HOT HARLEY

(901cc), then swapped it for his long-stroke 89ci (1458cc) beast, with a 3.38in (85mm) bore and whopping 5in (127mm) stroke, that would rev to 6000rpm on the record runs. The 89ci motor also featured S&S flywheels, Dytch cylinders and pistons, an S&S carb and ran on a mix of 70% nitromethane and alcohol fuel, which helped to boost power to 150bhp. The streamliner was made in five separate sections, each joined by a bulkhead, had a maximum diameter of two feet, with a nose cone from a P38 WWII plane, and had a wheelbase of 10ft 3in. It ran on 15in wheels with Firestone car slicks inflated to 100psi. The front end featured hub-centre steering while the rear had no suspension.

The record effort was plagued by technical glitches. There were issues with the skids used to stabilise the pod at low speeds. Testing threw up handling issues and there were several crashes – luckily without injury and without serious damage to the machine.

Rayborn upped the record by some 4mph, but O’brien knew Leppan was preparing his Triumph double for another go at the record, and wanted more. Rayborn ran it at over 265mph – but before the return run that was required to ratify a new record, the crew spotted aluminium deposits on the plug, and discovered a cracked piston. Amazingly, it was decided reduce the nitro to 60% and risk the return run. The motor let go 200ft before the timing lights, but Rayborn still clocked an average 265.492mph to claim the record.

• Sources:mcn, Motorcycle Sport Quarterly, Cycle Racing, Cycle World, Harley Racers, wiki.com

First +100mph: 1920, GENE WALKER, 994cc Indian, Daytona Beach, Florida

First +110mph: 1924, BERT LE VACK, 867cc Brough Superior, Arpajon, France

First +120mph: 1923, CLAUDE F TEMPLE, 996cc OEC Temple, Arpajon, France

First +130mph: 1929 ERNST JAKOB HENNE, 735CCBMW WR750 s/c, Ingolstadt, Germany

First +150mph: 1930 JOSEPH WRIGHT, 995cc Zenith JAP, Cork, Ireland

First +160mph: 1936 ERNST JAKOB HENNE, 493cc BMW Type 255, A3, Germany

First +170mph: 1937, PIERO TARUFFI, 492cc, Gilera s/c, Autostrada A4, Italy

First +180mph: 1951, WILHELM HERZ, 499cc, NSU Delphin I, A9 Autobahn, Germany

First +190mph: 1955, JOHNNY ALLEN, 649cc Triumph Devil’s Arrow, Bonneville, USA

First +200mph: 1956, WILHELM HERZ, 499cc, NSU Delphin III, Bonneville, USA

First +220mph: 1962, WILLIAM JOHNSON, 650cc, Triumph, Bonneville, USA

First +230mph: 1966, ROBERT LEPPEN, 1298cc Triumph Gyronaut, Bonneville, USA

First +250mph: 1970, DON VESCO, 700cc Yamaha Big Red, Bonneville, USA

First +260mph: 1970, CAL RAYBORN, 1458cc Harley-davidson, Bonneville, USA

First +300mph: 1975, DON VESCO, 1480cc Yamaha Silver Bird, Bonneville, USA

First +310mph: 1978, DON VESCO, 2030cc Lightning Bolt, Bonneville, USA

First +320mph: 1990, DAVE CAMPOS, 3000cc Easyriders Streamliner, Bonneville, USA

First +340mph: 2006, ROCKY ROBINSON, 2600cc Ack Attack, Bonneville, USA

First +350mph: 2006, CHRIS CARR, 2997cc BUB Seven, Bonneville, USA

First +360mph: 2008, ROCKY ROBINSON, 2600cc Ack Attack, Bonneville, USA

First +370mph: 2010, ROCKY ROBINSON, 2600cc Ack Attack, Bonneville, USA 492cc, Gilera s/c 499cc, NSU Delphin III

The Harley crew that grabbed the new record, including streamliner builder Manning (with moustache), and to his right: Rayborn, Riley and O’brien Rayborn, learning to pilot the streamliner from scratch, was in for a rough ride across the famous Bonneville salt flats, crashing several times

700cc Yamaha Big Red

994cc Indian