Making History
Current projects and attempts on Land Speed RecordsI'm not claiming this list to be complete, but here is a list of outright Land Speed Record projects that I'm aware of. |
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Bloodhound SSCMuch has been written said and claimed about the capability of the Bloodhound SSC, but the fact of the matter is that so far no metal has been cut aside from that used in the full scale mock ups, but the team behind the project are the best in the business and hold the outright record with Thrust SSC. The design of the car has sparked much controversy especially around its weight and hybrid rocket motor layout. It’s original target was 1,000mph. (more...) |
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Challenger 2.5Mickey Thompson first built Challenger 2 as the Autolite special in 1968 to beat the outright wheel driven land speed record. But despite claiming a potential of over 500mph, Thompson never got to run the car due to poor weather at Bonneville that year. He later sold the car, then bought it back and had started to re-develop it for son Danny to drive in the late 1980?s but when Thompson was murdered in 1988 the project stopped. But in 2011 Danny Thompson decided to restart it and the car is currently being rebuilt for a shot at the piston engined record before an outright record attempt in 2012. (more...) |
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Aussie Invader 5RRosco McGlashan nearly broke the outright record in 1996 with Aussie Invader 3 but missed out to Thrust SSC which raised the bar above the capability of the car. But McGlashan is back with the new rocket engined 5R, it has a very high potential, the car is currently in build in Australia. (more...) |
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North American EagleIs it a car? is it a plane? well actually it is kind of both. North American Eagle is a heavily modified Lockheed F104 Starfighter. But despite a long flying history it is likely to be most famous for staying on the ground. Owner/driver Ed Shadle has put together a highly innovative team to adapt the fighter plane into the worlds fastest car. It has already tested on a number of occasions most recently at Black Rock in 2009, and El Mirage in 2008 where it hit 400mph. The target speed though is 800mph and the outright Land Speed Record. It is thought that a record run may take place in 2012. (more...) |
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Jet BlackIn the history of the outright land speed record only four nations have held the record, the USA, England, France and Belgium. Jet Black hopes to add New Zealand to the list with its Rolls Royce Avon powered car. The project is in the early stages but a full scale mock up has been constructed. Testing should start in 2015. (more...) |
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Silver Bullet RV1A new project from Australia, still in the planning phase. (more...) |
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Slaughter Motorsport StreamlinerThe Slaughter Motorsport Streamliner will compete under the FIA rules for an outright world land speed record for a wheel driven vehicle. The car is going to run in the 3.0l class for a couple of passes then swapped to the turbine engine and converted to 4WD. The Australian Record for a Wheel Driven Record of 403.10mph set back in 1964 by the late Sir Donald Campbell. (more...) |
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Sonic WindWaldo Stakes is one of those unlikely figures that litter the history of land speed racing. This American has a Bell X1 engine and a very compact car design. The current status of the project is unknown other than it is still underway, a mock up of the major components has been completed. (more...) |
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