If you’re wondering what the absolute limits of a wheel-driven vehicle are in 2018, it’s definitely this salt flats speed racer going five times faster than your Honda Civic.
Salt flat racers are a special type of motor sports racer whose only goal is to go as humanly as fast as possible in a straight line as safely as possible. The record for wheels that are driven directly by an engine used to be 458 MPH set seventeen years ago in the original version of this record-breaking land speed record. And although the driver of that record set back in 2001 passed away, the current custodians of his car made sure his dream of cresting 500 MPH didn’t go unfinsihed. As per Jinx Vesco on his official Youtube he posted up earlier last week (Oct. 10,2018) Vesco motorsports posted up their historic run going well past the record set in 2001. Check out his run below.
Dubbed the Turbinator II, this Bonneville Salt Flats speed racer had its eye on the prize as early as 2016. Hot Rod magazine did a feature on this most unusual speed racer where, back then, they hoped to break into the 500 MPH club. Due to some fuel issues, they could only muster up speeds of around 369 MPH so they had some issues to work out. With that current configuration, they were able to hit 427 MPH so hitting 500 MPH wasn’t a matter of if but when.
Underneath that long fiberglass body is literally the heart of a helicopter engine. It’s a turboshaft engine dubbed the Lycoming 255 and in its former life it was used to transport U.S. troops in a Chinook transport helicopter. Suffice to say, it’s a very powerful engine.
Weighing in at just 830 pounds, the engine’s capable of the aforementioned 4,300 HP with all that power going straight to the wheels for all-out speed.
But, while this run was only run in one direction and not during a Speedweek Race, it doesn’t count for an official record.
If turboshaft engines powering vehicles surprises you, consider that the M1 Abrams tank, developed in the 1970’s, also uses a turboshaft engine.
I’m sure Vesco Motorsports will dial in this current tune and get this car running like they did when they broke 500 MPH next year, running in both directions. Then they’ll officially have the record.
