Quick, what is a car that's actually a motorcycle that can go 400 miles per hour and has 1,000 horsepower? The answer is this - the Castrol Rocket, from Hot Rod Conspiracy, Triumph and others. The bullet-shaped, carbon-fiber shell hides a motorcycle that will attempt to be the first two-wheeled vehicle to crack the 400-mph barrier and beat a record set in 2010.
It's motivated by two Triumph Rocket III engines, which run on methanol. Harnessing the aforementioned 1,000 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque to the ground is the job of Goodyear's Land Speed Special tires. When it makes its eventual attempt on the world record, it will be with Jason DiSalvo at the controls.
Triumph Motorcycles originally held the record of world's fastest motorcycle from 1955 to 1970, a record it's keen to recapture. "This project is a celebration of Castrol and Triumph's motorsports heritage, innovation, courage and perseverance. It's an incredible opportunity to simultaneously chase history and celebrate your heritage. Our hats are off to the Hot Rod Conspiracy/Carpenter Racing team and all of the racers who make land speed racing such a colorful and meaningful sport," said Triumph president and CEO, Greg Heichelbech.
The Castrol Rocket made an appearance at this year's SEMA Show, and we really couldn't pass up the opportunity to stop over and take some snaps of it. Have a look at the gallery above, or scroll down for the full press release from Triumph.
Stay tuned for further developments.
It's motivated by two Triumph Rocket III engines, which run on methanol. Harnessing the aforementioned 1,000 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque to the ground is the job of Goodyear's Land Speed Special tires. When it makes its eventual attempt on the world record, it will be with Jason DiSalvo at the controls.
Triumph Motorcycles originally held the record of world's fastest motorcycle from 1955 to 1970, a record it's keen to recapture. "This project is a celebration of Castrol and Triumph's motorsports heritage, innovation, courage and perseverance. It's an incredible opportunity to simultaneously chase history and celebrate your heritage. Our hats are off to the Hot Rod Conspiracy/Carpenter Racing team and all of the racers who make land speed racing such a colorful and meaningful sport," said Triumph president and CEO, Greg Heichelbech.
The Castrol Rocket made an appearance at this year's SEMA Show, and we really couldn't pass up the opportunity to stop over and take some snaps of it. Have a look at the gallery above, or scroll down for the full press release from Triumph.
Once proclaimed the king of the Bonneville Salt Flats, Triumph Motorcycles is back at work on its latest innovation. This time with the world's most technologically-advanced streamlined motorcycle – the Hot Rod Conspiracy/Carpenter Racing Castrol Rocket.
The Castrol Rocket (video here) is unique in that it's a 1,000-horsepower motorcycle built like a fighter jet. The project is undergoing testing this week at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats in northwestern Utah. The goal is an eventual 400-mph-plus record-breaking run. The current American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) motorcycle land speed record is 376.156 mph, set in 2010, by Rocky Robinson with the Ack Attack streamliner.
"Castrol has been actively involved with land speed racing on multiple platforms across the globe and since competitors started running at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1914," said Rob Corini, Brand Manager, Castrol Motorcycle and Powersports Products. "The Castrol Rocket personifies our heritage as a performance brand, with an incredible balance of power and aerodynamics, and is capable of amazing speeds. It's the ultimate symbol of performance."
A shared passion for land speed racing brought aerodynamic engineer Matt Markstaller, engine builder Bob Carpenter and Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo together. The cross-country team – from Oregon, New Jersey and Alabama respectively – quickly discovered a shared interest to create and race the world's fastest motorcycle. The Castrol Rocket is their labor of love – an homage to the high-performance heritage of Castrol and Triumph.
"Land speed racing is the purest form of motorsport. It's about bringing all of your ingenuity, resources and determination together for a constant battle against the elements," said pilot Jason DiSalvo. "The salt surface has little traction. The wind pushes against you from every side. But what's really special about Bonneville Land Speed Racing is the people. The conditions are so challenging that for the past 100 years, racers with little else in common, have banded together to support and encourage each other to become the world's fastest."
