Guy Martin and Triumph motorcycles go for the salt record at Utah
- faster than a seagull nicking your chips!
The time is rapidly approaching for a new Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) Land Speed Record attempt at the Bonneville Speedway, Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah - 23-27 August 2015.
Goes like a Rocket!
This time Guy Martin is going to be there piloting a Triumph Rocket 111 Streamliner! So it's got to be good, a very fast man on a very fast motorcycle, we are looking forward to this!
Team Guy and Triumph are determined to smash the existing record which is already a very fast 376.363 mph and leave it behind over the measured salty mile.
With this magnificent 1000 bhp machine piloted by truck mechanic, motorcycle racing speedman Guy Martin, who likes nothing better than going extremely fast, they are determined to bring the record home to our shores where, sadly, it hasn't visited for 45 years.
Historically Triumph is no stranger to winning the land speed record, and held the title of world's fastest motorcycle from 1955 to 1970 with the exception of a measly 33 day period. Good on you Triumph but it was a while ago now, so it's time to get it back!
The record breaking Streamliners, with great names like: Devil's Arrow, Texas Ceegar and Gyronaut X1 used to regularly eat up the mile at Bonneville bringing home the record time after time.
This year's machine, the Triumph Rocket Streamliner, is a state of the art racing machine featuring carbon kevlar monocoque construction with no less than two turbocharged Triumph Rocket 111 engines producing a combined 1000 bhp at 9,000 rpm. It is a 25.5 ft long, 2 ft wide and 3 ft tall monster rocket, powered by methanol fuel and is competing in Division 3, the streamlined motorcycle category.
Go Johnny Go!
In fact the Triumph Bonneville name was decided upon after Johnny Allen's land speed record run in September 1955 when he reached a then record-breaking 193.72 mph.
The first T120 Triumph Bonneville met its public at the Earls Court Bike Show and went on sale in 1959.
Testing for this year's Bonneville salt flats land speed record starts soon in mid July with the record attempt from the flying Guy Martin on the 23-27th August. Will he have to shave off the old mutton chops to lower wind resistance – who knows?
Anyway it would be great if he cracks it and at worst there will be plenty of salt around for the chips. What fuel will they be using? Methanol fuel for the Streamliner, tea for Guy.
We wish them the very best of luck and will be following the progress of the Utah Bonneville World Land Speed Record attempt in August.
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