Driver clocks more than 720km/h to break land speed record

An American race car driver has realised a life-long dream after breaking the land speed record with a staggering top speed of more than 720km/h.

Danny Thompson, 69, smashed the record for piston-powered, wheel-driven vehicles on land after a two-way average run of 448.757 mph (722km/h) at the Southern California Timing Association Speed Week event.

The special moment was 50 years in the making for Thompson, whose father first brought the Challenger II vehicle to Utah in 1968 for a crack at the record, with bad weather preventing him from doing so.

Tragically, the elder Thompson and his wife were both murdered in 1988 by gunmen hired by a former business associate and never got a chance to see their dream come to fruition.

Danny only brought the car out a four years ago to restore it, before deciding to have another crack and subsequently smashing the land speed record.

“We did it!” Thompson posted on the team’s website after breaking the record.

“On Sunday morning, eight years of hard work culminated in a 450.909-mph return run. Averaged with yesterday’s speed of 446.605 mph, we achieved a new two-way AA/FS record of 448.757 mph, enough to make us the world’s fastest piston-powered car.”

Thomson’s efforts easily eclipsed the previous record set in 2012 of 707.406 km/h (439.562 mp/h).

It wasn’t all smooth sailing (so to speak) for Thompson, who revealed afterwards that he had to steer out of trouble while travelling in excess of 690km/h.

“It got a little squirrely,” Thompson said.

“I was almost lock to lock at around 430 mph, which was quite an experience.”

Thompson said he felt an overwhelming sense of pride to be able to achieve something his father had set out to accomplish five decades ago.

“This year’s Speed Week marked the 50th anniversary of the Challenger II’s construction,” Thompson said.

“In 1968, my dad, the mad scientists at Kar Kraft and an elite group of Southern California gearheads created a vehicle that they believed had the potential to become the world’s fastest hot rod.

“It took five decades, a lot of elbow grease, and a few modifications, but I feel like I’ve finally been able to fulfill their dream, as well as my own.

“Thanks guys. I share today’s record with all of you.”