade bodywork.

Broaddus is one of a few who designs and builds specifically to the event. His knowledge has allowed him to identify the criteria needed to chase the current record holder, with goals of ultimately exceeding the 200mph threshold on a shoestring budget. A lot of ingenuity and elbow grease make this the man to watch. Broaddus steps up to the plate on pure gumption. He is going for his dream and getting the job done one nickel and weld at a time.

For more information, e-mail jandbracing51@att.net

Editor's Note: The subject of this story lives in Meadow Vista, with his competition bike kept in Auburn.