Speed Record cars since the 1980s

Cars breaking speed records since the 80’s

Since the invention of cars, people have continually tried to break the existing speed records. Back in the early days of cars, this was a much easier task than it was today, as some vehicles could barely go faster than 20 miles per hour. However, since the 1980s, the task of breaking the speed records have become much harder. Every year, people try to break the record held by vehicles in the past. Some vehicles focus on surpassing the top land speed of any vehicle, while others try to break the top speed record from a certain type of vehicle. No matter how it is done, the process of breaking speed records is extremely fascinating.

ThrustSSC
Top Speed: 771 mph 
As of 2013, the fastest land vehicle is the ThrustSSC. This car is powered by jet fuel and was the first car to break the sound barrier. The car is powered by two Rolls Royce Spey jet engines that gave the car over 50,000 pounds of thrust. This is 91 times the legal power limit of street vehicles. The car was able to accelerate from 0 to 600 miles per hour in less than 16 seconds. Surprisingly enough, this car was able to have a real driver without causing lasting injury.

Thrust 2
Top Speed: 650.88 mph 
Before the ThrustSSC, the manned automotive speed record was held by the Thrust 2. This vehicle held the record from 1982 to 1997. This car was much like the ThrustSSC, but had one jet engine only. The car was fast enough to break the previous speed record of 608 miles per hour, but it could not break the sound barrier. The Thrust 2 was driven by Richard Noble.

Bugatti Veyron
Top Speed: 252 mph
The Bugatti Veyron is the fastest and most powerful production car in existence. This vehicle has a W16 1001 horsepower engine. The car was manufactured and designed by the Volkswagen Group and is manufactured in France. Special brakes help this vehicle slow down more efficiently than other vehicles on the road. Because of its incredible top speed, this vehicle is illegal to drive on many roads around the world.

Top 1 Oil Ack Attack
Top speed: 360 mph
The Top 1 Oil Ack Attack is currently the fastest motorcycle in the world. In 2008, it shattered the speed record for fastest motorcycle traveling at 360 miles per hour. The motorcycle looks nothing like a traditional motorcycle, and resembles nothing so much as a torpedo. The Ack Attack is powered by 900 hp 2600cc Suzuki Twin Hayabusa engines. Although the vehicle is owned by Mike Akatiff, the record-breaking driver was Rocky Robinson.

All of these cars and vehicles show how serious some people are about breaking speed records. Most of these vehicles cost millions of dollars to build and test, and few are successful at breaking the previously-held speed records. However, as long as there are records to break, there will be people who try to break those records. That is just part of human nature.

Writer Biography
This is a Guest Post by Nate Miller. Occasional guest poster on car repairing and full time car enthusiast. Nate currently represents Directfitautoparts the number one source online to find automotive Car Truck & SUV headlights.