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[Martin C]

Following my 97 mph run at Elvington (against a headwind, and regrettably with decibel-meter-enforced use of the exhaust mega's reverse-cone), the next weekend I was at Pendine Sands, where the beach (at low-tide) is one of only 5 places in the world where land speed records have been made. This time I was part of the UK Speed Week support crew for Ivan Rasmussen, a Danish lunatic who holds a US ‘Mojave Mile’ speed record on his supercharged 350cc BSA B40. He found the Pendine beach sand much scarier than he was used to, but managed to take 3 class records: 60 mph for the standing-start kilometre, and 78 mph for both the standing-start mile and the 1.5 mile (this last being a UK national record).

The attached photo shows Ivan with his bonkers BSA, and here are 3 x video links for Pendine:

The beach before the first runs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-2bDO8XJZ4

The BSA getting underway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWWfFUCkKTE

A great video made by a trio of French riders of classic 125 cc two-strokes: https://vimeo.com/168973538

Regards to you all,
Martin

[Barry N]

I enjoyed these - thanks for posting them Martin (the weather could have been kinder though!).

[Mark M]

Thanks Martin, short videos but very atmospheric, I have the book about Pendine but that makes it so much more real. I've put a visit on the must do list!

REgards, Mark

[papasmurf]

I tried posting the video here but the forum won't allow it due to the naughty word in the link reference.

[vince]

Hi Martin, 60 mph doesnt sound exceptional for a 350 BSA, how do they calculate them,terminal or average over the distance? Vince.

[Martin C]

Reply to Vince: These are terminal speeds. That initial 60 mph was Ivan's very first run on the sand, so he was taking it easy. The subsequent 78 mph seems to be the maximum that bike will do on the sand, which has considerable rolling resistance.

Reply to Mark M: You would be welcome to join us (me and the mad Danes) at Pendine for UK Speed Week 2017. We hire a large, comfortable 'static caravan' right by the beach.