Woomera zooms

Volume 48, No. 10, June 15, 2006

RECORD BREAKER: Holden’s HSV drove into the record books last month at Woomera. It reached speeds of more than 270kph labelling it the ‘world’s fastest production pickup/utility’.

AIR Force has helped an Aussie icon set a new record.

A Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) division Maloo R8 utility smashed the existing world land speed record for a standard utility/pick up truck with a blistering 271.44kph. That’s about 170mph in the imperial system.

The previous record of 248.783kph (155.5mph) was set in 2004 by a DaimlerChrysler RAM SRT-10.

The record run was carried out under strict supervision at Air Force’s test and evaluation range, the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA), on June 28.

Five-time Australian touring car champion and Bathurst winner Mark Skaife drove the big ute into the Guinness Book of Records.

To conform to the Guinness World Record guidelines, the Maloo had to be independently scrutinised to ensure it was a standard production specification vehicle, in exactly the same state and condition as when it rolled off the production line.

Once the vehicle was certified, the attempt was run over a laid-out 1km course, to guidelines set by Guinness World Records.

The ute’s speed was measured in both directions and had to complete the run within one hour to confirm its place in motoring history as the ‘world’s fastest production pickup/utility’.

HSV Marketing Services Manager Paul McDonnell paid tribute to the Department of Defence for its assistance with the project.

“Having the support of the Department of Defence in allowing us to conduct this attempt at their test facility [at Woomera] only added to the story,” he said.

“The local community in Woomera was also fantastic. We visited the local school and all the kids got to meet Mark Skaife, which was a treat for them.

“This place has an amazing history dating back to the 1950’s and it’s fantastic to have the whole town and the Defence Department support our achievement.”

The HSV’s LS2 6.0 litre V8 Maloo R8 Ute is fitted with the Corvette 6-litre V8 engine.

Its first officially recorded run achieved a top speed of 265.72kph (166.05mph). The second, return run achieved 277.16kph (173.2mph), for an average speed of 271.44kph.

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