# Land speed record

The land speed record (LSR) or absolute land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a person using a vehicle on land. By a 1964 agreement between the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), respective governing bodies for racing in automobiles and motorcycles (two or three wheels), both bodies recognise as the absolute LSR whatever is the highest speed record achieved across any of their various categories. While the three-wheeled Spirit of America set an FIM-validated LSR in 1963, all subsequent LSRs are by vehicles in FIA Category C ("Special Vehicles") in either class JE (jet engine) or class RT (rocket powered).
FIA LSRs are officiated and validated by its regional or national affiliate organizations. Speed measurement is standardized over a course measuring either 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) or 1 mile (1.6 km), averaged over two runs with flying start (commonly called "passes") going in opposite directions within one hour. A new record mark must exceed the previous one by at least one percent to be validated.

## History

Until 1829 the fastest land transport was by horse. Then, railway speed records were set.
The first automobile record regulator was the Automobile Club de France, which proclaimed itself arbiter of the record in about 1902.
Different clubs had different standards and did not always recognize the same world records until 1924, when the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR) introduced new regulations: two passes in opposite directions (to negate the effects of wind) averaged with a maximum of 30 minutes (later more) between runs, average gradient of the racing surface not more than 1 percent, timing gear accurate within 0.01sec, and cars must be wheel-driven. National or regional auto clubs (such as AAA and SCTA) had to be AIACR members to ensure records would be recognized. The AIACR became the FIA in 1947. Controversy arose in 1963: Spirit of America was not recognized due to its being a three-wheeler (leading the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme to certify it as a three-wheel motorcycle record when the FIA refused) and not wheel-driven so the FIA introduced a special jet and rocket propelled class. No holder of the absolute record since has been wheel-driven.
In the U.S. and Australia, record runs are often done on salt flats, so the cars are often called salt cars.

## Women's land speed record

The FIA does not recognize separate men's and women's land speed records, because the records are set using motorized vehicles, and not muscle-powered vehicles, so the gender of the driver does not matter; however, unofficial women's records have long been claimed, seemingly starting with Dorothy Levitt's 1906 record in Blackpool, England, and, unlike the FIA and other car-racing organisations, Guinness World Records does recognize gender-based land speed records.
In 1906, Dorothy Levitt broke the women's world speed record for the flying kilometer, recording a speed of 154 km/h (96 mph) and receiving the sobriquet the "Fastest Girl on Earth". She drove a six-cylinder Napier motorcar, a 75 kW (100 hp) development of the K5, in a speed trial in Blackpool.
In 1963, Paula Murphy drove a Studebaker Avanti to 262 km/h (163 mph) at the Bonneville Salt Flats as part of Andy Granatelli's attempt on the overall record. In 1964, she was asked by the tire company Goodyear to try to improve her own record, which she raised to 364.31 km/h (226.37 mph) in Walt Arfons's jet dragster Avenger. The rival tire company Firestone and Art Arfons hit back against Goodyear and Walt Arfons when Betty Skelton drove Art's Cyclops to achieve a two-way average of 446.63 km/h (277.52 mph) in September 1965.
Five weeks later, Goodyear hit back against Firestone with Lee Breedlove. While recordkeeping has not been as extensive, a report in 1974 confirmed that a record was held by Lee Breedlove, the wife of then overall record holder Craig Breedlove, who piloted her husband's Spirit of America – Sonic I to a record 496.492 km/h (308.506 mph) in 1965. According to author Rachel Kushner, Craig Breedlove had talked Lee into taking the car out for a record attempt in order to monopolize the salt flats for the day and block one of his competitors from making a record attempt.
In 1976, the women's absolute record was set by Kitty O'Neil, in the jet-powered, three-wheeled SMI Motivator, at the Alvord Desert. Held back by her contract with a sponsor and using only 60 percent of her car's power, O'Neil reached an average speed of 825.127 km/h (512.710 mph).
On October 9, 2013, driver Jessi Combs, in a vehicle of the North American Eagle Project running at the Alvord Desert, raised the women's four-wheel land speed class record with an official run of 632.40 km/h (392.954 mph), surpassing Breedlove's 48-year-old record. Combs continued with the North American Eagle Project, whose ongoing target is the overall land speed record; as part of that effort, Combs was killed, on August 27, 2019, during an attempt to raise the four-wheel record. In late June 2020, the Guinness Book of Records reclassified the August 27, 2019 speed runs as meeting its requirements, and Combs was posthumously credited with the record at 841.338 km/h (522.783 mph), noting she was the first to break the record in 40 years.

