Rather than relying on sheer horsepower, Sam’s streamliner relied on a low frontal area and slippery aerodynamics. (In 1974 Denis Manning built and ran a 279mph nitro-burning twin-engine Norton streamliner.) And it set this record running on pump petrol. Built up from an ex-Air Force fuel drop tank and powered by a Commando 750cc engine, it took Californian backyard tuner Sam Wheeler into the 200mph club.Īt 208mph (335km/h) Sam had built the fastest single-engine Norton in motorcycling history. Then, in what seemed like a page from a fairy tale, Cal Rayborn squeezed into his two-wheeled Harley-Davidson-powered projectile and hit 265.492mph (427km/h).Īmong all the exotic machinery on the salt flats that year was a tiny, yellow, knee-high streamliner with a Norton logo on its side. Given the time and effort that they put into the event and the challenges they faced running an F1 car on the salt flats, you can't help but agree.īonneville 400 site for a host of info, including full coverage of the week, images and video of the attempts.Gary Gabelich’s Blue Flame rocket car became the first vehicle to top 1000km/h and Don Vesco’s twin-engined ‘Big Red’ streamliner the first motorcycle to better 400km/h. While disappointed that they didn't set the record at 400, all parties involved deemed the week a success. It wasn't able to match the feat on the return trip, unfortunately.

The magic 400 kph average remained out of reach, though earlier this week, the carĭid hit 400.454 kph on one pass of the measured mile. The second record set was over the flying kilometer, where it averaged 397.481kph (246.983mph).

Over the Bonneville flying mile, the car hit an average speed of 397.360kph (246.908mph). Driver Alan van der Mewe was behind the wheel for all the early-morning record runs, and through the course of the week, Alan, the team, and the car have broken F1 class records three times.ĭuring today's final set of attempts, the Honda produced two land speed records for Formula 1 cars. For the runs out on the salt, the car was outfitted with an upright rear fin instead of the standard wing, and also employed the use of a parachute to help slow itself at the completion of each attempt. The instrument being used to make the attempt was a V10-powered Honda 007. F1 team has been out at the Bonneville Salt Flats pursuing a lofty goal: setting a newįormula 1 car land speed record over the Bonneville flying mile with an average speed of 400 kph.

Bonneville salt flats records