Noble Smashes Land Speed Record: 633 MPH Achieved
Richard Noble pushed Thrust2 to 633.468 mph across Nevada's Black Rock Desert on October 4, 1983, reclaiming the land speed record for Britain after 19 years of American dominance. The car was powered by a single Rolls-Royce Avon jet engine from a Lightning fighter aircraft, producing 17,000 pounds of thrust. Noble had built the project on a shoestring budget with volunteer labor, scrounging parts from junkyards and military surplus. The previous record of 622 mph had been set by Gary Gabelich in 1970. Noble's achievement lasted 14 years until his own protege, Andy Green, broke it in Thrust SSC, the first car to officially exceed the speed of sound at 763 mph on the same desert in 1997. Noble organized both record-breaking cars.
October 4, 1983
43 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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