## Records
### 1898–1964 (wheel-driven)

| Date | Location | Driver | Vehicle | Power | Speed | Speed | Speed | Speed | Comments |
| Date | Location | Driver | Vehicle | Power | Over 1 km | Over 1 km | Over 1 mile | Over 1 mile | | Comments |
| Date | Location | Driver | Vehicle | Power | (mph) | (km/h) | (mph) | (km/h) | Comments |
| December 18, 1898 | Achères, France | Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat | Jeantaud Duc | Electric | 39.24 | 63.15 | | | Conducted over 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from a flying start. |
| January 17, 1899 | Achères, France | Camille Jenatzy | GCA Dogcart | Electric | 41.42 | 66.66 | | | |
| January 17, 1899 | Achères, France | Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat | Jeantaud Duc | Electric | 43.93 | 70.31 | | | |
| January 27, 1899 | Achères, France | Camille Jenatzy | GCA Dogcart | Electric | 49.93 | 80.35 | | | |
| March 4, 1899 | Achères, France | Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat | Jeantaud Duc Profilée | Electric | 57.65 | 92.78 | | | |
| April 29, 1899 | Achères, France | Camille Jenatzy | CITA No 25 La Jamais Contente | Electric | 65.79 | 105.88 | | | First purpose-designed land speed racer First record over 100 km/h (62 mph) |
| April 13, 1902 | Nice, France | Léon Serpollet | Gardner-Serpollet Œuf de Pâques (Easter Egg) | Steam | 75.06 | 120.80 | | | |
| August 5, 1902 | Ablis, France | William Kissam Vanderbilt II | Mors Z Paris-Vienne | Internal combustion | 76.03 | 122.438 | | | First internal combustion powered record |
| November 5, 1902 | Dourdan, France | Henri Fournier | Mors Z Paris-Vienne | Internal combustion V4, 9.2-litre, 60 bhp | 76.59 | 123.25 | | | |
| November 17, 1902 | Dourdan, France | Maurice Augières | Mors Z Paris-Vienne | Internal combustion | 77.13 | 124.13 | | | |
| July 17, 1903 | Ostend, Belgium | Arthur Duray | Gobron Brillié Paris-Madrid | Internal combustion | 83.46 | 132.32 | | | |
| November 5, 1903 | Dourdan, France | Arthur Duray | Gobron Brillié Paris-Madrid | Internal combustion | 84.73 | 136.35 | | | |
| January 12, 1904 | New Baltimore, United States | Henry Ford | Ford 999 Racer | Internal combustion | | | 91.37 | 147.05 | |
| March 31, 1904 | Nice, France | Louis Rigolly | Gobron-Brillié Paris-Madrid | Internal combustion | 94.78 | 152.53 | | | |
| May 25, 1904 | Ostend, Belgium | Pierre de Caters | Mercedes Simplex 90 | Internal combustion | 97.25 | 156.50 | | | |
| July 21, 1904 | Ostend, Belgium | Louis Rigolly | Gobron-Brillié Gordon Bennett | Internal combustion | 103.56 | 166.66 | | | First record over 100 mph (161 km/h), 2 months after City of Truro's. |
| November 13, 1904 | Ostend, Belgium | Paul Baras | Darracq Gordon Bennett | Internal combustion | 104.53 | 168.22 | | | |
| December 30, 1905 | Arles, France | Victor Hémery | Darracq Special | Internal combustion | 109.59 | 176.37 | | | |
| January 26, 1906 | Daytona Beach, United States | Fred Marriott | Stanley Rocket | Steam | 127.66 | 205.44 | | | First record over 200 km/h (124 mph). First faster than contemporary rail speed record. Fastest steam-powered land vehicle until 2009. |
| November 8, 1909 | Brooklands, United Kingdom | Victor Hémery | Benz No. 1 200 hp (150 kW) | Internal combustion: 21.5 L (1,310 cu in) inline-4 Benz engine | 125.94 | 202.68 | 115.93 | 186.57 | First run using electronic timing |
| June 24, 1914 | Brooklands, United Kingdom | Lydston Hornsted | Benz No. 3 200 hp (150 kW) | Internal combustion: 21.5 L (1,310 cu in) inline-4 Benz engine | — | — | 124.09 | 199.70 | First 2-way record, set at Brooklands under new Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR) 2-way rule |
| May 17, 1922 | Brooklands, United Kingdom | Kenelm Lee Guinness | Sunbeam 350HP | V12, single ohc, 18.3 litre, 350 b.h.p. engine | 133.75 | 215.25 | | | The third and last time the record was set at Brooklands |
| July 6, 1924 | Arpajon, France | René Thomas | Délage | Internal combustion, V12, ohv, 10.6 litre, 280 bhp engine | | | 143.31 | 230.634 | |
| July 12, 1924 | Arpajon, France | Ernest Eldridge | FIAT Mephistopheles | Internal combustion: 21.7 L (1,320 cu in) inline-6 FIAT A.12 aero engine | — | — | 145.89 | 234.98 | Fastest land speed record ever on a public road |
| September 25, 1924 | Pendine, United Kingdom | Malcolm Campbell | Sunbeam 350HP | Internal combustion: 18.3 L (1,120 cu in) V12 Sunbeam aero engine | — | — | 146.16 | 235.22 | First land speed record by Malcolm Campbell |
| July 21, 1925 | Pendine, United Kingdom | Malcolm Campbell | Sunbeam 350HP | Internal combustion: 18.3 L (1,120 cu in) V12 Sunbeam aero engine | — | — | 150.87 | 242.8 | First person to travel on land at over 150 mph (241 km/h) |
