British lawnmower rider sets another speed record

The unique jet-red machine hit 86.069mph on Saturday, adding almost 6mph to a previous top lawnmower speed set in America four years before. On Sunday afternoon, rider Don Wales topped the new record time he set himself just 24 hours before with an impressive speed of 87.833mph.

It meant the historic Pendine Sands venue, in west Wales, witnessed two world records on consecutive days over the weekend. But the hoped-for target of speeding through the 100mph barrier across a mile-long section of beach remains elusive.

''We are very excited and very pleased to have beaten our own record today '' said Clare Hansley-Boyd, a spokeswoman for the British team.

''We have finished the weekend world record holders and have improved on Saturday's speed so we are happy with that.''

She said sand conditions meant the going was relatively slow today and the record attempt was also hampered by head winds. But a triumphant Mr Wales was cheered by a crowd on Sunday, many of whom had waited all day to witness the record.

Similar scenes greeted his attempt yesterday when he surpassed the previous record of 80.792mph set by American Bob Cleveland at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, in 2006. Rider Mr Wales is no stranger to speed as a grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell, who broke the world land speed record, in a car, at the same historic venue in 1924.

The Bluebird, the classic car he drove more than eight decades ago, was on show at the Welsh Museum of Speed at the site. The new record was set after an afternoon of meticulous preparations which included course inspections and test drives. Once all preparations are complete a record attempt takes place over a measured mile in one direction with the driver returning within an hour.

Challengers also have to ensure that the machine used to make the record attempt is built primarily from lawnmower parts. Proof that it is a genuine lawnmower also has to be shown before the attempt gets going with a public grass cutting demonstration.

The world record weekend was dreamed up by the National Motor Museum (NMM) in Beaulieu, Hampshire, which is normally home to the Bluebird. It code-named its plan to seize the speed record from America as Project Runningblade. While that plan has proved successful whether or not a new attempt to smash the 100mph barrier will be mounted is unknown.

''The team is very tired after the efforts they have put in over the weekend,'' Mrs Hansley-Boyd said.

"It is a bit early to say where we will be going from here but I think the 100mph target is something that everyone will be aiming at for the future."


/Telegraph.co.uk/