Harley-Davidson Dyna Sets New Land Speed Record at DLRA Speed Week 2025
From 03–03–2025 to 06–03–2025, the salt flats of Lake Gairdner, South Australia, once again echoed with the roar of high-performance motorcycles and vehicles as DLRA Speed Week 2025 unfolded. Among the standout performances, a heavily modified Harley-Davidson Dyna, prepared by Andrew Hallam and his small Geelong-based team, set new land speed records on the salt. Rider Denis Ackland, supported by Andrew and Kate Hallam, Sam Tucker, and the dedicated crew, faced extreme conditions and mechanical challenges, ultimately achieving record-breaking success and demonstrating the true spirit of land speed racing.
The Harsh Beauty of Lake Gairdner
Lake Gairdner, located 150 km west of Iron Knob in South Australia, is a natural salt lake measuring roughly 160 km long and 60 km wide. It sits 120 metres above sea level with over one metre of salt crust hiding water beneath. During Speed Week, temperatures often climb close to 40°C by day and remain in the mid-20s at night. The harsh environment features saltbush, scrub, ants, centipedes, and scorpions — but notably no birds.
Since 1990, the Dry Lakes Racers Australia (DLRA) have been running sanctioned land speed events at the lake. Over the 35 years of events, nine full Speed Week events have been cancelled — eight due to rain and one due to COVID-19 — highlighting how rare and special each successful year truly is.
The Machine: Harley-Davidson Dyna 1917cc
The HRA machine competing this year is a 2017 Harley-Davidson Dyna, heavily modified but still complying with strict class regulations. The bike runs in the M-PG 2000 category — Modified Production, Pushrod, Gasoline — requiring use of the stock frame, bodywork, engine cases, transmission, and primary drive, with no streamlining permitted. In other words, this is a "naked" class where aerodynamic modifications are minimal.
Built by Andrew Hallam himself, the engine—nicknamed "Big Chief"—retains its internals from 2023, but was paired this year with updated control systems, a leaner fuel map, revised gearing, and a higher RPM limit.
HRA Breaks New Records at DLRA Speed Week 2025
The team’s first pass on Monday 3rd March clocked in at 172.6 mph, followed by a second run of 170 mph. After adjusting back to their 2023 gearing and richer fuel map, the third run delivered 165 mph. Unwilling to settle, the team refined the setup with an intermediate sprocket size and their original fuel map.
This combination finally paid off on Tuesday morning, as the fourth run reached 172.79 mph between miles 2 and 3 — narrowly surpassing the existing record. Following DLRA regulations, the bike was impounded overnight for record verification.
On Wednesday, the fifth pass delivered 174.8 mph, raising the official record to 173.8 mph — based on the average of two runs in the same mile sector.
Later that same day, the team achieved a major milestone with a peak speed of 180.859 mph between miles 3 and 4 — their highest speed of the meet.
On Thursday 6th March, crosswinds and weather conditions restricted the team to a shortened 3-mile run, where they reached 176.800 mph before the track was closed for safety.
The final average speed, following DLRA record protocols, resulted in a new official class record of 178.494 mph.
For context, Denis Ackland himself had set the previous world record in 2023 at 172.060 mph. Before that, the record had stood since 2008 at 171.311 mph, held by R. Kilinger at Bonneville in the USA. In just two consecutive seasons, HRA has shattered and extended the benchmark for the M-PG 2000 class.
🏁 2025 HRA Speed Week Summary
Rider
Denis Ackland (1657)
Class
M-PG 2000
Motorcycle
2017 Harley-Davidson Dyna (1917cc)
Engine
"Big Chief"
Top Speed
180.859 MPH
New Official Record
178.494 MPH
Previous Record (2023)
172.060 MPH by Denis Ackland
Prior Record (2008)
171.311 MPH by R. Kilinger (USA)
Event Dates
03–03–2025 to 06–03–2025
Result Sheet courtesy of Naked Racer Moto Co & Cowboy Hat Films
Meticulous Engineering Behind the Scenes
The technical expertise behind the build cannot be overstated. Andrew Hallam's decades of engine-building experience have played a critical role in the team's success. With over 45 years of precision engine work—including boring cylinders, hand porting, camshaft grinding, and even manufacturing custom Inconel valves—Andrew is widely regarded as a world-class machinist and fabricator, though he humbly avoids the spotlight.
Kate Hallam serves as the backbone of the operation, managing logistics, meals, and administration, while Sam Tucker provided exceptional support both mechanically and logistically — including driving the crew across from Geelong.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The HRA team is already planning for 2026, with a second motorcycle in the pipeline. This new bike will run in the M-PG 1650 class with a 1650cc square engine, which they believe may be capable of eclipsing that class's world record of approximately 175 mph.
As for the current machine, the team is confident it can break into the mid-180s mph range, particularly with their nearly completed 1998.9cc engine upgrade.
"Anyone who has tried salt speed racing knows the extraordinary effort required to reach this level," Denis remarked. "We're incredibly proud of what this small team has achieved."
One thing is for certain — everyone loved the sound.
My Lake Gairdner Adventure: Behind the Record
As the article writer and founder of Naked Racer Moto Co, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Lake Gairdner during DLRA Speed Week 2025. In this video, I share my personal experience travelling to the salt flats, the adventure of reaching this remote location, and the excitement of witnessing Harley-Davidson’s record-breaking performance live.
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