| March 16, 1926 | Ainsdale beach at Southport, United Kingdom | Henry Segrave | Ladybird | Internal combustion: a 4-litre Sunbeam Tiger | | | 152.33 | 245.15 | |
| April 27, 1926 | Pendine, United Kingdom | J. G. Parry-Thomas | Babs | Internal combustion: 27 L (1,600 cu in) V12 Liberty L-12 aero engine | 169.29 | 270.864 | 168.74 | 269.984 | |
| April 28, 1926 | Pendine, United Kingdom | J. G. Parry-Thomas | Babs | Internal combustion: 27 L (1,600 cu in) V12 Liberty L-12 aero engine | 172.09 | 275.341 | 171.69 | 274.590 | |
| February 4, 1927 | Pendine, United Kingdom | Malcolm Campbell | Napier-Campbell Blue Bird | Internal combustion: 22.3 L (1,360 cu in) W12 Napier Lion aero engine | — | — | 174.88 | 281.44 | |
| March 29, 1927 | Daytona Beach, United States | Henry Segrave | Mystery (aka "Sunbeam 1000 hp") | Internal combustion: 2 × 22.4 L (1,370 cu in) V12 Sunbeam Matabele aero engines | 203.79 | 327.97 | | | The first car to reach a speed over 200 mph (320 km/h) |
| February 19, 1928 | Daytona Beach, United States | Malcolm Campbell | Napier-Campbell Blue Bird | Internal combustion: 23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion aero engine | 206.956 | 333.048 | | | |
| April 22, 1928 | Daytona Beach, United States | Ray Keech | Triplex Special | Internal combustion: 3 × 27 L (1,600 cu in) V12 Liberty L-12 aero engines | 207.552 | 334.007 | | | |
| March 11, 1929 | Daytona Beach, United States | Henry Segrave | Golden Arrow | Internal combustion: 23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion aero engine | 231.446 | 372.459 | | | Segrave was knighted for this effort |
| February 5, 1931 | Daytona Beach, United States | Malcolm Campbell | Campbell-Napier-Railton Blue Bird | Internal combustion: 23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion supercharged aero engine | 246.09 | 396.025 | | | Campbell was knighted for this effort |
| February 24, 1932 | Daytona Beach, United States | Malcolm Campbell | Campbell-Napier-Railton Blue Bird | Internal combustion: 23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion supercharged aero engine | 253.97 | 408.73 | | | First 250 mph (400 km/h) pass. |
| February 22, 1933 | Daytona Beach, United States | Malcolm Campbell | Campbell-Railton Blue Bird | Internal combustion: 36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engine | 272.46 | 438.48 | | | |
| March 7, 1935 | Daytona Beach, United States | Malcolm Campbell | Campbell-Railton Blue Bird | Internal combustion: 36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engine | 276.816 | 445.472 | | | |
| September 3, 1935 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | Malcolm Campbell | Campbell-Railton Blue Bird | Internal combustion: 36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engine | 301.129 | 484.598 | | | First 300 mph (480 km/h) pass, first absolute record set at Bonneville |
| November 19, 1937 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | George Eyston | Thunderbolt | Internal combustion: 2 × 36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engines | 311.42 | 501.16 | | | |
| August 27, 1938 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | George Eyston | Thunderbolt | Internal combustion: 2 × 36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engines | 345.49 | 556.012 | | | |
| September 15, 1938 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | John Cobb | Railton | Internal combustion: 2 × 23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion supercharged aero engines | 350.2 | 563.566 | | | |
| September 16, 1938 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | George Eyston | Thunderbolt | Internal combustion: 2 × 36.7 L (2,240 cu in) V12 Rolls-Royce R supercharged aero engines | 357.5 | 575.314 | | | |
| August 23, 1939 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | John Cobb | Railton Special | Internal combustion: 2 × 23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion supercharged aero engines | 369.74 | 595.04 | 367.91 | 592.091 | |
| September 16, 1947 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | John Cobb | Railton Mobil Special | Internal combustion: 2 × 23.9 L (1,460 cu in) W12 Napier Lion supercharged aero engines | 394.196 | 634.397 | 394.19 | 634.39 | First single pass at over 400 mph (402 mph) |
| July 17, 1964 | Lake Eyre, Australia | Donald Campbell | Bluebird CN7 | Turboshaft: 1 × 4,000 hp (3,000 kW) Bristol Proteus gas turbine | | | 403.10 | 648.73 | Last wheel driven absolute record. |

