They've Done It!

BEAULIEU, UNITED KINGDOM – May 31, 2010: The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, major sponsors of Project Runningblade, congratulates the team on its success in setting a new world land speed record for a ride-on lawnmower at Pendine Sands on Sunday 23rd May.

Project Runningblade beat its own record set the day previously, and established a new world land speed record for lawnmowers at 87.833mph. This equates to the lawnmower, driven by Don Wales, nephew of Donald Campbell and grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell, covering the welsh beach at a rate of just under 130 feet per second.

Team Principal, Stephen Vokins said: “We are delighted to have set this new world record. It is a triumph of British engineering, and my thanks go to Countax for building this magnificent machine, to Beaulieu who have supported us so well from the outset, and to all our other sponsors who have helped us achieve this marvellous record.”

In support of this world record achievement, the National Motor Museum has sent one of its most popular exhibits, the 1920 350hp Sunbeam to the Museum of Speed at Pendine Sands where it will be on display until the 20th June. The Sunbeam, the original Bluebird, became the first car to break 150 mph, a record that Sir Malcolm Campbell achieved on Pendine Sands in 1925.

Taking its place in the National Motor Museum is ‘Babs’ the car in which John Parry Thomas set a new world land speed record at Pendine Sands in 1927. Sadly, during an attempt to improve on his new record, he was killed when ‘Babs’ skidded and rolled over.

Project Runningblade is now on display in the National Motor Museum beside a collection of legendary world land speed record cars including Donald Campbell’s Bluebird. It will remain in the museum when not required elsewhere for its victory tour to various events around the country, raising funds and awareness for the two charities the Project has supported, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Wessex Heartbeat.