Stuart has set previous records at Lake Gairdner and also at Bonneville Salt Flats....
His email follows....
Hi to all,
For the first time in many
years Lake Gairdner Speed Trials were unaffected by wet weather. The surface
was initially a little rough and the weather very hot requiring a careful eye
on engine temperatures and excessively rich mixtures to ensure the engine
survived the meeting. After a steady sighting run to check out the new body and
steering geometry the Big Velo ran 166 mph on its second outing !!!! This
was good cause for celebration as the Velo was now the Worlds fastest British
single surpassing the fantastic Vincent Might Mouse of Bryan Chapman.
After a photo session day I
decided a higher speed was possible and lined up again with a bit higher gearing
and a higher ratio supercharger drive. The third run was only 152mph but this
was against a 15 to 20 mph headwind so it was back in line for another 8 hrs for
one final run. Friday morning was calm and cool, ideal conditions.......... but
the morning ticked inexorably by with one delay after another and a headwind
starting to flutter the flags and things looking like the meeting could be
cancelled without another run. Finally the track was clear and the Big Velo
boomed away from the line with its nearly 100mph first gear into a 7 to 10 mph
gusting head and slight crosswind. By the time I changed up from third into top
at 156mph the bike was weaving and darting about somewhat in the ruts on the
track and the odd gusts of wind, but with the throttle hard against the stop one
hand hovering over the clutch lever and the revs climbing towards the 6500 mark
the track markers started to slip by faster and faster until the final timing
light flashed past and it was time to slow down with the old Venom single leading
shoe brake smelling as only red hot 50 year old asbestos can. Back to the pits
to see the crew flashing lights, cheering and jumping around !!!!.........
171.600 mph !! ..... A fantastic end to a great week....... The Velocette
name is again in the record books where it belongs !
Worlds Fastest
Velocette.
Worlds Fastest British
Single
Worlds Fastest Single Cylinder
Sit On Motorcycle.
A sincere thanks for the
support to my crew and all of you over
the years,
Stuart Hooper
ps..... Just how fast can a
Velo go ?
In the preparation for this attempt, Stuart supercharged the single cylinder engine and sent these photographs...
