Lamberd Brothers Share the Need for Speed
Inventors and past INPEX exhibitors Robin and Gary Lamberd spent their Labor Day week taking part in more than the traditional backyard picnic or barbecue. With Utah’s beautiful Newfoundland Mountains as a backdrop and the Bonneville Salt Flats at their feet, the twosome set out to establish the first ever national land speed record for a stand-up scooter, riding their invention, the "Extreme Scooter".
The first annual international all motorcycle speed trials, rolled into the Bonneville Salt Flats like thunder and with it came everything from streamliners to custom made motorcycles. On what some racers consider to be hallowed ground, the Bonneville Salt Flats is the place where dreams have been made, records set and goals have been achieved in the racing world as far back as the 1940’s.
While their invention may be called a "scooter", the Extreme Scooter is more than a typical childhood toy of the past. With all-terrain tires and a 500cc engine, it can exceed speeds of 75 miles per hour and jump over sand dunes in seconds. This May, the Lamberd brothers unveiled their invention at INPEX, America’s Largest Invention Show, and took home a gold medal. The two brothers have been preparing for the speed trials ever since. Robin said he’s excited to be the "only man standing" literally and figuratively in a category that, up until this point, had no existing record for a scooter. "We’re ready for some competition. It’s exciting to be opening up a new racing class for next year and to be paving the road for future scooter riders to take part in this event in the future."
The Arizona natives haven’t been going at it alone either. They have a laundry list of sponsors who have helped them along the way including Goodyear, who provided the Lamberds with tires for the event, and Valvoline, whom they met at INPEX. "We met Nathan Ebert, a representative from Valvoline, at INPEX, and they’ve been helping us behind the scenes with lubricants and coolants," Gary said. "INPEX was not only a one hundred percent professional show, but we made contacts that we’re continuing to cultivate six months later."
While Robin and Gary say their experience at INPEX was a positive one, they also realize that their destiny is in their own hands. "We’ve spent a lot of time doing research and development. We get out there and network with people at events like the speed trials. You never know who knows who, or who has a connection with someone that might be able to get us another step in the right direction," said Robin.
During the speed trials, the open pits gave spectators and media like Cycle World and Motorcycle USA the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Extreme Scooter and ask the same question that seemed to be on everybody’s mind: "How fast does it really go?" The best way to answer that question is to let the scooter speak for itself.
After a few days of waiting due to poor weather conditions, the scooter and Robin set a land speed record of 99.329 miles per hour during a timed mile run. But the Lamberds say this is only the beginning. "We’re going to continue setting records, continue improving the scooter and most importantly continue attending events like INPEX to help get our invention out there to the right people."
While the above exhibitor's experience is not typical of what most INPEX exhibitors can expect from attending the trade show, the events reported are a result of what can happen from attending INPEX — the Invention Show.
