Building a high-performance land speed racing motorcycle requires specialized engineering solutions for unique surface conditions, such as using women's tights over radiator guards to prevent sand clogging, installing steering dampers for stability, and optimizing clutch spring tension to prevent slippage under high power output; the Pendine Sands event demonstrates how environmental factors like sand conditions, weather, and track surface significantly impact vehicle performance, with optimal conditions allowing speeds of 132+ mph on sand surfaces.
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Deep Dive
We broke a World Record, with NO Front brakes! 🤯Added:
6 months ago, we learned about an event that's going to be happening on the legendary Pendine Sands. So, we decided to use a blown up manky old motorcycle frame that we had lying around, and we decided to build it up into a land speed racer based on a Triumph bobber.
We spent months and months refurbishing this bike, painting it, building the engine, and designing aerodynamic fairings [music] to make sure this bike could go as fast as possible on the sand. And today, we're going to find out how fast that is.
WA finally with extra added >> rigidity.
>> Rigidity. So, and that goes there.
>> Yeah. Let me glue this together and then you can check it out once it's all done.
>> So, here is the final version of that aerodynamic front fairing. The first few [music] versions didn't fit very well or they were too big and looked clunky. But I'm really happy with this one and it's a [music] good compromise. Now that's the bottom part that is going to be glued to the top part and then I'm going to carbon skin cuz this needs to be stronger than it is.
>> Yeah.
>> I thought it's like a beluga whale.
>> Yeah. Beluga planes >> houses the speedo.
>> Wo.
>> And also the ignition switch and also mounts.
>> Wow. So, people say we just bolt.
>> Well, I'm going to bolt it all >> and glue it as well.
>> No, no, no. Just bolt. Just cut.
>> The top part of this is really neat cuz it holds a speedo in and other vital information that I need.
>> One.
>> I'll just throw this together.
>> Oh, what?
>> Like I started and did loads of progress on this bike without you noticing.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Put the next bike into two of those silences. titanium arrow file 50 mil.
>> And also this one drilled and tapped the boss out to run a wideband lander in cylinder one narrow band in cylinder two. Frame rails out everything >> and then and then we got to put them back in. And then we got to take them back out again. And then we got to put this back in after I've welded it. And then put frame rails back in again.
That's >> it. What's that? Wear a white t-shirt so it looks like you've actually done something.
>> That is actually such a top tip with Jody.
>> Top tips with top [music] tips with [music] So me and Evan are lining up and fitting this Xpipe exhaust. Evan spent the last few weeks designing and fabricating this completely from scratch, and we're really happy with what it looks like. [music] >> [music] [music] >> steering damper on it cuz it's the law for the straight liners events which I also got a license for. Now, do you want me to tell tell you what some of my payouts are?
>> Oh, yeah. These are good.
>> Death.
>> £10,000. That's the worst case scenario.
>> Spend it wisely though. Yeah. Is loss of sight in one or both eyes. 20 rats.
>> Why? If you die.
>> Yeah. Loss of hearing in one ear. Five grand. Well, loss of hearing in both ears.
>> 20 rats. [laughter] >> What did you say?
>> Disappearance.
>> Listen to this. If you disappear and they can't find you, how are they going to pay you? [laughter] >> Right. things that we need to do. I'm going to delete this cuz I don't want it. Secondly, this has to be held up with either tape or >> Yeah, that needs to be out of my way.
>> Yeah, delete. Delete that. That doesn't work.
>> Yeah. Show us again.
[laughter] >> Wow. Uh oh. This is why I need this on here.
>> I need to work out this length to make that do that.
>> Uh the reason we're doing it is I believe they have a sound >> restriction.
>> Restriction. Well, this >> I know they do. Is it Elvington or one of them? They do. I don't know if they've got it at Pendine, but we're going to put silencers on it. Anyway, right. Let's do a time lapse then. So, while Evits the End cans onto this custom exhaust, James got busy in the background cutting vinyl stencils so we can send all the paint off to be painted.
