Thrust 2's Richard Noble to mark 40th anniversary of land speed record at Coventry Transport Museum celebration
The man who was at the wheel when the land speed record was broken 40 years ago will be celebrating its special anniversary at an event in Coventry.
Richard Noble, who was driving Thrust 2 as it rocketed to 633mph in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada in 1983, will be reunited with the vehicle in a 40th anniversary event at Coventry Transport Museum on Wednesday, October 4.
Noble, who was not only in the driving seat for the Thrust 2 project but also an influential force behind the scenes, will be joined by the engineers who helped break the record for a Q&A session at 1pm followed by a book signing at 2.15pm.
Thrust 2 is in permanent residence at Coventry Transport Museum’s Land Speed Gallery in addition to Thrust SSC, which Noble was influential in helping to break the sound barrier as pilot Andy Green reached 763mph in 1997.
Noble said: “I’m thrilled the British Project Thrust team will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of breaking the FIA transonic World Land Speed Record at Coventry Transport Museum.
“The FIA World Land Speed Record is the preeminent motor sport challenge event requiring extraordinary levels of innovative research and team professionalism.
“Operating in the dangerous transonic/supersonic speed range, such is the level of risk that driver survival is not assured.
“Unusually in motor sport events, success is dependent on the qualities of the team members and not on financial muscle, so the Thrust 2 record was a considerable achievement.
“The project was a new team with no money and starting from an almost zero experience base. The team had to work its way through American weather challenges, financial challenges and a 300mph accident during UK testing.
“Despite this, the car achieved its design speed which made it one of the most successful land speed record cars of all time.”
Steve Spencer, Venue Manager at the Coventry Transport Museum, said: “Thrust 2 is one of our star attractions which brings visitors from all over the world to the museum.
“The 40th anniversary of the record is a brilliant opportunity to celebrate such an important engineering achievement, and we’re thrilled Richard Noble and the Thrust 2 team will be joining us in our Land Speed Gallery to mark the occasion.
“I am sure there will be some fascinating insights shared about the project and the day the record was broken.”
The event is included within museum admission but visitors will need to book their place separately to avoid disappointment as places are limited.
Admission to the museum can be booked online at www.transport-museum.com. Entry is free for GoCV card holders.
Places for the Thrust 2 40th anniversary event must be booked at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/thrust-2-40th-anniversary-talk-tickets-721138874787
Visitors will also be able to treated to reduced entry prices for the 4D Land Speed Record Simulator.
