The New Zealand land speed record has been reset today after a record-breaking run at RNZAF Base Ohakea.
Sergeant Dean Hart’s home-built turbine propelled drag car beat the ‘flying mile’ record that had been held by Owen Evans since 1996.
Hart’s machine revolves around a former American top fuel dragster which produces 3400 pounds of thrust from a turbine engine out of a retired RNZAF BAC Strikemaster.
To set the record, the car had to complete a run in both directions within an hour to take account of any wind before having both speeds averaged out.
Hart’s first run was clocked at 213.258mph, falling short of the Evans’ record of 216.385mph, before setting an incredible 251.046mph in his second attempt to beat the former record.
If that wasn’t enough success for Hart, he also broke the ‘flying kilometre’ record in progress.
His second attempt of 402.280kph was enough to eclipse Eddie Freeman’s record set in 2012.
The top speed reached during Hart’s run was 458kph.
Hart then revealed after the run that “the engine actually has an afterburner on it which gives an additional 50% thrust which we didn’t use.”
So, there was every opportunity for Hart to beat his own record.
But when asked if he would attempt to go even fasted, Hart replied “nope! That’s me done for land speed record attempts.”
Watch Hart’s record run below:
