Wednesday 20th September 2006

The current record holder of the British Land Speed record is Vampire, driven by Collin Fallows, who hit a speed of 300.3 mph on July 5, 2000. Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond drove the same car faster on this day at the former RAF Elvington airfield near York. He reached a speed of 314 mph on his second of three laps, the third lap resulting in a crash that almost cost him his life. However, due to the rules requiring a second run to be taken in the opposite direction and the need for an official to be present, Hammond was not awarded the record.