THE WORLD’S FASTEST CRF100!

We check in with the Afflick boys from AAA Racing – Land Speed addicts who’ve smashed records in Oz and around the world!

Remember the Afflick family from Byron Bay we featured in Transmoto Dirt Bike Magazine back in 2014 – four enterprising backyard mechanics from Byron Bay, who took an 8hp bog-stock CRF100 child’s toy all the way to 94mph along the Lake Gairdner salt flats? Well, guess what? They’re still at it, pushing the limits of what’s possible on two wheels with their highly modified Honda CRF100. After checking in with their progress a year ago – when they squeezed an astonishing 131mph (that’s 211km/h!) from their little red rocketship – Transmoto’s salt-crusted lensman, Simon Davidson, filed this update about these ingenious Aussies after their recent visit to a rain-affected Aussie Speed Week, held in SA’s Lake Gairdner. Over to you, Simon…

These backyard mechanics turned salt demons have come a long way since that first feature article in 2014. Their little land speed bike has clocked a mind-bending 131mph at the Lake Gairdner salt flats! I mean, that’s faster than your typical Sunday cruise, and they did it on a bike that’s aimed at the youth market. These days, the bike is a nitro-gulping monster that generates a mind-blowing 54hp. To put things in perspective, that equates to a 450cc engine making 243hp!

When the conditions at Lake Gairdner are perfect, anything is possible. But this year, Mother Nature had other plans. After waiting for three long hours for the wind to calm down on the first day of racing, AAA Racing’s Jean-Paul (“JP”) and his old man, Warren, finally got their chance for a shakedown run. With 40 percent nitro on board, JP blasted off down the nine-mile track on the far right. Hit with a strong sidewind, he was blown across the track, narrowly missing the three-quarter-mile marker on the left. Despite the close call, he managed to exit the timing mile, but at a disappointing speed of 115mph. It was a tough start to the week.

However, their challenges were far from over. Just when they thought they had a chance to redeem themselves, rain came Monday night and filled the lake with water, cancelling any chance of racing on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was a setback, but the Afflicks were determined to make the most of their chances and decided to hang around, hoping for the lake to dry up.

Thursday morning, racing was back on. JP lined up again, this time with 50 percent nitro on board. With the throttle pinned and the RPMs at 14,900 in a full aero tuck, he raced through the first timed mile. Despite the wind playing havoc again, he only dropped to 14,600 RPM and exited at 130mph. It was a step in the right direction, but they knew the bike had more.

One last shot on Friday morning, and they decided to throw everything at it. They upped the nitro to 60 percent and took off from a damp start line, JP accelerating to 14,000 RPM in top gear by the one-mile marker. But then, upon hearing some issues with the engine, JP had to make a tough call and shut it down, rolling onto the exit road. It was a disappointing end to the week, but the Afflicks were not deterred. They knew they had given it their all, and their 130mph run would be the third fastest by a 100cc sit-down bike, just shy of the 131.228mph record.

Despite the challenges and setbacks, the Afflicks remain determined and resilient. They’re already looking ahead to next year, planning their return to the Lake Gairdner salt flats. After all, it’s not just about the records and the speed, but the passion and thrill of pushing the limits of what’s possible, fuelled by their unwavering love for all things land speed racing.