WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD BEATEN BY BRITISH STEAM CAR AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY

It stood there for over a century – the 127mph world land speed record that American Fred Marriot had managed in 1906. It was however at the Edwards air base, in the Mojave Desert, yesterday August 25 that the British made steam car toppled the long standing record bettering it to 139.843mph (225.06km/h). Driven by Charles Burnett III, the 25-foot-long, three-tonne 'kettle' had to be driven two ways to set the record. Charles managed to clock 136.103mph (219.04km/h) on the first run and 151.085mph (243.15 km/h) on the second, and thus averaging a total of 139.843mph earned a new world land speed record to his team’s name. The record breaking steam car will be placed at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire.