The extraordinary Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner, ridden by racer, mechanic and television presenter Guy Martin to speeds of over 270 mph during Triumph Motorcycles’ land-speed attempt at the Bonneville Salt Flats, is now the centrepiece of a new exhibition at Haynes Motor Museum. The remarkable machine is on loan to the Museum and presented alongside interpretation exploring how engineering, ambition and teamwork combine to deliver a high-profile land-speed attempt. The exhibition joins more than 300 cars and motorcycles in the Museum’s Collection, spanning from the earliest motorised vehicles to the cars of the future. Complementing the recently redeveloped Life on Two Wheels exhibition, the arrival of the Streamliner highlights the Museum’s commitment to celebrating British motorcycling heritage, engineering innovation and the pursuit of speed.
Triumph Motorcycles set out to reclaim the title of World’s Fastest Motorcycle in 2015 – a record the brand had held between 1955 and 1970. Triumph developed the extraordinary Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner, and recruited Isle of Man TT racer Guy Martin to take on the challenge of riding it. The world record attempt took place at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in August 2016. During testing, Guy Martin reached 274.2 mph, setting a new speed record for a Triumph motorcycle. Adverse weather and track conditions ultimately prevented further runs, but the project marked a defining moment in the pursuit of extreme motorcycle speed and showcased remarkable engineering and design.
Engineering ambition sat at the heart of the Streamliner project. Powered by two turbocharged Triumph Rocket III engines, the machine produced more than 1,000 horsepower – comparable to a contemporary Formula One car. Visitors can also see a Triumph Rocket III motorcycle on display at the Museum, offering context for the technology behind the Streamliner. Its long, narrow aerodynamic form was designed to balance ultimate speed with rider safety, a critical challenge when travelling at speeds approaching 300 mph.
“We are delighted to showcase this extraordinary machine and the ambition, engineering and teamwork behind it. The exhibition explores how the Streamliner was designed and built to reach such remarkable speeds. It highlights the innovation and technical expertise that made the attempt possible, alongside the role Guy Martin played in the project,” said Mattie Geary, Collections & Exhibitions Officer at Haynes Motor Museum.
“This addition forms part of our wider exhibition development plans, keeping the Collection at the core while placing greater emphasis on STEM learning and how innovators in the automotive world have shaped motoring history.”
Visitors can now see the Triumph Infor Rocket Streamliner up close as part of the exhibition at Haynes Motor Museum, discovering the story behind one of the most ambitious motorcycle land-speed projects of the modern era and the engineering ingenuity required to pursue two-wheel land speed records.
