#186 Vampire: Resurrecting Britain’s Fastest Car

On 20 September 2006 Richard Hammond raced down the Elvington airfield in Vampire, the jet-powered dragster that still holds the British land speed record. Hammond was travelling at 288mph (464km/h) when one of the car’s tyres unexpectedly blew, flipping the vehicle onto its back. Although seriously injured, Hammond escaped with his life. The Vampire itself was a wreck, dominating the front pages of newspapers around the world. But behind all of this is an incredible engineering story that goes back to the origins of modern motorsport. In this episode we will trace the origins of the car, and follow a new team’s effort to resurrect the Vampire. Guests John Clayton, co-owner, Vampire Syndicate Phil Davies, co-owner, Vampire Syndicate Joy Hoyle, co-owner and accountant, Vampire Syndicate Andrew Hurdle, original developer and racerThe post #186 Vampire: Resurrecting Britain’s Fastest Car first appeared on Engineering Matters.