Land speed record attempt hits SA

American Valerie Thompson will attempt to set a new motorcycle land speed record in her streamliner at the inaugural World Speed Trials at Lake Gairdner in South Australia from March 17-19.

The event, which will immediately follow on from the annual Speed Week at the same famed lake, 450km north-west of Adelaide, will see Thompson target the existing mark of 376.36mph (605.697km/h) set by the twin Hayabusa-engined ‘Ack Attack’ in Bonneville on September 25, 2010.

Ack Attack came to Lake Gairdner in 2006 to attempt to break the land speed record as well.

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Thompson definitely has the bike to do it, as her streamliner has also held the motorcycle land speed record on two separate occasions: in 2006 (350.884mph) and 2009 (367.382mph).

Thompson’s machine is a three-litre V4, producing 500hp and encased in a carbon fibre monocoque frame. It has a MoTeC power commander and runs on ethanol fuel. It’s brought to a standstill by three parachutes and six-piston brakes.

Thompson is a seven-time land speed record holder, and became the world’s fastest female motorcycle rider when she reached a speed of 304.263mph (489.663km/h) at the Bonneville Salt Flats on September 1, 2016.

The World Speed Trials will run under the rules and regulations of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and its Australian affiliate, Motorcycling Australia.

Competitors will be running what the FIM refer to as short distance records for the one-kilometre and one-mile from a flying start. The specially prepared track will be 12 miles long (weather and surface conditions pending) with the timing at the midpoint.

To claim a record, competitors average speed over two runs in opposite directions must exceed that of a current record.

For more information on the event, including all the Aussie competitors, click here.

Related links
Aussie sets land speed record at Bonneville
Aussie chasing world record with a difference