The Human ‘Drive’ for Speed

Alone or united with machine, the human desire to go higher, further and faster is embedded in our DNA. Whether it’s the 4-minute mile, 100-yard dash, quarter mile, breaking speed records are a part of our programming.

Pushing many to the limit, often ignoring personal safety. A child who learns to walk quickly wants to run; the same craving applies to bicycles, skating, skiing, etc. This thirst for speed often inspires in each of us the conception of fresh approaches to quench the thirst.

One of the most if not the most anticipated Olympic event is the 100-meter sprint, appropriately crowns the winner the fastest man in the world. Then there exists the more unconventional events, such as the 100 meters on all fours.

Anything goes to obtain the title of the fastest and even when the titled is declared, the need to be faster persists!

Land-speed racer Bill Warner lost his life attempting to break his own motorcycle land speed record.

The urge for speed is so omnipotent that governments pass laws, including server penalties to control the hunger. And even then…

Motorsports governing bodies impose modifications to curtail our hunger for speed. During a Grand Prix F1 race, drivers cope with 3-5g throughout the race and will experience forces four and a half times his or her weight.

Despite the cost of speed, the ‘want’ to be the fastest, prevails.

Formula One drivers are exposed to a g-forces estimated at 179.8g

During practice for the 1977 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, David Purley was briefly exposed to a force estimated at 179.8g after his throttle stuck open at Becketts Corner. In the subsequent impact, his car decelerated from 108mph to zero in a distance of little more than two feet. He suffered serious leg, hip and pelvic injuries, but recovered to race again.
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The 1,000 mph Bloodhound SSC

To mark the first test firing of Bloodhound SSC’s hybrid rocket, here’s a closer look at what it will take to push a car to a whopping 1,000 mph.

The fastest on all fours

In Japan, Kenichi Ito broke the record for the fastest 100m run on all fours! His time was 17.47 seconds.

Kenichi uses all fours at home everyday as part of his training and his running style is based on a monkeys, which he studies.