Blokart Speed Record At Ivanpah

In the realm of landsailing, the blokart is an entry point for budding enthusiasts. They are easily portable, can be assembled in minutes, and offer plenty of pleasure. They are a wind-powered toy for some, but also fulfill the competitive urge by hosting an annual World Championship. And they can also haul as Scott Young reports from Ivanpah Dry Lake in Primm, Nevada:

I never thought Mark Walter’s blokart speed record of 64.4 mph could be broken, but I did best it on September 22, 2016 with a speed of 65 mph.

The conditions were perfect for a record. The wind blew 30-35 mph out of the SW with higher gust to over 40. Timing the higher gust is always critical for a high speed run. I made a number of passes in the 61-63 mph range. There is a lot of luck involved when trying to sail a blokart at 65mph. If you don’t receive a strong wind gust once you are up to speed, you will never break 60 mph. But on the record run, I timed the gust pretty well, allowing me to sail my kart deeper with power at just the right time.

Having my gps pointed towards my go pro allowed real time speed which worked out really well until I sailed deep off the wind to the East, away from the afternoon sun. It would have been nice to have a clear readout during my record pass. The Max Speed readout on my gps confirmed my real time readout of 65 mph. Gary Terell and my wife Patty were also there, taking photos, shooting video and as witnesses.