Video will start when loaded.
File is 3.9MB and will take a while to load

Here's one of the first passes of the Rocket Raptor 3.0 as seen
by the timing line. At the line, Terry Wilmeth's Rocket Raptor
was approaching 130 mph.

It all started as kind of a joke...

Terry noted after setting the bar for the new world record. He's referring to way back when he found himself in possession of a JATO rocket. Being a long time Quad Sand Drag racer, Terry always liked to go fast, but the rocket added a whole new dimension.

So about a year and a half later, after 2 rocket motors, several combinations of propellant and a complete overhaul of his once stock Raptor, Terry propelled his raptor down a deserted runway faster than anyone else had ever gone before.

The weather conditions were not optimum for a record attempt, with light rain and high humidity, but everything was in place, so they decided to give it a go and hope for the best. The first pass, as seen in the video was met with amazement by all the bystanders. Even the timing official can be heard uttering his surprise at the actual speed of the quad when passing the line.

Getting the quad to set the record was one thing...

One of the most difficult challenges of the whole record attempt was working through the official timing and scoring authority. There really wasn't set standards for a quad speed attempt - there was a record in place, but the rules for trying to brake the record were hazy.

You had to have a certain method of timing, you had to have several passes back to back in each direction and take an average (to avoid having a strong tailwind give you a boost) and several other restrictions. Much of the preparation time was spent trying to work with Guinness on what safety modifications could be done to the quad to help improve stability at high speeds.

Too Hot To Handle

All in all, everything went extremely well, there was only one mishap. On one of the later runs, half-way through the speed run, Wilmeth felt a serious burn on his leg. Being that the raptor was fueled by nitrous, he quickly bailed out, cartwheeling though the weeds on the side of the track. Fortunately it wasn't fire, but water that caused the burning. Seems that the extreme load on the motor caused a water line to burst, spraying his leg with steam. The leathers he was wearing protected him, but it still hurt like crazy.

New World Record!

Otherwise, the day went without a hitch, and the record fell. The official speed of 124.18mph is the average of two runs, back to back per the timing authority's instructions. On one attempt in a test run, Wilmeth claims that they hit speeds of 135 and he thought the Raptor was going to explode.

"We are really at the mechanical limit of the Raptor." noted Wilmeth when asked "What's next." We've already gone through a lot to get to this point and we've already got a lot of ideas on how we can set the bar even higher next time.

For now, Rocket Man Terry Wilmeth will just have to settle with being the fastest quad rider in the world.

ATV
1st WORLD SPEED
RECORD 138.52MPH

August 27th 2005
Madres OR

NOTE: In June 2006 at Madres, Terry again Set the Speed Record at 149 MPH

And Natalie Wilmeth set the Women's speed record

Video footage of Rocket Man's first Record run of 124.18mph

June 18, 2005
Madres, OR

Rocket Man, Terry Wilmeth with the help of a few friends sets the new world land speed record for Quads

It was a damp and rainy day at the Madres, OR airfield that Terry Wilmeth unloaded his third generation, highly modified Yamaha Rocket Raptor. Saturday, June 18th was the day he was working toward for over a year.

Together with a host of family and supporters looking on, along with the timing authority, several reporters, an an ambulance and fire team just incase, Terry set the world speed record for quads.

Oregon News Register
Report on the Record Run