Australian Land Speed Records
The records listed here are only for the classic flying kilometre and flying mile. There are a number of other acceleration and (longer) distance records as well as a number time records that do exist, for a complete list refer to CAR Speed Records set in Australia by Motorsport Australia (CAMS).
All these records were conducted under the regulations of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and it's Australian associate the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS).
And the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (International Motorcycling Federation) (FIM) and it's Australian associate, Motorcycling Australia.
FIA categories, groups and classes
FIM categories, groups, divisions types and classes
PRE-NOVEMBER 1983
These records can not be challenged because they were not set under the
FIA rules and conditions that came into force after November 1983.
Flying 1km
| Cat |
Gp |
CI |
Date |
Venue |
Driver(s) |
Make |
Model |
Time |
KM/H |
MPH |
| A |
I |
3 |
29/9/57 |
Coonabarabran |
R Blake |
Cooper |
JAP |
21.83 |
164.80 |
102.47 |
| A |
I |
4 |
29/9/57 |
Coonabarabran |
J Madsen |
Cooper |
BMW |
20.36 |
176.80 |
109.88 |
| A |
I |
5 |
28/9/57 |
Coonabarabran |
D Jolly |
Decca |
Special |
19.31 |
186.42 |
115.84 |
| A |
I |
6 |
11/10/64 |
Salisbury |
A Mustard |
Elfin |
|
16.21 |
222.10 |
138.00 |
| A |
I |
7 |
29/9/57 |
Coonabarabran |
L F Lukey |
Cooper |
Bristol |
15.17 |
237.31 |
147.46 |
| A |
I |
8 |
19/2/75 |
Carathool |
D McKay |
Porsche |
|
21.65 |
166.71 |
103.59 |
| A |
I |
9 |
18/2/75 |
Carathool |
Mrs. M Seed |
AC |
Ace |
19.79 |
181.88 |
113.09 |
| A |
I |
10 |
11/10/65 |
Salisbury |
A Smith |
Valano |
Special |
16.31 |
220.64 |
137.10 |
Flying 1 mile
| Cat |
Gp |
CI |
Date |
Venue |
Driver(s) |
Make |
Model |
Time |
KM/H |
MPH |
| A |
I |
1 |
01/1/30 |
Gerringong |
N Smith |
Cadillac |
Special |
24.45 |
236.18 |
146.70 |
| A |
I |
5 |
02/2/35 |
Sellicks Beach |
C W Bonython |
MG |
Special |
47.31 |
122.46 |
76.09 |
| A |
I |
6 |
11/10/64 |
Salisbury |
A Mustard |
Elfin |
|
26.32 |
220.10 |
136.77 |
| A |
I |
9 |
01/1/63 |
Lake Eyre |
ML McEwin |
Tornado |
Special |
23.83 |
241.76 |
151.10 |
| A |
I |
10 |
04/10/65 |
Salisbury |
A Smith |
Valano |
Special |
26.29 |
218.24 |
136.40 |
POST-NOVEMBER 1984
These National records are recognised as being set within the guidelines laid
out by the FIA and adopted by CAMS in November 1983. All of these records
are open to challenge and are also FIA internationally recognised record
distances.
Flying 1km
| Cat |
Gp |
CI |
Date |
Venue |
Driver(s) |
Make |
Model |
Time |
KM/H |
MPH |
| A |
I |
6 |
30/11/85 |
Surfers Paradise |
S Brook |
Daihatsu |
Charade Turbo |
26.76 |
134.50 |
83.60 |
| A |
II |
5 |
30/4/85 |
Surfers Paradise |
P McKay |
Daihatsu |
Charade CX |
29.15 |
123.50 |
76.70 |
| A |
II |
7 |
28/7/91 |
Avalon A’drome |
S McKay |
Toyota |
Corolla AE92 |
17.40 |
206.90 |
128.56 |
| A |
III |
9 |
30/4/85 |
Surfers Paradise |
M Minear |
Daihatsu |
Rocky Turbo |
31.78 |
113.30 |
70.40 |
| C |
Jet |
|
27/3/94 |
Lake Gairdner |
R McGlashan |
Special |
Aussie Invader 2 |
4.49 |
801.80 |
498.20 |
Flying 1 mile
| Cat |
Gp |
CI |
Date |
Venue |
Driver(s) |
Make |
Model |
Time |
KM/H |
MPH |
| A |
I |
6 |
30/4/85 |
Surfers Paradise |
S Brook |
Daihatsu |
Charade Turbo |
40.03 |
125.90 |
78.20 |
| A |
II |
5 |
30/4/85 |
Surfers Paradise |
P McKay |
Daihatsu |
Charade CX |
49.28 |
117.60 |
73.10 |
| A |
II |
7 |
28/7/91 |
Avalon A’drome |
S McKay |
Toyota |
Corolla AE92 |
28.01 |
206.84 |
128.53 |
| A |
III |
9 |
30/4/85 |
Surfers Paradise |
M Minear |
Daihatsu |
Rocky Turbo |
54.70 |
105.90 |
65.80 |
| C |
Jet |
|
27/3/94 |
Lake Gairdner |
R McGlashan |
Special |
Aussie Invader 2 |
7.23 |
801.30 |
497.90 |
World Land Speed Record
Since 1898, this distinction has changed hands 81 times among British, American, French, Belgian, German and Italian machines powered by steam, electricity, gasoline and jet thrust. That figure doesn't record all those who tried and never made it-the failures, glorious and otherwise. For more details on these drivers and their cars, go to my Land Speed Racing History pages.
