Landspeed record for sub 1000cc. Why hasn't it been broken?

[gazzarose]

I happened across the Anthony Hopkins film 'Worlds Fastest Indian' the the other night. Really good film and a recommended watch, and it's 'based on a true story'. Some extra nice bits thrown in for the movie, but the meat of it is true. That was late 60s and Burt Munro set a record of 183ish mph in the sub 1000cc class. Is there some reason it hasn't just been beaten by a Fireblade or R1 with a smaller rear sprocket, no mirrors and a bit of duct tape for streamlining? Or can land speed records only be set by a specific type of machine? Why isn't it just held by a MotoGp bike at 200+?

I'm sure there's some technical reason I've missed.

[spoodler]

If you're seriously interested, look into the history of land speed attempts/Bonneville Salt Flats and similar. At Bonneville, there are loads of different classes for, streamlined or not, naturally aspirated, type of fuel etc.; it's also measured over fixed distances. Also, when comparing/looking at the speeds involved, racing on salt (or sand) is not equivalent to racing on tarmac - speeds tend to be lower on the salt, for all sorts of reasons, drag being a major factor.

[roboxm3]

Am I missing something or are you for some reason not taking account of the hundred's of runs that have taken place on dozens of bikes over 50+yrs since then!?

[Tribal Chestnut]

roboxm3 said:

Am I missing something or are you for some reason not taking account of the hundred's of runs that have taken place on dozens of bikes over 50+yrs since then!?

He probably just did this:

[spikeyhead]

It's a great film, really should watch it again.

[gazzarose]

Sorry, bit of rushed typing, I was on my way out the door to take my boy to the park. Yeah it's the sub 1000 record that still stands since the 60s. So I assumed I was missing some reason no one with a post 1920s bike has beaten the record. I'd imagine a modern thou with a bit of aero help would be well past it.

[gazzarose]

Just re reading one of the replies above, I wonder if Munro holds the record for streamlined sun 1000, and they just leave that bit out on the Google search.

[PorkInsider]

If you can find this anywhere it's a great watch and will give you some idea about just how hard it is to go seriously fast on the salt.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pyjwj

[KurtFlew]

Great film. Must be 10 years since I've seen it.

[bimsb6]

There’s loads of categories for speed records , I haven’t checked but i assume the munroe record is for pushrod engines or twins or suchlike .

[stang65]

The record has been broken. If you look on the Guiness Book of records site it says:
Fastest conventional motorcycle speed (female) - The fastest conventional motorcycle speed (female) is 381.857 km/h (237.274 mph), and was achieved by Erin Sills (USA) at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, on 28 August 2019. Erin set this record while riding a BMW S1000 RR motorcycle.

So, the 1000cc record has definitely gone but they don't list the individual category records, it was just lucky the fastest female didn't use a Hayabusa!!

[stang65]

Just found this site:
https://bonnevillemst.com/rules-records/records/

Burt Munro still holds the 1000/S/AF record at 184.087mph but that's not the highest Bonneville 1000cc speed as the 1000/MPS/BF record is 262.471mph and there's quite a few over 200mph.

There are many different classes. Munro was in 1000cc, streamliner (frame code S), modified fuel (engine code). The other above is 1000cc, modified partial streamliner, supercharged fuel. When they say fuel in the US they mean not petrol which would be code G (gasoline) where relevant.

If you're as nerdy as me it's all listed in the AMA rulebook from page 285.
https://americanmotorcyclist.com/wp-content/upload...

I guess Munro holds the record becuase anyone going to the hassle of building a streamliner will aim for higher classes than 1000cc modified fuel. They do say that what you should do to get a record is find a neglected class to compete in.

[gazzarose]

That all makes sense now thank you. It was just bugging me and I didn't really know what to Google to get the answer.

Thank you.

[Krikkit]

I know there's a bit of artistic licence in the film, but it's bloody excellent, one of Hopkins' best performances.

[kev b]

I understood that nobody has tried to beat Burt Munro's record in this particular class as a mark of respect for his achievement.

[roboxm3]

Well then I apologise and stand corrected/educated!!

Niche or not I still can’t believe someone hasn’t bettered it, even taking the same chassis/engine combo and refining it to push it that little further…

[srob]

roboxm3 said:

Well then I apologise and stand corrected/educated!!

Niche or not I still can’t believe someone hasn’t bettered it, even taking the same chassis/engine combo and refining it to push it that little further…

kev b said:

I understood that nobody has tried to beat Burt Munro's record in this particular class as a mark of respect for his achievement.

I suspect is the answer.

There are loads of niche records still held by obscure people/machines.

I think Velocette still holds the record for a 500cc single(?) for 24 hours, which they set in the early 60s at over 100mph average, which is pretty impressive I think.

[kev b]

Henry Cole set a new world record in an obscure class didn’t he?

[gazzarose]

Yeah he was perched behind Allan Milyard on his V10 Viper bike. 170-180 ish I think. Bugger that for a bunch of bananas. Milyard says the bike was just starting to get going and was running out of runway!

[hidetheelephants]

gazzarose said:

Yeah he was perched behind Allan Milyard on his V10 Viper bike. 170-180 ish I think. Bugger that for a bunch of bananas. Milyard says the bike was just starting to get going and was running out of runway!

Which is why you go to the salt flats, the run-off is a bit more generous.