World's Fastest Motorcycle Land Speed Record
Motorcycles have always been a thrilling mode of transportation. But for some, it's not enough to just ride a motorcycle, they want to go as fast as humanly possible. This has led to the creation of the land speed record, the ultimate test of a motorcycle's speed and power. In this article, we'll take a look at the world's fastest motorcycle land speed record and the incredible machines that have set it.
The First World Record
The first officially recognized motorcycle land speed record was set in 1920 by Gene Walker. He rode a 1,000cc Indian motorcycle on the sands of Daytona Beach and reached a top speed of 104.12 mph. This record stood for several years until it was broken by Bert Le Vack in 1928, who reached a speed of 124.51 mph on a 1,000cc OEC-Temple motorcycle.
The Rise of Streamlining
As the records continued to be broken, it became clear that simply increasing the power of the motorcycle was not enough. Riders began to experiment with streamlining, creating aerodynamic fairings to reduce wind resistance and increase speed. In 1937, Ernst Henne set a new world record of 173.68 mph on a 500cc BMW motorcycle that was fully enclosed in a streamlined shell.
The Triumph Streamliners
In the 1950s and 1960s, Triumph motorcycles dominated the land speed record. The company created a series of streamliners, including the famous "Devil's Arrow," that set records at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. In 1956, Johnny Allen broke the 200 mph barrier on a Triumph-powered streamliner and set a new record of 214.4 mph.
The Jet-Powered Record Breakers
In the 1960s and 1970s, a new type of motorcycle entered the land speed record scene: the jet-powered motorcycle. These machines used jet engines from aircraft to propel them to incredible speeds. In 1970, American rider Gary Gabelich set a new world record of 406.6 mph on a rocket-powered motorcycle called the "Blue Flame."
The Current Record Holder
Today, the world's fastest motorcycle land speed record is held by Rocky Robinson. In 2010, Robinson rode the Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner to a record speed of 376.363 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats. This incredible machine is powered by two Suzuki Hayabusa engines and is over 30 feet long.
The Future of Land Speed Records
The quest for speed never ends, and there are already riders and teams working towards breaking Rocky Robinson's record. One such team is the British "Project 100," which aims to create a motorcycle capable of reaching 400 mph. With advances in technology and materials, it's only a matter of time before the next record is set.
