Awesome LSR Video: Don Vesco 1975 Quest For 300mph With Ken Squier and Dave Despain – So Cool!


Awesome LSR Video: Don Vesco 1975 Quest For 300mph With Ken Squier and Dave Despain – So Cool!

We love old land speed racing videos because they are normally really good. This 1975 profile of Don Vesco and his Silver Bird streamlined motorcycle is even better than that because both Ken Squier and Dave Despain are involved in it. We’re guessing that Yamaha paid to have CBS come out and film this mini-documentary about the attempts that Vesco was making for the speed record as it seems it would not be something that a major television network would have been clamoring to cover. Not that this whole thing isn’t freaking awesome but you know what we are saying.

Like all videos in the history of racing, nothing really goes right for Squire when the TV crew is present. He runs in a wind that actually blows him over at speed. He slides for some three quarters of a mile on his side. He is mic’d up on one pass and to hear him talking his way through a run is amazing, especially when the thing goes into a speed wobble at righteous velocity. He saves it, talking his way through the whole thing in an amazingly calm fashion.

Ultimately he achieves the goal of 300mph and of course that happens after the major crews have gone home and they have really made the right repairs on the car but they have video footage from an on-car camera when the 300mph run happens and it looks and sounds amazing.

This is one of those videos that makes you really wish you were there to see it happen. It looks like there was about 15 people on the salt when Vesco was charging down the surface in his streamlined motorcycle. The most empty place on Earth looked even more empty than usual! This is a true gem.

Press play below and watch this video of Don Vesco shooting for 300 in 1975!


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2 thoughts on “Awesome LSR Video: Don Vesco 1975 Quest For 300mph With Ken Squier and Dave Despain – So Cool!

  1. Ronnieroadster

    Being able to ride along with Don Vesco shows haw difficult a two wheel streamline is to control at such high speeds. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. Today its Still difficult to achieve these speeds on two wheels. Amazing stuff.

  2. Mike B

    excellent video showing the individual grit and determination to break his own speed barrier…Thanks Brian….

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