RE: Toby tops 177 mph -- blindfolded
Wednesday 15th September 2004
Toby tops 177 mph -- blindfolded
Beats previous record by over 30 mph
Toby Holland from Somerset has beated the accompanied blindfolded land speed record with an average top speed over two runs of 177.71 mph. He broke the previous record by 30.16 mph in a special V12 7.3 litre-powered Mercedes SL formerly owned by the Sultan of Brunei.
Organised by Taunton-based organisation Record Breaker, the record breaking drive took place near York at Elvington airfield's two mile runway. Toby said "I could not have done this record without Record Breakers resident F1 trainer Mathew Mortlock. He's kept me focused and pointed in the right direction. I was delighted to learn I'd beaten the previous record by more than 30mph and beaten 17 other Record Breakers challengers on the day."
Entry is free for the next challenge for anybody wishing to attend the F1 and motorcycle challenges, on 29 and 30 September. In October 2004, Record Breakers will be challenging people to take on the new Toby Holland Challenge, in a Ferrari F40 at Elvington - dates yet to be confirmed.
For more information call Record Breakers on 0870 224 2245 and visit the Web site here.
Discussion
out of their guide dogs record atempt is still very much alive - myself and Mrs Nightmare will also be attempting this on Sept 29th/30th. Should be able to crush 177 *grin*
Matt - in what way have you found it poorly organised? (genuinely interested...was personally quite surprised to find out that a number of challenges had a chance to dry run it blindfold in the Merc, and I hadnt even heard about it!)
Matt - in what way have you found it poorly organised? (genuinely interested...was personally quite surprised to find out that a number of challenges had a chance to dry run it blindfold in the Merc, and I hadnt even heard about it!)
matt_c said:
Nightmare - this is the first I have heard of it too!
The whole thing has been poorly organised - Right from the start when I was told we would get our £200 registration fee back upon completion, to sponsors being allowed to have a trip in a Ferrari on the day (now not happening), to being told about a practice session with only 3 days notice (maybe this was the Merc, or was it the Ferrari, or the F1 car!!??!!)(I do work and need notice for holidays!!), and most recently - they still can not tell me what colour F1 car is being used, so I can not instruct sponsors for getting decals made!!
Also Iwas told the Gov tax would help towards the £2500 required, 2 days ago this story changed - thanks for the notice RB!! I now have £400 to raise in 10 days!
It goes on..............
Matt
i can only echo this. i wasnt going to post about this but I pulled out for the same reason. I somehow got a bad feeling about it all due to various phonecalls with them. i won't go on but you get the gyst.
I'm also doing the event on the 30th sept, little bit worried about the whole event. The sponsorship amount needed has changed & the whole event doesnt seem very well organised.
I went on this day, last wednesday, it was great fun, but had been promised a go in a 360CS. Got there only to find Matthew Morlock's SL, which we were meant to be practising in, on the 30th Sept. Also we were promised 45 mins training in the car, but I'd be lucky if I'd had 10 mins. The SL was struggling, apparently the rear axle was about to give, the brakes couldnt cope & the engine / gearbox had to be used to brake. The blindfold part was a load of gaffa tape over a visor, and the visor was pulled down when you reached the measured mile. By this time you were doing near on 160mph if not more. So had to keep it straight for about 20 seconds.
The GPS device being used was a Road Angel, so no idea how such an accurate speed was measured. There were no members of Guiness WR there. Toby ran just before I did, and managed a top speed of 177, I was informed there would be no more runs throughout the day, so no idea whether he had a 2nd chance to run or not.
Bit worried about the actual event in the F1 car, as we'll be starting from standstill & the methods used keep being changed. Just hope you can hear the radio sufficiently!
I went on this day, last wednesday, it was great fun, but had been promised a go in a 360CS. Got there only to find Matthew Morlock's SL, which we were meant to be practising in, on the 30th Sept. Also we were promised 45 mins training in the car, but I'd be lucky if I'd had 10 mins. The SL was struggling, apparently the rear axle was about to give, the brakes couldnt cope & the engine / gearbox had to be used to brake. The blindfold part was a load of gaffa tape over a visor, and the visor was pulled down when you reached the measured mile. By this time you were doing near on 160mph if not more. So had to keep it straight for about 20 seconds.
