Great Read: Golden era of Land Speed Records

The fast show | View in browser FROM OUR ARCHIVE, DECEMBER 2022 | SIMON ARRON Great Read: Golden era of the land speed record – before the jet age 125 years ago this week, the very first automotive land speed record was set at a heady 39.2mph. Sixty years ago, the record entered the jet age. In today's Great Read, Simon Arron rewinds to a golden age of pre-1963 wheel-driven power – hasty cars designed to make waves The noble art of chasing land-speed records is approaching the 60th anniversary of a significant crossroads. On August 5, 1963, Craig Breedlove's jet-powered Spirit of America was clocked at 407.447mph across the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. It wasn't the first time 400mph had been exceeded on land – 16 years earlier, John Cobb's Railton Mobil Special had managed a single 403mph run – but Breedlove was first to record it as a two-way average... READ MORE PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES F1 | MATT BISHOP The remarkable Jacques Villeneuve and his career-wrecking F1 decision      Jacques Villeneuve's searing F1 debut was a prelude to a scintillating run where he dispatched distinguished opponents and won the title. But then, writes Matt Bishop, he made one bad decision that he never recovered from READ MORE F1 PODCAST Podcast: 2023 F1 season review with Brundle, Hughes and Smith      An F1 season for the record books: Mark Hughes, Alex Brundle and Damien Smith look back on 2023 LISTEN NOW BEST DRIVER 24 Hours left to vote! Choose the best F1 driver of 2023 for a chance to win £1900 Goodwood tickets Can you see past Max Verstappen as the best F1 driver of 2023? The Dutchman was certainly dominant in 2023, but there were a full list of fine performers in the trailing field, who all had incredible seasons.  Help us decide who was the best of the bunch by voting now and you'll be entered into a draw for two Goodwood Season Tickets, giving you access to every day of next year's Members' Meeting, Festival of Speed and Revival — plus grandstand access. VOTE NOW SHOP PROMOTION Motor Sport shop: Bestsellers Official Motor Sport Magazine 100 Years Calendar | 2024 Build a Porsche 911 | Advent Calendar | Christmas Gift Benetton | The Rebels of Formula 1 | Signed by Damien Smith Formula 1 - Las Vegas Grand Prix - City of Lights - 2023 Binder | Racing Green | Motor Sport Jenson Button Signed | Full Size Brawn GP Helmet Share this newsletter: Stay up to date  Update your preferences to select the content you wish to receive.   UPDATE NOW  Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy. Motor Sport magazine, 18-20 Rosemont Road, London, NW3 6NE Company no. 05471049, Vat no. 871 544 60