Difference between revisions of "Motorcycle land speed record"
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− | + | The '''motorcycle land speed record''' is the fastest speed achieved by a [[motorcycle]] on land. It is standardized as the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over two runs in opposite directions. | |
+ | First set, unofficially, by [[Glenn Curtiss]] in 1903, the first officially-sanctioned [[Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme|FIM]] record was not set until 1920. There was controversy over the 1930 record, when [[Osborn Engineering Company|OEC]] claimed to be fastest, on the basis of a publicity photo taken before a [[Zenith Motorcycles|Zenith]] went quicker. "It was quite a while before the controversy died down." | ||
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− | + | ==Jet-engine trike== | |
− | | | + | The fastest record certified by the FIM is that set in 1964 by the [[jet engine|jet-propelled]] [[tricycle]] ''[[Spirit of America]]''. It set three [[land speed record|absolute land speed record]]s, the last at 526.277mi/h. While such records are usually validated by the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]], the FIA only certifies vehicles with at least four wheels, while the FIM certifies two- and three-wheelers. |
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− | + | ==Piston-engine bike== | |
− | + | The holder of the absolute record for motorcycles is the "fastest man on two wheels". All such records have been with [[piston-engine]] machines. | |
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− | + | {| border=1 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=4 style="float:center; margin:0 0 .5em 1em; width:800px; background:#505050; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #999; font-size:83%; line-height:1.5; " summary="Infobox Automobile" | |
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− | | | + | !width="12%" rowspan="2"|Date |
− | + | !width="10%" rowspan="2"|Location | |
− | + | !width="13%" rowspan="2"|Driver | |
− | + | !width="15%" rowspan="2"|Make | |
− | ! | + | !width="8%" rowspan="2"|Engine <br />(displacement in [[cubic centimeter|cc]]) |
− | | | + | !width="8%" colspan="2"|Speed |
− | | | + | !width="12%" rowspan="2"|Comments |
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− | + | !mph!!km/h | |
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− | | | + | | 1903 ||Yonkers, New York|| [[Glenn Curtiss]] {{flagiconUSA}} ||Curtiss|| 1000||64||103|| over the mile, first (unofficial) World Speed Record, Hercules V-twin |
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− | | | + | |January 24, 1907||Ormond Beach, Florida|| [[Glenn Curtiss]] {{flagiconUSA}} ||Curtiss|| 4000 |
− | | | + | ||136.27||219.31||Unofficial record stood over 20 years |
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− | | | + | |1920||Daytona Beach, USA|| [[Gene Walker]]|| [[Indian (motorcycle)|Indian]]||994 |
− | | | + | |104.12||165.67|| |
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− | | | + | |1923||[[Brooklands]], GB|| [[Bert le Vack]]|| Temple-Anzani||996 |
− | | | + | |108.41||174.58|| |
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− | | | + | |1924|| [[Arpajon]], Fr|| [[Bert le Vack]]|| [[Brough Superior]]||998 |
− | | | + | |118.98||191.59|| |
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− | | | + | | 1926 || Arpajon, Fr|| Claude Temple || [[Osborn Engineering Company|OEC]]-[[Temple (disambiguation)|Temple]]||996 |
− | | | + | |121.3||195.33|| |
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− | | [[ | + | |1928|| Arpajon, Fr|| Oliver M. Baldwin|| [[Zenith Motorcycles|Zenith]]-[[JA Prestwich Industries Ltd|JAP]]||996 |
− | | | + | |124.55||200.56|| |
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− | | | + | |1929|| Arpajon, Fr|| Bert Le Vack || OEC-Temple ||994 |
− | | | + | |128.75||207.33|| |
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− | | | + | |1930||Arpajon, Fr|| Joe Wright|| [[Indian (motorcycle)|Indian]]||994 |
− | | | + | |137.23||220.99|| First official record to exceed Curtiss' pioneering effort |
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− | | | + | |1930|| [[Ingolstadt]], [[Germany]] || [[Ernst Jakob Henne]]|| [[BMW]]||735 |
− | | | + | |137.58||221.54|| |
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− | | | + | |1930||[[Cork, Ireland|Cork]], [[Ireland]]|| Joe Wright || Zenith-JAP||998 |
− | | | + | |150.65|| 242.59|| |
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− | | | + | |1932|| [[Tat]], [[Hungary]] || [[Ernst Jakob Henne]] || BMW ||736 |
− | | | + | |151.77|| 244.40|| |
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− | | | + | |1934|| Gyon, [[Hungary]] || [[Ernst Jakob Henne]] || BMW ||736 |
− | | | + | |152.81|| 246.069|| |
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− | | | + | |1935|| [[Frankfurt]], [[Germany]] || [[Ernst Jakob Henne]] || BMW ||736 |
− | | | + | |159.01|| 256.046 || First record over 250 km/h (155 mph) |
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− | | | + | |1936|| Frankfurt, Germany || [[Ernst Jakob Henne]] || BMW ||493 |
− | + | |168.92|| 272.006|| | |
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− | | | + | |1937|| Gyon, Hungary|| Eric Fernihough || Brough Superior ||995 |
