In 1955 there would be a world speed record attempt , which was to have A remarkable twist ...
T his was a day where two world records were set ... one for solo and one for sidecars . They were set on the same machine . At a “ track ” many would not have heard of , let alone be able to pinpoint it on a map . Located just 50km northwest of Christchurch is the district of Swannanoa , and within that district lies the Tram Road ... a dead straight 16km long public road which had been used for several years for speed record attempts . In 1955 there would be a world speed record attempt , which was to have a remarkable twist . For the same motorcycle , a Vincent Black Lightning , which at the time was the world ’ s most powerful production iron , would be used for a crack at the world solo and sidecar speed record by Russell Wright and Bob Burns .
There is a well-fuelled entree to this record-making main course as a year before the attempt Wright had become mates with Burt Munro . Burt held the New Zealand solo speed record at 139mph . In 1952 , Wright , who was a builder , had decided to order a brand new Vincent Black Lightning from a local shop with his sight set on taking on Burt ’ s record . A year after handing over about 600 quid ( around $ 32,000 in today ’ s terms ) the bike arrived . It was the very same bike Vincent had put on display at the Earl ’ s Court Show in London the previous year . It was stock and ran 13.1 pistons to burn 80 / 10 / 10 premixed fuels of the day ... 80 % methanol , 10 % petrol and 10 % benzole . In his first outing along Tram Road , and having prepared the bike using only the owner ’ s handbook , Wright made two
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