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Thomas Gates
 Photo by Lee Wallace |
| Thomas
Gates - La Porte, TX 2004 Hayabusa |
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Used by Tom Gates in his Schnitz Racing Sponsored Suzuki Hayabusa. See him in the second half of the below video from streetfire.net |
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Tom Gates Racing History When I was 5 years old I got my first mini bike for Christmas. I rode mini bikes, dirt bikes, and three wheelers until I got my drivers license at the age of 16. At that time I got into racing cars because of my grandfather and father. I am a third generation racer. When my friends were playing cowboys and indians I was at the race track with my dad. I raced cars from the age of 16 - 25 when I purchased my first street bike, which was a 1996 Kawasaki ZX-11. I drag raced this bike for about a year. I got back into racing cars; I was the driver/mechanic in the NMCA fastest street car shootouts for two years in a 9 second 69' Chevelle which was covered by Car Craft Magazine at one of the events. I then built and raced an 80' model Camaro that was well known in Texas (Goldust). It was a low 8 second car on 10 inch tires that I ran in a lot of Texas Heads-Up Events. I raced the Camaro for about two years. After the Camaro changed owners I drove it again for the new owner for about two years where I got it to run in the high 7's. After much thought and consideration and with the love of racing bikes I chose to purchase a 2004 Suzuki Hayabusa. I started drag racing it in stock form and was able to get into the 9.50's, I then added Nitrous and was able to run 9.00's. Still not being fast enough and being thoroughly impressed by all the turbo bikes at the drag strip I decided to purchase a stage 1 turbo kit. After plenty of testing/tuning I went to my first Texas Mile Race (March 2006) where I was able to run 200.564 and joined the Texas 200 mph Club. After going 200 mph I did not want to change my bike back to drag race form where I could only go 165 mph. I was fortunate enough to be asked by three friends to drag race their bikes at different Texas Shootout Events until the next Texas Mile Event occurred. At the next event (October 2006) I only went 200.680 mph and was not happy. After studying and researching the possible reasons why I did not go any faster I prepared for the next race (March 2007) and was able to go 206.220 mph. Still not being very satisfied with my speed, I did not change anything on my bike but only making several small adjustments. Once again, returning to The Texas Mile (October 2007) I had a new best speed of 212.580 mph. Being very pleased with the speed, I realized this was the fastest I was gong to go with the stage 1 turbo. After much research I am in the process of building an RCC Super Ultra Kit, which is capable of 700 hp. I plan on returning to the Texas Mile (March 2008) to achieve my new best speed. |
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Tom Gates currently uses the following products: Schnitz Racing
Billet Triple Clamp |