[music] film it. No, >> this has not been a priority. We've got bikes in the workshop.
>> USA trips.
>> You've been to the USA. Trying to get Paul James away from marketing, editing.
>> What else?
>> Sticker making.
>> Sticker making. [laughter] >> Uh, email.
Um, >> yeah. So, where were we at? We We've done the exhaust. Exhaust is done.
>> Yeah.
>> 50 mil 50 mil Xpipe.
>> Um, I can't remember the measurement, but it's a certain length to the Xpipe.
>> It's big old big old Xpipe.
>> Yeah. Nick, >> we [clears throat] got wideband sensors in each uh cylinder. And we've also got one down there.
>> Middle.
>> Yeah, you were drilling that in while we were filming another project. It was the most >> diabolical noise. So, we measure each cylinder separately and then what's coming out between the two as well?
>> The collective. I like these are ends.
These are cool.
>> Arrow end can titanium end cans. Uh we ran one of these on boost.
>> Boost dog. Yeah, >> boost dog. So, we got two of those.
>> Um it looks sick. It looks fast. Carbon fiber front fairing.
>> Yeah.
>> Initially, initially we designed it to have an LED in there. carbon skinned um to try and make a mold for this single piece.
>> Yeah. And then we had it >> just not viable >> coated mug guard on print right now.
>> Oh yeah.
>> Yeah. That's come out really well. So the split down the middle, >> it's it's hard it's a hard one to get your head around how that works.
>> Yeah, it was a hard one to make the graphics for.
>> Um also brake lines. So went to see Alan at >> Oh, >> thank you very much, Alan. Went with the clear braided lines. I'm particularly happy with this setup cuz it's very very symmetrical.
>> He is good at what he does.
>> Yes, he is very good at what he does.
>> So, from all of Jody's beach learnings, we've seen what he did to the van guard.
>> Wa. What? Built-in sock.
>> Ladies tights.
>> Wow.
>> That's the leg out with some ladies tights.
So two years ago, we were on the legendary Margate Beach at the Mali Sand Sprint Race. Our Triumph Bober handled absolutely fantastically. However, on the last race on the first day, we ended up losing because the bike ended up cutting out because it got too hot. Just try to lower red light red line cuz it's got too hot.
All of the sand got wedged in the radiator and it wasn't cooling the engine properly. So on day two, we jet washed it out and then we fitted some women's tights over the radiator guard and that allowed us to keep the sand out of the radiator and essentially it meant that we ended [music] up winning the entire event. So we're going to be doing that on this bike.
We're hoping to make some pretty good power with this bike. So, we need some stronger clutch springs. So, that uh so it'll just compress the clutch harder.
Uh so, less chance of slitting.
[music] So, we lent the bike over because this engine already had oil in it. And we're going to refit these clutch springs. So, it's just going to make sure that clutch has got lots of clamping force so when it does make all this power on the dyno that we're expecting, it doesn't end up having any slipping issues.
Holy Gh, >> it looks like actually nothing we've done before.
So happy with it. Turns out we didn't need these for the pen line wrench. So we took baffles out anyway.
>> But it is it is definitely cobbled together.
It's just >> all right. Okay. We designed this and that's just now to say 3D printed. We don't have time to to do that, do we?
Um, this bike, as you're probably aware, guys, um, has been built out of parts, spare parts, but also spare time. It's up to date. It's going to dine.
So, um, hopefully it makes some serious numbers, but the brake lines look good, doesn't it?
>> It's literally got the bare minimum to run. It's got nothing. No lights, no. We do have custom digital power management, um, bespoke loom, uh, and we also have a a standalone ECU, which which we're obviously going to tune. Bit worried cuz if you fall off on sand, you're going to break your neck and or die.
>> Have you got kit? Good. Look, >> I've got kit, but I still haven't got that neck device.
>> We need to have a look at that.
>> There's lots of prototype aerodynamics on this bike. As you can see, a lot of it is 3D printed, and the fit and finish isn't actually fantastic.
