Top Ten Fastest Land Speed Records
1. Thrust SSC – Great Britain (763 mph)
Former British Royal Air Force Pilot Andy Green set the fastest recorded speed in October 15, 1997 at Black Rock Desert, Nevada. At 763 mph, Green is the frist to reach supersonic speed on land. The ThrustSSC, blended the know how of 4 British gentlemen, Glynne Bowsher, Ron Ayers, Jeremy Bliss, and Richard Noble, himself a record holder. They used a turbine gas engine (turbofan) by Rolls Royce, the recognized leader in aircraft engineering.
2. Thrust2 – Great Britain (633 mph)
Richard Noble bursts into the scene of Land Speed Records at Black Rock Desert, Nevada on his Thrust2 in October 4, 1983. Clocking at six hundred thirty three miles per hour using a single Rolls Royce jet engine, Noble became the first Brit since George Eyston to establish a land speed record.
3. The Blue Flame – United States (630 mph)
Driver Gary Gabelich, a native of San Pedro, California, sat on the cockpit of the rocket powered vehicle while establishing a record speed of 630 miles per hour across the Bonneville Salt Flats on October 23, 1970. Built in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the engineering used in the Blue Flame saw the combining of hydrogen peroxide and LNG(Liquid Natural Gas).
4. Spirit of America Sonic 1- United States (600 mph)
Craig Breedloves last attempt on the Bonneville Salt Flats on November 15, 1965. An updated version of his Spirit of America Sonic 1, he clocked an average speed of six hundred miles per hour using a turbojet engine.
5. Green Monster - United States (576 mph)
Art Arfons found himself on the Bonneville Salt Flats on November 07, 1965. Riding is turbojet propelled Green Monster for more time, he established a short-lived land speed record of 576 miles per hour. Art Arfons and his brother Walt built vehicles that varied, mostly dragsters and turbojet powered vehicles, thus the Green Monster.
6. Wingfoot Express - United States (415 mph)
The vehicle is a J46 jet powered car driven by Tom Green in 1965 at the Salt Flats in Bonneville. The Wingfoot Express is a product of the collaborative effort between Green and Walt Arfons.
7. Thunderbolt - United Kingdom (345 mph)
Using twin Rolls Royce R-Type V12 aero engine to drive this vehicle, Captain George Eyston set the record that stood 25 years. The record was set on August 28, 1938 at the Bonneville Salt Flats, one year later World War 2 started, thus the reason for the lull in between records.
8. Campbell-Railton Blue Bird - United Kingdom (301 mph)
With the Brits pushing the limits, the Blue Bird was powered by a 2,300 HP 36.7 litre supercharged Rolls Royce R V12 engine in setting the record at the time. Setting the record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in September of 1935, Malcolm Campbell was first to reach the 300mph mark for land locked vehicles.
The record set on March 11, 1929 was made by Henry Seagrave who holds the distinction of establishing both land and water speed records at the same time. A 925 hp, 23.9 litre naturally-aspirated Napier Lion W12 aero engine (ice cooling, no radiator) provided the push for this record setting run at Daytona Beach.
10. White Triplex Spirit of Elkdom - United States (207 mph)
Using three Liberty aero engines from the previous war, Ray Keech, an American, wrestled the record from the British hold of the Land Speed Record. Another run was made later on the same vehicle, but the man driving it, Lee Bible, died during his 2nd attempt.
