WORLD LAND SPEED RECORDS DON’T COME EASILY……
Gulf launches documentary short celebrating Ian King’s Motorcycle World Land Speed Record
Gulf Oil International is delighted to bring down the curtain on its 2016 activities with the unveiling of “WORLD LAND SPEED RECORDS DON’T COME EASILY” – the documentary short film that chronicles the attempts of Ian King, on the Gulf Oil Drag Racing/GPO Bike, to set a new Motorcycle Land Speed Record for a quarter mile from a standing start.
“How difficult can it be?” asks Ian King. “Flat out, fast as possible, very long runway, no worries about stopping distance? Think again…. No dragstrip level of traction, uneven surfaces, access to pit area disallowed between runs, no changes to engine and gearing allowed, run both ways within two hours, overcoming complaints about noise and leaving excessive black lines (!), only three runs permitted out of a planned eight… Probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do on the bike!”
Because the FIM, who govern world motorcycle sport, stipulate that to achieve a World Land Speed Record, two runs most be completed over the same course – one in each direction – it meant forsaking the specially prepared surface of the purpose-built drag racing venues for an airfield runway. The venue chosen was Elvington, in Yorkshire, over its Top Speed Record weekend.
The path to achieving the record was fraught with difficulties, as Gulf’s short film documents – hence its title – but ultimately, through the team’s excellent work and its ability to adapt the bike to the conditions, together with Ian King’s extreme bravery in carrying out two runs when forced to use the concrete-paved side strip to the main runway – or abandon the attempt – a new record was achieved.
The multiple European Drag Racing Champion, finished off what was another extremely successful season with a tenth Top Fuel title, European speed records, and….that new world record.
Gulf has a long history of Land Speed Record breaking, which dates back into the 1930s, with the likes of Ab Jenkins – who drove his Gulf-lubricated Mormon Meteor to numerous world speed records using Gulf road oil. This latest record mirrored these achievements as Ian King’s bike runs on absolutely standard Gulf road lubricants – despite the fact that it has probably the most powerful motorbike engine in the world (rated at something over 1500BHP).
For more details contact Simon Maurice at Gulf Oil International
sm@gulfoilltd.com or phone: +44 (0) 7771597961.