| Date |
Driver |
Car |
Speed (mph) |
Speed (KM/H) |
Venue |
Notes |
| 18 Dec 1898 |
Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat |
Jeantaud |
39.24 |
63.15 |
Acheres |
|
| 17 Jan 1899 |
Camille Jenatzy |
Jenatzy |
41.42 |
66.66 |
Acheres |
|
| 17 Jan 1899 |
Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat |
Jeantaud |
43.69 |
70.31 |
Acheres |
|
| 27 Jan 1899 |
Camille Jenatzy |
Jenatzy |
49.92 |
80.34 |
Acheres |
|
| 04 Mar 1899 |
Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat |
Jeantaud |
57.60 |
92.70 |
Acheres |
|
| 29 Apr 1899 |
Camille Jenatzy |
Jenatzy |
65.79 |
105.88 |
Acheres |
|
| 13 Apr 1902 |
Leon Serpollet |
Serpollet |
75.06 |
120.79 |
Nice |
|
| 05 Aug 1902 |
William K. Vanderbilt |
Mors |
76.08 |
122.44 |
Abllis |
|
| 05 Nov 1902 |
Henri Fournier |
Mors |
76.60 |
123.27 |
Dourdan |
|
| 17 Nov 1902 |
Augieres |
Mors |
77.13 |
124.13 |
Dourdan |
|
| 17 Jul 1903 |
Arthur Duray |
Gobron-Brillie |
83.47 |
134.33 |
Ostend |
|
| 05 Nov 1903 |
Arthur Duray |
Gobron-Brillie |
84.73 |
136.36 |
Dourdan |
|
| 12 Jan 1904 |
Henry Ford |
Ford Arrow |
91.37 |
147.04 |
Lake St Clair |
1 |
| 27 Jan 1904 |
William K. Vanderbilt |
Mercedes |
92.30 |
148.54 |
Daytona Beach |
1 |
| 31 Mar 1904 |
Louis Rigolly |
Gobron-Brillie |
94.78 |
152.53 |
Nice |
|
| 25 Jun 1904 |
Pierre de Caters |
Mercedes |
97.25 |
156.50 |
Ostend |
|
| 21 Jul 1904 |
Louis Rigolly |
Gobron-Brillie |
103.55 |
166.64 |
Ostend |
|
| 13 Nov 1904 |
Paul Baras |
Darracq |
104.52 |
168.20 |
Ostend |
|
| 25 Jan 1905 |
Arthur Macdonald |
Napier |
104.65 |
168.41 |
Daytona |
1 |
| 30 Dec 1905 |
Victor Hemery |
Darracq |
109.65 |
176.46 |
Arles-Salon |
|
| 23 Jan 1906 |
Fred Marriott |
Stanley Steamer |
121.57 |
195.64 |
Daytona |
|
| 08 Nov 1909 |
Victor Hemery |
Benz |
125.95 |
202.69 |
Brooklands |
|
| 16 Apr 1910 |
Barney Oldfield |
Benz |
131.275 |
211.261 |
Daytona |
1 |
| 23 Apr 1911 |
Bob Burman |
Benz |
141.37 |
227.51 |
Daytona |
1 |
| 24 Jun 1914 |
L.G. Hornsted |
Benz |
124.10 |
199.71 |
Brooklands |
2 |
| 17 Feb 1919 |
Ralph de Palma |
Packard |
149.875 |
241.194 |
Daytona |
1 |
| 27 Apr 1920 |
Tommy Milton |
Duesenberg |
156.03 |
251.10 |
Daytona |
1 |
| 17 May 1922 |
Kenelm Lee Guinness |
Sunbeam |
133.75 |
215.24 |
Brooklands |
|
| 06 Jun 1924 |
Rene Thomas |
Delage |
143.41 |
230.79 |
Arpajon |
|
| 12 Jul 1924 |
Ernest Eldridge |
Fiat |
146.01 |
234.97 |
Arpajon |
|
| 25 Sep 1924 |
Malcolm Campbell |
Sunbeam |
146.16 |
235.22 |
Pendine Sands |
|
| 21 Jul 1925 |
Malcolm Campbell |
Sunbeam |
150.76 |
242.62 |
Pendine Sands |
|
| 16 Mar 1926 |
Henry Segrave |
Sunbeam |
152.33 |
245.14 |
Southport Beach |
|
| 27 Apr 1926 |
Parry Thomas |
Higham Special "Babs" |
169.30 |
272.45 |
Pendine Sands |
|
| 28 Apr 1926 |
Parry Thomas |
Higham Special "Babs" |
171.02 |
275.22 |
Pendine Sands |
|
| 04 Feb 1927 |
Malcolm Campbell |
Bluebird |
174.883 |
281.439 |
Pendine Sands |
|
| 29 Mar 1927 |
Henry Segrave |
Sunbeam |
203.792 |
327.962 |
Daytona Beach |
|
| 19 Feb 1928 |
Malcolm Campbell |
Bluebird |
206.956 |
333.054 |
Daytona Beach |
|
| 22 Apr 1928 |
Ray Keech |
White Triplex |
