Monash University engineering students have made history by shattering the Australian single-track speed record for a human-powered vehicle (HPV), achieving speeds of 116 kilometres per hour on a flat desert track during the World Human Powered Speed Challenge held in Nevada, United States.
Monash Human Power (MHP), a student-led engineering team at Monash, has been at the forefront of designing, manufacturing, and racing fully enclosed HPVs since 2015.
In a news release, the university said the team aims to push the limits of human speed while considering sustainable and eco-friendly future travel options.
During this year’s competition, students Kit Kirby and Alastair Haslam stood out as part of the four-member team by clinching the second and third positions, respectively, in the men’s single-track competition.
The champion was former world professional track cycling champion François Pervis from France. Notably, the other two Monash riders, Oscar Varney and Chris Hall, also achieved speeds exceeding 110 km/h during the week-long event.
Reflecting on this achievement, Kit Kirby shared his exhilaration, stating, “Having the chance to go highway speeds under my own power creates a feeling I have been chasing since I rode at the OzHPV Speed Trials last year.”
“The team and I have worked tirelessly to get to where we are and it has been amazing to be able to perform in an event this special with them,” Kirby noted.
Chris Hall echoed the sentiment, emphasising the joy of cycling at high speeds, saying, “For me, the simple joy of cycling is being able to do what a car can, using nothing but my legs and my Weet-bix.”
He added, “Everyone knows going fast is fun, and riding Bilby at 110 km/h is the coolest thing I’ve ever done on a bike.”
Their 2023 bike, named “Bilby,” marks their third iteration, boasting extensive modifications and improvements to the frame, drivetrain, and external shell aerodynamics, all of which underwent rigorous testing in the Monash wind tunnel.
Looking ahead, Jessica Mark, chief operating officer of MHP, expressed the team’s dedication to further improvement.
“We’re designing and engineering our Version 4 bike so we move straight into analyzing our results and how we can improve the next mode,” Mark said.
She added, “We’re also in the process of developing a tricycle with the aim of being able to enter more local HPV competitions and try something new as a team.”
Sydney Buntine, CEO of the team and a former materials team member in 2019, envisions even greater accomplishments for MHP.
Buntine noted, “My involvement with MHP has been an extremely enriching and fulfilling journey, being able to work with such a talented and passionate group of students and faculty all working towards achieving excellence in engineering performance and design.
The CEO concluded, “I am so proud of the whole team, but reaching speeds of 116.39 km/h is just the beginning of what we are capable of!”
