|
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-Laubat
|
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
|
France
|
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
|
United
Kingdom
|
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
|
United
Kingdom
|
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
|
United
Kingdom
|
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
|
United
Kingdom
|
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
|
United
Kingdom
|
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
|
United
Kingdom
|
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
|
United
Kingdom
|
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
|
United
Kingdom
|
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
|
United
Kingdom
|
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
|
United
Kingdom
|
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
|
United
Kingdom
|
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
|
|
|
Jan
7 2011
|
HMAS
Albatross
|
Barton Mawer
|
UK
|
UNSW
Sunswift
|
Solar
|
|
88.5
kph
|
|
|
October
14 2011
|
Bonneville
|
Jim
Burkdoll
|
USA
|
Electric
Blue
|
Class
E1
|
|
155.799
mph
|
Under
500Kg
|
|
Poss
2013
|
Australia
|
Rosco
McGlashan
|
Australia
|
Aussie
Invader
|
Gas
turbine
|
|
Est
1,000 mph
|
To be FIA recognised
|
|
Poss
2013
|
S.
Africa
|
Andy
Green
|
UK
|
Bloodhound
|
Gas
turbine & rocket
|
|
Est
1,000 mph
|
To be FIA recognised
|
Please
note: Disputed records are on a lighter grey background. Planned
attempts/projects are signified by a dark blue background.
While
we consider most of the information above is accurate, please do not consider it as an absolute reference.
SAXON
BULLET - This was the starting point for the Saxon-Bullet land
speed record project. The car will use a 'Highlander' hydrogen
battery as a cartridge that can be swapped in minutes for
rapid smart refuelling - the idea being to promote zero carbon
transportation with comprehensive EV infrastructure support as Smart
Service Stations that can also support conventional lithium
batteries in a universal
cartridge format. This car is designed to tackle the LSR for hydrogen
powered land vehicles.
SMART-CHARGER
- Potentially the world's fastest electric car
powered by hydrogen energy cartridges and fuel
cells. This streamliner is
theoretically capable of a shade over 400mph using the
latest production electric motors. She is designed to beat Ford's
207mph, at
Pendine Sands in the UK and then 350mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the
USA, so giving the Buckeye Bullet
2 hydrogen team a run for their money.
Featuring built in energy cartridge refuelling, as per the Automated
and Electric Vehicle Act 2018, and charged using renewable
solar energy. A project to celebrate
the banning of petrol
and diesel
cars in Europe and the UK from 2030 - fingers crossed.
|
