TRAVERSE Issue 05 - April 2018 | Page 12

The World's Fastest ... “Fuck off!”, he states as he leaves the table. We all burst out laughing, that’s the nature of Dry Lake racing and Land Speed Records. It’s a spe- cial world with a special feel. You’ll be sworn at, and all with good humour. We get into conversation with a guy from Perth, he’s rid- den his KTM, alone, along the Indian-Pacific rail line from west to east. There is a track, not gazetted, but there. It’s an ambitious ride. That’s the nature of Speed Week, peo- ple will get here by any means, the greater the adventure the better. He's looking for a more ambitious way to get home, I marvel at his plans, my travelling companion, Andrew, sits in stunned silence; his Harley Davidson would never take on these conditions. We all laugh, “bloody Harley riders”. Harley’s do indeed take on these conditions. A great many competitors race to beat an unseen opponent; to beat the clock. There’s plenty at Speed Week, some close to standard, some so far removed they are almost impossi- ble to decide what model they are. That’s the nature of Speed Week, almost anything can enter, almost anything can try to set speed records. NEWS MAGAZINE TRAVERSE 12 12