New Lawnmower Land Speed Record Attempt in 2010

A British team aims to shatter the world land speed record for a lawnmower by topping 100 mph at the beginning of 2010. Dubbed 'Project Runningblade', the team is determined to beat the record set by American Bob Cleveland, who reached a speed of 80.792 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats on July 4, 2006.

The challenge will take place (surprisingly) on the beach at Pendine Sands in Wales, with Don Wales, nephew of Donald Campbell, behind the wheel, telegraph.co.uk reports.

A high-speed mower is being specially constructed by Countax, an all-British manufacturer of ride-on lawnmowers.

The challenger will be powered by a 26 bhp Kawasaki lawnmower engine but running on road tires, and modified by aerodynamics engineers to increase its chances of beating the world record.

At 100mph, the UK pretender to the record will cover 147 feet per second, going through the measured mile in just 36 seconds.

"We will abide by usual lawnmower racing rules. The machine will have to be capable of cutting a lawn on the day of the record attempt so before the run, we shall find a patch of grass and mow it before removing the cutting gear for safety reasons,” stated spokesman Stephen Vokins.

"It is important that the rules state it should be a fully-functioning lawnmower, otherwise someone might turn up with a Ferrari and a pair of shears," Vokins added.

Through this attempt, Runningblade organizers aim to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital and Wessex Heartbeat. The initiative will be officially launched at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, on December 1, when more details and pictures will be revealed.