Sleaford firm assisting Lincolnshire world record attempt by Speed TV presenter Guy Martin

A Sleaford firm is among the backers of a world record attempt being undertaken tomorrow (Thursday) by Lincolnshire speed merchant Guy Martin.
TV personality and TT racer Guy Martin. EMN-160727-155115001TV personality and TT racer Guy Martin. EMN-160727-155115001
TV personality and TT racer Guy Martin. EMN-160727-155115001

Motorcycle racing truck mechanic Martin has been on the Brayford Pool in Lincoln today (Wednesday) practising for a new world speed record attempt on a pedal-powered hydrofoil.

Crowds of people have been lining the sides of the pool today to watch, photograph and cheer on the local hero who already holds a hatful of records thanks to his collaborations with Channel 4 and production company North One and after the trial runs today will be back at a private location tomorrow (Thursday) on the River Witham aiming to break the record for the fastest human-powered watercraft.

According to the production company, he is trying out two hydrofoils, one built by engineers from Lincoln University with the support of SHD Composites of Sleaford along with MTAG, Giant cycles and Siemens as sponsors.

A spokesman for SHD said they were still unable to talk about involvement in the challenge until after the event.

The company based on Sleaford enterprise park makes carbon fibre components and is already supplying parts for the Bloodhound SSC world land speed record attempt by a British team led by Richard Noble.

Large amounts of weed had to be cleared from the waterway prior to the attempt to prevent the risk of Guy’s craft getting tangled up.

The record attempt is for a brand new series of Speed with Guy Martin programmes to be aired on Channel 4 this autumn when he will take on three new challenges. As well as the hydrofoil, Guy will attempt to drive the fastest Transit van and cross the English Channel in a human-powered blimp.

Guy, from Kirmington, North East Lincolnshire, successfully broke the speed record for riding a motorcycle around a Wall of Death, live on TV, earlier this year at a hangar near Louth and also holds British records for the fastest pushbike and fastest hovercraft and world records for fastest downhill sledge and fastest soapbox cart.