>> It's very, very, very prototype, but we've run out of time at this point. So, we just want to get it fitted up, bolted onto the bike, and make sure that it's safe and ready for the beach race.
>> But because we're on the beach, we can't be spotted. Everything looks more tough spotted.
[music] [music] Wow. Look at that flicker. Right, open your nostrils cuz it's about to get burned off. M.
Oh, now that sounds ground.
>> That's what that sounds like, bro.
That's sick.
It's not mapped like for the for the everyday. It's designed to go fast.
>> Following must be worn by all entrance in all wheelie and top speed bike classes. Back protector and chest protector. See, I don't have one of those. Where's my >> Ah, see, look. There it is. Gavascon.
Yeah. See, Gavascon gone. This is very important.
>> All button body wipes.
>> That is a very peculiar looking back protector.
>> Nice speck armor. Uh cuz you need a chest protector as well as a back protector. So, sports bike shop. 71 quid. Cool. Done.
>> We ain't stopped, have we?
>> No. So, we're packed up, ready to roll.
Fine. We're going for an early lunch cuz apparently it's like a four four or 5 hour drive depending if we get stuck or not.
So, we're driving to Kamir, which is where my family is original originally from.
>> Yeah.
>> Bring [music] [music] [music] [music] still driving. It's been [ __ ] 4 and 1/2 [ __ ] hours. [music] [music] >> So, race day is finally here and me and James are so excited. We stopped by a local garage to [music] stock up on some snacks just in case there isn't any snacks when we get to Penline. So, it's a 20-minute short trip over and then we can get the bike prepped, ready to run.
I don't know if we're going to the right place, by the way. I just guessed.
[music] Oh, this is I don't know. Not very well organized so far. We have no arrival instructions. We don't know what to do. So, after finding out where we needed to be, we pulled the bike out the van and pushed over into the scrutinering area. It was really interesting to see the eclectic mix of vehicles here that are going to be pushed to the absolute limits on the beach today.
Everything was going so [music] great until >> Are we on there?
>> No, we're not. [music] We are not on the list. I don't think I'm on the list.
>> Oh god. For some reason.
>> Oh, it did worry me when the bloke run me up the other day and he went, "Oh, are you still coming?" And I went, "Yeah, >> should I not?"
>> I can't believe we put so much time and effort into [music] this build. We've driven 6 hours to be here. Got everything ready and my name is not on the list. I didn't know if I was going to be able to run. So, I asked around.
Excuse me. Are names supposed to be on this list? Yeah. Okay.
So, they pulled us into the caravan [music] where we had a long chat with the event organizers.
>> Turns out it was an admin error and everything was fine. We still had to fill out all of our insurance documents, but this means that we're ready to run.
>> Turns out we weren't like registered anything at all on anything. Even though chinkies, they called me the other day and said everything was fine. Strange.
Anyway, uh we're number 45. We got this beautiful sticker which on the beach if it rains we may struggle with but [laughter] we'll see. So on there I guess >> on your back.
>> No, not my bag. On the back. Yeah.
>> There you go.
Our little mishap by name not being on the list actually ended up being great because we were the first ones out the gate.
in your life.
>> I haven't had a bike scrutin since I used to ride trails when I was a little school boy.
>> A little school boy.
>> Scrutiner.
>> Uh they basically check it over [music] and make sure it's safe and not going to fall apart.
>> Fantastic.
>> And make sure that you've locked everything you meant to lock wire and that you've got things like steering [music] dampers.
>> Fantastic.
>> I did speak to the guy the other day and he said it would be all right. Man on the phone the other day said it would be all right. Otherwise, we would have took them took it all off.
>> Yeah, these guys haven't got brakes. The issue is people grab a handful of front brake and then land on their on their face. They won't let me race unless I remove my brakes. This is absolute insanity and not something I've ever [music] encountered ever before in my entire life. So, we ran the van set up in my kit and I hope and pray that we can get these brakes off nice and cleanly with no issues.
