Leppan’s attempt
Fully recovered from the injuries sustained when his Triumph-powered Gyronaut X-l somersaulted at 260 miles an hour during a world speed record attempt in October last year, the American rider, R. Leppan, is now ready to make a further attempt on the world mark. And he has chosen Lake Eyre in South Australia as the venue.
Leppan held the world motor-cycle speed record at 245.6 miles an hour for four years before he lost it to D. Vesco’s twin engine Yamaha last year. The record now stands at 265.492 miles an hour to the credit of C. Raybom and his Harley-David-son.
In Australia, Leppan plans to make his bid in March or April. Recently, Lake Eyre was covered with about 3in of water but it is expected to dry out in time for the attempt This time Leppan will use a machine powered by two 750 c.c. Triumph Trident three-cylinder engines. He intends to run the machine on petrol without any nitromethane.
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Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 18
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164Leppan’s attempt Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 18
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