He Did It!!!!

Hey all,

Last year, I was successful at breaking the Guinness World Record for the Fastest ATV (Quad) in the World by averaging 124mph, but I lost it to the previous holder in England by his reaching 134mph. I subsequently reached 138mph during the Madras, Oregon Air Show and got the record back. As many of you were aware, we were concerned that the prior record holder could reach the 138 record with more tweaking of his highly modified Honda Super BlackHawk Quad. With that in mind, we set out to raise the bar higher by further enhancing the Yamaha ALBA Rocket Raptor 3.0 and by building up a faster ATV on a newer platform, a Yamaha Raptor 700R. We took the current record bike (3.0) and carefully studied the myriad of notes taken from the many recommendations of land speed guru Pete Fisher of Powroll. We then removed the vortex generators, added a Hydrodynamics suspension and modified ModQuad a-arms, raised the geometry to eliminate ground effect, tied down the new Fullbore body with "invisible" fishing line, narrowed the stance and then boosted the hybrid rocket thruster an additional 100 pounds. Dressed in the ultimate safety gear provided by Cycle Sports of Salem, we began speed trials. The ALBA Rocket Raptor 3.0 reached an amazing 142.53 mph average. It set the new Guinness ATV World Land Speed Record! Though it was technically enough, we wanted more, the ellusive 150mph barrier! Then bad news, the power dropped off substantially from the modified combustion engine. We pushed the nitrous system too hard and lost the piston.

Out rolled ALBA Rocket Raptor 4.0. This was an untested new ATV platform. It went back to last year's low and wide philosophies of hi-speed stability versus aerodynamics. The rocket was pushed to over 600 pounds thrust. In fact, during a low power rocket test firing while still loaded on a trailer, it nearly jumped the stops and restraints. Our thought, even push a brick hard enough and it will go fast. This ATV had an ALBA modified motor, ELKA suspension, castor-modified Laeger A-arms, Boss-Noss EFI enhancements and nitrous delivery system, E-Ram Supercharger, TrailTech computer and lighting system and vortex generators.

Decked out in gear again, we set out to see what we could do on the morning of June 3, 2006 at the Madras, Oregon airport Freightliner Test Track. We intended to either break the record achieved by Raptor 3.0 during trials or stand by what good ol' 3.0 had successfully achieved again. BBBUUUTTT, here's a twist. We also set out to use 4.0 to establish a new Women's ATV Land Speed record. Not officially broken down by categories under Guinness rules, the Northwest Offroad Timing Authorty (NWOTA) stepped up to recognize the women's record. The NWOTA was established to offset the fuddy-duddies of Bonneville Salt Flats fame that still refuse to recognize ATV land speed acheivements. The NWOTA was willing to credit the women's acheivement for world record status. So enters my daughter, Natalie Wilmeth. 18 and highly experienced, she was set to rely on 4.0 to set a new world record.

Up to bat on 4.0 was Natalie first. She tore down the track over and over hoping for the best averages. As the day grew warmer, the engine lost some performance and the north wind hurt her southern runs. In the end, she averaged 127.90 mph. This was even higher than the first Guinness record broken last year by dad. When she was done, her first words: "that wasn't so bad, what's the big deal?". Sidenote: I wanted to hit her with my helmet, I'd like to see her say that when she's in her forties and going the same speed on a vehicle designed for only 75mph.

Now it was my turn (the dad). I only had enough rocket fuel oxidizer for 4 back to back max power burns. I prepped and did a few non-rocket, non nitrous runs at nearly 100mph. All felt ok. I staged at the northern end of the track and armed the BossNoss system, activated the E-Ram and ignited the rocket motor. My gear was checked by the handler and off I went. At fifth gear, I wicked the nitrous and e-ram. My GPS climbed to over 100mph. As I approached the quarter mile speed marker, I hit the rocket motor activator switch. I tore through the time traps and I could feel the acceleration and the high pitched rocket whine behind me. I decellerated and approached the track handler at the southern end of the track. He tells me that timers recorded a run of 149.35 mph. Holy crap! Another new record (sorry 3.0). I turned around and headed back. The next run, 149.45 mph. the average....149.40 mph. So close to the 150 barrier. We installed the last set of rocket oxidizer bottles and re-serviced the BossNoss system. The off we went. This time, everything felt good, but the rocket had a different sound to it. The run was 144mph. I was slowing down. The rerurn run, 146mph. The rocket was spent and we were done.

When we settled down, it dawned on us that we had accomplished quite a few feats. In the presence of friends, the NWOTA, the media and the great folks of the Jefferson County Fire District, we had broken three world records. Good ol' 3.0 broke the Guinness World Record at 142.53. mph. Natalie on 4.0 set the new Women's ATV World Land Speed Record at 127.90 mph and then I broke 3.0's brief but successful record onboard 4.0 at 149.40 mph. 150mph is still out there, but not for me. This was the last run for me but may be the beginnings for Natalie. The NWOTA plans to hold annual ATV land speed record invitationals soon. I plan to be there, but as a mechanic. I really appreciate my sponsors and supporters. Nobody can do something like this alone. Their technical expertise and product support kept us fast and safe.

Terry Wilmeth
Guinness World Record holder
World's Fastest All Terrain Vehicle