Seeing the sand. Yeah. Compared to the Mali sand.
like riding on a on a rope. So, conditions are absolutely perfect. We got slight sun, no wind, and it looks [music] like the tide is going out nice and quick. So, it should be ready to run real soon.
[music] Well, first one's Everyone seems to be drinking tea and doing other things. So, we're quite far from the van now. We have no tools here. Yeah.
>> [music] >> There's a shed which as the locals call it the soft sand is bang on the mile mark. So unfortunately today we are running half mile only but we have put we are putting in a quarter mile for you. So all records are to be established. You'd be setting a record.
>> No one else in your class. It's not safe to run the mile. Therefore, our decision is half mile only. That may change tomorrow. We don't know.
>> So, the soft sand run at the mile marker. So, we've got to now do a we have a time run for a/4 mile and a half mile. So, what he was just saying is there's no records that stand for quarter miles on this beach or half mile. I think there is half mile. You think he said quarter mile? So he said the records for quarter mile have got to be established.
[music] >> Oh yeah.
>> Time for our first run. And I've been nervous up until this point, but this point I was completely locked in and I was excited to get racing on the sand.
So I lined up for my first go and Heat.
Heat.
So that was pretty cool and actually a little bit smoother than I was expecting. Although on the return run it was really wet and that meant that the bike was squiring around quite a lot. So I had to control my speed.
>> Why are the end there?
So, I don't think this is up. It's coughing and spluttering a bit. So, it's not really up to temp when she calls. I always feel [music] we haven't really mapped it properly though. We just kind of did full top speed and idle and then that was that.
So, we got the draggy set up and we're up for our second attempt. And hopefully we'll be a little bit faster than the first run.
So J running a 105.794 at the quarter 127.359 at the half just a couple of mph under the record of the half mile.
>> I reckon we can do more than 130 mph easily cuz I didn't shift into sync and my start wasn't great and this flood.
>> It's looking good though.
>> I don't I don't know how much fuel this uses. So, >> that was 127 and I was still a bit >> on the start, bro.
>> But I'm happy with the track now. Happy with the speed. This thing's really stable. You You're going down like this, but it's really stable.
>> You're looking good, bro.
>> Yeah, it's a lot. Oh, I got off the back of that one. I was like, "Wow, is that fun?" It's so sketchy. So bounce and sketchy bar >> with one brake.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. That's so good.
>> So run 185.
>> Run two 127.359.
>> Cool. That's practice run, so it don't really count. Hey, hold on to these.
Keep them. Keep them. Keep him safe.
This is the draggy report. It's a half mile.
eighth.
I don't really know how to use this. Do you want to change gear right at the end there? I lost a bit of speed. See how I was like letting it rev out, letting it find its grip, and then just kind of like on the limiter a bit.
>> Yeah.
>> I didn't want to shift up to it and then just give it the beans again. You know what I mean?
>> You were slower.
>> Yeah, I don't.
>> Yeah.
>> What about my corn? We got pass on the corn. Slower overall. Slower overall.
So on that third run, I was actually a little bit slower and that's because I tried to give it the beans in third and fourth gear and I just ended up spinning. So [music] throttle control here really is key. So I lined up for the next run with all of that in mind.
You said it was slightly faster.
>> You were slightly faster >> in the half mile. Not in the/4 mile though.
>> Half mile was 127.974.
>> [laughter] >> If we can't do all 100 that's too close to not be 130 mph. How frustrating is that?
>> That's you like.5 faster.
>> Well, Draggy reckons it was 127.1.
>> The first one was 127.
>> So, it's a slower quarter mile, but our wheel span less. We're running/4 miles at 15 seconds. 14 15 seconds, which on sand is >> it's pretty quick.
>> Crazy. So, >> in the dry I reckon this will be down by 10. Well, look at my times at Santa Pod, right? So, these are all Santa Pod from WF1 2023. I don't know if we can see it very well, but that's fine.
