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Dragbike faster than F1 or jet fighter

Ian King & 'Gulf Oil Top Fuel Dragbike' (photo Stefan Boman) 1
Ian King and his dragbike (photo Stefan Boman)

This dragbike can hit 235mph (378km/h) in 5.8 seconds which is faster than a Formula One car or an F15 jet fighter plane.

Next week Brit Ian King and his Gulf Oil Top Fuel Dragbike will attempt a Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) world record at the Straightliners Top Speed event.

He will attempt to break fellow Brit Phil Brachtvogel’s record in Category I, Class A1, Division B (partially streamlined), over 1350cc to 1600cc. It’s not actually a top speed, but the average of two ¼ mile standing starts.

Ian says the dragbike is the “fastest motorcycle outside of the USA from a standing start”.

The dragbike is powered by a Purpose-built Puma 1584cc inline fuel-injected and supercharged four-cylinder engine with up to 1500 horsepower which is about 50% more powerful than a Formula One car.

It features aluminium cases and billet steel crankshaft, 12V DOHC billet aluminium cylinder head with aluminium bronze hemispheres.

Ian King & 'Gulf Oil Top Fuel Dragbike' (photo Stefan Boman) 1
Ian King and his dragbike (photo Stefan Boman)

Ian King built his first custom motorcycle at the age of 13 and has now won a total of nine FIM European Championships with an unprecedented four back-to-back titles.

The Straightliners Top Speed event on September 17-18 at Elvington Airfield in North Yorkshire will also include a wide range of conventional high-powered motorbikes and other four-wheel vehicles attempting various speed records.