The land speed record (LSR) or absolute land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a person using a vehicle on land. By a 1964 agreement between the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), respective governing bodies for racing in automobiles and motorcycles (two or three wheels), both bodies recognise as the absolute LSR whatever is the highest speed record achieved across any of their various categories.[1] While the three-wheeled Spirit of America set an FIM-validated LSR in 1963, all subsequent LSRs are by vehicles in FIA Category C ("Special Vehicles") in either class JE (jet engine) or class RT (rocket powered).[2][3]

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ThrustSSC, driven by Royal Air Force pilot Andy Green, holds the current land speed record at 1,227.986 km/h (763.035 mph) set October 15, 1997.

FIA LSRs are officiated and validated by its regional or national affiliate organizations.[4] Speed measurement is standardized over a course measuring either 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) or 1 mile (1.6 km), averaged over two runs with flying start (commonly called "passes")[5] going in opposite directions within one hour. A new record mark must exceed the previous one by at least one percent to be validated.[6]

History

Until 1829 the fastest land transport was by horse. The first regulator was the Automobile Club de France, which proclaimed itself arbiter of the record in about 1902.[7]

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Ralph DePalma in his Packard '905' Special at Daytona Beach in 1919
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The White Triplex in 1928, driven by Ray Keech

Different clubs had different standards and did not always recognize the same world records[8] until 1924, when the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR) introduced new regulations: two passes in opposite directions (to negate the effects of wind) averaged with a maximum of 30 minutes (later more) between runs, average gradient of the racing surface not more than 1 percent, timing gear accurate within 0.01sec, and cars must be wheel-driven.[9] National or regional auto clubs (such as AAA and SCTA) had to be AIACR members to ensure records would be recognized.[10] The AIACR became the FIA in 1947. Controversy arose in 1963: Spirit of America was not recognized due to its being a three-wheeler (leading the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme to certify it as a three-wheel motorcycle record when the FIA refused) and not wheel-driven so the FIA introduced a special jet and rocket propelled class.[11] No holder of the absolute record since has been wheel-driven.

In the U.S. and Australia, record runs are often done on salt flats, so the cars are often called salt cars.[citation needed]

Women's land speed record

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Dorothy Levitt, in a 19 kW (26 hp) Napier, at Brooklands, England, in 1908

The FIA does not recognize separate men's and women's land speed records, because the records are set using motorized vehicles, and not muscle-powered vehicles, so the gender of the driver does not matter; however, unofficial women's records have long been claimed, seemingly starting with Dorothy Levitt's 1906 record in Blackpool, England, and, unlike the FIA and other car-racing organisations, Guinness World Records does recognize gender-based land speed records.[12]

In 1906, Dorothy Levitt broke the women's world speed record for the flying kilometer, recording a speed of 154 km/h (96 mph) and receiving the sobriquet the "Fastest Girl on Earth". She drove a six-cylinder Napier motorcar, a 75 kW (100 hp) development of the K5, in a speed trial in Blackpool.[13][14][15]

in 1963, Paula Murphy drove a Studebaker Avanti to 262 km/h (163 mph) at the Bonneville Salt Flats as part of Andy Granatelli's attempt on the overall record.[12] In 1964, she was asked by the tire company Goodyear to try to improve her own record, which she raised to 364.31 km/h (226.37 mph) in Walt Arfons's jet dragster Avenger.[12][16] The rival tire company Firestone and Art Arfons hit back against Goodyear and Walt Arfons when Betty Skelton drove Art's Cyclops to achieve a two-way average of 446.63 km/h (277.52 mph) in September 1965.[12]

Five weeks later, Goodyear hit back against Firestone with Lee Breedlove.[12] While recordkeeping has not been as extensive, a report in 1974 confirmed that a record was held by Lee Breedlove, the wife of then overall record holder Craig Breedlove, who piloted her husband's Spirit of America – Sonic I to a record 496.492 km/h (308.506 mph) in 1965.[17] According to author Rachel Kushner, Craig Breedlove had talked Lee into taking the car out for a record attempt in order to monopolize the salt flats for the day and block one of his competitors from making a record attempt.[18]

In 1976, the women's absolute record was set by Kitty O'Neil, in the jet-powered, three-wheeled SMI Motivator, at the Alvord Desert.[19] Held back by her contract with a sponsor and using only 60 percent of her car's power, O'Neil reached an average speed of 825.127 km/h (512.710 mph).[20][21]

