Bolivia

WMC Electric Motorcycle Aims At New Speed Record

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com WMC Electric Motorcycle Has Big Hole in It, Only Way to Set New Speed Record. There’s a good chance the name White Motorcycle Concepts (WMC) doesn’t ring any bells. Don’t worry, that will probably change as soon as next year, provided the company achieves its goal of setting a land speed record for electric motorcycles. WMC is a British engineering company set up not long ago by British Formula One engineer Rob White. Its goal is to advance the adoption of electric drivetrains in the motorcycle industry not by coming up with some incredible battery or electric motor but by devising new aerodynamic tech that should better use the available power. The tech in question, called V-Air, was inspired by the cars taking part in Formula 1 or Le Mans. It consists of a large duct at the center of the bike, in essence, a big hole running through it, designed to force air through the two-wheeler and not around it. This, says WMC, reduces aerodynamic resistance by as much as 70 percent compared to an unnamed “market-leading high performance road bike.” V-Air is backed in the demonstrator motorcycle, called WMC250EV and unveiled on Wednesday, June 23, by a motor driving the front wheel and coupled to a regenerative braking system. There’s an additional final drive system on the bike, one that, according to the company, will not only boost power and enhance efficiency but could also be easily adapted for existing motorcycles. The demonstrator will be put through its paces starting later this year, with White himself planning to mount the bike and race it around. The highpoint in the development of the V-Air is a run planned for next year on the Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, the largest of its […]

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British engineers will try to break the 376.3mph motorcycle record in a 30-ft-long vehicle

by Ian Randall from https://www.dailymail.co.uk Guy Martin will attempt to break the 376.3 mph motorcycle speed record in a 30-ft-long vehicle incorporating a Rolls Royce engine used in helicopters British engineer and ex-bike racer Alex Macfadzean, 77, and his team designed the new ‘streamliner’ bike Racer turned TV presenter Guy Martin will make the record-breaking attempt in Bolivia next year Britain last held the motorcycle land-speed record in 1937 after Eric Fernihough broke 169.72 mph But Italy’s Piero Taruffi took the title by an extra 3.31mph in the October of 1937 and the title has changed hands amongst Germans, Italians and Americans since A 30ft-long vehicle sporting a Rolls Royce engine normally used in helicopters will attempt to reclaim the motorcycle land speed record for Britain. Engineer and ex-racer Alex Macfadzean, 77, and his team designed the ‘streamliner’ bike which will make its record attempt next year at the Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia. Behind the wheel will be motorcycle racer turned TV presenter Guy Martin, who will attempt to beat the current record of 376.3mph and cross the 400mph threshold. To try to advance the record, Mr Martin will run the new streamliner on a mile-long course twice in opposite directions, as per official land-speed record rules. The bike’s 1,200 shaft horsepower Rolls Royce engine is the same found within the Westland Lynx helicopter once employed by the British Army and the Royal Navy. The first official motorcycle land-speed record was set in 1920 by the American racer Gene Walker 103.5mph, building on unofficial efforts dating back to 1903. Britain last held the record for six months in 1937 after Eric Fernihough broke 169.72mph on his Brough Superior-JAP. But Italy’s Piero Taruffi took the title by an extra 3.31mph in the October of 1937. The title has changed hands

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