The Man, His History and Machines

Krazy Horse V8 Chevy Motorbike

Rosco McGlashan has been synonymous with the very peak of speed sport in Australia. Rosco started his motorsport career riding competition motorcycles at Surfers Paradise International Raceway. He graduated to the amazing Australian-designed and built “Krazy Horse” V8-powered motorcycle. This was an incredible machine that had no clutch, so the back wheel would sit up in a cradle, and then Rosco would give it a rev and just rock it off the cradle! “It spat me off a few times and when it did, it did it in a big way!” remembers Rosco.

Rocket Powered Bike

“Krazy Horse” was followed by an even higher performance rocket-powered bike which was so fast that it was not allowed to be raced on Australian tracks. Further more the very volatile hydrogen peroxide rocket-fuel was extremely hard to come by, because of its unpredictable characteristics and was soon banned by the Australian Government.

To even think of such a machine, let alone ride it, further adds to this man’s infatuation with speed and his “dare to be different” approach. You can’t help but wonder what this machine would have done if allowed to have it’s head… the mind boggles!

Rocket Powered Go-Kart

In 1980 on a visit to the USA, Rosco drives a rocket-powered go-kart, which he then purchased from Fred Goeske. Rosco reached 253 mph (407 km/h) over the 1/4 mile in 5.97 seconds! “It was an incredible feeling sitting in that thing with the fuel bubbling and gurgling just behind your head and then hitting the throttle” says Rosco with a smile. “It was truly an awesome machine” and it is still the fastest go-kart in the world and is now housed at the historic York Motor Museum, which is 60 kilometres east of Perth in Western Australia.

Aussie Invader 1 (1972 – 2002)

Powered by a J34 Westinghouse jet engine with purpose built after-burner. The engine was originally fitted to the Lockheed Neptune as a Jato engine, producing 6,500 lbs thrust.

Aussie Invader 2 (1986 – 1995)

Powered by an Australian-manufactured Atar 09C5, Jet Turbine as used in the Mirage fighter.

  • 36,000 horsepower
  • 4,100 kg nett weight
  • 8.5 metres long
  • 18,000 lbs thrust

In 1993 Rosco assembled his first Land Speed Racer known as “Aussie Invader 2” powered by a 36,000 hp Mirage Jet Fighter Engine. This racer was a culmination of 10 years, blood, sweat and tears. Rosco became the “Fastest Aussie On Earth” with an official 500 mph two way pass in 1994.

Aussie Invader 3 (1996 – 2015)

Powered by a SNECMA 9K-50 36,000 horsepower

  • 36,000 horsepower
  • One piece Kevlar composite body
  • Fuel consumption was 10 litres per second!
  • Wheels were solid hand forged L77 aluminium
  • Wheels designed to spin at 8,000 RPM.
  • Potential max speed 807 mph (1300 km/h)
  • Achieved a speed of 1,028 km/h (638 mph)

The Aussie Invader Team returned to Lake Gairdner in South Australia in 2000 and after some test passes, recorded a peak speed of 638 mph (1,027 km/h).

Powered by a J34 Westinghouse Jet Engine with purpose built after-burner. Originally fitted to the Lockheed Neptune as a Jato engine. Aussie Invader 4 had 6,500 lbs of thrust and was capable of 0-450 km/h (280 mph) in 5 seconds.