207.552 |
334.013 |
Daytona Beach |
|
| 11 Mar 1929 |
Henry Segrave |
Golden Arrow |
231.446 |
372.466 |
Daytona Beach |
|
| 05 Feb 1931 |
Malcolm Campbell |
Bluebird |
246.090 |
396.033 |
Daytona Beach |
|
| 24 Feb 1932 |
Malcolm Campbell |
Bluebird |
253.970 |
408.714 |
Daytona Beach |
|
| 22 Feb 1933 |
Malcolm Campbell |
Bluebird |
272.460 |
438.470 |
Daytona Beach |
|
| 07 Mar 1935 |
Malcolm Campbell |
Bluebird |
276.820 |
445.486 |
Daytona Beach |
|
| 03 Sep 1935 |
Malcolm Campbell |
Bluebird |
301.129 |
484.607 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 19 Nov 1937 |
George Eyston |
Thunderbolt |
312.000 |
502.102 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 27 Aug 1938 |
George Eyston |
Thunderbolt |
345.500 |
556.013 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 15 Sep 1938 |
John Cobb |
Railton |
350.200 |
563.577 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 16 Sep 1938 |
George Eyston |
Thunderbolt |
357.500 |
575.324 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 23 Aug 1939 |
John Cobb |
Railton Mobil Special |
369.700 |
594.958 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 16 Sep 1947 |
John Cobb |
Railton Mobil Special |
394.194 |
634.376 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 05 Aug 1963 |
Craig Breedlove |
Spirit of America |
407.450 |
655.709 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
3 |
| 17 Jul 1964 |
Donald Campbell |
Bluebird |
403.100 |
648.709 |
Lake Eyre |
4 |
| 02 Oct 1964 |
Tom Green |
Wingfoot Express |
413.200 |
664.963 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 05 Oct 1964 |
Art Arfons |
Green Monster |
434.020 |
698.468 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 13 Oct 1964 |
Craig Breedlove |
Spirit of America |
468.720 |
754.311 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 15 Oct 1964 |
Craig Breedlove |
Spirit of America |
526.280 |
846.942 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 27 Oct 1964 |
Art Arfons |
Green Monster |
536.710 |
863.727 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 02 Nov 1965 |
Craig Breedlove |
Spirit of America - Sonic 1 |
555.483 |
893.939 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 07 Nov 1965 |
Art Arfons |
Green Monster |
576.553 |
927.847 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 13 Nov 1965 |
Bob Summers |
Goldenrod |
409.277 |
658.649 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
4 |
| 15 Nov 1965 |
Craig Breedlove |
Spirit of America - Sonic 1 |
600.601 |
966.547 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 23 Oct 1970 |
Gary Gabelich |
The Blue Flame |
622.407 |
1001.640 |
Bonneville Salt Flats |
|
| 04 Oct 1983 |
Richard Noble |
Thrust 2 |
633.468 |
1019.440 |
Black Rock Desert |
|
| 25 Sep 1997 |
Andy Green |
ThrustSSC |
714.144 |
1149.272 |
Black Rock Desert |
|
| 15 Oct 1997 |
Andy Green |
ThrustSSC |
763.035 |
1227.952 |
Black Rock Desert |
Mach 1.0175 |
Legend
1 - Not recognised by European Authorities
2 - First mandatory two-way run
3 - First pure jet powered car. Record only recognised by motorcycle authority, as car had 3 wheels.
