Triumph sets new records at Bonneville Speed Week

Monday, September 22, 2008

Matt Capri of South Bay Triumph in California set two new unfaired 1000cc Blown Fuel records on his specially prepared twin-cylinder machine, recording a two-way speed of 162.472mph in the kilometre run and 161.188 mph in the mile. The speed demon recorded over 169mph on a one-way run but wasn’t able to complete a run in the other direction within the time limit. In order to set a record, runs must be set in two directions, with the average speed counting.

Prior to Speed Week, the record-setting Triumph had recorded 232 bhp and 153 lb/ft of torque on the dyno. But with the machine ready to go only days before the Bonneville event, the team chose to run conservative levels of turbo boost for the recorded run. Having established a new record, the team will spend the winter testing and developing the machine, with a view to breaking the 200 mph barrier at the 2009 Speed Week.

Capri, who has tuned and raced Triumphs for over 40 years, raced at this year’s Speed Week to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Triumph’s iconic Bonneville model, which was named after the Utah salt flats that play host to the annual festival of speed. The first Bonneville was introduced at the 1958 Earl’s Court motor show, for the 1959 model year, and was named in honour of the special streamlined Triumphs that Texan Johnny Allen had ridden to over 200 mph in the late 1950s.