The
British
electric land speed record was raised in September 2012, to 151 mph
at Elvington airfield, by Nick Ponting, driving a converted Lotus Exige
sponsored by Ecotricity
and Vince Dale.
Nick
Ponting and Vince Dale with their Lotus Nemesis
The
information below is for self-propelled wheeled vehicles travelling over
open ground. As such, it does not include records set by vehicles
travelling on rails or motorized sleds over frozen lakes.
Additionally,
the records below do not distinguish between different recognized
classes of the land speed record, such as top speed for a motorcycle
(333.117 mph), top speed for a steam-driven vehicle (145.607 mph), or
other top speeds that are not absolutes.
These
are average speeds over the given distance. Two figures are given, one
for the speed measured over a kilometre long course, and one for a mile
long course. The country field refers to the driver's nationality. Early
records were not set according to clearly defined rules and thus some of
them are controversial.
Date
Location
Driver
Driver
Country
Vehicle
Power
Speed
over 1 km
Speed
over 1 mile
Comments
December
18, 1898
Achères,
France
Gaston
de Chasseloup-Laubat
Fr
Jeantaud
Duc
Electric
39.24
mph (63.15 km/h)
January
17, 1899
Achères,
France
Camille
Jenatzy
Bel
CGA
Dogcart
Electric
41.42
mph (66.66 km/h)
January
17, 1899
Achères,
France
Gaston
de Chasseloup-Laubat
Fr
Jeantaud
Duc
Electric
43.69
mph (70.31 km/h)
January
27, 1899
Achères,
France
Camille
Jenatzy
Bel
CGA
Dogcart
Electric
49.93
mph (80.35 km/h)
March
4, 1899
Achères,
France
Gaston
de Chasseloup-Lauba t
Fr
Jeantaud
Duc Profilée
Electric
57.65
mph (92.78 km/h)
April
29, 1899
Achères,
France
Camille
Jenatzy
Bel
CITA
No 25 La Jamais Contente
Electric
65.79
mph (105.88 km/h)
First
record over 100km/h
April
13, 1902
Nice,
France
Promenade des Anglais
Leon
Serpollet
Fr
Gardner-Serpollet
Oeuf de Pâques (Easter Egg)
Steam
75.06
mph (120.80 km/h)
November
5, 1902
Ablis,
France
William
K. Vanderbilt
USA
Mors
Z Paris-Vienne
IC
76.08mph
(122.44 km/h)
November
5, 1902
Dourdan,
France
Henri
Fournier
Fr
Mors
Z Paris-Vienne
IC
76.60
mph (123.28 km/h)
November
17, 1902
Dourdan,
France
M.
Augières
Fr
Mors
Z Paris-Vienne
IC
77.13
mph (124.13 km/h)
July
17, 1903
Ostend,
Belgium
Arthur
Duray
B
Gobron
Brillié Paris-Madrid
IC
83.46
mph (134.32 km/h)
November
5, 1903
Dourdan,
France
Arthur
Duray
Bel
Gobron
Brillié Paris-Madrid
IC
84.73
mph (136.36 km/h)
January
12, 1904
Lake
St. Clair, USA
Henry
Ford
USA
Ford
Arrow
IC
91.37
mph (147.05 km/h)
On
frozen lake
March
31, 1904
Nice,
France
Arthur
Duray
Bel
Gobron
Brillié Paris-Madrid
IC
88.76
mph (142.85 km/h)
March
31, 1904
Nice,
France
Louis
Rigolly
Fr
Gobron
Brillié Paris-Madrid
IC
94.78
mph (152.53 km/h)
May
25, 1904
Ostend,
Belgium
Pierre
de Caters
Bel
Mercedes
Simplex 90
IC
97.25
mph (156.50 km/h)
July
21, 1904
Ostend,
Belgium
Louis
Rigolly
Fr
Gobron
Brillié Gordon Bennett Cup
IC
103.56
mph (166.66 km/h)
November
13, 1904
Ostend,
Belgium
Paul
Baras
Fr
Darracq
Gordon Bennett
IC
104.53
mph (168.22 km/h)
January
24, 1905
Daytona
Beach , USA
Arthur
MacDonald
Fr
Napier
6
IC
104.65
mph (168.42 km/h)
December
30, 1905
Arles,
France
Victor
Hémery
Fr
Darracq
V8 Special
IC
109.65
mph (175.44 km/h)
January
26, 1906
Daytona
Beach , USA
Fred
H. Marchriott
USA
Stanley
Steamer
Steam
121.57
mph (195.65 km/h)
January
24, 1907
Ormond
Beach, Florida
Glenn
Curtiss
USA
Curtiss
V8 40 hp (30kW) motorcycle
IC
136.27
mph (219.31 km/h)
November
6, 1909
Brooklands ,
United Kingdom
Victor
Héméry
Fr
200
hp (150 kW) Benz
No 1
IC
125.94
mph (202.68 km/h)
115.93
mph (186.57 km/h)
June
24, 1914
Brooklands ,
United Kingdom
L.
