In association with the British International Motor Show, Autocar magazine organized the first “London Speed Record”. The Brits got together a number of various sports cars including a BMW M6, a Mercedes McLaren SLR, a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and a Holden Maloo Ute.

Each vehicle was given a rolling start and the length of the City Airport’s one-mile runway in which to set the fastest time, 3 runs per vehicle. Cars entered the main runway via a slip road at 70-80 mph. The speed, officially timed, will be put forward as an official Guinness Book of Records entry for the London Land Speed Record. The winner was the Mercedes McLaren SLR which managed to go up to 175.7mph

Comments: "It was absolutely breathtaking and a fantastic feeling to set the record in a British-built car," said Autocar’s magazine’s editor at large Sutcliffe, which organized the attempt.

"The McLaren has the power, the technology and the stability to hit those high speeds with incredible control," added Sutcliffe. "This is the fastest any production car has ever been driven legally in London".

Richard Gooding, Managing Director, London City Airport said "It was certainly an interesting transformation from runway to racetrack. The cars certainly reached maximum speed and looked as if they were going to take off, it was great to see".



Mercedes McLaren SL - 175.7 mph - 282.5 km/h

Ford GT - 174.3 mph - 280.3 km/h

Porsche Turbo - 162.6 mph - 261.5 km/h

Bentley Flying Spur - 157.4 mph – 253.1 km/h

Corvette Z06 - 167.0 mph – 268.5 km/h

BMW M6 - 162.5 mph – 261.3 km/h

Alpina B5 - 155.4 mph – 249.9 km/h

Shelby Daytona Cobra - 159.7 mph - 256.8 km/h

Holden Maloo Ute - 160.8 mph – 258.6 km/h

wow rolling start..the SLR´s torque came in handy

not only that, horses as well.

anyway, no mention of the bike. I wonder how fast it went

Yikes! A red Bentley Continental Flying Brick!

M

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing about the bike. The SLR looks really nice in that dark grey color. I also find it very unscientific that "Cars entered the main runway via a slip road at 70-80 mph."

Yeah, I reckon that's pretty unscientific as well. It's not possible to know which cars topped out and which were still accelerating at the end of the run.

A better scenario would be to have several kilometres to do the run, once each way. An average would be taken, etc. as per the usual standards. And what's with the "London" qualifier to this land speed record? If I organise one in my street, can I get my own speed records going?

The SLR does look good in dark grey. The Flying Spur just looks odd in bright red.