photo courtesy Ken Andrus
Ken's Action Photography & Smoothie Bar
NEW
ATV SPEED WORLD RECORD
149.45 MPH
Also New Women's Speed Record set by
Natalie Wilmeth at 127.9 MPH
Rocket Raptor 4.0
Madras Airport
June 3, 2006
Report by Rocket Man Himself, Terry Wilmeth
Read
The Article in the Madras Pioneer Newspaper
Hey all,
Last year, I was successful at breaking the Guinness
World Record for the Fastest ATV (Quad) in the World
by averaging 124mph, but I lost it to the previous holder
in England by his reaching 134mph. I subsequently reached
138mph during the Madras, Oregon Air Show and got the
record back. As many of you were aware, we were concerned
that the prior record holder could reach the 138 record
with more tweaking of his highly modified Honda Super
BlackHawk Quad. With that in mind, we set out to raise
the bar higher by further enhancing the Yamaha ALBA
Rocket Raptor 3.0 and by building up a faster ATV on
a newer platform, a Yamaha Raptor 700R. We took the
current record bike (3.0) and carefully studied the
myriad of notes taken from the many recommendations
of land speed guru Pete Fisher of Powroll. We then removed
the vortex generators, added a Hydrodynamics suspension
and modified ModQuad a-arms, raised the geometry to
eliminate ground effect, tied down the new Fullbore
body with "invisible" fishing line, narrowed
the stance and then boosted the hybrid rocket thruster
an additional 100 pounds. Dressed in the ultimate safety
gear provided by Cycle Sports of Salem, we began speed
trials. The ALBA Rocket Raptor 3.0 reached an amazing
142.53 mph average. It set the new Guinness ATV World
Land Speed Record! Though it was technically enough,
we wanted more, the ellusive 150mph barrier! Then bad
news, the power dropped off substantially from the modified
combustion engine. We pushed the nitrous system too
hard and lost the piston.
 Out
rolled ALBA Rocket Raptor 4.0. This
was an untested new ATV platform. It went back to last
year's low and wide philosophies of hi-speed stability
versus aerodynamics. The rocket was pushed to over 600
pounds thrust. In fact, during a low power rocket test
firing while still loaded on a trailer, it nearly jumped
the stops and restraints. Our thought, even push a brick
hard enough and it will go fast. This ATV had an ALBA
modified motor, ELKA suspension, castor-modified Laeger
A-arms, Boss-Noss EFI enhancements and nitrous delivery
system, E-Ram Supercharger, TrailTech computer and lighting
system and vortex generators.
Decked out in gear again, we set out to see what we
could do on the morning of June 3, 2006 at the Madras,
Oregon airport Freightliner Test Track. We intended
to either break the record achieved by Raptor 3.0 during
trials or stand by what good ol' 3.0 had successfully
achieved again. BBBUUUTTT, here's a twist. We also set
out to use 4.0 to establish a new Women's
ATV Land Speed record. Not officially
broken down by categories under Guinness rules, the
Northwest Offroad Timing Authority (NWOTA) stepped up
to recognize the women's record. The NWOTA was established
to offset the fuddy-duddies of Bonneville Salt Flats
fame that still refuse to recognize ATV land speed achievements.
The NWOTA was willing to credit the women's achievement
for world record status. So enters my daughter, Natalie
Wilmeth. 18 and highly experienced, she was set to rely
on 4.0 to set a new world record.
Up to bat on 4.0 was Natalie first. She tore down the
track over and over hoping for the best averages. As
the day grew warmer, the engine lost some performance
and the north wind hurt her southern runs. In
the end, she averaged 127.90 mph. This
was even higher than the first Guinness record broken
last year by dad. When she was done, her first words:
"that wasn't so bad, what's the big deal?".
Side note: I wanted to hit her with my helmet, I'd like
to see her say that when she's in her forties and going
the same speed on a vehicle designed for only 75mph.
Now it was my turn (the dad). I only had enough rocket
fuel oxidizer for 4 back to back max power burns. I
prepped and did a few non-rocket, non nitrous runs at
nearly 100mph. All felt ok. I staged at the northern
end of the track and armed the BossNoss system, activated
the E-Ram and ignited the rocket motor. My gear was
checked by the handler and off I went. At fifth gear,
I wicked the nitrous and e-ram. My GPS climbed to over
100mph. As I approached the quarter mile speed marker,
I hit the rocket motor
activator switch. I tore through the
time traps and I could feel the acceleration and the
high pitched rocket whine behind me. I decelerated and
approached the track handler at the southern end of
the track. He tells me that timers recorded a run of
149.35 mph. Holy crap! Another new record (sorry 3.0).
I turned around and headed back. The next run, 149.45
mph. The average....149.40
mph. So close to the 150 barrier. We
installed the last set of rocket oxidizer bottles and
re-serviced the BossNoss system. The off we went. This
time, everything felt good, but the rocket had a different
sound to it. The run was 144mph. I was slowing down.
The return run, 146mph. The rocket was spent and we
were done.
Photographer and ATV Reporter Ken Andrus shown
here in, well, um, action, capturing Women's ATV
Speed Record Holder Natalie Wilmeth before she
messes up her hair. |
When we settled down, it dawned on us that we had
accomplished quite a few feats. In the presence of friends,
the NWOTA, the media and the great folks of the Jefferson
County Fire District, we had broken three world records.
Good ol' 3.0 broke the Guinness World Record at 142.53.
mph. Natalie on 4.0 set the new Women's ATV World Land
Speed Record at 127.90 mph and then I broke 3.0's brief
but successful record onboard 4.0 at 149.40 mph. 150mph
is still out there, but not for me. This was the last
run for me but may be the beginnings for Natalie. The
NWOTA plans to hold annual ATV land speed record invitationals
soon. I plan to be there, but as a mechanic. I really
appreciate my sponsors and supporters. Nobody can do
something like this alone. Their technical expertise
and product support kept us fast and safe.
Terry
Wilmeth
Guinness World Record holder
World's Fastest All Terrain Vehicle |
