List
Certainly a lot of mail flying around about the furore attributed to land
speed racers by the publication in Autoweek of a piece about the WFI film.
I have to say that your sports "defacto historian" and corrector of wrongs
seems to have picked on the use of the word 'World' in a press announcement
about the film and the achievements on the salt of Burt Munro. Without
accurate knowledge this time, LAN has fired up half a dozen competitors to
write to the film producers - were they all bike racers by the way?
The US National event organisers SCTA/BVNI have certificates with 'World
Record' written on the top (many of the car drivers on this list tell me so
whenever they have a chance), and whilst this appelation is not always
accepted by Europeans, the governance of motorcycling records under the
International body, the FIM, means that this organisation too gives the
title 'World Record' to all of their class and distance speeds recorded by
their variety of bikes/three wheelers. And I believe that the description
applied within the FIM at the time of the Munro salt flats visit. So
perhaps his speeds did exceed the 'worlds best' for the type of bike
ridden. The absolute or outright fastest ever record by a bike is a 'red
herring' in this context, as these were streamliners and not sit ons.
Sir Anthony Hopkins is to be found somewhere in the USA and whilst thanking
him for his recent acting performance many on the list may be aware that he
'was' Donald Campbell in a made for TV drama about the last water speed
attempt that took place on Lake Coniston - 'Across the Lake'. This
programme is available on DVD. So thank him for portraying both the
fastest automobile driver of his time & fastest ever on water at that time
along with the fastest Indian (who may have been a 'World' record holder).
Have to agree with Chris and others that a lot of time can be spent trying
to explain the sport to those with little or no knowledge - especially the
US press during the e=motion FIA electric attempt! - and once their eyes
are glazed you know they are only interested in the record speeds of Andy
Green on land, Ken Warby on water, and Dave Campos on two wheels.
Malcolm Pittwood, Derby, England
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