Ack Attack Sets A Motorcycle Land Speed Record of 376 mph

On September 25, 2010, the Top 1 Ack Attack became the world's fastest motorcycle by achieving an average speed, in both directions across a measured mile, of 605.697 km/h (376.363 mph) at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.

Ack Attack
The super sleek Ack Attack Holds the Motorcycle Streamliner World Land Speed Record of 376 mph.

The Ack Attack's peak speed was officially recorded at 634.217 km/h (394.084 mph).

This record-setting run marked the third time in four years the Ack Attack had broken the motorcycle land-speed record.

The record was confirmed and certified by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), which is the world's leading regulatory authority for motorsports racing.

The Ack Attack's record was also recorded in the 2012 edition of the Guinness World Records.

Designed and built from the ground up by Mike Akatiff, the Ack Attack's bullet-shaped chassis is made from chromoly tubing.

The motorcycle streamliner is powered by two 1,299 cc (79.3 cu in) Suzuki Hayabusa turbocharged engines, which produce more than 900 horsepower, and runs on Mickey Thompson tires.

While pursuing the land-speed record, the Ack Attack experienced a number of failed attempts, including runs which ended in spectacular crashes.

The Ack Attack Team

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 Ack Attack will be on display at the Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show, April 27-28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport.

Mike Akatiff, Owner

Mike Akatiff is the owner of Ack Technologies, an avionics company, and is a motorcycle racer, machinist, mechanic, and parts builder. Akatiff first became interested in setting the motorcycle land-speed record in 2002. He dedicated a large portion of his company facility in Northern California to designing and constructing the Ack Attack, and assembled a team of old friends help build the motorcycle.

Crew

  • Ken Puccio, Crew Chief, spent many hours welding the chromoly steel frame and fabricating sheet metal parts.
  • Frank Milburn, Chief Machinist, had 50 years experience.
  • Jim True was the first member of the team and an experienced land-speed racer.
  • Greg Akatiff, Electronics, is Mike Akatiff's youngest son, who handled all of the onboard video, cockpit recording, and engine management system.

Riders

  • Rocky Robinson (2006 – current) was the rider for each of the record-breaking runs, on September 3, 2006, September 26, 2008, and September 25, 2010
  • Sam Wheeler (2006, Lake Gairdner, Australia)
  • John Noonan (2005, Bonneville, Utah)
  • Jimmy Odom (2004 – 2005)
More than 1,000 of 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.