For the past two years, Whakatāne’s Llew Gray has been preparing to live out the dream of almost every child with a love of speed.

Having raced motorcycles on New Zealand beaches and competed at the Burt Munro Challenge Festival in Invercargill, Gray, has always had an affinity for anything fast.

“Flying across the Bonneville Salt Flats was a childhood dream. I remember seeing a photo of a guy in Utah standing on the salt flats holding an American flag.

“I’ve watched Burt Munro’s movie, The World’s Fastest Indian, a number of times and always thought, ‘Wow, imagine doing that.’ I often wondered what it would take to put yourself in a position to experience it,” said Gray.

That opportunity came unexpectedly in 2024.

Gray received a phone call from a friend in Riverton who had been in partnership with another owner of a land speed car before the man passed away. The team was looking for a new investor to help campaign the car once again at Bonneville.

“My response was simply, ‘Hell yes.’ By that night I’d transferred my share of the money and became part-owner of a 1934 Plymouth.”

From that moment, Team Kiwi Coupe was born, with its sights firmly set on breaking the B/CCC class land speed record.

“I asked my family what they thought. They said I was a madman but also said if that’s what I wanted to do, then go for it,” Gray laughed.

The coupe has raced on the famous Utah salt flats several times before, most recently in 2018, when it reached 220mph (354kmh) without ever getting into top gear.

Now the team is preparing to return for Speed Week 2026 in August with an ambitious target of eclipsing the class record of 263.283mph (423.7kmh), set in 1998.

“On its last visit to the salt flats the car experienced some vibration at high speed, so we’ve added around 200kg of lead ballast to the front of the car and made changes to the suspension,” said Gray.

When Gray joined the project, the engine was dismantled and undergoing a careful rebuild.

Power comes from a Merlin V8, a high-performance engine based on the iconic Chevrolet big-block architecture. Designed for extreme horsepower and durability, the engine is commonly used in drag racing, circuit racing and marine applications.

The team departs New Zealand for Utah on July 27, with scrutineering scheduled to begin on July 30.

Driving at Bonneville involves far more than simply climbing into the driver’s seat.

Every driver must hold a valid driver’s licence, pass technical inspection and complete a mandatory Rookie Run. During this qualifying run, drivers must safely complete a pass between 125mph and 150mph while demonstrating they understand staging procedures, course layout and safety requirements.

Successful completion earns a Class B licence, allowing drivers to exceed 150mph (241kmh).

Further licence upgrades – from Class D through to AA – are required before drivers are permitted to attempt speeds over 300mph under Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) regulations.

Course lengths vary from 3 miles (4.8km) to 7 miles (11.3km) depending on the target speed.

Gray will be one of two owner-drivers behind the wheel.

“I haven’t even sat in the car while it’s been running,” he said.

“I’m only nervous when I stop and think about it. I’ve ordered a 20-layer fire suit, so we’ll be right,” he joked.

Team Kiwi Coupe consists of the two owner-drivers and six support crew, all of whom are about to realise a dream shared by motorsport enthusiasts around the world.

Following in the tyre tracks of legendary New Zealanders, including Burt Munro, Reg Cook and the CMR Team, Dave Alexander and the Spirit of New Zealand Team, and Tauranga speed enthusiast Bill Ward, Team Kiwi Coupe hopes to add another Kiwi success story to the rich history of the Bonneville Salt Flats.