Riding your motorcycle flat-out for nine miles across a shimmering carpet of hard packed salt is not everyone?s cup of tea, but if you?re into custom builds and high-speed runs then you can?t look past Lake Gairdner ? Australia?s very own version of the famous Bonneville Salt flats. And that?s exactly what three mates with a passion for Triumph?s modern classic range thought a few years back when they heard about the 160 mile long dry lake bed in Central SA that also doubles a massive white drag strip.
2016’s Thruxton (top) is back, and it bought a Bobber friend (above)
For one week in March each year the vast expanse is transformed into a proving ground for bikes, cars and streamliners during ?Speedweek?, and this year it also played host to the World Speed Trials for the first time. The FIM sanctioned event attracted engine fettlers and pilots from far and wide with dreams of breaking land speed records on the big white dyno, but some of the most notable achievements ended up coming from our very own backyard.
The Triumph Salt Racer Project, managed by Paul Chiodo of Triumph Australia, ran two machines and enjoyed a week of personal bests that included the unofficial record for fastest naturally aspirated air-cooled parallel twin in the 1000cc unlimited fuel naked class. Their small team, also composed of Triumph Technical Manager Cliff Stovall and Aerospace Engineer Ross Osborne, have been chipping away at the record since 2016. They?re not veterans in the paddoc...