Two jet-powered cars are to go head to head in Gloucestershire in a bid to break the British land speed record. The current record is held by Colin Fallows, 54, from Northampton, in his Gnat jet powered dragster - Vampire - which reached 300.3mph in 2000. At RAF Fairford on Friday, he will attempt to break his record, but will face competition. | (insert big radio voice) "Friday, Friday, Friday! At Fairford Dragway, a Jet-Powered Monster Car showdown! Vampire vs Split Second! Feel six thousand pounds of thrust shake the ground as they break three hundred miles per hour! Be There!" |
Split Second, driven by Mark Newby, 48, from Oxford, is powered by a Rolls-Royce Viper engine. The engine comes from a commercial jet, putting out more than 6,000lb of thrust. The record attempt is being organised by Primetime Land Speed Engineering.
Team manager Malcolm Pittwood said: "We have been allowed to use one of, if not the, longest runways in the UK. "The signs are good that the cars will both break 300mph and we will achieve a new top speed." There will also be an attempt at Fairford, to break the 138mph record for an electric car. |