The Cook Motorsports Top Speed Shootout begins Monday, September 21, at the Bonneville Salt Flats. This is the fastest event - where the fastest vehicles have their opportunity to set new international speed records. If you're able to get here -- come on out and watch the speed!
Thre will be six vehicles this year -- including cars, motorcycles (both "sit-on" and streamliner types), and even a snowmobile! There's something for everyone, so to speak. The cars include the Poteet and Main "Speed Demon", which last year ran 395 miles per hour. That was with a four-cylinder engine -- and this year the Demon has a V-8! The car was tested at SpeedWeek here a few weeks ago and topped out at about 401 mph. Many updates and imrpovements have been made in the intervening two weeks -- so it's fair to expect some super speeds from the Speed Demon.
A team from Canada will be attempting to set an international speed record for a snowmobile. The vehicle has two wheels on each side in front -- instead of skis -- and a specially-designed rear belt rated for 250 mph for a drive mechanism. The belt is grooved, not "lugged" so it will not damage the salt surface. The snowmobile's engine is a Yamaha motorcycle engine that's supercharged and running on alcohol -- and making more than 600 hp.
Bikes will include Richard Assen's turbo Suzuki -- the bike that he rode to over 260 at SpeedWeek. There'll be a thrust-powered jet engine bike, and the Bub Enterprises streamliner -- which held the world speed record two years ago at over 350 mph.
Attendance is open to everyone at the Top Speed Shootout, but if you can't be there in person -- stay connected to landracing.com's Forum for continuous updates and plenty of photos as the Shootout goes on all week. See you on the Salt!