Speed Record Club

speed on wheels, water and wings

Work in Progress - August 2008

Contents:
Faulkner Livingston update.
LSR? Just Maybe.
Steam car latest.
King Racing in 2008
“Cody Flyer” update.
Goldenhawk ready to fly!

Faulkner Livingston update.

Just a quick note from us – we have our heads down in prep for the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, where we’re taking two Ducati Hypermotard bikes to see what they can do! But Bonneville should be fun for us this year – FL Racing will host Malcolm Smith Motorsports at Speed Week! Riders Malcolm Smith and his son Alexander Smith will join us on two identical Suzuki GSXR 1000’s to get some salt under their fingernails, and settle a friendly family debate about who might be faster! They are both rookies to the salt as Alexander has raced in many desert races including the Baja 1000 but has never been to Bonneville before, and Malcolm attended once as a teenager when he took the family station wagon on a road trip up to see the event, but has never before ridden there.

LSR? Just Maybe. by Max Lambky

On July 13, 1948, a standard Vincent Rapide left “The Works” at Stevenage, England The motto of the Vincent at that time, was, “The World’s Fastest Production Motorcycle. This Is Not A Slogan But A Fact”. During this era the Vincent dominated. Records fell like dominoes in road racing, sprints, hill climbs, and oh yes, LAND SPEED RECORDS.

Sixty years ago the final destiny of that 1948 Rapide could never have been guessed. Made in England, modified in America, she now, along with her sister, a 1952 Rapide, propels a contender for the “Motorcycle World Land Speed Record”. The contender of which I speak is the Vincent streamliner known as Black Lightning/ Lambky’s Liner. Again this year I’ll be making the long trek to the Bonneville Salt Flats, with the Vincent marque in tow. The VOC club and Vincent enthusiasts everywhere are going along for the ride, (so to speak). We all have high hopes the liner will go fast--very fast. So with that in mind the burden lies with me to prep the liner the best way I know how, in order to give my riders, Hartmut Weidelich and Don Angel the best chance for success.

So after another year’s work, and quite a few shekels later, Black Lightning is almost ready to give it another go.

LSR? Just maybe.

More about the preparation in FastFacts 70

Steam car latest.

Following years of planning and development, the British Steam Car was unveiled Wednesday (25 June 2008) at Thorney Island MOD Base, Portsmouth.

The British Steam Car Team expects to smash the world steam car speed record at Bonneville, Utah, USA in August 2008, following the unveiling of the British Steam Car at the 60th Bonneville Speed Week from 18 to 24 August. The last official steam powered record attempt took place in 1906, with Fred Marriott driving a Stanley Steamer built by the Stanley brothers. It achieved 127.659mph. In 1985, Bob Barber reached 145.607mph in a steam car but only made one run – to qualify as a world record the average speed of two runs in opposite directions is taken.

Project manager, Frank Swanston, who sadly died in 2007, instigated much of the engineering groundwork. Since then, the British Steam Car Team has regrouped and was boosted by the recruitment of Don Wales as test driver. Wales is the nephew of the late Donald Campbell and grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell – who between them established more than 20 land and water speed records. Wales himself set an electric vehicle land speed record in Bluebird Electric in 2001. At Bonneville, the British Steam Car will be housed in the same hangar used by the Campbells for their record attempts.

See the official website for the latest news at www.steamcar.co.uk.

For further information, latest news release, photographs or interviews Please contact Rebecca at Eventageous PR Ltd, on Tel: 01452 886380 or email: Rebecca@eventspr.co.uk

King Racing in 2008

King Racing are set to take on the best that Europe can offer with their strongest team ever in their quest for a fourth European Championship crown.

An exciting line up of team partners and associates are headed by South African company Portable Shade who have joined the team as primary sponsors. Portable Shade are world leaders in folding sunshade awnings, modular exhibition systems, `A’ frame advertising hoardings and advertising flag systems.

The Portable Shade Top Fuel Bike will to compete at the following events in 2008: -

• 14th – 15th June, Santa Pod, England
• 3rd – 6th July – Alastaro, Finland
• 24th – 27th July, Mantorp Park, Sweden
• 1st – 3rd August, Gardermoen, Norway
• 14th – 17th August, Hockenheim, Germany
• 4th – 7th September, Santa Pod, England

More in Fast Facts 70

“Cody Flyer” update.

The last period has seen major activity preparing the replica for the move out of the ‘badger works’ across to the Pioneers of Flight Pavilion on the airfield site in readiness for the Farnborough Airshow which takes place in July (14th to 20th).

We soon hope to have exciting news about the ongoing display of the Cody Flyer back at the FAST museum site after the airshow and things planned for the run up to the actual anniversary on 16th October. We still need support and its not too late to make a donation as we have currently spent more than funds so far donated. As usual check the project website www.codyflyerproject.com for up to date news and sponsor information. Also visit the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) website www.airsciences.org.uk for details of centenary events and how to become a FAST member.

Full progress report can be found in Fast Facts 70

Goldenhawk ready to fly!

Randy Pierce is making great progress with his diesel-powered streamliner in Canada.

All the welding is now finished, and final details are being organised in an effort to make Speed Week in August, 2008.

See Fast Facts 70 for more