Latest news with #Lakester
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Markets with Madison: Inside Zuru's empire
Grocery Commissioner worried about power imbalance between suppliers and supermarkets. Video / Herald NOW PM's deputy press secretary has resigned after "serious and concerning" allegations were made against him. Video / NZ Herald Fire and Emergency had about to 60 callouts in Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Waikato. Video / NZ Herald Herald NOW: Daily Weather Update: June 5 2025. Video / Herald NOW Herald NOW: Daily News Update: June 5 2025. Video / Herald NOW Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi addressed reporters head of the House debate on the Privileges Committee recommendation. Video / Mark Mitchell NZME chair Steven Joyce on his radio history (and pranks); editorial independence and the future of OneRoof. Video / NZ Herald Reporter Sinembali is on the Parliament steps, where supporters have turned out for 3 MPs facing possible suspension for their haka in opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill. Waikato man Dave Alexander heads to the United States to break the land speed record in his homebuilt Lakester car. Hundreds of thousands of 'nurdles' have washed up on Waiheke's Oneroa Beach. Video / Dean Purcell, Alyse Wright 'I can't kick to the head, because I can't reach that high now, but I can take someone's knee out,' says 86-year-old martial arts teacher Mary Patu. MetService Severe Weather Update: June 4. Video / Metservice CCTV footage shows Ahamad Samsudeen before his knife attack at LynnMall supermarket. Video / Supplied The brother of a 1-year-old boy whose finger got trapped in a tray table demonstrates how the injury happened. The Government has rejected a vision to ban cruise ships from Milford Sound and close its airstrip while announcing $15.2m for infrastructure upgrades & conservation projects.
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Automotive
- NZ Herald
Kiwi Dave Alexander aiming to break land speed record in homemade Lakester
Waikato man Dave Alexander has never shied away from a challenge, and the 72-year-old is about to face his biggest one yet. After nearly nine years of chipping away in his garage at his Mangatāwhiri home, he's built a turbocharged Lakester, designed for land speed racing. The car will go
RNZ News
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- RNZ News
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.
Mint
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Mint
Harley-Davidson unveils Fat Boy Gray Ghost to mark 35 years of iconic design
Harley-Davidson has introduced the Fat Boy Gray Ghost, a striking new entrant to its Icons Motorcycle Collection, celebrating 35 years since the debut of the original Fat Boy, reported HT Auto. With only 1,990 units to be produced globally, an homage to its 1990 origins, the Gray Ghost pays tribute to the model's heritage while embracing modern engineering and technology. Reportedly, this exclusive edition seeks to blend the unmistakable visual identity of the classic 'fat custom' with the demands and expectations of today's cruiser riders. As a result, it is not only a collector's dream but also a fully capable machine for modern roads. The Gray Ghost is defined by its distinctive high-gloss "Refection" finish, created using Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) technology. This process offers superior durability and corrosion resistance compared to traditional chrome, making it ideal for the expansive surfaces of the tank and fenders. The bike's aesthetics are further enhanced with silver powder-coated frame components, chrome side covers, and yellow accents on the engine—design choices inspired directly by the 1990 original. Authentic touches include a black leather tank strap with laced edges, winged medallions, and a tasselled leather seat valance. A numbered console plaque adds a sense of exclusivity, underlining each bike's unique identity. The familiar Lakester cast aluminium wheels are retained, paired with Michelin Scorcher 11 tyres (160/60R18 at the front and 240/40R18 at the rear), reinforcing the Fat Boy's broad and aggressive stance. While the design nods to the past, the technology is unmistakably current. A new 5-inch console-mounted display integrates an analogue speedometer with a multifunction LCD, allowing the rider to scroll through data via handlebar controls. A USB-C port offers fast charging and data transfer, while repositioned heated gear connectors now sit under the seat for easier access. The motorcycle features full LED lighting—from headlamp to indicators—and a comprehensive suite of rider aids, including Cornering ABS, Traction Control, Drag Torque Slip Control, and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. Riders can also switch between three ride modes—Road, Rain, and Sport—each tailored to optimise throttle response and safety systems. Underneath the classic styling lies Harley-Davidson's latest Milwaukee-Eight 117 Custom V-Twin engine, producing 101 bhp and 171 Nm of peak torque. These figures represent noticeable improvements, seven per cent more power and three per cent more torque—compared to the previous Fat Boy 114. The engine has been refined with oval intake ports and reworked combustion chambers to enhance both performance and efficiency. A 2-into-2 exhaust system ensures a rich, resonant exhaust note that is both throaty and refined. To support the upgraded powerplant, the Fat Boy Gray Ghost comes equipped with 49 mm dual-bending valve front forks and a rear mono-shock with hydraulic preload adjustability—allowing for quick and easy suspension tuning. Braking is handled by a 300 mm front disc with a 4-piston caliper and a 292 mm rear disc with a 2-piston caliper, ensuring strong and reliable stopping power for a cruiser of this size.
