Gilles Gagné has one driving force in his life: performance. The real kind. Measurable in “miles” per hour or hundredths of a second. The kind that starts with engine parts assembled with precision and a deep understanding of how mechanics work, down to the smallest detail. All that’s missing are mentors—like Burt Munro in his case—to fuel a consuming passion that, for him, is steeped in the salt of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
It all began in 1956 at Broughton Station. The son of farmers, Gilles could have been content to work the family land, but a different kind of destiny was calling him. At 14, the turning point came with the sight of a motorcycle speeding across the salt flats. Burt Munro, perhaps?
At 16, he rode a Kawasaki 500 two-stroke, a brutal, demanding machine that forgave nothing. And one that could be temperamental. It was his uncle who explained how it worked and passed on the mechanics bug to him—that desire to understand what was going on under the tank.
The Early Days, from Thetford Mines to Coaticook
Gilles had made his choice. He enrolled in a mechanics program in Thetford Mines. In 1976, he was working at Auclair Motosport in Quebec City. But a diploma wasn’t enough for this insatiable future tuner. For four years, he juggled his day job with evening mechanics classes.
In 1981, Gilles Gagné worked as a mechanic at the Honda dealership Jacques Guay Sport in Rock-Forest. There, he prepared dirt bikes and built his first competition machine from scratch. Unfortunately, a fire ravaged the business and destroyed the one-of-a-kind motorcycle.
He bounced back in 1986 at Coaticook Sport. When the business went up for sale in 1988, he purchased it with Yvan Lessard. This partnership officially gave rise to the company Gagné Lessard Sports in late 1990.
In addition to selling vehicles based on his mechanical expertise—which he knows how to explain to customers—Gilles built a reputation as an elite tuner. Snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles. If it has an engine, Gilles can make it faster. He tunes machines for top-tier riders. Memories of Team GForce in 2010, which won the 12-Hour La Tuque ATV Endurance Race on a Yamaha ATV with Ti Bill Leblanc, M. A. Auger, and Luc Croteau.
2005, the start of the speed project
But let’s go back to 2005. Gilles Gagné hadn’t forgotten his dreams of speed on the salt flats. So he heads to the site in Utah. He’s surprised by the number of vehicles allowed to compete, ranging from ambulances to the motorcycle class with saddlebags. But there are no snowmobiles. Why? An official tells him that no one has ever tried. All they’d have to do is create the class and prove they could get results—that would open the door to the Salt Flats.
The project was launched. Gilles and his team built the speed snowmobile based on a 1000cc Yamaha. The skis were replaced with wheels because the record attempt would take place on asphalt. The vehicle was lowered and fairing-fitted for a better aerodynamic coefficient. But the doors to the Salt Flats remained closed for the time being.
Gilles Gagné, for his part, opened the dealership to his children, Nathalie and Stéphane.
Involved in snowmobile racing, he spoke with the organizers of the SCM race series and the ISR (International Snowmobile Racing), which can validate records.
In September 2008, on the runway at Val-d’Or Airport—chosen for its length—Francis Morin reached a speed of 340 km/h (approximately 211 mph). He thus broke the previous ISR record, which was 309 km/h.
From Val-d’Or to the Bonneville Salt Flats
On this occasion, Gilles met Dick Gauthier, an American from Wisconsin. This encounter finally opened the doors to the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats for him.
In August 2009, he was invited to the Mike Cook Shootout, a prestigious event at Bonneville. He had to rework the prototype with a special track developed by Camoplast. The verdict is in: the FIM world record is set at 203 mph (326 km/h) for Francis Morin. This achievement grants him entry into the Bonneville 200 mph club—a dream come true!
“Grandpa Burt,” the reward beyond the pain
The adventure could have ended there, but that was without counting on fate. His grandson, looking at the photos of the record, said to him, “Why aren’t you the one riding?” That comment sparked a line of questioning. Was he living his dream vicariously? Burt Munro was on the bike—why not him?
So he built an “Eagle bike” powered by a supercharged 600cc Yamaha R6 engine running on ethanol, then headed back to Bonneville in 2012. But speed is a cruel mistress. At over 200 km/h, the bike lost control. And he took a violent crash. The toll was heavy: six fractures, including his collarbone and several ribs. He was airlifted by helicopter.
He recovered and changed his approach. But not in the traditional way.
Anyone else would have hung up their leathers. Not Gilles. After recovering in 2013, he entered the 300cc class. He had a stroke of genius. On his Aigle R6 600cc four-cylinder motorcycle, he deactivated two cylinders to achieve 300cc. The result? The speedometer hit 208 km/h on the salt flats, setting a new record.
The Yamaha was reconfigured for the 600 cc class, and his partner Patrick Lessard set a speed record in that class.
A missed opportunity and a reward at Bonneville
Work resumed in Coaticook. In 2020, the company moved and expanded on Roger Smith Street. The second generation, Nathalie and Stéphane, took over the family business, while Gilles acted as a mentor.
This gave him more time to continue working on the snowmobile, including building a new fairing and making modifications to the track. In 2025, the team returned to Utah to attempt the speed record. But nothing went as planned. The weather isn’t on their side. Rain has soaked the salt track. Conditions aren’t right for speed. No records will be broken. But Gilles doesn’t leave empty-handed. He receives the prestigious “Technical Award” for his track-driven vehicle, which is the official term for the category.
Is the quest for speed over? Only time will tell.
Gilles and Team G-Force’s track record includes twenty years on the salt flats, nine appearances, and three speed records in three different categories.
Gilles Gagné has successfully balanced his professional life, family, passion for speed, and engine tuning. He hasn’t sought the limelight, but his results speak for themselves. The record certificates sit proudly on his desk, next to Burt Monro’s official time sheet. The circle is complete.
