Graham Sykes’ Steam Rocket Bike – “Force of Nature”
Graham had posted the following on his Facebook page alerting followers of the September meeting…
“All set up at Elvington ‘Full Throttle Top Speed and Records Meeting’. We run all 4 days the forecast is looking good and we hope to run faster than our best recorded time 5.44 seconds in the standing 1/4 mile over the meeting. Open to the public all 4 days come and say hello and watch record being broken and history being made Elvington Airfield 17th to 20th September.”
Unfortunately all did not go well as Graham posted following the meeting….
“Back home from the Elvington full throttle records meeting, and although the bike crashed out on Friday pretty much destroying it, and Phil Wood the rider coming off and breaking his hand and getting beaten up in the process. There is always a silver lining because the day before on the Thursday 17.09.26 Phil Wood managed to break the World record for a steam powered vehicle on “Force of Nature” reaching a speed of 215.637 mph in the 1/8th mile.
This record has been held by a Swiss team headed by Arnold Neracher who build a small car based around a GoKart called “Water Thunder” and ran a 214.7 mph. This record has stood since 1992. Both are phenomenal achievements and for the record to have stood for 34 years is testimony to the team. We will use this setback as an opportunity to re build the bike and return faster quicker and stronger than before. It will be an expensive and labour intensive task but we will return. Thanks to everyone’s well wishes and offers of help. They are greatly appreciated. Thank you all….Graham Sykes”
I am sure we all wish Phil a speedy recovery…
