Electric Motorcycle Sets New Land Speed Record of 173 MPH

[magicsmoke]

Magic
The only way to create lift is to have a fairly flat surface like a wing... a round surface can have forces in several axis
Kent

Kent, I'm only the messenger, not the author of the spreadsheet
But, "to have a fairly flat surface like a wing" being the only way to create lift is not true ... spinning golf balls, footballs etc.
Also, a round shape at speed close to a flat surface will have a greater air pressure between them than the 'open' plane.

Rob

[Lawlessind]

Kent,

This was one of the sources that I was referring to. It is the Bonneville 200 club page.

" The Salt Flats is a demanding race course, if it isn't the heat sucking the life out of you or the breath out of your engine then it's the rain trying to send everyone packing and then you have the salt itself. The salt will drag you tires down like you've likely never experienced before.

The coveted 200 mph club is a select group of people who have exceeded the 200 mph mark on the official timers for the Bonneville Salt Flats (or any of the other land speed record tracks). While 200 miles per hour is a commonplace occurrence on a NASCAR track and even more common on a drag strip it comes at a higher price on the Salt. The traction problems with the loose salt, the unevenness of the track itself. "

I take the above to mean that a vehicle will run slower on the salt than on concrete, all other factors being even. If salt were actually faster (had less drag) I would think my local Air Force base would have a 2 mile salt runway instead of the concrete one that they have. As I said I don't know, I have only driven on Ohio road salt. That is why I posed the question.

[magicsmoke]

the fastest sit on motorcycle at Maxton is 263, At loring its 250 something and I believe the Texas mile is less than 260.... and at el-mirage is one of my bikes at 252.... The fastest sit on bike at Bonneville is 272... The same comparisons can be made for 3 and 4 wheeled vehicles.... I believe the fastest electric motorcycle on concrete is 174 and the fastest pass at Bonneville is 179.... It looks to me like Bonneville is still “the fastest place on earth” All of the sanctioning bodies post there records on their web sites for your own research

Kent

Hi Kent,
jeez, with all these different sanctioning bodies and 'classes' it must be a nightmare planning a project.

Looks like a couple of the records have updated since your last look ..

Maxton / 272.374 / Bill Warner
http://www.ecta-lsr.com/
http://www.sportrider.com/features/1...ord/index.html

Loring / 260.99 (265.188) / Shane Stubbs
http://www.lta-lsr.com/HOME.htm
http://www.landracing.com/index.php?...sk=view&id=214

also, to add to the debate, a snippet from an article about Mission Motors' 2009 record run ..

One of the most surprising facts is that racing on salt is actually slower than racing on asphalt, which would make running at Bonneville seem counter-intuitive. The salt pack can vary greatly in its resistance, depending on the level of water present, and a rough 10% velocity reduction is often assumed when trying to compare the two speeds.

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/raci...ic-motorcycle/

lastly,

It looks to me like Bonneville is still “the fastest place on earth”

err, Black Rock desert, where the last 3 outright landspeed records have been set, and where Thrust SSC went supersonic!
Just had to get that one in for us Brits

Rob

[teddillard]

(edit, damn Rob, you're fast...)

Also, this from Asphalt and Rubber: "... because of the slippery nature of the salt, Bonneville speeds are traditionally about 10% slower than compared to speeds on asphalt, meaning these electric bikes are flirting with 200 mph potential track speeds. "
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/raci...czysz-preview/

As far as lift only being generated by a smooth surface, it may be time to read up again:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lift_%2...on_of_the_flow
(uh oh... better be careful. Don't want to be appearing as "know it all hobbyists" as Mr Kent Riches referred to us as in an email recently...)

...yeah, all those classes are starting to make me understand why you see the "World's Fastest... (hydrogen powered toilet?)" claims everywhere. Don't want anyone to go home crying to their mommies, I guess...

Oh, and the Black Rock Desert? Holy crap. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Rock_Desert

It took a Brit to show me this? ...dammit. Gotta get out more...