THE FASTEST BIKE IS RICHARD ASSEN’S ASSENTEC SPECIAL AT 227MPH

streamliner almost at the start, but gets it together for the next. The fastest-ever pass by a motorcycle in Australia is Rocky Robinson’s 289mph on an earlier Manning-built streamliner at Lake Gairdner way back in 2000. Running on just three cylinders and in third gear (of four), Valerie smashes it with a lazy 328mph to become the first motorcyclist to exceed 300mph in Australia, as well as the first woman.

The team is understandably confident of a big show in the World Speed Trials that weekend, and Valerie is on point at 343mph at the four-mile mark on her first pass with eight miles to go, when the rear end suddenly lifts off the salt and she loses control. It’s all over in a heartbeat as Valerie deploys the parachutes to stabilise the machine, which then slides on its side for more than a mile before coming to a rest. “The best news is she walked away from it,” Denis Manning says. “All the safety stuff we designed worked. We know what happened; we now just have to work out why.”

Both international teams are full of praise for Speed Week. Manning describes both the organisation of the event and the condition of the track as first class. “The DLRA did a marvellous job,” Treit adds. “Their scrutineers were very diligent and the safety crew members get the award for excellence and dedication.”

“The overwhelming comments from our international competitors was that our event was world class and that, given the opportunity, they would be back again,” says DLRA president Greg Wapling. “They were very impressed with the competency and diligence of our medical and rescue teams, and were amazed by the professionalism of the organisation and our volunteers.

“There was a real vibe this year and we – the collective, inclusive we – have put the world of land speed racing on notice. We can put on a world-standard event and have fun doing it.”

02: Fastest bike of the meeting was Richard Assen’s Hayabusa-powered special at 227.187mph

01: The Dunn family are DLRA stalwarts in their lakester, with many family members racing it over the years. This time around, Kurt Dunn at 243mph was too good for dad Mark at 238mph

04: Steve Morgan set a 152mph class record years ago in the 302ci Boss-powered Toyota Hilux he shares with John Viles, and the pair have been chasing it ever since. John was closest in 2018 with 149mph

03: Keely Bown has been racing dirt circuit since she was 12. She is now also an accomplished land speed racer, smashing her own 142mph record with a blistering 169mph pass in her 1994 Subaru

05: Kiwis Dave Rosewarne and Mark Love swapped the engine, gearbox and diff of their ‘Chevrolet Firebird’ mid-week to run in different classes. It’s easier than bringing two cars, they reckon

06: Veteran Bob Bowman has been racing his 1927 Ford roadster for decades, this year running 169mph against a 171mph record