### 1963–present (jet and rocket propulsion)

Craig Breedlove's mark of 407.447 miles per hour (655.722 km/h), set in Spirit of America in September 1963, was initially considered unofficial. The vehicle breached the FIA regulations on two grounds: it had only three wheels, and it was not wheel-driven, since its jet engine did not supply power to its axles. Some time later, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) created a non-wheel-driven category, and ratified Spirit of America's time for this mark. On July 17, 1964, Donald Campbell's Bluebird CN7 posted a speed of 403.10 miles per hour (648.73 km/h) on Lake Eyre, Australia. This became the official FIA LSR, although Campbell was disappointed not to have beaten Breedlove's time. In October, several four-wheel jet-cars surpassed the 1963 mark, but were eligible for neither FIA nor FIM ratification. The confusion of having three different LSRs lasted until December 11, 1964, when the FIA and FIM met in Paris and agreed to recognize as an absolute LSR the higher speed recorded by either body, by any vehicles running on wheels, whether wheel-driven or not.
| Date | Location | Driver | Vehicle | Power | Speed | Speed | Speed | Speed | Comments |
| Date | Location | Driver | Vehicle | Power | Over 1 km | Over 1 km | Over 1 mile | Over 1 mile | | Comments |
| Date | Location | Driver | Vehicle | Power | (mph) | (km/h) | (mph) | (km/h) | Comments |
| August 5, 1963 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | Craig Breedlove | Spirit of America | Turbojet | | | 407.447 | 655.722 | Initially considered unofficial since the vehicle had 3 wheels. Later ratified by FIM. |
| October 2, 1964 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | Tom Green | Wingfoot Express | Turbojet | | | 413.2 | 665.0 | |
| October 5, 1964 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | Art Arfons | Green Monster | Turbojet | | | 434.03 | 698.50 | |
| October 13, 1964 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | Craig Breedlove | Spirit of America | Turbojet | | | 468.719 | 754.330 | |
| October 15, 1964 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | Craig Breedlove | Spirit of America | Turbojet | | | 526.277 | 846.961 | |
| October 27, 1964 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | Art Arfons | Green Monster | Turbojet | | | 536.710 | 863.751 | |
| November 2, 1965 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | Craig Breedlove | Spirit of America – Sonic 1 | Turbojet | 555.485 | 893.966 | 555.485 | 893.966 | |
| November 7, 1965 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | Art Arfons | Green Monster | Turbojet | 576.553 | 927.872 | 576.553 | 927.872 | |
| November 15, 1965 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | Craig Breedlove | Spirit of America – Sonic 1 | Turbojet | 594 | 955.950 | 600.601 | 966.574 | First thrust powered record to be ratified by the FIA |
| October 23, 1970 | Bonneville Salt Flats, United States | Gary Gabelich | Blue Flame | Rocket | 630.478 | 1014.656 | 622.407 | 1001.667 | |
| October 4, 1983 | Black Rock Desert, United States | Richard Noble | Thrust2 | Turbojet: 1 × Rolls-Royce Avon | 634.051 | 1020.406 | 633.47 | 1019.47 | |
| September 25, 1997 | Black Rock Desert, United States | Andy Green | ThrustSSC | Turbofan: 2 × Rolls-Royce Spey | 713.990 | 1149.055 | 714.144 | 1149.303 | |
| October 15, 1997 | Black Rock Desert, United States | Andy Green | ThrustSSC | Turbofan: 2 × Rolls-Royce Spey | 760.343 | 1223.657 | 763.035 | 1227.986 | First to break the speed of sound |