Facts about The Land Speed Record
- 06
Craig Breedlove's Spirit of America achieved 966 kilometers per hour in 1963, becoming the first jet-powered vehicle to set the land speed record.
- 05
The Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah have hosted land speed record attempts since 1914 because the flat, hard-packed salt surface stretches over 30,000 acres with minimal friction.
- 04
Donald Campbell's Bluebird CN7 achieved 763 kilometers per hour in 1964, making it the last piston-engine vehicle to hold the land speed record before rocket and jet propulsion dominated the competition.
- 03
Andy Green piloted Bloodhound SSC to 1,287 kilometers per hour in 2022, setting the current land speed record in a vehicle powered by a jet engine and rocket motor combined.
- 02
Thrust2, driven by Gary Gabelich in 1965, set the land speed record at 970 kilometers per hour using a rocket engine powered by hydrogen peroxide.
- 01
Richard Noble's ThrustSSC reached 1,228 kilometers per hour in 1997, becoming the first land vehicle to break the sound barrier.