It's a new world record! Ack Attack breaks 16-year-old standard set by
Easyriders streamliner
Story and photos by
Grant Parsons
Streamliner designer Mike Akatiff and rider Rocky Robinson opened a
new era in motorcycle land speed racing, knocking down a 16-year-old
mark and setting a new world record of 342.797 mph at the AMA/FIM
International Motorcycle Speed Trials Sunday on the famed Utah
Bonneville Salt Flats. The mark bests the old record, set by Dave Campos
in a dual-Harley-Davidson-engined Easyriders Streamliner, by 20
mph.
 The
new world record came on the first day of the week-long speed trials.
Riding a dual-Suzuki-Hayabusa-engined streamliner conceived and built by
Akatiff and dubbed "Ack Attack," Robinson took off for his first run on
the 11-mile course on the salt, spun the wheels a bit, and then cooly
notched a speed through the measured 1-mile traps of 344.673 mph.
World records governed by the Federation Internationale de
Motocyclisme require that a second run be completed in the opposite
direction within two hours, with the average of both speeds standing as
the record. The crew turned the motorcycle around in 55 minutes, aimed
it down the course, and when the wind stopped, did a second run of
340.922 mph.
The two-way average: a world-record 342.797 mph.
"The funny thing is," said Robinson, moments after the finish,
"there's more in it than that."
Akatiff agreed, saying there were a few more tricks to be tried,
including a traction-control system that would allow even better
acceleration in the lead-up to the timing traps. The team may make more
runs to improve on its record.
Two other teams in Bonneville this week also have a shot at the
record, and could potentially notch a faster time, making an already
historic week the start of a new golden age in land speed motorcycle
racing. Sam Wheeler, whose ultra-aerodynamic Kawasaki ZX-11-engined
streamliner has run in the 330s in worse conditions, was expected on the
salt later in the week. In addition, meet organizer Denis Manning has a
hand-built streamliner piloted by AMA Grand National dirt tracker Chris
Carr, which has a shot at unseating the new record-holder.
The meet continues through Thursday. Watch for a complete report in
the November issue of American Motorcyclist.
Mike Akatiff and Rocky Robinson celebrate their place in the FIM record
books.
© 2006, American Motorcyclist Association
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