Killacycle coup at Motueka dragway

It's not often Nelson drag racing can claim to feature the "world's quickest" or "world's fastest". OK, never. Until now.

The main drawcard at tomorrow's national pointscore meeting at The Rock 94.6FM Dragway at Motueka is the Killacycle – the world's quickest and fastest electric-powered drag-racing vehicle.

The US-based bike is a real coup for the Nelson Drag Racing Association's biggest meeting of the season. Builder-inventor Bill Dube and rider Scott Pollacheck were lured to New Zealand for two meetings in the North Island, and the Nelson club seized the chance to bring a unique vehicle to the Motueka airport dragstrip.

The Killacycle is a 7.8sec, 174mph (280kmh) weapon powered by nano-phosphate lithium-iron batteries, similar to those found in DeWalt cordless tools. In fact, the bike has been described as a giant power drill on wheels.

It makes almost no sound, apart from its tortured tyres during Pollacheck's smoky burnouts. Being chain driven, there is also some sound from the rear of the bike as the dual 40kg engines hit maximum torque and the equivalent of 500 horsepower at the hit of the throttle.

As the Killacycle rips through another 7sec pass, it uses US7 cents worth of electricity and can make seven runs, including burnouts, on a full charge.

The technology Dube and battery-makers 123 Systems have created means the Killacycle can be recharged for a single run in four minutes.

Nelson Drag Racing Association spokesman John Gourdie said the bike is unlike anything ever seen in New Zealand, let alone Nelson.

"It's a really strong selling point for what was already a big meeting," he said.

"We had a lot to put before the public as it was, but the chance to bring in a unique vehicle like this was offered to us and we think the people will respond to seeing something totally different."

Because of the divisional grading attached to the Motueka track, the bike will complete solo exhibition runs, with Pollacheck likely to aim for mid 8sec passes instead of the 7.8sec runs the bike can make in ideal conditions.

"We've got competition bike bracket on the programme, but the guys there are running for points in the national series, so we'll use the Killacycle as an exhibition attraction," Gourdie said.

"I've seen video of the thing and it cracks out of the hole like a jack rabbit and just disappears. It actually sounds more harsh and noisier than I thought and it runs very hard so it's going to be a treat to watch it run here."

For a sneak preview of the Killacycle in action, go to the team's website www.killacycle.com or type Killacycle into YouTube.

Other features at tomorrow's Century-Yuasa Batteries national point-score meeting include the alcohol-burning exhibition cars of Morice McMillan (funny car) and Dave Gauld (Fiat altered), a Top Street bracket of wheelstanding 8sec sedans, competition-class cars that can run 7sec passes, and visitors in Super Sedan, Top Street and Competition Bike.

Racing starts at 12.30 after a two-hour qualifying period. Entry is $15 for adults, $5 for 12 to 16-year-olds with under-12s in for free. A family pass for two adults and up to three children costs $30.

- © Fairfax NZ News