A 19-year-old world motorcycle sidecar speed record was smashed yesterday by a team of New Zealanders on a long stretch of road in Mid-Canterbury.
The sleek 1000cc Flying Kiwi machine clocked a two-run average top speed of 272km/h with Glenn Hayward in the rider's seat and a 60kg weight in
the sidecar.
Christchurch's Phil Garrett, who led the 3 1/2-year campaign to break the previous record of 222km/h - set in the United Kingdom - also did a speed run, clocking 264km/h.
With an International Motorcycle Federation (FIM) steward present during the attempts, the record is recognised as being official, but will still need to be scrutinised by an FIM panel in October.
Garrett said once that was done he would look at applying for a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
Garrett, who is on extended leave from his job at a building supplies warehouse, said it was satisfying to get a return from what he had put into the project.
"It has taken over my entire life for the last 3 1/2 years and to bring it home to a successful conclusion is stuff dreams are made of," he said.
It had cost over $200,000 since 2001, with help from sponsors, parts suppliers and cash contributors.
The Flying Kiwi membership team had grown over that time to 300 with a build team of 11.
Garrett said he got his inspiration for the challenge from Bob Burns and Russell Wright, who set a sidecar speed record of 261km/h in Canterbury 50 years ago to the week.
The record expired in 1964 when the regulations were changed.
"I have such respect for those guys ... to have any world record set - and last 50 years - is incredible," he said.
Although there was a target of 320km/h set before the attempt, Garrett and Hayward decided the conditions wouldn't allow for such a speed.
"We went as fast as we physically could on that road. Both of us are convinced that we've probably got up to another 100km/h in the machine, subject to finding the correct place to do it," Garrett said.
One of those options was the desert flats of Bonneville in Utah - a place Garrett said he would take the bike to if he could find the funding.
- NZPA
