Triumph still shooting for Land Speed Record
The recent cancellation of SCTA’s (Southern California Timing Association) Speed Week, due to the waterlogged condition of the Bonneville Salt Flats, has been a disappointment to many.
These poor weather conditions have also created a challenge for Triumph’s high profile attempt to regain the motorcycle land speed record.
Triumph, however, are still determined to break the record and released a statement today confirming their commitment to the record attempt.
“We continue to monitor the conditions closely as our plans are to return there in late August.
“Inevitably, pushing the boundaries of engineering and human endeavour is never going to be easy – and nature appears to be doing her best to provide us with further challenges right now.
“The team is confident that it has the right machine, in the Triumph Rocket, and the right man, in Guy Martin, to exceed the current record which stands at 376.363mph.
“We are actively evaluating all options for both testing and a record run attempt in 2015 and hope to confirm our plans very shortly.”
Piloting the purpose built, 1,000 bhp Triumph Rocket Streamliner will be Isle of Man TT racer, truck mechanic and TV presenter Guy Martin. Well known for his love of speed, Guy is relishing the prospect of bringing the land speed record back to Triumph – and the UK – after an absence of 45 years.
Triumph has a long legacy of smashing the land speed record and held the title of “World’s Fastest Motorcycle” from 1955 to 1970 with the exception of a brief 33-day period.
The record-breaking Triumph streamliners of that period were Devil’s Arrow, Texas Cee-gar, Dudek Streamliner and Gyronaut X1, the former achieving a top speed of 245.667 mph (395.28 km/h). Today’s bar, held by Rocky Robinson since 2010 riding the Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner, sits at 376.363 mph (605.697 km/h).
The 2015 Triumph Rocket Streamliner features a carbon Kevlar monocoque construction with two turbocharged Triumph Rocket III engines producing a combined 1,000 bhp at 9,000 rpm.
The ‘motorcycle’ is 25.5′ long, 2′ wide and 3′ tall. Powered by methanol fuel, the bike is competing in the Division C (streamlined motorcycle) category.
