VIDEO: Killacycle rider sets quarter mile record... in a Tesla Roadster Sport?
Click above to view the video after the jump
It was another record-setting weekend for Killacycle pilot Scotty Pollachek at the Wayland Invitational drag racing event at the Portland International Raceway. However, he wasn't mounted atop the world's quickest electric ride during the accomplishment. Instead, he sat behind the wheel of the first-delivered 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport. Although its owner had taken the Sport's new car smell down the quarter mile in 12.82 seconds, it took an experienced 135-lb driver accustomed to the red, yellow and green Christmas tree trackside to shave off the fractions of a second necessary to win the NEDRA street production, 349 nominal volts and above class. The numbers? 12.643 and 12.715 at 102.89 and 101.20, respectively. Very nice.As for the Killacycle, a motor failure on its first run threatened to end its weekend disappointingly early but thanks to a generous attendee in possession of a freshly delivered Jim Husted motor, the racing continued. That wasn't the end of the drag bike's troubles however and another technical glitch kept it in "first gear" and its times in the 8's. The Killacycle's previously mentioned match-up with the Mini-Me didn't quite go as expected either, although it was the little one that proved disappointing. In a run that was, well, let's just say it wasn't pretty, the replica didn't make it to the finish line and its rider lost an arm. Luckily, the arm was plastic. The Killacycle team is now placing their hyper-speed hopes on September 27th when they host the High-Altitude Nationals at the Bandimere Speedway. Hit the jump for video of the record run as well as a contest between the original Tesla and the new Sport. Bonus video is a short clip of what happens to your utility meter when you host an electric car "juice" bar at your house.
[Source: Tesla Motors Club / Eva Håkansson]
Photos Copyright ©2009 TEG. Used by permission
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nrb 9:07PM (7/28/2009)
He sets a record in a relatively new class that doesn't have hardly any competition?
Whatever.
If someone designed an electric car for 1/4 mile runs, it'd knock this out of water.
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CaramelZappa 11:54PM (7/28/2009)
John Waylands White Zombie EV was exactly that, purpose built for 1/4 mile races, and it previously held the record at 12.99 seconds.
Scott Byer 12:23AM (7/29/2009)
Wayland's White Zombie is purpose-built for drag, and isn't that far ahead of the Roadster Sport. The Sport was run stock, not at full battery, and without heating up the tires - just driven in "off the street".
How many gas powered daily drivers do you know can do the 1/4mi like that? Oh yeah, a couple of handfuls (maybe - depends on how lenient you get on daily driver), and none at the Roadster's price. And not without a well-practiced professional driver at the helm - and these were Scotty's initial runs!
EVs will rule the strip, wait and see...
hans_solo 9:35PM (7/28/2009)
I prefer to see ev range records...it's more 21. century pertinent, imho.
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jake 12:35AM (7/29/2009)
If there is one, the Roadster probably holds it too:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/01/tesla-roadster-races-387-km-240-miles-on-a-single-charge-in-fr/
Jorg 2:18AM (7/29/2009)
So, we meet again...
We raced the Tango over 2 days at PIR, and our fastest time was 12.874. We were so happy to beat the fastest Tesla Roadster... and so sad to lose to the Tesla Roadster Sport. That's just so not-fair to use Scotty Pollachek at the last minute like that, and not loan him out to drive other cars! :-)
Fortunately the Tango is in the "MP/B" modified-production, 193-240V class, whereas the Tesla runs in the "SP/A3" street-production, 349V+ class, which means we were both able to set records. (The Tango received an additional Li-Ion pack, replacing its rear seat.)
The last time the Tango and Tesla met at the track, their fastest times were 14.480 and 14.498, respectively; it's great to see them both get faster so quickly - more than a second and a half each!
Oddly, the original "drivetrain 1.0" Tesla Roadster had a final speed of 101mph, but the Roadster Sport only went 102.89mph. By contrast the Tango's top speed improved from a paltry 89.67mph to 101.1!
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james 5:32AM (7/29/2009)
I think there is a break-in period for the Roadster battery. It seems like my Roadster Sport was consistently doing better 1/4 mile times, but my top speed was always around 100-103 mph. The other non-sport Roadsters were able to hit 104 mph but had slower 1/4 mile times. It was really curious how consistent that was.
My personal best driving the Roadster Sport was 12.82 seconds. I am sure I can do 12.6 ish with a 100% charge and once I learn how to launch the car properly. I am going to practice before the next time. Perhaps I will take the Roadster Sport to the next NEDRA event in Colorado. I hear Scotty will be there with the Killacycle. Maybe I can borrow him again as the driver.
Domenick Yoney 7:54AM (7/29/2009)
Thanks for the comment Jorg. I didn't get to squeeze your Tango, or many of the other rides into the post, so I appreciate your input.
Just in case you missed it, here is an amazing collection of photos from the weekend.
http://www.forestmoon.com/Gallery/#item=Galleries/Tesla/Wayland%20Invitational%202009
CamronCamera 7:06PM (7/30/2009)
Here is my photo coverage of Friday, July 24th at PIR for the Wayland Invitational 2009 EVent:
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/thumbpage.aspx?e=4992034
I regret being unable to return for Saturday's event, I really would have loved see some more of everyone's awesome EV's.
Big thanks to John Wayland and everyone who made this possible!
Bill 12:03PM (7/29/2009)
James wrote:
"I think there is a break-in period for the Roadster battery. It seems like my Roadster Sport was consistently doing better 1/4 mile times, but my top speed was always around 100-103 mph. The other non-sport Roadsters were able to hit 104 mph but had slower 1/4 mile times. It was really curious how consistent that was."
I wonder how the 1/8 mile times compare then.
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