Fastest
jet-powered street luge-world record set by 'Tea Tray'
[Aug
31] METHERINGHAM, UK-- The world land speed record for a jet-powered
street luge has been smashed thanks to an engine designed by a Metheringham
firm.
The Nimbus H80 engine was created and built by Metheringham
firm Heward.
The powerful jet engine managed to get the street
luge - a sled shaped like a tea tray - up to a top speed of 114mph,
smashing the previous record of 98mph.
Joel King (27), an IT worker from Bognor Regis,
West Sussex, praised the jet engine, normally used for powering
military aircraft, for giving him such a smooth and fast ride.
"The engine performed beautifully and did everything
it needed to do," he said.
"The thought of going that speed does scare you
but I was so focused on what I was doing that I had to put the fear
to the back of my mind."
The record was taken as an average top speed of two
runs along the two-and-a-half mile stretch. On the first run Mr
King reached 110mph and on the second he reached 114mph. This gave
him an average top speed of 112mph.