Chasing 800
Kiwi legend Reg Cook, 80 yrs, is chasing 800 kph in a shed-built streamliner. No corporate backing. Just Kiwi grit. Come be part of history.
Auckland
An 80-year-old man (80 in a few weeks) from Clevedon is about to attempt something no human being has ever done. Reg Cook wants to drive faster than 800 kilometres per hour in a car he built in his shed.
Not a factory. Not a multimillion-dollar motorsport facility. A shed in Clevedon — where Reg and his team have hand-built Wairua 2: a 1.7-tonne streamliner powered by an 8-litre twin-turbo Big Block Chev V8, designed from scratch with Kiwi ingenuity and an absolute refusal to think small.
The current FIA world record for a piston-powered, wheel-driven car sits at 758 km/h. No one has ever crossed 800 kph. If Reg does it, he will be the first person in history. He's not putting his life on the line for the glory or the record. He wants to showcase what Kiwis can achieve when they strive for their absolute best!
In 2025 at the Uyuni Salt Flat — the only place on Earth long enough to attempt this — Wairua 2 hit 496 km/h on just 40% throttle. The car is ready. It has unfinished business!
Reg has sold much of what he owns to fund this dream.
More than 60 volunteers pay their own way to Bolivia and give their time for nothing. But we have over 200k of logistics to cover: Freight, shipping, Customs, permits, Track Prep, Accomodation, FIA officials, local appliances(Fire,Ambulance), cranes( to offload and uplight containers - no hiab trucks in Bolivia, Fuel, team transport to and from Site, Marshals and so much more.
Every dollar makes you part of the team.
Come along for the ride.
Cook Motor Racing's involvement (page creator)
I am the volunteer Communications Lead for the CMR Team
Use of funds
Track preparation, FIA safety compliance, permits, freight, fuel, and accommodation
Other page links
Latest update
First world Record Subject to ratification 22 October 2026
Thanks to Fantastic team Work 😊😊😊😊....
Wairua 1 with power reduced to 50 % because of minimal fuel in its fuel tank,
reset a new 2000 cc FIA LSR 2 run Record Average of 307 Mph ( Old was 254 Mph )
The fastest run was 319 Mph & exit speed 325 Mph
Subject to FIA (orASN) homologation
The not so good ---
With the last of the dregs of fuel we have, we could only test run Wairua 2 today.
Reached 300 Mph easily. Changed gear to go faster at mile 3..... broke internal selector rail between 1st & 7th !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wairua 2 will B sidelined for a few days – Changing gearbox
The UGLY --
CMR still do not have fuel to test & race as we wish.
Tomorrow is the last day of official CMR LSR Event.
With the last drops of fuel CMR have, hopefully we will have another test run in Wairua 1 & the World's Fastest Mini Build Mini
Hope: That if & when fuel arrives, Wairua 2 can chase 800 Kph at Mike Akatiff's USA event 23rd to 27th Oct.
Reality: CMR have to stay on the salt until FIA Scrutineer arrives 25th Oct to
Measure & Certify Wairua 1 Engine & Eligibility
The financial deficit grows daily and we greatly appreciate your support.
Latest donations
Thanks Dave. Cheers
Appreciate Malcolm Thanks.
We're working on it. Thanks Simon.
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