On October 9, 2013, driver Jessi Combs, in a vehicle of the North American Eagle Project running at the Alvord Desert, raised the women's four-wheel land speed class record with an official run of 632.40 km/h (392.954 mph), surpassing Breedlove's 48-year-old record.[22] Combs continued with the North American Eagle Project, whose ongoing target is the overall land speed record; as part of that effort, Combs was killed, on August 27, 2019, during an attempt to raise the four-wheel record.[23] In late June 2020, the Guinness Book of Records reclassified the August 27, 2019 speed runs as meeting its requirements, and Combs was posthumously credited with the record at 841.338 km/h (522.783 mph), noting she was the first to break the record in 40 years.[24]

Records

1898–1964 (wheel-driven)

More information Date, Location ...
Date Location Driver Vehicle Power Speed Comments
Over 1 km Over 1 mile
(mph)(km/h) (mph)(km/h)
December 18, 1898France Achères, FranceFrance Gaston de Chasseloup-LaubatJeantaud Duc[25]Electric 39.2463.15[26] Conducted over 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from a flying start.[27]
January 17, 1899France Achères, FranceBelgium Camille Jenatzy[25]GCA DogcartElectric 41.4266.66[26]
January 17, 1899France Achères, FranceFrance Gaston de Chasseloup-LaubatJeantaud DucElectric 43.9370.31[26]
January 27, 1899France Achères, FranceBelgium Camille JenatzyGCA DogcartElectric 49.9380.35[26]
March 4, 1899France Achères, FranceFrance Gaston de Chasseloup-LaubatJeantaud Duc ProfiléeElectric 57.6592.78[26]
April 29, 1899France Achères, FranceBelgium Camille JenatzyCITA No 25 La Jamais ContenteElectric 65.79105.88First purpose-designed land speed racer[28] First record over 100 km/h (62 mph)[26]
April 13, 1902France Nice, FranceFrance Léon SerpolletGardner-Serpollet
Œuf de Pâques (Easter Egg)
Steam[7] 75.06120.80
August 5, 1902France Ablis, FranceUnited States William Kissam Vanderbilt IIMors Z Paris-VienneInternal combustion 76.03122.438First internal combustion powered record[7]
November 5, 1902France Dourdan, FranceFrance Henri FournierMors Z Paris-VienneInternal combustion
V4, 9.2-litre, 60 bhp
76.59123.25[29]
November 17, 1902France Dourdan, FranceFrance Maurice AugièresMors Z Paris-VienneInternal combustion 77.13124.13[26]
July 17, 1903Belgium Ostend, BelgiumBelgium Arthur DurayGobron Brillié Paris-MadridInternal combustion 83.46132.32[26]
November 5, 1903France Dourdan, FranceBelgium Arthur DurayGobron Brillié Paris-MadridInternal combustion 84.73136.35[29]
January 12, 1904 United States New Baltimore, United States United States Henry Ford Ford 999 Racer Internal combustion 91.37 147.05 [30]
March 31, 1904France Nice, FranceFrance Louis RigollyGobron-Brillié Paris-MadridInternal combustion94.78152.53[26]
May 25, 1904Belgium Ostend, BelgiumBelgium Pierre de CatersMercedes Simplex 90Internal combustion97.25156.50[26]
July 21, 1904[29]Belgium Ostend, BelgiumFrance Louis RigollyGobron-Brillié Gordon BennettInternal combustion103.56166.66First record over 100 mph (161 km/h),[26] 2 months after City of Truro's.
November 13, 1904Belgium Ostend, BelgiumFrance Paul BarasDarracq Gordon BennettInternal combustion104.53168.22[26]
December 30, 1905France Arles, FranceFrance Victor HémeryDarracq SpecialInternal combustion109.59176.37[26]
January 26, 1906United States Daytona Beach, United StatesUnited States Fred MarriottStanley Rocket[9]Steam 127.66205.44 First record over 200 km/h (124 mph). First faster than contemporary rail speed record. Fastest steam-powered land vehicle until 2009.[31]
November 8, 1909[32]United Kingdom Brooklands, United KingdomFrance Victor HémeryBenz No. 1
200 hp (150 kW)
Internal combustion:
21.5 L (1,310 cu in) inline-4 Benz engine
125.94202.68115.93186.57First run using electronic timing[9]
June 24, 1914United Kingdom Brooklands, United KingdomUnited Kingdom Lydston HornstedBenz No. 3
200 hp (150 kW)
Internal combustion:
21.5 L (1,310 cu in) inline-4 Benz engine
124.09199.70 First 2-way record, set at Brooklands under new Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR) 2-way rule[9]
May 17, 1922United Kingdom Brooklands, United KingdomUnited Kingdom Kenelm Lee GuinnessSunbeam 350HPV12, single ohc, 18.3 litre,
350 b.h.p. engine
133.75215.25The third and last time the record was set at Brooklands[29]
July 6, 1924France Arpajon, FranceFrance René ThomasDélageInternal combustion, V12, ohv, 10.6 litre, 280 bhp engine143.31230.634[29]
July 12, 1924France Arpajon, FranceUnited Kingdom Ernest EldridgeFIAT MephistophelesInternal combustion:
21.7 L (1,320 cu in) inline-6 FIAT A.12 aero engine
145.89234.98 Fastest land speed record ever on a public road[9]
September 25, 1924United Kingdom Pendine, United KingdomUnited Kingdom Malcolm CampbellSunbeam 350HPInternal combustion:
18.3 L (1,120 cu in) V12 Sunbeam aero engine
146.16235.22 First land speed record by Malcolm Campbell[33]
