Landspeed in NZ
The speeds recorded at Landspeed New Zealand Association events are done with certified Tag Heuer equipment, on a surveyed and certified road, and we duplicate the event requirements as at USA Bonneville or Australia Lake Gairdner with a run each way within one hour over a timed 1/4 mile/402 meters distance. You have over 2.5klms runup to the timed section 1st timing light. So the distance to the last timing light is on the North to South run is 3.2klms and on the South to North run 3klms, then you have over 2.5klms to slow down. ( Note Drag racing strips only have 650 to 800 meters to slow down) We also record one way speeds– They will be officially recorded as Landspeed New Zealand Association records. Landspeed New Zealand Association is not affiliated with either Motorcycling New Zealand or Motorsport New Zealand so our landspeed records will not be acknowledged by these parties.
But good news on application to Motorcycle New Zealand and Landspeed New Zealand you can go for MNZ Landspeed records at our event as MNZ now recognises LSNZ and the venue/Road. They will be in attendance but you are required to join a MNZ approved club, have a MNZ competition license and there is extra fees and compliance rules, in addition to the LSNZ fees. We can only accommodate up to 4 applicants at each event. Check out our landspeed records under RESULTS and see participants have exceeded nearly all existing New Zealand motorsport speed records, that is car and motorbike records because we have reduced costs by up to 500% with multi participants, but at same time not compromised safety as we provide Ambulance, Paramedics, Rescue staff, Fire engine, extraction equipment, and up to 15 experienced motorsport marshals, backed up by the latest in communication equipment.
You can compare your vehicle, car or motorbike specifications to those of others in New Zealand or World motorsport classes. Participants at a Landspeed New Zealand Association event will be attempting to better those records of others.
Overall fastest current New Zealand record officiated by MSNZ
MSNZ in 2020 awarded the Castrol cup to Dean Hart in a jet-powered dragster for averaging 227.14 mph (363.436 kph) powered by a Rolls Royce Viper 535 engine from a BAC Strikemaster aircraft, on Ohakea Airforce Base 7th March 2020.
The fastest petrol wheel driven car officially timed speed in New Zealand was set by Eddie Freeman driving a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera at Ohakea Airforce Base, on 26 October 2012. MSNZ did not award Eddie Freeman the Castrol cup as that is for the flying mile record. Eddie set the record for the flying kilometer at 355.485 kph (220.888 mph). In doing so, Eddie Freeman took the flying kilometer record from Owen Evans, who had previously set the record at 348.061 kph at Goudies Road, Reporoa on June 2nd 1996 in his Porsche 911 GT Le Mans Turbo.
Note: 8th April 2018 at our Landspeed NZ event Darryl Dolby – in a 1500hp 2008 Nissan R35 GTR did a amazing two way average of 357.02 kph.
On 6th March 2022 event Scott Wilkins riding a modified Kawasaki H2R broke the speed records above on Goudies Road, Reporoa doing a 364.5kph/227.8mph one way with a 358.4kph/224mph two way average.
Then 9th March 2024 Cole Scammell on a very special Turbo and Nitrous Oxide Suzuki Hayabusa do an amazing one way 377kph/235mph top speed
The Castrol Trophy (New Zealand Landspeed Record trophy awarded by Motorsport New Zealand)
The Castrol Trophy in landspeed racing is awarded for the fastest vehicle officially timed by MSNZ with a flying start over a measured distance of one full mile (1.609 kilometers). The trophy itself is a one third replica of The Sir Charles Wakefield Trophy which was presented for the World Land Speed record in the 1930’s by Castrol’s founding chairman. Previous holder of the Castrol Trophy is Owen Evans, who attained 216.385 mph (348.237 kph) on June 2nd 1996 in his Porsche 911 GT Le Mans Turbo on Goudies Road, Reporoa.
The previous holder of the trophy had been Ray Williams at 196.721 mph (316.591 kph), set on the 16th March 1996 in a Road Registered Porsche 930, also on Goudies Road, Reporoa.
The Castrol Trophy was first awarded to Willy Smith in 1932 on 90 mile Beach. All these previous record vehicles were wheel driven by petrol engines. But MSNZ awarded the Castrol Trophy for first time to a jet powered car.
Motorcycling New Zealand (MNZ) Landspeed Records
Motorcycle New Zealand’s records for individual classes are available here, current as of Jan 2023. The fastest Motorcycle for these MNZ records was once JG Hepburn 5th Jan 2000 on a Suzuki Hayabusa 1300cc did 191.08mph (305.72kph). This record stood for 18 years because there was not the facility/venue to go for Landspeed records other than a very expensive individual attempt at record breaking. That is another reason why John Seccombe formed Landspeed New Zealand Association to make this record breaking available easier and cheaper. Typical individual cost was $25K with road closure, STMS, insurances, timing equipment, safety rescue crews, marshals, official time keepers, Clark of the course, surveying, the list goes on.
2018 on 8th April at LSNZ events we had 8 motorcycles exceed this speed with the fastest average being a Suzuki Hayabusa turbo doing 210mph ( 336.38kph)
2019 on 10th Feb at LSNZ the fastest one way speed was a incredible 219mph( 351.13kph) by Stuart Goldsworthy on modified Supercharged Kawasaki H2R.
2022 on 6th March LSNZ/MNZ event Scott Wilkins riding a modified Kawasaki H2R broke the speed records above on Goudies Road, Reporoa doing a 364.5kph/227.8mph one way with a 358.4kph/224mph two way average.