Hideaway Bins by Kitchen King are helping 36 year old Corey Bertelsen attempt to break the world record in the 250cc class at Bonneville Speed Week from 8th August this year. Speed week, where all sanctioned land speed records are set, attracts enthusiasts from around the world.
Corey's first attempt to break this land speed record was stopped short on day four of the 2008 event, due to excessive downward-force on the front of the bike, causing the back of the bike to lift and wheel spin. To rectify this problem and allow the bike to go faster the front fairing would need to change along with the rear suspension causing the team to pull out of the event. Through this disappointment, the GNL Trust Racing team learnt a lot and began planning their 2009 attempt to break this land speed record.
Corey's bid was originally inspired by the film The World's Fastest Indian, about New Zealander Burt Munro, who set numerous records at Bonneville on his 40-year-old motor cycle. Burt's story of courage and determination inspired Corey to follow his tyre tracks using a mix of modern technology and Kiwi Ingenuity.
Jamie Bertelsen, Kitchen King Business Manager, said that as a small New Zealand company Kitchen King and their Hideaway Bins are proud to support Corey and the GNL Trust Racing Team because they have similar goals to those Kitchen King hopes to achieve on a global scale.
For the 2008 race Corey along with performance mechanic Lincoln Shaw originally developed a 250cc Honda Racing Bike from its normal 54.5kW to produce 74.5kW and tested the bike to 320km/h (200mph). Improvements for the 2009 race include adjustments to the standard RS250 engine using all handmade and tested parts including new heads sourced from Australia, these are changeable heads for testing and have resulted in more horse power overall for the bike. The standard 75 horse power at the rear wheel now reaches 90 horse power.
The class record which has stood since 1991 is 252km/h and the GNL Team are aiming for 160m/phr. Corey believes with the experience the team gained during 2008 and the additional aerodynamic wind tunnel testing they have undergone through Auckland University, this time around they are confident they have a good chance at setting a new world record.