Veale sets new land speed record on 'White Elephant'

New Zealander Dean Veale from Kaukapakapa, north of Auckland set a new land speed record this morning at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah riding “White Elephant”, his Special Construction Hayabusa engine motor cycle.

With the existing record standing at 191.593 MPH (305KPH) Veale confirmed his initial record breaking run of yesterday with a second “backup” run that set the new record at an average of 194.5mph (311.2KPH).

Having come close two days earlier only to have changing track conditions see Veale miss the record by 0.5mph (0.8KPH) this mornings conditions near perfect. The quietly spoken Veale was his normal reserved self allowing himself only a satisfactory smile as he waited in the impound area to have the motorcycle stripped to confirm the legality of “White Elephant” for the 1650cc A-G Class.

Sitting on a chilly-bin as the SCTA-BNI officials checked every aspect of White Elephant, Veale looked just slightly concerned that something, no matter how small, would require him to repeat his record breaking runs. Eventually the inspector looked up from the paper work and called Veale over. Extending his hand toward Veale the inspector offered his congratulations as he confirmed the record with the words “Welcome to the record books”.

At that point Veale finally relaxed and allowed a very broad grin to cross his face and own up as to the use of the strange pipe running along the bottom left hand side of White Elephant. Releasing the retaining clip and removing the custom made aluminium cap, Veale pulled a Bunnings Umbrella from the pipe. “I’d been told it got hot here and didn’t want to sit in the sun and cook, so I packed some shade”.