Racing forward – Yorkshire Grandad breaks world velocity file

A THRILLSEEKING grandad has damaged one other World File along with his new eco rocket-bike, reaching speeds of 169mph powered by steam.

Graham Sykes, self-branded as a “nutty inventor“, is a precision engineer primarily based in Bedale, Yorkshire.

He engineered a steam rocket he named The Drive of Nature, which makes use of the latent power of pressurised water, launched by means of nozzles as steam to succeed in excessive speeds.

By means of data of steam-based science, Graham developed his eco-friendly rocket-bike which may attain 163mph in simply 3.87 seconds over 1/8 of a mile – breaking the World File.

The bike was designed and in-built Graham’s shed in his again backyard in Yorkshire, and has already damaged three information this race season.

Graham believes the complete potential of the bike is “but to be unleashed”.

After a devoted 10-year journey, Graham and his workforce, which incorporates his spouse Diane Sykes, completed a exceptional feat on the UK&ITA World Data Pace week.

Right here, the Drive of Nature claimed the title of the outright quickest steam-propelled bike on the earth.

This triumph marks a big milestone in Graham’s profession, as he had beforehand shattered the British Nationwide file for the quickest three-wheeled car in 2015.

His self-built V8 3-wheeler “SYKO,” reached a peak velocity of 180.3 mph (171.4 mph common over the flying 1/4 mile).

Earlier than Graham’s groundbreaking creation, the quickest recorded steam-powered bike had reached a velocity of 80.509 mph in 2014.

This wheel pushed bike was crafted by American inventor Invoice Barnes – differing from the Drive of Nature, which is thrust pushed.

With plans to interrupt their very own file and develop into the quickest steam-powered car ever, the Drive of Nature Steam Rocket Bike goals to surpass 200 mph within the standing 1/8 mile.

The bike utilises steam energy, with the water heated by HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil), showcasing the Drive of Nature’s inexperienced credentials.

To proceed their spectacular journey, Graham Sykes and his workforce can be showcasing the Drive of Nature at upcoming drag race conferences and collaborating in conferences such because the Straighteners High Pace at Cambletown on the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland from 24-25 June.

They may even be heading to Germany from 25-27 August to run exhibitions on the famend Hockenheim Circuit in the course of the Nitro Olympics evening present.

Graham has been concerned in straight-line motorsport since 1979 engaged on many tasks together with six years as race engineer for Vauxhall’s championship successful British and European Touring Automotive Workforce.

He was additionally engineer and key workforce member for the Firestorm jet powered dragster and is at the moment a part of the engineering workforce engaged on 52 Specific, a world land velocity file bike.

Grandad to 9 grandchildren, and turning 60 later this week, Graham mirrored on his achievements: “It’s only a large bomb actually, and it began in my shed.

“I’ve taken the ideas of chemistry, and married them with precision engineering to create one thing I’m obsessed with – quick bikes.”

“I needed to do that in a method that’s sustainable for the planet (I’ve obtained 9 grandkids in spite of everything), and demonstrates that you simply don’t should compromise on velocity, you simply should get artistic.”