Weather and quality of the salt permitting, pilot Jason DiSalvo will try this week during the Mike Cook’s Bonneville Shootout to break the motorcycle land speed record of 376.363 mph aboard his T twin turbo-charged Triumph Rocket III-powered streamliner. Developed by Matt Markstaller (Hot Rod Conspiracy) and Bob Carpenter (Carpenter Racing), the Triumph Castrol Rocket is the newest streamliner of the group seeking to break the FIM world land speed record in the motorcycle class.
“There are teams that have been out here attempting to break records for years. It’s very hard because there are so many variables to contend against, but we have an amazing team,” said Matt Markstaller, “We have confidence in the progress we’ve made in this project’s development since we were on the Salt a year ago.” “While our streamliner produces enough power from the two Rocket III engines to generate record setting speeds, our endeavor also becomes a battle with the elements,” said Bob Carpenter. “The Salt Flats are an ever-changing environment that can be quite forgiving or absolutely inhospitable, you never know what to expect.”
Piloted by AMA Pro Road Racer Jason DiSalvo, this will be an attempt to break the current 376.363 mph land speed record held by fellow Mike Cook’s Bonneville Shootout entry Ack Attack and piloted by Rocky Robinson. Operating the 1000-horsepower, twin turbocharged Rocket III engine streamliner requires adaptation, which DiSalvo is capable of accomplishing due to his seasoned racing background.
Entering Mike Cook’s Bonneville Shootout is by invitation only to an exclusive list of participants. Land speed attempts on the Bonneville Salt Flats will occur along a 10 to 11-mile course subject to cancellation or delay based upon the weather conditions including rain and wind. For more information go to Triumph Castrol Rocket.
Triumph Castrol Rocket Specifications
Chassis: Carbon Kevlar monocoque
Dimensions: 25’ x 2’ x 3’
Engines: Two Triumph Rocket III engines with two liquid-cooled turbochargers
Horsepower: 1,000-plus horsepower at 9,000 rpm
Torque: 500-plus lbs. combined
Suspension: Alloy aluminum swingarms custom made
Shocks: Ohlins TTX36 adjustable
Fuel: Methanol
Tires: Goodyear Land Speed Special
Engine Lubricant: Castrol Power RS™ 4T 10W-40 full synthetic oil
It takes an extremely well engineered machine, an excellent crew and a rider with a huge pair of cahonies to accomplish these speeds, as well as blessings from Ma Nature and the salt bears.
Good luck Jason and all the other participants.
Take nothing from the effort, but in my humble opinion,
– If the rider/pilot’s feet cannot or does not touch the surface/ground then it is NOT A MOTORCYCLE, perhaps a two-wheeled vehicle, but not a motorcycle.
– With a motorcycle (per definition I suggest), the pilot launches it by supporting/balancing the MOTORCYCLE in the upright position unaided by any other means, then (as) the MOTORCYCLE moves forward and the pilot lifts his/her feet off the ground, at some arbitrary point/place.
I know I am going to upset many – eg the Burt Munroe fans. However I firmly believe there should be two distinct land speed record classes (among others),
1. MOTORCYCLES.
2. TWO-WHEELED VEHICLES.
That said, it is still a remarkable effort to achieve such speeds, on two wheels only. There is a lot of the physics of speed that is not readily understood. Apart from that, piloting a 1000hp (plus) on two wheels, is far beyond the average mere mortal…
It’s spelt ‘cojones’ Iron Horse, and pronounced ‘kuh-hoh-neys’. And yes, they gotta be huge indeed.
GOD”S SPEED to ALL
Sigfreed, There’s dozens, perhaps hundereds of different classes and this motorcycle (yes, it’s a motorcycle) falls within one of the streamliner clasess and if the rider had a way to put their feet down, it would not pass technical inspection for a variety of reasons. We learned the hard way what it takes to get a streamliner thru tech. It’s not easy. But they are still motorcycles.
this is the uber-modified and certainly can’t be held to all the details of a Honda 50. Expecting all the record-attempting bikes to have open bottoms and footpegs would be like demanding unlimited hydroplanes have live wells and a cocktail flag.
First the cockpit has to be fully enclosed and the appendiges of the pilot restrained by a harness. There needs to be positive cockpit pressure to prevent salt from vortexing around inside. There’s NO WAY they would allow openings for the legs to the outside. The specifications that were developed over decades are there for a reason.
Just once I’d like to go out there and twist the throttle and go as fast as I can .
You can do it L2R, many amateur classes. It’s def on my bucket list. Easiest LSR? Start your own class.
2 wheels or 3, doesn’t matter
still takes large ones to race on the salt !
Good Luck to ya !!!