|
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
|
| |