“THE WORLD’S FASTEST MOTORCYCLE” RETURNS TO SPEED WEEK FOR ITS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
The Triumph Gyronaut X-1 motorcycle that captured the world’s land speed record in 1966, will return to the Bonneville Salt Flats as the historic vehicle kicking off the famed Speed Week along with a Tucker ‘48.
VIDEO LINK (DOWNLOADABLE): http://vimeo.com/71816226
VIDEO LINK (DOWNLOADABLE): http://vimeo.com/71816226
August 6, 2013 – Bonneville Salt Flats, UTAH: 50 years after the idea for the Gyronaut X-1 land speed motorcycle project started at Bonneville, the freshly restored motorcycle streamliner returns to the Bonneville Salt Flats. In 1963, famed automobile stylist Alex Tremulis visited the great Slat Flats in his quest to find partners in his pursuit of building the ultimate in land speed records for a motorcycle. His journey to Speed Week in 1963 joined him with veteran motorcycle racers Bob Leppan and Jim Bruflodt of Detroit. It was soon learned that each shared the same goal and a partnership was formed to build and run a fully enclosed super-streamlined motorcycle capable of breaking the absolute speed record of 230 miles per hour previously set in 1962. Those dreams would be realized in 1966 when rider Bob Leppan piloted the Gyronaut X-1 to an average speed of 245.667 miles per hour during the annual speed event known as Speed Week. The Gyronaut’s two Triumph Bonneville engines, named after the famous location where Triumph first became the World’s Fastest Motorcycle in 1956, put out an estimated combined 110 horsepower, minimal by today’s standards.
After two years of research and restoration, the Gyronaut is again set to return to Bonneville at 2013’s Speed Week on August 10, where it will be reintroduced to a whole new generation of land speed record hopefuls after its 43 year absence since a near-fatal crash in 1970. The body was repaired and restored by Rob Ida of Rob Ida Concepts in Morganville, New Jersey, using original drawings, vintage photographs and first-hand accounts of the record-setting runs. The Gyronaut’s two original Triumph Bonneville engines have been carefully preserved after nearly four decades of dormancy, yet they retain the original patina from its final runs in 1970. Even the Gyronaut’s original letterer and pinstriper, Wild Bill of Detroit, was enlisted to recreate his work as he had done for its record runs in 1966.
The Gyronaut team is bringing its restoration crew to Speed Week to celebrate this golden anniversary of its return to the salt. Scheduled attendees will be its original rider, Bob Leppan, restorer Rob Ida and his restoration team including Preston Tucker’s great-grandchildren, Sean and Mike Tucker, the Gyronaut’s current owners, Steve and Sandra Tremulis, and the film documentary team of Curt Wallin and John Greene. All of the Gyronaut’s racing team will be available for interviews and commentary from 10:00am to 2:00pm on August 10, 2013 at the Gyronaut display tents on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Additionally, as an integral part of the Gyronaut team, Rob Ida has loaned one of his movie-car 1948 Tuckers to the project for use by the Gyronaut as its tow vehicle. Coincidentally, the original design of the 1948 Tucker was headed up by the Gyronaut’s original stylist, Alex Tremulis.
The Gyronaut’s return to Bonneville is dedicated to The Lipoprotein(a) Foundation whose mission is to prevent ½ million cardiovascular events due to elevated Lipoprotein(a) over the next 5 years by revealing this inherited risk for cardiovascular disease, empowering patients and saving lives. Our goal is to save lives by increasing awareness, advocating for routine testing, and a specific treatment for elevated Lipoprotein(a). It is estimated that 100 million Americans have elevated Lipoprotein(a) and are at risk of premature cardiovascular disease. The foundation’s vision is: To live in a world where elevated Lipoprotein(a) is routinely diagnosed, treated and family screened. Based in Redwood City, California, The Lipoprotein(a) Foundation is a patient-founded, non-profit organization. For more information go to: www.facebook.com/LipoproteinaFoundation
For more information on Rob Ida Concepts, please visit http://www.robidaconcepts.com/
For more information on Sean and Mike Tucker, please visit http://www.tuckercorporation.com/
For more information on Bob Leppan and his current dealership, please visit http://www.ttmducati.com/
For more information on the history of the Gyronaut X-1 and its triumphant efforts to set the land speed record for motorcycles, visit www.gyronautx1.com and its dedicated Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GyronautX1.
Please direct all other inquiries to Steve Tremulis at (650) 995-3231 or connect via email at autogx@aol.com.
Please direct all other inquiries to Steve Tremulis at (650) 995-3231 or connect via email at autogx@aol.com.
Please direct all other inquiries to Steve Tremulis at (650) 995-3231 or connect via email at autogx@aol.com.
