Beard and Fitch back in 1927 was involved with a successful land speed record, that was 84 years ago. This time round we are supporting Alex and his team as they go for the motorcycle record with a Gas Turbine powered 2 wheeled Streamliner. The target is 400 MPH that by its very nature pushes man, machine and engineering to the very limits of what's possible. It's edgy, exciting, challenging stuff. Is this a project you could become involved in? Yes, you could then read on ...
Alex Macfadzean is no stranger to speed, for those of you who do not know Alex, he is a forma GP & TT sidecar racer and former holder of the British bike Land Speed Rcord & first UK record of over 200 mph (200.09 mph in 1991). Alex is an Engine development & dyno specialist and a member of the team holding the existing 4 wheel driven Land Speed Record at 458.440 mph.
Alex aims to beat the official FIM motorcycle land speed record of 376.156mph and be the first to drive a motorcycle over 400mph powered by a Rolls Royce Gas Turbine engine. That last saw service in another British speed record breaker the military Lynx helicopter. Alex has christened this project;
The Quick Silver Two project
The engine acquired for use in the streamliner signals a completely new approach for the motorcycle land speed record. Although multiple motorcycle engines, car engines and even rocket engines have been tried with varying degrees of success, this is the first time that a gas turbine engine as fitted to helicopters has been used. The Rolls Royce Gem gas turbine is a simple and extremely robust design that provides around 1,000shp of power in a lightweight package most usually seen in the Lynx military helicopter.
Weighing only 404lb (183kg) it has 2 gas generator and 2 separate power turbine stages. The ability to bypass the gas generator output from the power turbine until needed provides the ultimate form of 'automatic' gearbox. Straightforward reduction gears to connect the output shaft to the driven wheel are all that is required. This has the major advantage of dispensing with gear changes during high speed runs, a limitation on other designs that often causes wheel spin and high levels of tyre wear from the salt surface at Bonneville on which the record attempts are planned to take place.
To get an understanding about the excitement, drive, commitment and sheer desire to succeed, please view the video.
If you think you could offer Alex some help in any way what so ever, please in the first instance drop us at Beard and Fitch
an Email and we will put you in touch with the appropriate member of his team. You could be contributing to the making of
Land Speed Record history.