− | | | + | |169.68|| 273.244|| Fernihough was killed in a 1938 attempt [[JA Prestwich Industries Ltd|JAP]] [[Supercharging|supercharged]] |
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− | | | + | |1937|| [[Brescia]], [[Italy]] || [[Piero Taruffi]] {{flagiconItaly}} || [[Gilera]] || 492 |
− | | | + | |170.27|| 274.181|| Supercharged four-cylinder. Taruffi famous as [[Grand Prix]] driver. |
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− | | | + | |1937|| Frankfurt, Germany || [[Ernst Jakob Henne]] || BMW ||495 |
− | | | + | |173.68|| 279.503|| Last prewar record |
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− | | | + | |1951|| Frankfurt, Germany || [[Wilhelm Herz]] {{flagiconGermany}} || [[NSU Motorenwerke AG|NSU]] ||499 |
− | | | + | |180.29|| 290.322 || First postwar record |
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− | | | + | |1955|| [[Swannanoa, New Zealand]] || Russell Wright || [[Vincent Motorcycles|Vincent]]-[[HRD Motorcycles|HRD]] ||998 |
− | | | + | |184.83 || 297.6406|| |
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− | | | + | |1956|| Bonneville, USA ||John Allen|| [[Triumph Engineering Co Ltd|Triumph]] || 649 |
− | | | + | |193.730 || 311.778 || |
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− | | | + | |1956|| [[Bonneville Speedway|Bonneville]], USA || Wilhelm Herz || NSU [[streamliner]] ||499 |
− | | | + | |211.4|| 338.092|| First record over 200 mph (320 km/h) |
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− | | | + | |1956|| Bonneville, USA || Johnny Allen || [[Triumph Engineering Co Ltd|Triumph]] || 649 |
− | | | + | |214.5 || 345.188|| Unratified by FIM |
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− | | | + | |1962|| Bonneville, USA || Bill Johnson || Triumph || 649 |
− | | | + | |224.57 || 361.41|| |
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− | | | + | |1966|| Bonneville, USA || Bob Leppan || ''Gyronaut X-1'' || 1298 |
− | | | + | |245.60 || 395.28|| Triumph Special twin-engined |
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− | | | + | |1970|| Bonneville, USA || Don Vesco {{flagiconUSA}} || [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] || 700 |
− | | | + | |251.66 || 405.25|| [[Turbocharging|Turbocharged]] twin-engined <br/>First record over 250 mph (400 km/h) |
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− | | | + | |1970|| Bonneville, USA || [[Cal Rayborn]] {{flagiconUSA}} || [[Harley-Davidson]] || 1480 |
− | | | + | || 254.84 || 410.37 || twin-engined |
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− | | | + | |1975 || Bonneville, USA || Cal Rayborn || [[Harley-Davidson]] || 1480 |
− | | | + | ||265.49 || 426.40 || twin-engined |
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− | | | + | |1978 || Bonneville, USA || Don Vesco || [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]] || 2030 |
− | | | + | |318.598 || 509.757|| Turbocharged<br/>First record over 300 mph (480 km/h) twin-engined |
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− | | [[ | + | |1990 || Bonneville, USA || [[Dave Campos]] {{flagiconUSA}} || Ruxton Harley-Davidson || 3000 |
− | | | + | |322.150 || 518.450 || twin-engined |
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− | | | + | |3 September 2006 || Bonneville, USA || Rocky Robinson {{flagiconUSA}} || Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner || 2600 |
− | | | + | |342.797 || 551.678 || twin [[Suzuki]] engines |
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− | | | + | |5 September 2006 || Bonneville, USA || [[Chris Carr (motorcyclist)|Chris Carr]] {{flagiconUSA}} || BUB - Lucky 7 streamliner || 2997 |
− | | | + | |350.884 || 564.693 || BUB/Sierra Design V4 |
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− | | | + | |26 September 2008 || Bonneville, USA || Rocky Robinson {{flagiconUSA}} || Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner || 2600 |
− | + | |360.913 || 580.833 || twin [[Suzuki]] engines | |
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|} | |} | ||
− | + | ==See also== | |
− | + | * [[Land speed record]] | |
− | + | * [[List of vehicle speed records]] | |
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− | + | {{extreme motion}} | |
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− | [[Category:Land speed records | + | [[Category:Land speed records]] |
Latest revision as of 10:29, 25 July 2009
The motorcycle land speed record is the fastest speed achieved by a motorcycle on land. It is standardized as the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over two runs in opposite directions.
First set, unofficially, by Glenn Curtiss in 1903, the first officially-sanctioned FIM record was not set until 1920. There was controversy over the 1930 record, when OEC claimed to be fastest, on the basis of a publicity photo taken before a Zenith went quicker. "It was quite a while before the controversy died down."
Jet-engine trike
The fastest record certified by the FIM is that set in 1964 by the jet-propelled tricycle Spirit of America. It set three absolute land speed records, the last at 526.277mi/h. While such records are usually validated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, the FIA only certifies vehicles with at least four wheels, while the FIM certifies two- and three-wheelers.
