Land speed racing returned to glory this year at the Bonneville Salt Flats, where racers were greeted with some of the best surface conditions in nearly a decade. With hopes high, the Guthrie-Levie Land Speed Racing Team set out to chase history: becoming the first sidecar motorcycle in the world to break the 300 mph barrier.
The First Attempt: Speed Week
At Speed Week in August, rider John Levie piloted the team’s turbocharged, Hayabusa-powered sidecar motorcycle to a blistering 305.705 mph—even with a burned-up clutch by the end of mile four. Unfortunately, Bonneville rules require a backup pass of equal or greater speed to claim a record. The mechanical carnage included a chain, clutch, countershaft, case, and transmission, cutting short their record hopes despite the jaw-dropping speed.
Redemption at World of Speed
Just a few weeks later, the determined Guthrie-Levie team returned for World of Speed. This time, their persistence paid off. Levie piloted the MS3Pro ULTIMATE–controlled streamliner to a new world record, joining one of the most exclusive clubs in motorsports: the 300 mph Club. Levie is now one of only three single-engine motorcycle pilots in the world to hold this honor. His trap speed at the end of the final mile was an astonishing 320.304 mph, covering that mile in just 11.4 seconds.
The Build: Engineering for Speed
Despite the astronomical speeds, the engine build is surprisingly modest:
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Hayabusa engine: 2mm overbore, stock head, cams, crank
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Internals: JE pistons, Carrillo rods, upgraded transmission
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Turbocharger: Garrett T4 feeding a custom Bell-core intercooler and plenum with 92mm LS-style throttle body
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Chassis: Custom rigid frame made of 1 5/8” .120 wall DOM tubing, no suspension
At the heart of it all is the MS3Pro ULTIMATE ECU, which manages every aspect of the engine, including per-cylinder EGT correction via CAN EGT. Tuning is handled by Jesse Brown, founder of the MegaSquirt Addicts support page.
The Next Frontier
With the 300 mph milestone conquered, Guthrie-Levie Racing has their sights set even higher. The team is already planning for a run at 350 mph and beyond in the coming year.