LIMESTONE – Near perfect conditions and good fortune add up to a new land speed record set this weekend on the runway at the Loring Commerce Centre during the Loring Timing Association’s annual Land Speed Races.
Aroostook Republican photo/Jon Gulliver
This motorcycle, owned by Bill Warner of Wimauma, Fla., was used to set a new world record of a little more than 311 miles per hour on Sunday at the Loring Timing Association’s Land Speed Racing event.
On Sunday Bill Warner of Wimauma, Fla. set a world speed record, on his turbocharged Suzuki motorcycle, of 311.945 miles per hour which topped his record 273.356 set last year.
Speaking to the Bangor Daily News right after setting the record Warner said, “Today here at Loring we came to do some racing. We were lucky enough to get a clean pass early this morning. The wind was down. We became the first motorcycle to go over 300 miles per hour.”
Event Director Mark Sotomayor says to have a world record set at the two and a half miles of asphalt at Loring puts the facility on the map in the motor world.
The fastest car was driven by Robert Dayemheim of Stuart, Fla. Dayemheim achieved a top speed of 240.427 miles per hour at the 1.5-mile track.
Aroostook Republican photo/Jon Gulliver
Last minute preparations before tackling the 1.5-mile asphalt track at the Loring Commerce Centre. After completing the 1.5 run drivers have another mile in which to stop their vehicle. Racing at the former Loring AFB.
In all more than 130 registrants signed up to quench their need for speed, whether by motorcycle, car or truck. Race officials also say somewhere between 1,500 and 3,000 spectators were in attendance to witness the spectacle.
Sotomayor, of Easton, and Race Director Tim Kelly, of Presque Isle, don’t have much time to enjoy the success of this past weekend. “We will be back at work planning next year’s event as early as next week, “said Sotomayor. He adds racers want to put their trip back to Loring on the calendar as soon as possible.
“When a first-time driver here makes his initial run and comes out of the car and runs up to you to thank you for having this event it makes it all worthwhile,” said Sotomayor.
This is the third edition of Land Speed Races at Loring and although there were a few minor glitches with timing, overall everyone is “elated,” according to Sotomayor.
