The first ever land-speed record was ostensibly established more than 100 years back, when in 1898, Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat of France drove an electric car (in Acheres near Paris) at a speed of 39.24 miles per hour. This flagged off the era of 'wheels' racing, when only wheel-powered vehicles were eligible. The 'wheel' racing era lasted till 1964, after which jet and rocket-propelled vehicles were allowed, and began the 'Unlimited Era'.

The Unlimited Era showed a dramatic increase in land speed records and the breaking of the sound barrier (Mach 1 - 748 miles per hour) now became a reality. The era spawned several car-teams aspiring only to break the Mach 1. Some of the notable landmarks are given below:

Year	Driver	Car	Venue	Speed (mph)
1964	Art Arfons (USA)	Green Monster	Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah	434.02
	Craig Breedlove (USA)	Spirit of America	Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah	468.72
	Art Arfons	Green Monster	Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah	536.71
1965	Craig Breedlove	Spirit of America (Sonic 1)	Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah	555.583
	Art Arfons	Green Monster	Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah	576.553
	Craig Breedlove	Spirit of America (Sonic 1)	Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah	600.601
1970	G. Gabliech (USA)	The Blue Flame	Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah	630.388
1983	Richard Noble (UK)	Thrust 2	Black Rock Desert, Nevada	633.46
1997	Andy Green	Thrust SSC	Black Rock Desert, Nevada	763.035 – Mach 1.02

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The Bluebird was the first car built strictly for breaking land speed record.
On Feb 4, 1927 - Malcolm Campbell of England, drove the Napier-Campbell Bluebird to 174.883 mph.

The Thrust SSC, driven by Andy Green and owned by Richard Noble, was the first land based vehicle to break the sound barrier on October 15th 1997, with a two way average of 763.035 mph


Cruising at
Mach 1.020