The Triumph name has been synonymous with speed since its four record-breaking motorcycle records with Devil's Arrow, Texas Cee-gar, Dudek/Johnson and Gyronaut X1. From 1955 to 1970, with the exception of a brief 33-day period, Triumph was "The World's Fastest Motorcycle." The Castrol Rocket aims to restore that title.
"This project is a celebration of Castrol and Triumph's motorsports heritage, innovation, courage and perseverance," said Greg Heichelbech, President and CEO, Triumph Motorcycles North America. "It's an incredible opportunity to simultaneously chase history and celebrate your heritage. Our hats are off to the Hot Rod Conspiracy/Carpenter Racing team and all of the racers who make land speed racing such a colorful and meaningful sport."
CASTROL ROCKET SPECS:
• Chassis: Carbon Kevlar monocoque
• Dimensions: 25' x 2' x 3'
• Engines: Two Triumph Rocket III engines
• Horsepower: 1,000-plus-horsepower at 9,000 rpm
• Torque: 500-plus lbs. combined
• Suspension: Custom made by Hot Rod Conspiracy
• Fuel: Methanol
• Tires: Goodyear Land Speed Special
• Engine Lubricant: Castrol Power RS™ 4T 10W-40 full synthetic oil
For more information on the Castrol Rocket, please visit castrolrocket.com.
The Castrol Rocket (video here) is unique in that it's a 1,000-horsepower motorcycle built like a fighter jet. The project is undergoing testing this week at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats in northwestern Utah. The goal is an eventual 400-mph-plus record-breaking run. The current American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) motorcycle land speed record is 376.156 mph, set in 2010, by Rocky Robinson with the Ack Attack streamliner.
"Castrol has been actively involved with land speed racing on multiple platforms across the globe and since competitors started running at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1914," said Rob Corini, Brand Manager, Castrol Motorcycle and Powersports Products. "The Castrol Rocket personifies our heritage as a performance brand, with an incredible balance of power and aerodynamics, and is capable of amazing speeds. It's the ultimate symbol of performance."
A shared passion for land speed racing brought aerodynamic engineer Matt Markstaller, engine builder Bob Carpenter and Daytona 200 winner Jason DiSalvo together. The cross-country team – from Oregon, New Jersey and Alabama respectively – quickly discovered a shared interest to create and race the world's fastest motorcycle. The Castrol Rocket is their labor of love – an homage to the high-performance heritage of Castrol and Triumph.
"Land speed racing is the purest form of motorsport. It's about bringing all of your ingenuity, resources and determination together for a constant battle against the elements," said pilot Jason DiSalvo. "The salt surface has little traction. The wind pushes against you from every side. But what's really special about Bonneville Land Speed Racing is the people. The conditions are so challenging that for the past 100 years, racers with little else in common, have banded together to support and encourage each other to become the world's fastest."
The Triumph name has been synonymous with speed since its four record-breaking motorcycle records with Devil's Arrow, Texas Cee-gar, Dudek/Johnson and Gyronaut X1. From 1955 to 1970, with the exception of a brief 33-day period, Triumph was "The World's Fastest Motorcycle." The Castrol Rocket aims to restore that title.
"This project is a celebration of Castrol and Triumph's motorsports heritage, innovation, courage and perseverance," said Greg Heichelbech, President and CEO, Triumph Motorcycles North America. "It's an incredible opportunity to simultaneously chase history and celebrate your heritage. Our hats are off to the Hot Rod Conspiracy/Carpenter Racing team and all of the racers who make land speed racing such a colorful and meaningful sport."
CASTROL ROCKET SPECS:
• Chassis: Carbon Kevlar monocoque
• Dimensions: 25' x 2' x 3'
• Engines: Two Triumph Rocket III engines
• Horsepower: 1,000-plus-horsepower at 9,000 rpm
• Torque: 500-plus lbs. combined
• Suspension: Custom made by Hot Rod Conspiracy
• Fuel: Methanol
• Tires: Goodyear Land Speed Special
• Engine Lubricant: Castrol Power RS™ 4T 10W-40 full synthetic oil
For more information on the Castrol Rocket, please visit castrolrocket.com.
Featured Gallery Hot Rod Conspiracy Castrol Rocket: SEMA 2013
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