G. Hornstead
UK
200
hp (150 kW) Benz No 3
IC
124.09
mph (199.70 km/h)
First
2-way record
February
12, 1919
Daytona
Beach , USA
Ralph
DePalma
USA
Packard
905
IC
149.875
mph (241.200 km/h)
Recognized
in the USA, not recognized by the AIACR
May
17, 1922
Brooklands,
United Kingdom
Kenelm
Lee Guinness
UK
350
hp (260 kW) Sunbeam
IC
133.70
mph (215.17 km/h)
129.17
mph (207.88 km/h)
Last
record set on a closed course
July
6, 1924
Arpajon,
France
René
Thomas
Fr
Delage
La Torpille
IC
143.21
mph (230.47 km/h)
143.31
mph (230.64 km/h)
July
12, 1924
Arpajon,
France
Ernest
A. D. Eldridge
UK
FIAT
Special Mephistopeles II
IC
146.01
mph (234.98 km/h)
145.89
mph (234.79 km/h)
Last
record set on a public road
September
25, 1924
Pendine
Sands , Wales
Malcolm
Campbell
UK
350
hp (260 kW) Sunbeam Blue Bird
IC
146.15
mph (235.21 km/h)
146.16
mph (235.22 km/h)
July
21, 1925
Pendine
Sands, Wales
Malcolm
Campbell
UK
350
hp (260 kW) Sunbeam Blue Bird
IC
150.86
mph (242.79 km/h)
150.76
mph (242.62 km/h)
March
21, 1926
Southport,
United Kingdom
Henry
Segrave
UK
4
Litre Sunbeam
Ladybird
IC
152.30
mph (245.10 km/h)
149.32
mph (240.31 km/h)
April
27, 1926
Pendine
Sands, Wales
J.G.
Parry-Thomas
UK
Higham-Thomas
Special Babs
IC
169.29
mph (272.45 km/h)
168.07
mph (270.48 km/h)
April
28, 1926
Pendine
Sands, Wales
J.
G. Parry-Thomas
UK
Higham-Thomas
Special Babs
IC
171.01
mph (273.60 km/h)
170.62
mph (274.59 km/h)
February
4, 1927
Pendine
Sands, Wales
Malcolm
Campbell
UK
Campbell
Napier Blue Bird
IC
174.88
mph (281.44 km/h)
174.22
mph (280.38 km/h)
Last
record set in Europe
March
29, 1927
Daytona
Beach, USA
Henry
Segrave
UK
100
hp (75 kW) Sunbeam 'Slug '
IC
202.98
mph (326.66 km/h)
203.79
mph (327.97 km/h)
February
19, 1928
Daytona
Beach, USA
Malcolm
Campbell
UK
Campbell
Napier Blue Bird
IC
206.95
mph (333.05 km/h)
April
22, 1928
Daytona
Beach, USA
Ray
Keech
USA
White
Triplex Spirit of Elkdom
IC
207.55
mph (334.02 km/h)
March
11, 1929
Daytona
Beach, USA
Henry
Segrave
UK
Irving-Napier
Golden Arrow
IC
231.56
mph (372.66 km/h)
231.36
mph (372.34 km/h)
February
5, 1931
Daytona
Beach, USA
Malcolm
Campbell
UK
Campbell
Napier Railton Blue Bird
IC
246.08
mph (396.03 km/h)
245.73
mph (395.46 km/h)
February
24, 1932
Daytona
Beach, USA
Malcolm
Campbell
UK
Campbell
Napier Railton Blue Bird
IC
251.34
mph (404.49 km/h)
253.96
mph (408.71 km/h)
February
22, 1933
Daytona
Beach, USA
Malcolm
Campbell
UK
Campbell
Rolls-Royce
Railton Blue Bird
IC
272.46
mph (438.48 km/h)
272.10
mph (437.90 km/h)
March
7, 1935
Daytona
Beach, USA
Malcolm
Campbell
UK
Campbell
Rolls-Royce Railton Blue Bird
IC
276.16
mph (444.44 km/h)
276.71
mph (445.32 km/h)
Last
record set on a beach
September
3, 1935
Bonneville
Salt Flats , USA
Malcolm
Campbell
UK
Campbell
Rolls-Royce Railton Blue Bird
IC
301.129
mph (484.620 km/h)
November
19, 1937
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
George
E. T. Eyston
UK
Thunderbolt
IC
312.00
mph (502.11 km/h)
311.41
mph (501.17 km/h)
August
27, 1938
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
George
E. T. Eyston
UK
Thunderbolt
IC
345.20
mph (555.55 km/h)
345.48
mph (556.00 km/h)
September
15, 1938
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
John
Cobb
UK
Railton
IC
350.06
mph (563.37 km/h)
350.19
mph (563.58 km/h)
September
16, 1938
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
George
E. T. Eyston
UK
Thunderbolt
IC
357.33
mph (575.07 km/h)
357.49
mph (575.32 km/h)
August
23, 1939
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
John
Cobb
UK
Railton
IC
369.74
mph (595.04 km/h)
367.91
mph (592.09 km/h)
September
16, 1947
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
John
Cobb
UK
Railton
'Mobil' Special
IC
393.82
mph (633.79 km/h)
394.19
mph (634.39 km/h)
First
one-way over 400mph
1965
Bonneville
Summers
Brothers
USA
Goldenrod
IC
July
17 1964
Lake
Eyre
Australia
Donald
Campbell
UK
Bluebird
CN7
Turbojet
403.135
403.135
September
5, 1963
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
Craig
Breedlove
USA
Spirit
of America
Turbojet
408.312
mph (657.114 km/h)
407.447
mph (655.722 km/h)
Ratified
by FIM as vehicle has 3 wheels
October
5, 1964
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
Tom
Green
USA
Wingfoot
Express
Turbojet
415.093
mph (668.027 km/h)
413.199
mph (664.979 km/h)
FIA
made two classes cars with two driven wheels and cars
powered by jet engines
October
7, 1964
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
Art
Arfons
USA
The
Green Monster
Turbojet
434.356
mph (665.231 km/h)
434.022
mph (664.694 km/h)
October
13, 1964
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
Craig
Breedlove
USA
Spirit
of America - Sonic 1
Turbojet
468.719
mph (754.330 km/h)
October
15, 1964
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
Craig
Breedlove
USA
Spirit
of America - Sonic 1
Turbojet
526.277
mph (846.861 km/h)
parachutes
failed Breedlove ended up ditch.
