In the adrenaline-fueled world of motorcycle racing, pushing the limits of speed and engineering has always been the ultimate pursuit. From early 20th-century daredevils to modern-day marvels, we delve into pioneering speed records that highlight extraordinary individuals and innovative machines, each redefining what’s possible on two wheels.
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Glenn Curtiss (1907)
Glenn Curtiss, an aviation pioneer and motorcycle builder, set an unofficial motorcycle land speed record of 136.36 mph (219.45 km/h) on a V8-powered motorcycle in Ormond Beach, Florida. This record showcased early experimentation with motorcycle engines and set a benchmark for speed that stood for over 20 years.
Joe Petrali (1937)
Riding a streamlined Harley-Davidson Knucklehead, Joe Petrali reached a speed of 136.183 mph (219.165 km/h) on the Bonneville Salt Flats, setting a new land speed record. This achievement highlighted Harley-Davidson’s commitment to innovation and marked a significant advance in motorcycle aerodynamics and engine performance.
Herbert James Munro (1967)
A New Zealander who modified his 1920 Indian Scout to achieve speeds over 200 mph (320 km/h), Munro set numerous speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats, including one at 183.586 mph (295.453 km/h). His efforts exemplify individual perseverance and mechanical ingenuity, pushing a nearly 50-year-old bike to its limits.
William A. Johnson (1956)
Johnson, riding a heavily modified Vincent Black Shadow, set a class record of 141.5 mph (227.7 km/h) at Bonneville. This performance highlighted the era’s mechanical enhancements and the capabilities of twin-engine motorcycles.
Rocky Robinson (2006)
Robinson, riding the Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner, achieved a record speed of 342.797 mph (551.692 km/h) on the Bonneville Salt Flats. This achievement showcased the technological advances in streamliner design and the pursuit of aerodynamic efficiency.
Ack Attack Team (2010)
The team reclaimed their title on the Bonneville Salt Flats with Rocky Robinson reaching a speed of 376.363 mph (605.697 km/h), setting a new motorcycle land speed record. This feat demonstrated the continuous innovation in engineering and teamwork in overcoming the physical limits of speed.
Tom Reiser (1958)
Tom set a record at Bonneville Salt Flats with a modified Triumph motorcycle, reaching speeds that underscored Triumph’s engineering prowess during that period.
Don Vesco (1978)
Vesco set a record of 318.598 mph (512.734 km/h) on the “Silver Bird” Yamaha at Bonneville, marking a significant advancement in the use of turbocharging technology for speed.
Dave Campos (1990)
Riding the “Easyriders” streamliner powered by Harley-Davidson engines, Campos set a speed record of 322.150 mph (518.450 km/h). This record held for nearly two decades, highlighting the peak of speed achievable with conventional motorcycle engines.
Chris Carr (2006)
Carr, aboard the BUB Seven streamliner, set a record of 350.884 mph (564.693 km/h) at Bonneville. This record emphasized advancements in streamliner stability and power output.
Sam Wheeler (2006)
Wheeler reached 355 mph (571 km/h) on his EZ-Hook Kawasaki streamliner at Bonneville, demonstrating the potential of combining aerodynamic designs with powerful engines.
Richard Brown (1999)
On the “Mach 3 Challenger,” Brown reached a speed of 332.887 mph (535.645 km/h), showcasing advances in jet propulsion in motorcycles.
Bill Warner (2011)
Warner set a record of 311 mph (500 km/h) on a conventional Suzuki Hayabusa at Loring, representing the pinnacle of speed for unstreamlined motorcycles.
This article originally appeared on MyCarMakesNoise.
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