Today, over 500 teams from around the world have gathered on Utah's sun-baked Bonneville Salt Flats, bringing their high tech (and vintage) motor vehicles to the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek. The Southern California Timing Association hosts the annual event on the hard salt shell that covers the desert floor, setting up straight tracks that can reach as far as nine miles. Records are already being set this year, with speeds reaching over 350 miles per hour (560 kph). Reuters photographer Jim Urquhart traveled out to the scene near the Utah/Nevada border to capture some of the sights of Bonneville SpeedWeek 2011. | This mechanical monster is the world's fastest v-twin motorcycle. And if you're the kind of person who likes to take risks on two wheels - and you've got a spare £45,000 - then you can get your hands on one. For the Confederate X132 Hellcat Combat motorcycle is finally going into limited production, after it this summer broke the land speed record for big block v-twins.
Available to buy: James Hoegh with the X132 Hellcat Combat motorcycle, on which he broke the land speed record for big block v-twin motorbikes in Utah this summer after riding it to 172.2 mph
Face melting speed: Despite an ultra-light weight of just 490lbs, the monster 2,000cc bike pumps out 160 brake-horsepower which helps it to reach incredible speeds James Hoegh set the record, clocking a face-melting 172.2 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah - the equivalent of 200 miles per hour on tarmac. Confederate founder Matthew Chambers, described the new Hellcat by saying, 'This is the motorcycle we were conceived to execute when I founded the company 21 years ago. 'I have every confidence that we have delivered all we ever dreamed of giving.'
Rip up the commute: Confederate are offering a limited run of just 36 of the handcrafted motorbikes for sale, which are a modification of their standard Hellcat model
All American: Confederate products are U.S.- made, and they claim each part is made to the highest standard
Personalised: Each bespoke model of the X123 Hellcat Combat shipped will be ergonomically tailored for the buyer, down to including their name printed on the fuel tank. This bike is marked for test rider James Heogh The monster 2,000cc bike pumps out 160 brake-horsepower which, combined with the ultra-light total weight of just 490lbs, help this mechanical marvel reach incredible speeds. Named after the legendary F6F Hellcat fighter plane of WWII, the X132 Hellcat is the result of an uncompromising design and manufacturing approach. The centrepiece of Confederate's approach is the Hellcat's billet aluminum case. Instead of the usual casting method, the Hellcat's case is machined from two blocks of billet 6061 aircraft grade aluminum. The company says: 'This new case unites America's best V-Twin technology and America's superior powertrain technology into a singularity. 'Although this material selection and craft methodology is expensive, it is simply the best approach for maximising strength and guaranteeing permanence.' VIDEO: Confederate motorcycles showcase the 200mph bike!
The standard model: The Combat bike is a modification of Confederate's regular X132 Hellcat, pictured
Precision engineered: Each component of the Hellcat shows evidence of attention to detail
'Heirloom product': The basic model retails for a cool $50,000
The core: The Hellcat's ngine, transmission, swingarm pivot and frame mounts into singular core that is carved from a single piece of aluminium Clay Morrison, director of marketing, added: 'Because we design and craft each Confederate motorcycle to be a multi-generational heirloom product, we require that each component, from the carbon-fibre wheels to the smallest stainless steel bolts, be of the highest quality, no matter the cost. 'Our clients deserve nothing less.' Confederate are offering a limited run of just 36 of the handcrafted motorbikes, which are a modification of their standard Hellcat model. Each model shipped will be ergonomically tailored for the buyer, down to including their name printed on the fuel tank. Pricing for the X132 Hellcat Combat is set at $72,000. The standard model is priced at $50,000, with orders already pouring in from throughout the world, the company claims.