July 21, 1925United Kingdom Pendine, United KingdomUnited Kingdom Malcolm CampbellSunbeam 350HPInternal combustion:
18.3 L (1,120 cu in) V12 Sunbeam aero engine
150.87242.8 First person to travel on land at over 150 mph (241 km/h)[33]
March 16, 1926United Kingdom Ainsdale beach at Southport, United KingdomUnited Kingdom Henry SegraveLadybirdInternal combustion: a 4-litre Sunbeam Tiger
152.33245.15
April 27, 1926 United Kingdom Pendine, United Kingdom United Kingdom J. G. Parry-Thomas Babs Internal combustion:
27 L (1,600 cu in) V12 Liberty L-12 aero engine
169.29 270.864 168.74 269.984 [34]
April 28, 1926United Kingdom Pendine, United KingdomUnited Kingdom J. G. Parry-ThomasBabsInternal combustion:
27 L (1,600 cu in) V12 Liberty L-12 aero engine
172.09275.341 171.69274.590 [35]
February 4, 1927United Kingdom Pendine, United KingdomUnited Kingdom Malcolm CampbellNapier-Campbell Blue BirdInternal combustion:
22.3 L (1,360 cu in) W12 Napier Lion aero engine
174.88281.44[33]
March 29, 1927United States Daytona Beach, United StatesUnited Kingdom Henry SegraveMystery
(aka "Sunbeam 1000 hp")
Internal combustion:
2 × 22.4 L (1,370 cu in) V12 Sunbeam Matabele aero engines
203.79327.97The first car to reach a speed over 200 mph (320 km/h)[36]
February 19, 1928United States Daytona Beach, United StatesUnited Kingdom Malcolm CampbellNapier-Campbell Blue BirdInternal combustion:
23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion aero engine
206.956333.048[10]
April 22, 1928United States Daytona Beach, United StatesUnited States Ray KeechTriplex SpecialInternal combustion:
3 × 27 L (1,600 cu in) V12 Liberty L-12 aero engines
207.552334.007[37]
March 11, 1929United States Daytona Beach, United StatesUnited Kingdom Henry SegraveGolden ArrowInternal combustion:
23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion aero engine
231.446372.459Segrave was knighted for this effort[38]
February 5, 1931United States Daytona Beach, United States[29]United Kingdom Malcolm CampbellCampbell-Napier-Railton Blue BirdInternal combustion:
23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion supercharged aero engine
246.09396.025Campbell was knighted for this effort[38]
February 24, 1932United States Daytona Beach, United StatesUnited Kingdom Malcolm CampbellCampbell-Napier-Railton Blue BirdInternal combustion:
23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion supercharged aero engine
253.97408.73First 250 mph (400 km/h) pass.[33]
February 22, 1933United States Daytona Beach, United StatesUnited Kingdom Malcolm CampbellCampbell-Railton Blue BirdInternal combustion:
36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engine
272.46438.48[33]
March 7, 1935United States Daytona Beach, United StatesUnited Kingdom Malcolm CampbellCampbell-Railton Blue BirdInternal combustion:
36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engine
276.816445.472[38]
September 3, 1935United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited Kingdom Malcolm CampbellCampbell-Railton Blue BirdInternal combustion:
36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engine
301.129484.598First 300 mph (480 km/h) pass, first absolute record set at Bonneville[38]
November 19, 1937United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited Kingdom George EystonThunderboltInternal combustion:
2 × 36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engines
311.42501.16[38]
August 27, 1938United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited Kingdom George EystonThunderboltInternal combustion:
2 × 36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engines
345.49 [38]556.012
September 15, 1938United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited Kingdom John CobbRailtonInternal combustion:
2 × 23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion supercharged aero engines
350.2563.566[38]
September 16, 1938United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited Kingdom George EystonThunderboltInternal combustion:
2 × 36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engines
357.5575.314[38]
August 23, 1939United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited Kingdom John CobbRailton SpecialInternal combustion:
2 × 23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion supercharged aero engines
369.74 [38]595.04367.91592.091
September 16, 1947United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited Kingdom John CobbRailton Mobil SpecialInternal combustion:
2 × 23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion supercharged aero engines
394.196 [9]634.397394.19634.39 First single pass at over 400 mph (402 mph)
July 17, 1964 Australia Lake Eyre, Australia United Kingdom Donald Campbell Bluebird CN7 Turboshaft: 1 × 4,000 hp (3,000 kW) Bristol Proteus gas turbine 403.10 [39][40] 648.73 Last wheel driven absolute record.
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1963–present (jet and rocket propulsion)

