Top Speed, which Brakes?

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

As a peace offering I thought you may enjoy this below.

Frenchman Jose Meiffret set the motorpaced record in 1951 behind a Talbot Lago at 109.1 mph and again in 1962 with a speed of 127.342 behind a Mercedes 300SL.
In his 1951 attempt, he carried a note in his pocket that stated: "In case of fatal accident, I beg the spectators not to feel sorry for me. I am a poor man, an orphan since the age of eleven, and I have suffered much. Death holds no terror for me. This record attempt is my way of expressing myself. If the doctors can do no more for me, please bury me by the side of the road where I have fallen."

 

[Lucidone]

As a peace offering I thought you may enjoy this below.

Frenchman Jose Meiffret set the motorpaced
View attachment 934206View attachment 934207

....so all those bikes seen on eBay with the forks backwards are actually set up to help the rider go really fast?

Seriously though, wonder why in this case?

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

....so all those bikes seen on eBay with the forks backwards are actually set up to help the rider go really fast?

Seriously though, wonder why in this case?

It allows the rider to get closer to draft. Edit, when on the track they are called a stayer.

 

[M_Chavez]

Good point re draft. Also, no need to turn sharply, so foot clearance is not an issue.

 

[M_Chavez]

"in 1951 behind a Talbot Lago at 109.1 mph"
Also, to put land speeds into perspective, Gene Vincent was racing with the devil in 1958.

Well, goin' pretty fast, looked behind
A-hear come the the devil doin' ninety-nine, I said
Move, hot-rod, move man
Move, hot-rod, move man
Move hot-rod, move me on down the the line, oh yeah
Well thought I was smart, the race was won
A-hear come the devil doin' a-hundred and one
Move, hot-rod, move man
Move, hot-rod, move man
Move hot-rod, move me on down the the line

 

[Lucidone]

It allows the rider to get closer to draft.

Was that a typo...did you intend to write 'death'
Who needs too much stability at 127 mph anyway!

Nuts!

Edit. Just looked it up and by reversing the fork you're creating more trail / stability - that negative offset really confused me, thought it would make things worse at first. Every day's a school day!

 

[Canuk]

Graeme Obree - IHPVA Land Speed Record Attempt to beat 83mph (unsuccessful)