Gyronaut X-1

Gyronaut X-1 was a streamliner motorcycle that set the motorcycle land-speed record of 245.667 miles per hour (395.363 km/h) in 1966, ridden by Detroit Triumph dealer Bob Leppan.[1] It was powered by two 650 cc Triumph TR6 engines.[1][2]

The streamlined body was designed by Alex Tremulis, who designed automobiles including the Tucker automobile and Ford Gyron.[2][3][4]

It had innovative safety equipment including a cromoly roll cage and fire suppression equipment.[2]

Gyronaut crashed in 1970 at over 280 miles per hour (450 km/h).[5] Four decades later, Steve Tremulis, nephew of the designer, displayed the partially restored Gyronaut to the public for the first time in early 2012.[3] It was shown fully restored at Speed Week in 2013,[6] and won a special award at the 2014 Quail Motorcycle Gathering.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Triumph's Bonneville Connection". Motorsports Network. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Yoav Gilad (September 15, 2014), "World's fastest motorcycle restored", Petrolicious (May Moon Media)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Daniel Strohl (May 15, 2012), "Alex Tremulis’s Gyronaut X-1 goes under restoration", Hemmings Daily (Hemmings)
  4. 4.0 4.1 John L. Stein (July 8, 2014), 2014 Quail Motorcycle Gathering Award Winners, Hagerty Insurance Agency
  5. Cyril Huze (August 16, 2013), "Postcards From Bonneville 65th Anniversary Speed Week", Cyril Huze Post
  6. Sherri Candland (August 19, 2013), Bonneville Speed Week 2013, a City on the Salt, Salt Lake Tribune

External links