The Bonneville salt flats in Utah resonated with excitement as a British team achieved a remarkable land speed record. On Tuesday, the JCB Hydromax car, driven by Andy Green, reached an astonishing 406.320 mph, setting a new International Automobile Federation (FIA) land speed record.

Andy Green, a former RAF wing commander, previously held the outright record of 763.035 mph, set in 1997 with the ThrustSSC. His recent achievement with the JCB Hydromax not only highlights his driving prowess but also revives the rich history of land speed records, now being chronicled through an archive of over a century.

The FIA is digitizing more than two million documents and photographs from its archives, with the land speed record collection being prioritized for public access. Roger Banowetz, president of the FIA land speed records commission, emphasized the importance of making this historical material available for everyone.

The archive features:

• Handwritten notes and letters from record attempts
• Historical documents chronicling the competition's evolution since the late 19th century
• Iconic photographs capturing the spirit of record-breaking attempts

The quest for speed began with Count Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat in 1898, who set an initial record of 39.24 mph. The competition intensified with figures like Malcolm Campbell, who pushed the limits in the 1930s, raising the record from 231 mph to 367 mph.

In a sport fraught with danger, Campbell described a harrowing experience during his 1935 attempt, where oil obscured his vision and a tire burst threatened his control. Banowetz noted the increasing challenges posed by varying surfaces, stating, "You just don’t get in the thing and put it on cruise control."

The archive also chronicles postwar competitions and the shift from wheel-driven to jet and rocket-powered vehicles, with Craig Breedlove famously reaching 407 mph in 1963. The motto of the current team, “never content,” echoes the enduring spirit of innovation and courage in land speed racing, marking the ongoing legacy of this exhilarating pursuit.