4 - Wheel driven record. A separate class from 1964
FIA Classification of land vehicles for record attempts
CATEGORY A (Special Automobiles)
A00-00 - Special Automobiles: Cylinder |
|
| Groups |
|
| Group I : |
Reciprocating 2 or 4 stroke engine with supercharger |
| Group II : |
Reciprocating 2 or 4 stroke engine without supercharger |
| Group III : |
Diesel cycle engine with supercharger |
| Group IV : |
Diesel cycle engine without supercharger |
| Group V : |
Rotary engine with supercharger |
| Group VI : |
Rotary engine without supercharger |
| Group XV : |
Hydrogen reciprocating
engine |
| Group VII : |
Solar powered |
| Group VIII : |
Electrical engine |
| Group IX : |
Turbine engine |
| Group X : |
Steam engine |
| Group XI : |
Hybrid engine |
|
| Classes |
Cylinder capacity |
| 1 |
Up to 250 cm3 |
| 2 |
Over 250 cm3 to 350 cm3 |
| 3 |
Over 350 cm3 to 500 cm3 |
| 4 |
Over 500 cm3 to 750 cm3 |
| 5 |
Over 750 cm3 to 1100 cm3 |
| 6 |
Over 1100 cm3 to 1500 cm3 |
| 7 |
Over 1500 cm3 to 2000 cm3 |
| 8 |
Over 2000 cm3 to 3000 cm3 |
| 9 |
Over 3000 cm3 to 5000 cm3 |
| 10 |
Over 5000 cm3 to 8000 cm3 |
| 11 |
Over 8000 cm3 |
| |
|
| |
Unloaded weight |
| 1 |
Up to 500 kg |
| 2 |
Over 500 kg to 1000 kg |
| 3 |
Over 1000 kg |
|
CATEGORY B (Series Production Cars)
B00-00 - Series production cars: Cylinder |
|
| Group |
|
| Group I : |
Reciprocating 2 or 4 stroke engine with supercharger |
| Group II : |
Reciprocating 2 or 4 stroke engine without supercharger |
| Group III : |
Diesel cycle engine with supercharger |
| Group IV : |
Diesel cycle engine without supercharger |
| Group V : |
Rotary engine with supercharger |
| Group VI : |
Rotary engine without supercharger |
| Group XII : |
T1 homologated cars with supercharger |
| Group XIII : |
T1 homologated cars without supercharger |
| Group XV : |
Hydrogen reciprocating engine |
|
| Classes |
Cylinder capacity |
| 1 |
Up to500 cm3
|
| 2 |
Over 500 cm3 to 600 cm3 |
| 3 |
Over 600 cm3 to 700 cm3
|
| 4 |
Over 700 cm3 to 850 cm3 |
| 5 |
Over 850 cm3 to 1000 cm3 |
| 6 |
Over 1000 cm3 to 1150 cm3 |
| 7 |
Over 1150 cm3 to 1400 cm3 |
| 8 |
Over 1400 cm3 to 1600 cm3 |
| 9 |
Over 1600 cm3 to 2000 cm3 |
| 10 |
Over 2000 cm3 to 2500 cm3 |
| 11 |
Over 2500 cm3 to 3000 cm3 |
| 12 |
Over 3000 cm3 to 3500 cm3 |
| 13 |
Over 3500 cm3 to 4000 cm3 |
| 14 |
Over 4000 cm3 to 4500 cm3 |
| 15 |
Over 4500 cm3 to 5000 cm3 |
| 16 |
Over 5000 cm3 to 5500 cm3 |
| 17 |
Over 5500 cm3 to 6000 cm3
|
| 18 |
Over 6000 cm3 |
|
CATEGORY C (Special vehicles in accordance with the definition given under Art. 13)
C00-00 - Vehicles in accordance with definition under Article 13 |
These vehicles may be sub-divided according to the type of engine used (jet, rocket, etc.).
Article 13 of the International Sporting Code :
Land Vehicle, Automobile, Special Vehicle, Ground Effect Vehicle
Land Vehicle :
Vehicle propelled by its own means in constant contact with the ground either directly by mechanical means
or indirectly by ground effect, and the motive power and steering system of which are constantly and entirely
controlled by a driver on board the vehicle.
Automobile :
A land vehicle propelled by its own means, running on at least four wheels not aligned, which must always be
in contact with the ground; the steering must be ensured by at least two of the wheels, and the propulsion
by at least two of the wheels.
Special Vehicles :
Vehicles on at least four wheels which are propelled otherwise than through their wheels.
Ground Effect Vehicle :
Vehicle whose bearing on the ground is maintained by means of a pressurised air cushion. |
CATEGORY D (Drag Racing cars)
D00-00 - Drag Racing cars |
| Vehicles which comply with the prescriptions of the FIA regulations for Drag Racing cars. |
References
- Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile - International Sanctioning Body
- Confederation of Australian Motorsport - Australian Sanctioning Body
|
