Ack Attack Sets a Motorcycle Land Speed
Record of 360 mph
After five days of pushing their motorcycle streamliner to new limits on the salt flats of Bonneville, Ack Attack team set a new motorcycle land speed record with a 360.913 mph run on Sept. 26, 2008.
Witnessed by an official of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), and now subject to ratification, the new world record of 360.913 mph will also be eligible for the Guinness Book of World Records.
It tops the previous 350.884 mph record set by Denis Manning and Chris Carr in 2006.
The super sleek Ack Attack Holds the Motorcycle Land Speed Record of 360 mph
More than 1,000 the world’s coolest cars of every era and style will be displayed. Proud owners show up in cars that come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Spectators will get a rare up-close look at antique horseless carriages and Ford Model T’s, fanciful touring and luxury cars, powerful sports cars, custom cars and street rods, muscle cars, vintage and modern era high-performance race cars, quirky art and pedal cars, modified street machines with cutting edge styles, exotic high-performance cars, stylish European cars, ultra cool low-riders, sporty compacts, modified imports with flashy graphics, fashionable hip-hop urban show cars, homebuilt kit cars, super-charged turbo cars and trucks, “green” technology/alternative fuel vehicles, streamliners, dragsters, funny cars, gassers, and jet cars.
The Ack Attack’s world record run highlighted the first annual Top 1 Oil World Land Speed Shootout, which took place at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Bonneville, Utah.
The Ack Attack team, along with several other contenders, took to the salt on Sept. 22, to begin a five day run of competing for the title of world's fastest motorcycle.
Throughout the meet Sam Wheeler's E-Z Hook and Mike Akatiff's Ack Attack streamliners came close to setting a new record numerous times, but it wasn't until the morning of Sept. 26 that the Top 1 Ack Attack team was able reach top speeds in consecutive runs and earn the new absolute motorcycle land speed record.
“What a fantastic conclusion to a great week of racing,” said Mike Akatiff, designer and owner of the Ack Attack. “We struggled on occasion early in the week, came close to breaking the record several times, and then all the elements aligned Friday morning.”
With salt and climate conditions excellent and the 900-hp ACK Attack tuned up, driver Rocky Robinson piloted the streamliner into the history books.
The team used a Suzuki Motor Corporation Hyabusa model as the base for its record-setting motorcycle. Streamliners have two wheels and a full body that encloses the driver. The 1,340 cubic centimeter (81.7 cubic inch) engine, introduced by Suzuki in 1999, made the Hyabusa the world's fastest production motorcycle through 2001.
The Ack Attack team was the first to break the 16-year Easy Rider record by going 342mph in 2006.
Two days later, rivals Denis Manning and Chris Carr broke their record.
The 159 square miles of salt flats at Bonneville have been the site of world speed records since the 1930s. The densely packed salt on a glacial lakebed is almost perfectly flat and its uninterrupted span allows vehicles to reach high speeds. Time trials are run on the salt flats in the fall of each year after rain and heat packs the track.
The new world record is expected to be ratified by Bonneville Nationals, Inc. and the Southern California Timing Association, as well as the FIM.
The Ack Attack will be on display at the Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show, April 25th at Half Moon Bay Airport.
