On 20 September 2006 Richard Hammond raced down the Elvington airfield in Vampire, the jet-powered dragster that still holds the British land speed record. Hammond was travelling at 288mph (464km/h) when one of the car’s tyres unexpectedly blew, flipping the vehicle onto its back.

Although seriously injured, Hammond escaped with his life. The Vampire itself was a wreck, dominating the front pages of newspapers around the world.

But behind all of this is an incredible engineering story that goes back to the origins of modern motorsport. In this episode we will trace the origins of the car, and follow a new team’s effort to resurrect the Vampire.

Guests

John Clayton, co-owner, Vampire Syndicate

Phil Davies, co-owner, Vampire Syndicate

Joy Hoyle, co-owner and accountant, Vampire Syndicate

Andrew Hurdle, original developer and racer

The post #186 Vampire: Resurrecting Britain’s Fastest Car first appeared on Engineering Matters.