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Jeannie Pflum makes a run on the Butler, Pflum & Wagner motorcycle during the second day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek on the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover, Utah, on August 14, 2011. Hundreds of drag race cars will attempt to set land speed records during the course of the week. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart)
The temperature nears 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) during the second day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Dave Lloyd of Canadian Arrow Williams team stays cool in the driver's seat with a fan during the second day of the Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
The No Nitro Hammond lakester makes a run during the second day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, outside Wendover, Utah, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Monique Sache of Vancouver, Canada, photographs race cars during the second day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Gilles Pujol of the French team Les Triplettes de Bonneville works on his motorcycle before the second day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
The Munz & Busby roadster makes a run during the second day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
The Dennis Varni streamliner makes a run during the third day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 15, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Race fans Chuck Cummings (left) and Bill Flint place plastic pink flamingos in the salt near their viewing area during the third day Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 15, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Bob Jackson works on his modified roadster during the first day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 13, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
RPM Racing's Civic spins out of control during the third day Bonneville SpeedWeek, on the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover, Utah, on August 15, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
The Costella/Cunha Nebulous Theorem VIII streamliner makes a run during Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Fabio Montani of Italy, after completing a run in his streamliner during the third day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 15, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Race inspectors look over the Spirit of the Lakes' modified race car during Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 13, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Jeff Erwin of Seattle, Washington walks to his video camera on the salt at Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
The Blowfish Barracuda makes a run during the second day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Ferguson Racing's streamliner race car makes a run at the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 13, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Scout jumps on her owner's legs, as her owner, Jim Mosher, has his motorcycle inspected during Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 13, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Crew members work on the Spirit of Rett streamliner before dawn on the second day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Larry Whiteley rides his custom bicycle on the salt during the first day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 13, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
The Contrivance Engineering race car makes a run during the second day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
The Brant-Wright-Speranza streamliner deploys a chute at the end of its run during the third day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 15, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Tim Mersereau prepares his 1941 Ford Coupe for a run during the third day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 15, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Spectators use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun during Bonneville SpeedWeek, on the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover, Utah, on August 13, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Kevin Brooks pushes his vintage BMW motorcycle to be inspected during the first day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 13, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
The 2 Richards Racing roadster makes a run during the second day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Fabio Montani of Italy completes a run in his streamliner during Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 15, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
Rick Vesco of Vesco Racing prepares before getting in his team's streamliner during the second day of Bonneville SpeedWeek, on August 14, 2011. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart) #
The sun rises before the third day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek on the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover, Utah, on August 15, 2011.
- Modified car has twice as much power as a £1m Bugatti Veyron
This is the incredible moment a racing driver broke a world record by hitting 257mph - in a modified Ford.
Sean Kennedy, 29, smashed the existing record for acceleration over a mile-long stretch while driving a highly-tuned Ford GT in Texas.
The daring motor sports enthusiast rocketed to an incredible 257mph in the humble car, which has been souped up with a 5.4-litre V8 engine and two massive turbo-chargers.
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Turbo-charged: The modified Ford GT, which has broken a world record by hitting 257mph on a mile-long runway
Fast as lightning: Racing driver Sean Kennedy hits the extreme speeds to smash the acceleration record
Numbers game: The Texan car enthusiast believes the £275,000 Ford has the potential to do even better
Mr Kennedy went from a stationary position to an astonishing 200mph by the halfway mark, before setting the new 'standing mile world' by the end of the track.
It was not even the Texan's car - with Mr Kennedy driving the Ford for local businessman Mark Heidaker.
The Ford GT was built by Hennessey Performance, with the U.S. company saying the car's power was 'conservatively estimated' at around 2,000bhp - twice as much as a Bugatti Veyron.
But while a Veyron will set its owner back £1million, the Ford will cost a mere £275,000.
Yet despite going faster than any other car over the distance, adrenaline junkie Mr Kennedy is confident he can do even better.
Highly tuned: The car's power is 'conservatively estimated' at around 2,000bhp - twice as much as a £1m Bugatti Veyron
Designated daredevil: Mr Kennedy was driving the Hennessey Performance Ford for local businessman Mark Heidaker
Revved up: The adrenaline junkie was already doing more than 200mph at the halfway stage
Gear shift: Next, the car lovers hope to take the Ford to a eyebrow-raising 260mph using the lower gears
He said: 'I was impressed with how hard it pulled in fourth and fifth gears on that run.
'I think I can do better in the lower gears next time and we can run an even better speed.
'We want to go 260.'
The previous record on a mile-stretch was 250.1mph, set by a similarly tuned car.
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