Craig Breedlove's mark of 407.447 miles per hour (655.722 km/h),[11][41] set in Spirit of America in September 1963, was initially considered unofficial. The vehicle breached the FIA regulations on two grounds: it had only three wheels, and it was not wheel-driven, since its jet engine did not supply power to its axles. Some time later, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) created a non-wheel-driven category, and ratified Spirit of America's time for this mark.[11] On July 17, 1964, Donald Campbell's Bluebird CN7 posted a speed of 403.10 miles per hour (648.73 km/h) on Lake Eyre, Australia. This became the official FIA LSR, although Campbell was disappointed not to have beaten Breedlove's time.[42] In October, several four-wheel jet-cars surpassed the 1963 mark, but were eligible for neither FIA nor FIM ratification.[42] The confusion of having three different LSRs lasted until December 11, 1964, when the FIA and FIM met in Paris and agreed to recognize as an absolute LSR the higher speed recorded by either body, by any vehicles running on wheels, whether wheel-driven or not.[1]

More information Date, Location ...
Date Location Driver Vehicle Power Speed Comments
Over 1 km Over 1 mile
(mph)(km/h) (mph)(km/h)
August 5, 1963United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited States Craig BreedloveSpirit of AmericaTurbojet 407.447655.722[11][41] Initially considered unofficial since the vehicle had 3 wheels. Later ratified by FIM.
October 2, 1964United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited States Tom GreenWingfoot ExpressTurbojet 413.2665.0[11]
October 5, 1964United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited States Art ArfonsGreen MonsterTurbojet 434.03698.50[11]
October 13, 1964United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited States Craig BreedloveSpirit of AmericaTurbojet 468.719754.330[26]
October 15, 1964United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited States Craig BreedloveSpirit of AmericaTurbojet 526.277846.961[26]
October 27, 1964United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited States Art ArfonsGreen MonsterTurbojet 536.710863.751[26]
November 2, 1965United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited States Craig BreedloveSpirit of America – Sonic 1Turbojet555.485893.966555.485893.966[43]
November 7, 1965United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited States Art ArfonsGreen MonsterTurbojet576.553 927.872576.553927.872[26]
November 15, 1965United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited States Craig BreedloveSpirit of America – Sonic 1Turbojet594955.950600.601966.574First thrust powered record to be ratified by the FIA
October 23, 1970United States Bonneville Salt Flats, United StatesUnited States Gary GabelichBlue FlameRocket 630.4781014.656622.4071001.667[44]
October 4, 1983United States Black Rock Desert, United StatesUnited Kingdom Richard NobleThrust2Turbojet: 1 × Rolls-Royce Avon 634.0511020.406633.471019.47[44]
September 25, 1997United States Black Rock Desert, United StatesUnited Kingdom Andy GreenThrustSSCTurbofan: 2 × Rolls-Royce Spey 713.9901149.055714.1441149.303 [44]
October 15, 1997United States Black Rock Desert, United StatesUnited Kingdom Andy GreenThrustSSCTurbofan: 2 × Rolls-Royce Spey 760.3431223.657763.0351227.986 [45] First to break the speed of sound
Close

See also

References

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