A History of the Land Speed Record

Back to the Brits
After years of dwindling interest in the record in Britain, businessman Richard Noble spent his every penny on Thrust 1, which he crashed. He then returned with the Rolls Royce Avon jet-powered Thrust 2, which he drove in 1980 to a British land speed record at RAF Greenham Common. Later, he made a name for himself at Black Rock with the official world record — a blistering 633.468 mph.

• Dream of Speed
• The Flats