Oct
22, 1964
Bonneville
Bobby
Tatroe
USA
Wingfoot
Express II
25
Jato Rockets
reached
speeds in excess of 580 mph rockets ran out before finish
October
27, 1964
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
Art
Arfons
USA
The
Green Monster
Turbojet
544.134
mph (875.699 km/h)
536.710
mph (863.791 km/h)
first
person over 500 mph
November
2, 1965
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
Craig
Breedlove
USA
Spirit
of America - Sonic 1
Turbojet
555.485
mph (893.966 km/h)
555.485
mph (893.966 km/h)
November
7, 1965
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
Art
Arfons
USA
The
Green Monster
Turbojet
572.546
mph (921.423 km/h)
576.553
mph (927.872 km/h)
Nov
12, 1965
Bonneville
Bob
Summers
USA
Goldenrod
4x
- V-8 Chryslers
409.277
fastest
for wheel driven and piston engines
November
15, 1965
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
Craig
Breedlove
USA
Spirit
of America - Sonic 1
Turbojet
600.842
mph (966.961 km/h)
600.601
mph (966.574 km/h)
first
person over 600
1968
Bonneville
Jerry
Kugel
USA
Lead
Wedge
Electric
138
mph
October
23, 1970
Bonneville
Salt Flats, USA
Gary
Gabelich
USA
Blue
Flame
Rocket
630.389
mph (1014.52 km/h)
622.407
mph (1001.67 km/h)
First
record over 1000km/h
August
1971
Bonneville
Jack
Reed
USA
Silver
Eagle
Electric
146.437
mph
August
23, 1974
Bonneville
Roger
Hedlund
USA
Battery
Box
Electric
175
mph
December
17, 1979
Edwards
AFB, USA
Stan
Barrett
USA
Budweiser
Rocket
Rocket
746
mph supersonic top speed claimed
Did
not follow official measurement rules.
October
4, 1983
Black
Rock Desert , USA
Richard
Noble
UK
Thrust2
Rolls
Royce Avon Jet Engine
633.468
mph (1019.47 km/h)
Aug
21, 1991
Bonneville
Elwin
Teague
USA
Speed0Motive
409.978
September
25, 1997
Black
Rock Desert, USA
Andy
Green
UK
ThrustSSC
2
Rolls Royce Jet Engines
713.496
mph (1148.26 km/h)
714.144
mph (1149.30 km/h)
first
person thru 700 mph barrier
October
15 , 1997
Black
Rock Desert, USA
Andy
Green
UK
ThrustSSC
Turbofan
760.343
mph (1223.65 km/h)
763.035
mph (1227.99 km/h)
First
supersonic record (Mach 1.016)
October
15, 1997
Bonneville
Ed
Rannberg
USA
Lightning
Rod
Electric
215.3
mph
First
over 200 mph
October
of 1999
Bonneville
Pat
Rummerfield
USA
White
Lightning
Electric
245.523
mph
2001
Bonneville
Don
Vesco
USA
Turbinator
T55-L-11A
SA
458.440
wheel
driven Turbine engine
2002
Bonneville
Nolan
White
Parts
Peddler
413
Not
recognized by FIA
2004
Bonneville
Tom
Burkland
Burkland's
Stremaliner
2x
Chrysler Donovans
417
Not
recognized by the FIA
2004
Bonneville
C
Taylor
USA
Buckeye
Bullet
Electric
271.459
flying kilo
2005
Bonneville
C
Taylor
USA
Buckeye
Bullet
Electric
300+
Not
FIA
August
22 2006
Bonneville
Andy
Green
UK
JCB
Dieselmax
Diesel
328
mph
Please
note: Disputed records are on a lighter grey background.
While
we consider most of the information below is accurate but don't
consider it as an absolute reference.
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