From humble learner bike to land-speed legend, Adam Howe’s turbocharged Yamaha YZF-R3 hit the salt at Lake Gairdner – and the record books never saw it coming
You may recall the recent Reader Story/Passion Project of 56-year-old Mechanical Engineering student and AMCN reader Adam Howe (Vol 74 No.14), in which he detailed the remarkable transformation of his modest learner Yamaha YZF-R3 into a – potentially! – record-breaking ride capable of making its mark on the salt flats.
Well, Adam is back. And not to spoil anything for you, but he bloody did it! After boosting the Yamaha beyond its capacity into an angry beast in the 350cc MPS-BG class, he took it to Lake Gairdner to tackle the record books… and those poor books did not stand a chance.
Here, now, is his blow-by-blow account of everything that went down at the 35th annual DLRA Speed Week 2025 from 3-8 March…
Wrapping up Speed Week
Racing on the vast, blinding white expanse of Lake Gairdner with the Dry Lakes Racing Association was an experience I’ll never forget. The conditions were punishing, with temperatures soaring to nearly 40°C each day, but my team – my wife Nell and daughter Sarah – worked tirelessly to see this project through to the finish line.
Despite the many hurdles along the way, I’m proud to share that on our very first attempt, we successfully set a land speed record! We now hold the record in the 350cc MPS-BG class at 111.45mph (179.36 km/h). While I had hoped to push that number higher, a combination of factors limited how hard I could push the bike on the day.
The road to the record
Our journey started early on a Friday morning, departing Sydney at 6am for a two-day, 1734km drive to Lake Gairdner. We arrived Sunday morning, registered and set up our pit on the salt before attending the mandatory racer and rookie briefings. That evening, over a well-earned cold beer at the DLRA canteen, we watched the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in deep reds and purples. The sheer beauty of the salt flats was breathtaking – but we knew the real challenge was yet to come.
Gearing up for the first run
Monday morning, full of excitement, we lined up for my rookie run on Track 2, the shorter track. This run is mandatory before attempting a record. I had imposed a rev limit of 9000rpm since I wasn’t certain of the air-fuel ratio at high revs. To avoid any instinctive mistakes at high speed, I removed the front brake lever – there’d be no grabbing a handful of front brake at 100+ miles an hour!
Sarah, my team coordinator, had meticulously worked through the pre-run checklist: tire pressures, boost settings and general bike condition were all confirmed. When my turn came, I selected first gear and launched off the line. The turbo kicked in, the bike struggled for traction on the salt, and in the blink of an eye, it was over. The run felt fantastic. Back at the pits, I picked up my timing slip– 103.52mp/h (166.6km/h). Not bad for a first attempt!
The record-breaking run
Back at the pits, we reviewed our strategy. I knew the bike was under-geared, but I had no taller sprockets on hand. I had already raised the gearing from 14:43 to 15:38 but this was nowhere near tall enough. Instead, I increased tire pressure and raised the redline to 10,000rpm, hoping the engine wouldn’t detonate. That afternoon, I was back on the salt for my record-qualifying run. This time, with the higher rev limit, I managed 112.388mph (180.85km/h), securing my place in impound overnight.
Tuesday morning, I retrieved the bike from impound and headed straight to the startline for the official record run. The air was crisp, the bike felt strong, and as I crouched behind the screen, my focus was absolute. The speedometer maxed out at 199km/h, and I knew I had done everything possible to squeeze out the best run. When Nell picked up the timing slip, the final run read 110.511mph (177.85km/h). With the two-run average, the official record stood at 111.45mph (179.36km/h).
Lessons from the salt
Racing on the salt is unlike anything else. The surface isn’t perfectly smooth; the bike rumbles over subtle bumps, requiring absolute concentration to maintain a straight line. The wind howls, pushing against you, and the heat is relentless. Yet the sense of accomplishment at the finish line makes all the effort worth it.
What’s next?
This year was about testing the waters and proving that the turbocharged Yamaha YZF-R3 (a learner-legal bike, though ours is far from stock) could hold its own. Now, with a record in hand, it’s time to take things up a notch.
The next step is installing my worked engine: stronger valve springs, thermal-coated pistons, re-gapped rings, Carrillo conrods, a rebalanced crankshaft, ARP studs and larger injectors to increase fuel flow at high rpm. This set-up will allow me to increase boost and push the bike’s top-end potential farther.
With these improvements, I believe 125mph (201 km/h) is well within reach. So, will I be back? Absolutely. See you in 2026!
Reflecting on the experience, I’ve learned some valuable lessons:
1 – Wear sunscreen. The salt reflects sunlight into places you’d never expect!
2 – Do your homework. Understand the rules, safety regulations and licensing requirements before you race.
3 – Start small. Don’t go all-in with an extreme build. Get familiar with the conditions and build confidence.
4 – Gearing matters. Salt is nothing like tarmac; you need to optimise for traction and speed.
5 – Aerodynamics are key. Speed isn’t just about horsepower; body position and streamlining play a huge role.
6 – Prep for the salt. Metal parts need pre-treatment, and the bike requires a full teardown afterward to remove dust and salt.
7 – Listen to the veterans. The salt is unforgiving, and experienced racers have a wealth of knowledge to share.
8 – Enjoy the ride! It’s about more than just speed; it’s also about the people you meet and the memories you create.