>> So, quarter 1/4 mile time.
>> Yeah, >> I was running what 10.59.
>> I've got another gear. I was I didn't I didn't change out a fifth.
>> You're running the mile, I reckon we'd be up by 140 mph.
Let a bit of air out. We run at 28 PSI.
It might be a bit a bit harder to see how we get on.
>> See, we don't have a pump. So, >> no. So, that can't go back up.
>> Yeah. Less is more.
>> Whatever it is now is what it is.
>> [ __ ] around with I have boosters and fire blades. It's crazy.
>> Saying that we're falling with big dogs today.
>> We are rolling with the big dogs today.
>> I think on the next run I'm going to short shift. I wonder if that fog is because I've been bouncing off the limiter.
>> Potentially.
>> Yeah.
I just try and before I get there.
>> Maybe it will just run a bit. I really like going fast on the sand.
>> Something about it.
>> Has a lot of fun. Just so dangerous and sick.
[music] >> I want to tell you something new.
[music] >> So I lined up for the next run with all of that in mind. Heat.
Heat.
You did 100 >> and 30.5.
>> NO WAY.
SICK. THAT'S so good, bro.
That's >> sick. Oh, 130 mph.
too good.
>> I don't think we're going to get much faster than that. Do you know why?
>> I I stuck to the right. There's a there's a whole part of the track that is not being used yet.
>> And it's faster.
>> It's coughing and spluttering is that >> it's just it doesn't like it's spinning so fast shifting gear and then trying to get back on it. I was trying to short shift there and I did a little bit 130 though. Help.
Heat. Heat.
So run after run, we [music] didn't keep getting any faster. So I kept letting the tire down more and more and more and running and running and running.
We watched countless other vehicles going up, looking at their lines, studying what they were riding like to try and see if [music] we could get this thing to go any faster.
It was getting late in the day now, so I know on this run, I really had to give it everything I have to see if we can get [music] to go any faster. On this last run, I was completely locked in. I knew what I needed to be doing. If it wasn't on this run, I didn't know which run it was going to be. The beach conditions at this [music] point were getting slightly worse.
[music] >> What was that? Day two. [laughter] No way. It went fast.
>> It fell fast.
>> Let down.
>> No way.
>> I don't know what's in the toy now.
Yeah, >> there's not as much as there was.
>> And also that last one I got a real clear run like on the right. No one have been there yet. I think they moved the they moved the flag over maybe potentially give a sneaking [music] on from the right. Yeah, mate. 132.282 mph.
>> Let's show shows again.
>> Let's call it a day. [laughter] Let's go home.
>> How are we? Well, >> 3 hours 45 home. One day wonders once goddamn mile an hour.
>> 132.282.
Did it in out. So what is time after half two? So we we wanted to be over by tonight, didn't we? So >> yeah, in and out. We could have saved.
Could we gone faster? Yes, 100%.
Tomorrow, early morning, denser air, better conditions. We could have easily gone faster. Uh the the conditions. So when when everyone's running on the run that where you get that loose kind of loosens up, um you don't get the grip.
So those last few runs, they felt faster. Drag ran out of battery as well.
>> Did it? Yeah, we come here, done our thing, gone. The bike is perfect, by the way. No issues whatsoever. It doesn't really like starting. We mapped it for idle and we also mapped it to go flat out. And it had a little bog. And could we have mapped that out?
>> Maybe.
>> Yeah, maybe.
>> But, you know, we're here now.
>> I think it's cool. It ran great. It sounded fantastic. Got some great fly.
>> Sound cool. Um, so yeah, I'm happy overall. It was good. Um, so yeah, we're going to go home and uh say goodbye to Wales.
>> Say goodbye to everyone. Yeah, please hit the subscribe button because this is a lot of work and a lot of effort for us to do this. Let us know what you think below. Let us know if you've gone faster on the sand. Would it have been nice to have that uh fried chicken? Stop.
No way.
>> [music]
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