{"id":2746,"date":"2014-09-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-18T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.my-watchsite.com\/blog\/the-b-rocket-adventure-n1579\/"},"modified":"2014-09-19T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-09-18T22:00:00","slug":"the-b-rocket-adventure-n1579","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.my-watchsite.com\/blog\/the-b-rocket-adventure-n1579\/","title":{"rendered":"The B-ROCKET adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"

FROM THE DESIGN TO A DREAM COME TRUE<\/strong><\/p>\n

The collaboration between Shaw Speed Motorcycles, the official Harley-Davidson dealer in the UK, and Bell & Ross, goes back a long way. Three years ago, in England-\u2013home to fans of the watch brand-\u2013a very special machine was built on a Harley-Davidson base. The proposal was spontaneously sent to Bell & Ross. Bruno Belamich immediately took to the idea, which proved its worth in the shape of the Nascafe Racer, a bike that won numerous awards in international custom competitions.<\/p>\n

Three years later, Bell & Ross asked the English geniuses, who have many international custom competition awards under their belt, to build a high-speed motorcycle for use on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Bruno Belamich\u2019s solution was shaped like a teardrop. Very apt for a bike designed to race across a desert of salt\u2026 <\/p>\n

A pencil line, incredibly simple for tracing the contours of a unique motorcycle with an aerodynamic profile, evoking the perfection of the glorious era of American aviation in the 50s and 60s. Bruno reveals: \u201cI conceived the motorcycle, but it was the craftsmen and women at Shaw who built it. We worked together on the design of the prototype. It\u2019s fantastic to watch the birth of this kind of creation, to bring to life an idea conceived on paper. That\u2019s what has turned this passionate experience, which started with a dream, into a beautiful adventure, both human and technical\u201d.<\/p>\n

Across the Channel, Steve C. Willis, head of the East Sussex dealership, explains: \u201cBruno had faith in us\u201d. As a designer, he knows it\u2019s important to give those carrying out a project room for manoeuvre. We were in constant contact by email and met up several times. The project was very precise, with the design based closely on what we had conceived, in the style of the record-breaking bikes, and our job was to stick to this exacting spirit. That\u2019s how we like to work, and it\u2019s what we do for the majority of our customers. It\u2019s an exchange of ideas and expertise\u201d.<\/p>\n

BONNEVILLE, THE FINAL STAGE OF THE B-ROCKET<\/strong><\/p>\n

The B-Rocket was launched in early 2014 in France, and subsequently embarked on a world tour, finally crossing the Atlantic to arrive at the Bonneville Salt Flats.<\/p>\n

Could it really have been any other way..’ The question comes from the creator\u2026 in reply to our own. The B-Rocket, a machine designed exclusively to be ridden on salt, had to be seen up close, and on the terrain, to be sure it would perform. And so, a small team set out on an adventure last June to shoot a film set in the ultimate dream location for time chasers. With the motorcycle\u2026 and, of course, the watch-the main character in this extraordinary watchmaking story.<\/p>\n

A dream come true. Heading to Bonneville to make a film was not simply a matter of travel and logistics-\u2013even though those were complex things to organise. It also required a good rider to get the bike there. It was the artists from Shaw who went the extra mile. And once again, we had a few unexpected events, just to make things more interesting. Niels Sefton, one of the members of the dealership and a respected rider, was tasked with getting the bike to its destination. A few days before departure, he suffered an injury and had to pull out. A last-minute replacement was found. He was also an employee from the Shaw dealership, a long-time biker but not really experienced in this type of salt flat riding. Simon Pocock explains: \u201cI\u2019ve done a lot of motocross and I\u2019ve been riding for a very long time, but I\u2019m not what you\u2019d call a pure speed rider. I was in the right place at the right time\u2013Niels had to be replaced. So I went. It was disappointing for my colleague, who was injured and had to pull out, but I was really thrilled to be going. I was finally about fulfilling my dream of riding on the salt flats.\u201d <\/p>\n

The dream! This really was a dream in the fullest sense \u2013the Bonneville Salt Flats is a legendary and totally unique place. However, it requires true skill to handle the bike and get moving on the low-grip surface, alone and amidst the immense, blank expanse of white. Simon explains: \u201cI did have a few concerns before I left. But there was no going back. The challenge was on. The bike handles in a very specific way on the salt\u2013not at all what I\u2019ve been used to until now. I gradually got used to pushing the bike harder and, once I\u2019d got to grips with it, the runs were absolutely incredible. Alone on the bike, with just the sound of the engine and the exhaust in your ears, all becoming one with the machine. It was magic! That was the first time I\u2019ve felt such emotion on a bike.\u201d <\/p>\n

His words confirm the machine\u2019s quality, and he concludes: \u201cOf course, this bike wasn\u2019t designed to break records.\u201d Apart from breaking our own records\u2013and I think we succeeded\u2013we had to do more thorough mechanical preparation to obtain the necessary performance during the runs. However, it rode beautifully.<\/p>\n

The Harley-Davidson Big Twin delivers real power and torque. It\u2019s lively, powerful and big on sensation. It has real potential and handles beautifully\u2013not bad for starters! Maybe, one day we\u2019ll enter the Bonneville Speed Week and compete with other machines in this category. For the moment, I\u2019m just hanging on to the memories of riding at Bonneville to get the film made with the entire Bell & Ross team.\u201d While clearly enthusiastic and happy, Simon also points out that making the film wasn\u2019t simply a nice ride in a dream setting: \u201cThere was a lot of riding.<\/p>\n

A BEAUTIFUL HUMAN ADVENTURE <\/strong><\/p>\n

It was pretty physical\u2013not easy by any means. As we had the track completely to ourselves, we were able to do a lot more riding than you\u2019re able to when you\u2019re competing for records. During the helicopter shoots, I was doing at least 6 hours of runs every day. Physically it was very demanding. I was under a lot of pressure\u2013it had to be perfect. I couldn\u2019t stray off course and I had to maintain the right attitude. I wasn\u2019t up against the clock, but the concentration was undoubtedly the same as the one you have to have for timed runs. And the heat\u2013from both the bike and the sun (35\u00b0C in the shade)\u2013was gruelling; I had to stay constantly hydrated. Between takes, during shots or frame adjustments, the team members were spraying me with water, under my leathers\u2026 The salt, too. It sticks everywhere to the bike, which has to be constantly cleaned to prevent damage and mechanical problems. It was hard work but really rewarding and, if I was asked to do it again tomorrow, I\u2019d go without hesitation.\u201d <\/p>\n

Now, there\u2019s an incentive to set a date. Another date to mark the adventures of Bell & Ross, a brand that treads a resolutely different path in designing its models\u2026 even taking in the mysterious salt lake in the middle of the desert! Where there are no limits on speed or imagination\u2026<\/p>\n