Unseen archives documenting over a century of land speed record attempts have been made public, offering a glimpse into the fearless drivers and machines that pushed the boundaries of speed. The release coincides with a British team’s recent achievement of a new hydrogen-powered land speed record at the Bonneville salt flats.
According to The Guardian, JCB’s Hydromax car, driven by Andy Green, set the hydrogen-powered International Automobile Federation (FIA) land speed record at 406.320mph. Green, a former RAF wing commander, also holds the outright land speed record of 763.035mph, set in 1997 in the ThrustSSC car, where he became the first person to break the sound barrier on land.
KEY FACTS
- A British team recently set a new hydrogen-powered FIA land speed record at 406.320mph.
- Andy Green, the driver, also holds the outright land speed record of 763.035mph, set in 1997.
- Green is the only person to have broken the sound barrier on land.
- The records were achieved at the Bonneville salt flats in Utah.
- Newly released archives detail over a century of land speed record attempts.
What do the archives reveal?
The archives provide insight into the death-defying attempts by drivers and their impact on the public imagination. They cover more than a century of record-breaking machines and the pilots who drove them, highlighting the relentless pursuit of speed and innovation.
How did the latest record come about?
The recent record was set by JCB’s Hydromax car, a hydrogen-powered vehicle, at the Bonneville salt flats. Andy Green, who has a storied history in speed records, was behind the wheel. The achievement underscores the ongoing evolution of technology in the quest for faster land speeds.
WHAT WE KNOW — AND WHAT WE DON’T
Verified by the source:
- The Hydromax car set a new hydrogen-powered FIA land speed record at 406.320mph.
- Andy Green holds the outright land speed record of 763.035mph and broke the sound barrier on land.
- The Bonneville salt flats in Utah were the location for the recent record attempt.
Still unconfirmed:
- The exact contents and scope of the newly released archives.
- Specific details about the Hydromax car’s design and technology.
- Future plans for further land speed record attempts by the British team or others.
WHY IT MATTERS
The history of land speed records reflects humanity’s enduring fascination with pushing technological and physical limits. The release of these archives not only honors the bravery of past drivers but also inspires future innovations in speed and engineering.
WHAT TO WATCH
Future developments in land speed record attempts, particularly advancements in hydrogen-powered technology, will be key to monitoring. The archives may also prompt further historical research into the pioneers of speed.