Going fast for a good cause is Kevin Munk’s mission.
Early in 2013 he established his World Class Speed for Heart and Stroke event.
Then, he traveled to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to compete against the clock and champion his cause.
On December 12, 2012, Munk lost his father to a heart attack.
“Heart attacks, strokes, and heart disease often cause sudden life-ending or permanently life-altering events,” Munk says, adding, “my hope in creating the World Class Speed event is to greatly raise awareness and especially funding for research, rehabilitation and prevention.”
Born and raised in Edmonton, Munk is now based in Calgary.
Munk on his 2013 BMW HP4 at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
Scooter Grubb,
When he was a boy, his father won a mini-bike in a gas station draw. Powered by a 2.5 horsepower Tecumseh engine, Munk spent hours on the machine. His dad fostered the interest, and dirt biking became a family affair. Although they didn’t often ride together, Munk senior would load and drive his son to the trails.
“Every weekend, he would take me to a place I could ride and he enjoyed hearing of my adventures when I stopped to refill the tank,” Munk recalls.
When Munk was 23 he bought his first street-legal motorcycle, a 1987 Suzuki RG500 Gamma sport bike. He continues to be passionate about this style of motorcycle as he believes sport bikes represent the pinnacle of technological development.
After his father died, Munk pondered ways he could pay tribute.
“I was thinking about how I could say goodbye to my dad, because I never got the chance,” Munk says. “And, I really wanted to do something positive to honour him.”
With his interest in sport bikes and a passing knowledge of the salt flats and land speed racing events, an idea started to form.
Munk wanted to challenge the 1,000cc Production Frame, Production Engine (1000P-P) class at two different land speed racing events, the SCTA (Southern California Timing Association) Bonneville National Speed Week and the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials. And, he wanted use a top-of-the-line BMW HP4 sport bike.
“A lot of the people who head to Bonneville are real gearheads, and they’re talented enough to design and build a racer,” Munk says. “I’m not one of them, and the BMW HP4 is pretty much a race-ready production bike.”
Back in the day – Kevin Munk is seated on the minibike (left), his dad Gordon behind him, brother Trevor Munk is on the other machine, a two-stroke Indian 70, while family friend Jeff Hayden is in the back.
Kevin Munk,
First, Munk had to find an available limited edition HP4 – there were only 2500 worldwide. Essentially an upgraded BMW S1000RR, the HP4 puts out 193 horsepower and is equipped with a titanium race exhaust, a high performance engine computer and active suspension systems.
In 2013 only 27 BMW HP4s came to Canada, and they were all pre-sold. Munk found and imported his from San Diego BMW. Although sold as race-ready, he had to make a few modifications to satisfy safety rules in both land speed events.
Derek Pauletto at Trillion Industries in Calgary fabricated a new aluminum chainguard and battery bracket. Pauletto also helped Munk safety wire many of the BMWs fasteners.
Blackfoot Motosports installed a high-temp fuel hose sleeve, which Munk sourced from Mopac Performance, as well as a tethered kill-switch. Pro-Am Motorcycles – part of the Carter Automotive Group – were also helpful with parts and accessories, including tires and helmet selection.
To haul his gear Munk bought a Voltage V300 toy hauler from Sunridge RV, with decals applied by Stripe Tech Custom and Performance.
Next up were extensive medical exams, including an echocardiogram and exercise stress test.
Once at the salt, Munk had hoped to crack the 200 mph mark and join the prestigious 200 MPH Club. He didn’t make it, but for his first time out, the results are very respectable.
“189.979 mph was my fastest timed mile against the SCTA’s 198.246 mph record, and 189.999 mph was my fastest timed kilometre against the FIM’s (BUB Trials) 200.137 mph record in the 1000P-P class,” Munk says. “It was a remarkable experience. Riding at speed on the salt is a combination of peace, adrenaline and concentration all at once.”
He continues, “At that speed, the rear tire is spinning because there’s inconsistent minimal traction, and the salt conditions are continually changing – there’s nothing else quite like it.”
Munk has set himself an ambitious goal of raising $1 million for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and 100 per cent of all donations he gets are going to the charity. So far, he’s paid for everything out of pocket.
He plans to return to the salt for both events in 2014. To donate or to contact Munk for sponsorship opportunities, visit www.merchantpacificholdings.com.
“My dad was a professional engineer and he would have been completely fascinated by all the things guys create and run at Bonneville,” Munk says. “He would have loved to have been there, and I think he was in spirit.”
