The land speed record (LSR) or absolute land speed record is the fastest speed ever reached by a person using a vehicle on land. In 1964, an agreement was made between the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the groups in charge of automobile and motorcycle racing. Both groups agree that the absolute LSR is the highest speed achieved in any of their categories. In 1963, the three-wheeled Spirit of America set an FIM-validated LSR. After that, all new LSRs have been set by vehicles in FIA Category C ("Special Vehicles") in either class JE (jet engine) or class RT (rocket powered).

FIA LSRs are officially measured and confirmed by its regional or national groups. Speed is measured on a course that is either 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) or 1 mile (1.6 kilometers). The speed is calculated as the average of two runs, called "passes," going in opposite directions within one hour. To be recognized as a new record, the speed must be at least 1% higher than the previous record.

History

Until 1829, the fastest way to travel on land was by horse. In 1829, railway speed records were set for the first time.

The Automobile Club de France became the first group to officially decide speed records for automobiles around 1902. Before 1924, different clubs had different rules and did not always agree on which records were valid. In 1924, the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR) created new rules for speed records. These rules included: two runs in opposite directions (to cancel the effect of wind), an average time of no more than 30 minutes (later increased) between runs, a track slope of no more than 1 percent, timing devices accurate to within 0.01 seconds, and cars must be powered by wheels. National or regional clubs, such as AAA and SCTA, had to join the AIACR for their records to be officially recognized. The AIACR changed its name to the FIA in 1947.

In 1963, controversy happened when the Spirit of America was not recognized as a record holder because it had three wheels. The FIA refused to accept it as a car, but the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) classified it as a motorcycle record. Because the Spirit of America was not wheel-driven, the FIA created a special category for jet and rocket-powered vehicles. Since then, no car that is wheel-driven has held the absolute speed record.

In the United States and Australia, speed record attempts often take place on salt flats. These cars are sometimes called "salt cars" because of the location where they are tested.

Women's land speed record

The FIA does not have separate men's and women's land speed records because these records are set using motorized vehicles, not vehicles powered by human strength. This means the driver's gender does not affect the record. However, some unofficial records for women have been reported for many years. These unofficial records began with Dorothy Levitt's 1906 speed record in Blackpool, England. Unlike the FIA and other racing groups, Guinness World Records does recognize land speed records based on the driver's gender.

In 1906, Dorothy Levitt set the women's world speed record for the flying kilometer, reaching a speed of 154 km/h (96 mph). She earned the nickname "Fastest Girl on Earth" for this achievement. Levitt drove a six-cylinder Napier motorcar, a 75 kW (100 hp) version of the K5, during a speed trial in Blackpool.

In 1963, Paula Murphy drove a Studebaker Avanti to 262 km/h (163 mph) at the Bonneville Salt Flats as part of Andy Granatelli's effort to set an overall record. In 1964, Goodyear Tire Company asked Murphy to improve her own record, which she did by reaching 364.31 km/h (226.37 mph) in Walt Arfons' jet dragster, the Avenger. In response, Firestone Tire Company and Art Arfons challenged Goodyear and Walt Arfons when Betty Skelton drove Art's Cyclops to a two-way average speed of 446.63 km/h (277.52 mph) in September 1965.

Five weeks later, Goodyear responded by supporting Lee Breedlove. A 1974 report confirmed that Lee Breedlove, the wife of then-record holder Craig Breedlove, set a record in 1965. She drove Craig's Spirit of America – Sonic I to a speed of 496.492 km/h (308.506 mph). According to author Rachel Kushner, Craig Breedlove encouraged Lee to attempt the record to use the salt flats and prevent a competitor from trying.

In 1976, Kitty O'Neil set the women's absolute speed record using a jet-powered, three-wheeled SMI Motivator at the Alvord Desert. Limited by her sponsor's contract and using only 60% of her car's power, O'Neil reached an average speed of 825.127 km/h (512.710 mph).

On October 9, 2013, driver Jessi Combs set the women's four-wheel land speed class record with a run of 632.40 km/h (392.954 mph) using a vehicle from the North American Eagle Project at the Alvord Desert. This broke Lee Breedlove's 48-year-old record. Combs continued working with the North American Eagle Project, which aimed to set the overall land speed record. During an attempt to improve the four-wheel record on August 27, 2019, Combs was killed. In late June 2020, the Guinness Book of Records confirmed that Combs' speed runs on August 27, 2019, met its requirements. She was posthumously credited with a record of 841.338 km/h (522.783 mph), making her the first person to break the record in 40 years.

Records

In September 1963, Craig Breedlove reached a speed of 407.447 miles per hour (655.722 km/h) in his vehicle, the Spirit of America. This record was not officially recognized at first because the vehicle did not meet FIA rules. The FIA had two concerns: the vehicle had only three wheels, and it was not wheel-driven, as its jet engine did not power the axles. Later, the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) created a category for non-wheel-driven vehicles and officially recognized the Spirit of America’s speed. On July 17, 1964, Donald Campbell drove the Bluebird CN7 on Lake Eyre, Australia, reaching 403.10 miles per hour (648.73 km/h). This became the official FIA land speed record, though Campbell was unhappy he did not surpass Breedlove’s time. In October 1964, several four-wheel jet cars exceeded the 1963 mark, but they were not eligible for official recognition by FIA or FIM. The confusion about three different land speed records continued until December 11, 1964, when FIA and FIM met in Paris and agreed to recognize the highest speed recorded by either organization, regardless of whether the vehicle was wheel-driven or not.