Waikato man on mission to break land speed record in home made car
The car that Dave Alexander will drive when he sets out to break the land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States.
Photo:
Supplied
A Kiwi engineer is on a mission to set a land speed record higher than 422km/h - in a car he built in his shed.
Seventy-two-year-old Dave Alexander has spent the past nine years building the Lakester, which looks more like the fuselage of a fighter jet than a car.
In three weeks he will ship the turbo-charged, 1000 horse power car to the United States to race at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats.
Alexander said he had previous records at Bonneville in a car that he built around 2008.
At that time "everybody was commenting about the quality of the build and the body design and the aerodynamics of the car," he said.
He decided that if he were to do it again he would contact them for the body of the car.
"It's really only the top part of the body, the sides are flat. So they took another plug out of the mould and sent it to me and I sort of started from there."
Alexander said he had to start from scratch to ensure the vehicle would survive at such high speeds.
"Getting a record was important, I didn't want to just go there to compete.
"So we looked through the record book to find a record that was achievable and the up to three litre record in this particular class of Lakester was 262 mile an hour and it had been set in 1996 and it was still existing."
Alexander contacted Robbie Ward in Rotorua who he described as the "Nissan guru" saying he built and shipped them all around the world.
Alexander's car (front).
Photo:
Supplied
Ward was keen to work on the project and Alexander said he had mentored him through the engine build, as well as building some of it.
They finished on Friday night, he said.
"We managed to get a 1000 horse power out of it, out of a 3 litre 6 cylinder - 885 horse power at the rear wheels which is more than enough to achieve it we think."
Alexander said in the past he had been able to test drive some of the cars at Ohakea but that was no longer possible as they said "the paper work now to do that is just too much".
Asked whether he would drive the car himself Alexander said "too right".
"I haven't done eight years to nine years building it to let someone else get in."
Alexander said he was prepared and they had done a lot of research and it was well designed and all the weight was in the right places.
You had to do three runs or "licensing passes" before attempting the record, he said.
"You slowly work your way up and so they can see that you're capable of doing it and the car is a safe car and then once you've done those three passes they will let you onto the long course where you can have an attempt at the record."
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter
curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

RNZ News
8 hours ago
- RNZ News
Auckland Grammar principal calls out Sport NZ over 'Year 14' athletes
1st XV rugby match between Nelson College and Marlborough Boys. Nelson College, Nelson. Photo: Chris Symes / Auckland Grammar principal Tim O'Connor has challenged Sport NZ to take a stand on extra-year students returning to schools on sporting grounds. The issue of 'Year 14' athletes has raised its head again, with Marlborough Boys' College admitting it has five such players in its First XV , which scored a historic - and controversial - win over Nelson College last month. That 28-26 result came after Marlborough were awarded a first-half penalty and instead of aiming for the posts, the goalkicker struck for the corner, where one of his teammates chased it down for a try that was eventually awarded. O'Connor told Checkpoint that bringing students back for an extra year for sporting purposes was a distortion of their roles as educators and openly wondered where the national sporting administrators were in this debate. "Really, our role as principals and our role as schools is to educate young people," he said. "Sport NZ talks about balance is better, but where are they in this discussion? "They haven't come out to say, 'why are we allowing this to occur?' "I'd love to see them being more proactive and having the courage to speak up on this. "Perhaps there are organisations that want to turn a blind eye to what is the pathway for young men and rugby in this country frankly. We need to get beyond that." RNZ has approached Sport NZ for reaction to O'Connor's comments. Auckland's 1A competition has put is members on notice that Year 14 players will not be permitted from next season. O'Connor admits two of the 12 teams currently have two such players each on their rosters. "We discussed that at the beginning of the year and felt the fair thing to do was give everyone 12 months' notice, and then we wouldn't be allowing that to occur again." Earlier this year, the issue led to a ban on extra-year rowers at the prestigious Maadi Cup regatta at Lake Karapiro. School Sport NZ is now considering a total ban on the Year 14 athletes . "There is no doubt there is a distinct advantage - muscle co-ordination and technical ability - in a sixth-year student," O'Connor said. "They're taking away positions from students who are coming through their natural schooling years. "For example, Rieko Ioane could have returned - we could have encouraged him to return, because he would have met all the other criteria, and he could have returned to play rugby for another year, which would have been a huge advantage to our school. "Our view was Rieko should actually carry on with his life and move to the next stage, and we'd fully support him in doing so." Now an 81-test All Black, Ioane debuted for Auckland and the NZ sevens team the year after leaving Auckland Grammar, and made his test debut aged 19. O'Connor insisted his school would not take the field against Marlborough with their Year 14 players. "I don't know why there would be a reason to play them," he told Checkpoint . "I'd rather play in a competition where we know there is a level playing field and we're treating each other with respect. "In the 1A competition, mid-season, we have about six teams who could still win it - that's a great competition, that keeps it alive across multiple schools." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.


Scoop
9 hours ago
- Scoop
RC Hobbies NZ Expands RC Drift Car Selection As Interest Grows
Press Release – RC Hobbies Auckland, New Zealand – RC Hobbies, a leading online hobby shop in New Zealand, has expanded its range of RC drift cars in NZ to meet the rising demand among enthusiasts and newcomers. The company, known for its comprehensive selection of radio-controlled vehicles and parts, now offers an even broader variety of RC drift cars from brands such as Tamiya, HPI, Maverick, and Kyosho. The RC drift car category has seen an increase in popularity both locally and globally. These vehicles, designed to replicate the drifting action seen in motorsport, are equipped with specialized tires and chassis to enable controlled slides and manoeuvres on a range of surfaces. RC Hobbies' expanded inventory includes ready-to-run models and kits, as well as accessories and spare parts, catering to both beginners and experienced hobbyists. RC Hobbies operates as an online-only retailer, providing nationwide delivery and support for customers across New Zealand. The hobby shop stocks a wide range of products, including RC cars, planes, drones, boats, batteries, electronics, and model kits. The business is New Zealand-owned and operated, with a focus on offering products from leading brands and providing technical advice to customers. The updated selection of RC drift cars in NZ reflects the company's commitment to supporting the local RC community. Customers can browse and purchase products through the RC Hobbies website, with options to filter by brand, price, and availability. The company also offers parts, upgrades, and after-sales support to help hobbyists maintain and customise their vehicles. For more information on the latest RC drift car models and other radio-controlled products, visit RC Hobbies' website.

RNZ News
10 hours ago
- RNZ News
Calls to allow netball players to represent two countries
Netball New Zealand has called for World Netball to amend its strict eligibility criteria, which prevents players representing two different countries at consecutive world cups. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.