Triton T140V by Adam Grice

Foto: Facebook (Iron & Air)

James Toseland to attempt to beat land speed record at Bonneville in 2014

Former two-time now retired World Superbike champion James Toseland will attempt to break the official world motorcycle land speed record in 2014.

The current record is 376.363mph (605,697 km/h) and is held by Rocky ‘Rocketman’ Robinson and Toseland who was forced to retire from motorcycle racing due to a career ending wrist injury, will try beat that record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in September 2014.

The British rider has teamed up with the University of Derby and development of the machine development will be led by former GP and TT sidecar racer, Alex Macfadzean who held the first British bike land speed record of over 200mph.

“I am hugely excited about this record attempt but I’m under no illusions as to how difficult it will be. I’ve been racing motorcycles for most of my life but this means learning a completely new technique in order to pilot the motorcycle streamliner,” said Toseland speaking at theUniversity of Derby. “The team involved with the project are amazing and really know their stuff, so I know I’m in safe hands in terms of the development. We’ve been in discussions about this for several months, but at the University of Derby’s workshops I sat in the cockpit of the machine for the first time, so it now all seems very real. If successful, this will be a fantastic personal achievement but also a great accolade to bring back to the UK.”

For updates on the ambitious project just follow Toseland’s Twitter account.

Photo source | jamestoseland.facebook.com

The “100mph Pair of Shades”: Wood & Pickett Margrave Mini Cooper S

No sooner had we written about the cars favoured by The Beatles, including John Lennon’s particular preference for Wood & Pickett Minis, than one comes up for auction at Barons’ Yuletide Classic sale at Sandown Park on 18 December. And not just any one, either...

This might not be the exact Mini that Lennon once owned, but it’s only one step removed. This is the unique 1969 Wood & Pickett Margrave Mini Cooper S (note the S: it’s believed to be the only one that Wood & Pickett ever built) that was bought three times by the same person – John Hammel, long-time guitar technician to Paul McCartney, among others. Imagine the rock musicians who must have travelled in its leather interior: Steve Marriott (of Small Faces and Humble Pie fame) is just one that we know about, and he was so impressed that he described the Mini as “a 100mph pair of shades”. 

But even he did not have quite the affection for the little Mini that John Hammel had. Having first acquired the car in 1973, he sold it a few years later to Denny Lane (of Moody Blues and Wings), but after just eight months bought it back. In the early 1990s he sold the car again, but asked the buyer to give him first refusal should he ever decide to sell; and bingo, a few years later Hammel bought the Mini back for a second time.


According to Barons, the car has since been the subject of a full nut-and-bolt rebuild and is in “quite superb” condition, carrying a not-unreasonable estimate of £27,500-£35,000. Just make sure you still have enough cash left over for a Les Paul guitar and a pair of flares. And remember… only six careful owners; three of them the same man.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: Courtesy of Mini World magazine

Charade news

Le  circuit historique situé près de Clermont-Ferrand a évité la fermeture définitive grâce à la mobilisation de nombreux fans et enthousiastes.

Il y a un an, Octane rapportait la menace de fermeture qui pesait sur le circuit de Charade. Officiellement, le problème émanait des nuisances sonores dont un collectif de riverains s’était plaint. Officieusement, la spéculation immobilière faisant grimper la valeur des terres aurait attiré l’appétit de quelques promoteurs. Ces gens étaient encouragés dans leur action par des années de gestion désastreuse du site qui semblait alors sérieusement sur le déclin. Ils n’avaient pas anticipé en revanche le formidable élan de solidarité au niveau national que leur action allait provoquer, avec la création d’ « Agissons pour Charade ».

Résultat de cette mobilisation, l’Automobile Club d’Auvergne, sous l’égide de sa fédération locale, a pris en main la gestion du site et a plaidé pour l’amélioration des équipements. Le problème sonore semble avoir été résolu par un usage plus restrictif du circuit. En 2013, Charade n’accueillera que trois compétitions : deux épreuves du championnat historique en Mai et Septembre, et un grand Prix de camions de course en Juillet.

Les trophées historiques du 29 et 30 Septembre 2012 ont rassemblés 230 concurrents et l’on a pu observer quelques autos impressionnantes. Le groupe 1 voyait s’affronter des BMW 635 contre des Camaro, entourées d’Alfa, Golf, Simca et même une Volvo 122S. Le challenge Asavé a donné lieu à une compétition fantastique entre la 911 SC de Patrick Andréoli et l’Escort MK1 de Claude Boissy alors que de Mini et des Alpines se tiraient la bourre derrière.

Ouvert en 1958, Charade accueilli le Grand Prix de France de F1 quatre fois avant que ce dernier ne choisisse d’autres circuits au tracé plus synthétique. Dans les années 80 la coupure du tracé de 8 à 4 km lui redonné un peu d’élan.
Charade est vraiment un superbe circuit avec un dénivelé important et une ligne droite principale terminant en épingle particulièrement intéressante.

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