Castrol Readies To Smash Speed Records

The Castrol Rocket – a collaboration between Castrol and motorcycle legends Triumph – is gearing up to attempt to demolish the land speed record for motorcycles in September this year.
And the attempt coincides with the finishing touches being made to the world’s first 1000 mile-per-hour car, the purposely built BLOODHOUND SSC lubricated by Castrol, which hopes to provide a smashing of epic proportions of the land speed record in South Africa next year.

The BLOODHOUND Supersonic Car is designed to go faster than the speed of sound while remaining under full control of its driver. Hakskeen Pan in the Northern Cape will be the scene of the feat, which is set to propel land speed endeavours into a new era of competitive design. It was selected for being one of the flattest areas in the world.

Meanwhile, the Castrol Rocket motorcycle challenge represents a spectacular attempt for the team to restore their legacy of record-breaking which stretches back decades. Not only do they have their sights set on breaking the current world record in the days ahead, but also penetrating the elusive 400mph barrier (643.737 km/h).

Coventry-based Triumph held the record between 1955 and 1970, before the iconic English brand temporarily shelved its record-breaking activities. Suzuki currently holds the world record of 376.363 miles per hour (605.697 km/h).

The venue for this record attempt is the Bonneville Salt Flats in the US state of Utah. It is here that the Castrol Rocket project team, including aerodynamics expert Matt Markstaller, engine manufacturer Bob Carpenter and rider Jason DiSalvo, will have two opportunities to set a new world record.

Shaped like a plane without wings, the Castrol Rocket’s carbon Kevlar body is 7.77 metres long, 61 centimetres wide and 91 centimetres high. The swing arm is made of aluminium. Öhlins shock absorbers combine with Goodyear’s specially developed “Land Speed Special” tyres to ensure the bike handles perfectly on the Salt Flats. The fuel is methanol and the engine oil used is fully-synthetic Castrol Power1 4T 10W40. Carbon brake discs and two parachutes are employed to slow the rocket on two wheels down.

“The Castrol Rocket is the perfect machine to set a new-generation world record,” says Nandi Canning of Castrol.
“Man and machine in perfect harmony, pushing the boundaries of speed… For centuries people have been living out this dream and a new highlight is just around the corner, as Castrol and Triumph prepare to make history.”