The GPS device being used was a Road Angel, so no idea how such an accurate speed was measured. There were no members of Guiness WR there. Toby ran just before I did, and managed a top speed of 177, I was informed there would be no more runs throughout the day, so no idea whether he had a 2nd chance to run or not.
Bit worried about the actual event in the F1 car, as we'll be starting from standstill & the methods used keep being changed. Just hope you can hear the radio sufficiently!
The worry for me was... whilst i would love to drive the f1 car etc etc etc. this is my life we're talking about, frankly, the way the organisation seemed to be going & the level of cost changing/cutting etc etc, I didnt feel confident that my safety was being put first (maybe I'm being harsh).
The record breakers guys seemed to be a very friendly & helpful bunch & I applaud the charity aspect. However, I've driven at some big big speeds at vmax events & have closed my eyes briefly, you cover a lot of ground in a matter of seconds & even being able to see the runway it is pretty hair raising, so I would need to be confident that the car I was driving was up to the job of both achieving the speed & stopping, these were my concerns.
The record breakers guys seemed to be a very friendly & helpful bunch & I applaud the charity aspect. However, I've driven at some big big speeds at vmax events & have closed my eyes briefly, you cover a lot of ground in a matter of seconds & even being able to see the runway it is pretty hair raising, so I would need to be confident that the car I was driving was up to the job of both achieving the speed & stopping, these were my concerns.
intersting replies chaps...
re: safety etc. Dont confuse F1 sales and RB as being the same, cos they arent. I have absolutely NO concerns over the safety side of things - the F1 sales team and mechanics et al really know their stuff and are extremely professional. We did the F1 training last week, and frankly they made every track day Ive ever been to (and thats a LOT) seem appallingly shoddy. I have no worries re: them
Record Breakers....to be honest I havent seen that much as Im out of country so much that they've seemed very patient with me for just popping up every few months...but the sponsorship stuff (logos etc..) is indeed a bit of a problem! If the car is the same one I trained in then a number of my sponsors wont show up cos their logos are red and blue! I think they've recruited far too many people to do the same challenge to cover (very high) costs - but it makes it much harder for all of us to get money and get included on everything they're doing....
er...do we NOT get our 200 quid back then??
re: safety etc. Dont confuse F1 sales and RB as being the same, cos they arent. I have absolutely NO concerns over the safety side of things - the F1 sales team and mechanics et al really know their stuff and are extremely professional. We did the F1 training last week, and frankly they made every track day Ive ever been to (and thats a LOT) seem appallingly shoddy. I have no worries re: them
Record Breakers....to be honest I havent seen that much as Im out of country so much that they've seemed very patient with me for just popping up every few months...but the sponsorship stuff (logos etc..) is indeed a bit of a problem! If the car is the same one I trained in then a number of my sponsors wont show up cos their logos are red and blue! I think they've recruited far too many people to do the same challenge to cover (very high) costs - but it makes it much harder for all of us to get money and get included on everything they're doing....
er...do we NOT get our 200 quid back then??
It went up from the start, not sure when you got in, but I was told about 3 different figures!! Then was told the F1 training was included & then it wasnt :-s
Where's the challenge?? Getting an F1 car off the line & up to a high speed, without being able to see?? Think its hard enough to get one off the line with vision isnt it....?? Too much gas & you'll spin it, too little & you'll stall!!
Where's the challenge?? Getting an F1 car off the line & up to a high speed, without being able to see?? Think its hard enough to get one off the line with vision isnt it....?? Too much gas & you'll spin it, too little & you'll stall!!
fid...yeah, driving in a straight line isn't normaly a challenge...however driving in a properly straight line when you cant see and moving the wheel 1 mm moves the wheels 5 mm is rather diferent. Oh, and even getting an F1 car off the line is somethnig of a challenge.....there is bugger all similarity between driving a car and driving an F1 car......
I know what you mean, but I'm presuming all drivers will be able to get the car off the line otherwise going for the highest speed record would be a pointless task.
What I'm saying is, you've all got enough balls to drive an F1 car blindfolded, and you're all going to want the record, so surely everybody's just going to top the car out and you'll all get the same record?
What I'm saying is, you've all got enough balls to drive an F1 car blindfolded, and you're all going to want the record, so surely everybody's just going to top the car out and you'll all get the same record?
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