A new team from the Isle of Man is in the final stage of preparations before competing at Bonneville in August.

Richard Barks, Chris Proctor and Martin Stratford-Parson are hoping to bring new land speed records home to the Isle of Man when they compete in various classes at the Utah event this year.

Richard, from Laxey, will be taking one 500cc and two 350cc Weslake-engined bikes, one turbo-charged, to the event and he hopes to break the record for a pushrod-engined machine. The basic engines are similar to what is used to power grasstrack and speedway bikes.

Chris, from Andreas, will be taking a turbo-charged 600cc Yamaha Thundercat and Martin, from Jurby, a 100cc pit bike with a double overhead cam, capable, he hopes, of doing over 100mph.

’It will be a great adventure,’ Richard said.

’But the biggest challenge is when you get there. The 350 will have to do over 100mph, even though it’s only a pushrod engine, and the record for the 500cc class is around 138mph, so it’s not going to be easy.’

As well as a previous Bonneville challenge, a few years ago, Richard has ridden sprint, grasstrack and motocross bikes, and competed in beach races.

All this will stand him in good stead ready for the loose salt surface at Bonneville

’The first time I went, I thought it was going to be like tarmac or concrete, but it’s like riding on the beach, and it’s bumpy too, so that’s what makes it hard.

’At first, I thought it was the wrong place for it. But it’s the same for everybody, like a bumpy motocross course or a hard trial. A lot of what I’ve done is off-road so I’m comfortable with it. If it were tarmac I would be more concerned,’ he said.

’Bonneville is a strange, strange place, but a Bonneville record is the ultimate test of the machine and perhaps of the rider. You could almost compare it to the TT and I’ve the utmost admiration for anyone who wins a TT. Bonneville is a bit similar: something to remember and put on the headstone at the end.’

In recent years bad weather has disrupted several of the Bonnneville meetings and in 2014 the event had to be cancelled when the salt flats became flooded.

But this year looks much more promising.

’It’s unusual for it to flood like in 2014 but this year looks promising and they have already run some events there this season,’ Richard said.

At the moment, the team is dealing with logistical issues, including arranging to have the bikes transported to America, and mountains of paperwork.

’It’s a nightmare,’ said Richard.

’But it’s all part of it and if it were easy it would not be so satisfying.’

Richard will be spending about three weeks out there setting off at the start of August.

The strip itself is, he says, breathtaking, 30 miles wide and with a 12-mile straight.

’It’s quite an experience to go there and see the curve of the horizon, on the 12-mile straight,’ he said.