Henry Segrave - portrait

After the War Segrave had told the world that he would build a race car and drive it over the sands of Daytona Beach, Florida, at over two hundred miles an hour. The world thought the War had driven him mad.  On that very morning in March, 1927, he had rocketed his Mystery Sunbeam across one measured mile of Daytona sands at 203.79 miles an hour. That was the fastest any human being had ever traveled on land. A former fighter pilot in World War I, Segrave went on to become Britain's top motor racing driver of his era.  He was the first Briton to win a Grand Prix in a British car, winning the French and Spanish Grand's Prix in a Sunbeam.  He later went on to set the world land speed record, but was later killed setting the world water speed record.  

Henry Segrave in his Sunbeam 1,000 horsepower LSR car

After the War he joined the Sunbeam company. In March, 1927, he took his Mystery Sunbeam to Daytona, Florida, where he set a land speed record that amazed the world.

Having broken the 200 mph barrier, Major Henry Segrave drove the Golden Arrow to a new record speed of 231.446 mph (372.340 kph), again at Daytona Beach, Florida. What made this car unique is that it is on record as the least used car; having been driven a total of 18.74 miles.  Segrave was later knighted for his achievements. Sir Henry also attempted to capture the water speed record in his Miss England II when his boat hit a log in the water and capsized, killing Segrave and mechanic Victor Halliwell. (Picture of Segrave & Golden Arrow here.)  The competition between Campbell and Segrave brought down the 300 mph barrier.

Segrave's Sunbeams                                  March 29th 1927 207 mph

In the Spring of 1929 Henry shipped his famous racing car, the Golden Arrow, and his Miss England to Florida, on the same boat. With the Golden Arrow he set a new land speed of 231.36 miles an hour at Daytona Beach on March 11, 1929.

Sunbeam at Beaulieu  -  LSR car rear tail fin

Major Henry Segrave's 1000 horsepower Sunbeam 

Sir Henry Segrave is honored with a LSR flower display

The Segrave Trophy was established in 1930 to commemorate the life of Sir Henry Segrave. The Seagrave Trophy is awarded annually to a British subject who accomplishes the most outstanding demonstration of transportation by land, air or water. 

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