Piston-engine bike
The holder of the absolute record for motorcycles is the "fastest man on two wheels". All such records have been with piston-engine machines.
Date | Location | Driver | Make | Engine (displacement in cc) |
Speed | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | ||||||
1903 | Yonkers, New York | Glenn Curtiss | Curtiss | 1000 | 64 | 103 | over the mile, first (unofficial) World Speed Record, Hercules V-twin |
January 24, 1907 | Ormond Beach, Florida | Glenn Curtiss | Curtiss | 4000 | 136.27 | 219.31 | Unofficial record stood over 20 years |
1920 | Daytona Beach, USA | Gene Walker | Indian | 994 | 104.12 | 165.67 | |
1923 | Brooklands, GB | Bert le Vack | Temple-Anzani | 996 | 108.41 | 174.58 | |
1924 | Arpajon, Fr | Bert le Vack | Brough Superior | 998 | 118.98 | 191.59 | |
1926 | Arpajon, Fr | Claude Temple | OEC-Temple | 996 | 121.3 | 195.33 | |
1928 | Arpajon, Fr | Oliver M. Baldwin | Zenith-JAP | 996 | 124.55 | 200.56 | |
1929 | Arpajon, Fr | Bert Le Vack | OEC-Temple | 994 | 128.75 | 207.33 | |
1930 | Arpajon, Fr | Joe Wright | Indian | 994 | 137.23 | 220.99 | First official record to exceed Curtiss' pioneering effort |
1930 | Ingolstadt, Germany | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW | 735 | 137.58 | 221.54 | |
1930 | Cork, Ireland | Joe Wright | Zenith-JAP | 998 | 150.65 | 242.59 | |
1932 | Tat, Hungary | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW | 736 | 151.77 | 244.40 | |
1934 | Gyon, Hungary | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW | 736 | 152.81 | 246.069 | |
1935 | Frankfurt, Germany | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW | 736 | 159.01 | 256.046 | First record over 250 km/h (155 mph) |
1936 | Frankfurt, Germany | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW | 493 | 168.92 | 272.006 | |
1937 | Gyon, Hungary | Eric Fernihough | Brough Superior | 995 | 169.68 | 273.244 | Fernihough was killed in a 1938 attempt JAP supercharged |
1937 | Brescia, Italy | Piero Taruffi | Gilera | 492 | 170.27 | 274.181 | Supercharged four-cylinder. Taruffi famous as Grand Prix driver. |
1937 | Frankfurt, Germany | Ernst Jakob Henne | BMW | 495 | 173.68 | 279.503 | Last prewar record |
1951 | Frankfurt, Germany | Wilhelm Herz | NSU | 499 | 180.29 | 290.322 | First postwar record |
1955 | Swannanoa, New Zealand | Russell Wright | Vincent-HRD | 998 | 184.83 | 297.6406 | |
1956 | Bonneville, USA | John Allen | Triumph | 649 | 193.730 | 311.778 | |
1956 | Bonneville, USA | Wilhelm Herz | NSU streamliner | 499 | 211.4 | 338.092 | First record over 200 mph (320 km/h) |
1956 | Bonneville, USA | Johnny Allen | Triumph | 649 | 214.5 | 345.188 | Unratified by FIM |
1962 | Bonneville, USA | Bill Johnson | Triumph | 649 | 224.57 | 361.41 | |
1966 | Bonneville, USA | Bob Leppan | Gyronaut X-1 | 1298 | 245.60 | 395.28 | Triumph Special twin-engined |
1970 | Bonneville, USA | Don Vesco | Yamaha | 700 | 251.66 | 405.25 | Turbocharged twin-engined First record over 250 mph (400 km/h) |
1970 | Bonneville, USA | Cal Rayborn | Harley-Davidson | 1480 | 254.84 | 410.37 | twin-engined |
1975 | Bonneville, USA | Cal Rayborn | Harley-Davidson | 1480 | 265.49 | 426.40 | twin-engined |
1978 | Bonneville, USA | Don Vesco | Kawasaki | 2030 | 318.598 | 509.757 | Turbocharged First record over 300 mph (480 km/h) twin-engined |
1990 | Bonneville, USA | Dave Campos | Ruxton Harley-Davidson | 3000 | 322.150 | 518.450 | twin-engined |
3 September 2006 | Bonneville, USA | Rocky Robinson | Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner | 2600 | 342.797 | 551.678 | twin Suzuki engines |
5 September 2006 | Bonneville, USA | Chris Carr | BUB - Lucky 7 streamliner | 2997 | 350.884 | 564.693 | BUB/Sierra Design V4 |
26 September 2008 | Bonneville, USA | Rocky Robinson | Top Oil-Ack Attack streamliner | 2600 | 360.913 | 580.833 | twin Suzuki engines |
See also
Land speed record · Fastest Production Road Car · Fastest Cars by Acceleration · Motorcycle Land Speed Record · List of vehicle speed records · Wheel-driven land speed record |