FEATURE
TOP OF THE WORLD LAND SPEED TRIAL
AUGUST 3-8, 2017
SALAR DE UYUNI / UYUNI, BOLIVIA
P98
(Above) Vulcan Tunupa
is a popular landmark on
the Salar de Uyuni. Mike
Cook designed the track
to give racers a clear
focal point. Aim for the
volcano and twist it!
(Clockwise from far left)
There has never been
a need for a Mile 20
marker at Bonneville.
Mike Cook was proud to
pull this out in Bolivia. At
long last, the Ack Attack
container sets down
on the Salar de Uyuni.
Mike Cook, a fixture in
Bonneville land-speed
racing, was tasked with
laying out the track and
managing activity at the
Top of the World Land
Speed Trial.
TAKING
"We made this last pass—the
bike ran a lot better. We got up to
about 358 top speed," Robinson
explained. "We had a little issue
at the end of the run; my landing
gear didn't come down all the
way. We had a little problem with
the battery. I knew [the wheels]
weren't all the way out so I rode
it all the way to the pits hoping
someone maybe would catch
me. And they didn't! They stood
clear and I stopped right there
and then I just tipped over."
Fortunately the Ack Attack
wasn't damaged in the tip-over,
and a fresh battery solved the
landing gear problem. Robinson
also found the addition of the
rear doors to be quite effective—a
little too effective. The Ack Attack
