The history of going professionally fast

Guy Martin and the Infor Triumph team have now clocked the fastest ever speed for a Triumph-powered machine at 274.2mph – and that incredible record came about at the end of a week’s testing in preparation for the record runs proper which (if plans are adhered to) will be getting under way about the time you read this issue (middle of September).

Exciting stuff, but where does the speed achieved so far stand in the annals of history?

Well, the mark that Guy and the team have already set sits neatly between the 254.84mph by Cal Rayborn in 1970 on the single nitrofueled Harley-Davidson Sportster that was nicknamed ‘Godzilla’ built by Warner Riley, and 302.94mph clocked by Don Vesco in 1975.

Vesco’s best speed was clocked with the Yamaha ‘Silver Bird’ Streamliner (pictured above) – a 1480cc enclosed motorcycle that earlier during the same set of runs had become the first two-wheeler to break the 300mph barrier at Bonneville.

Guy’s effort is the fastest ever Triumph speed with the Hinckleybased company’s previous best being 245.667mph in the twin-engined Gyronaut X-1 Streamliner piloted by Robert Leppan (pictured below), back in 1966 – making it 50 years since Triumph officially upped its own bestspeed record.

Guy and the team sill need to find another 102.163mph in order to take the Land Speed Record in the Streamliner class at Bonneville when the official record runs start in a week’s time.

The current record was set in September 2010 by Rocky Robinson (pictured below, left with the team’s Mike Akatiff alongside) when he piloted the Top Oil-Ack Attack Streamliner, a 2600cc twin-engined (Suzuki motors were used) bike which fired up to 376.363mph.