Need for speed

In a New Zealand first, University of Canterbury Engineering students, inspired by legendary Kiwi racer Burt Munro, are taking on a world land-speed record in a rocket-shaped electric car they’ve designed and built.

Members of the University of Canterbury Motorsport (UCM) club, (pictured), have spent 2022 building a 7.5-metre-long car they hope will break a record of 329 km/h currently held by an American university.

They plan to compete in Dry Lakes Racers Australia (DLRA) Speed Week 2023 at Lake Gairdner, South Australia in March 2023.

UC Motorsport Team Principal Kaenan Ferguson says it will be the first time a New Zealand university team has ever attempted a land-speed record at the event, and only the second time a university team from anywhere in the world has entered the electric competition class.

The club’s vehicle, UCM35, was unveiled in November. The race car features red, black and gold livery plus the number 35.

These were Burt Munro’s colours and number when at the age

of 68 he set a new a new official land-speed record (184mph) racing his heavily modified Indian Scout Streamliner at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967. His story was told in the

2005 Roger Donaldson film The World’s Fastest Indian, starring Anthony Hopkins.

Munro’s son John Munro and other members of the Munro family – who have given their support to the UC Motorsport team’s record bid – were among the guests at the unveiling.

The University of Canterbury has provided sponsorship, supervision, facilities and workshop staf for the project. The team has been using Wigram Airforce Museum’s runway to develop the vehicle in a safe environment in Christchurch.

Other major sponsors include Rodin Cars and Aruhiko Power Engineering Excellence Trust (PEET).

The fully electric car has a carbon- fibre monocoque (which houses the driver), fully electric powertrain system, front wheel drive, parachute deployment system, and on-board telemetry.