9 Racing ahead

Chapter 9 Racing ahead Ever since cars were invented, drivers have enjoyed stepping on the accelerator. In 1898, a French Count set the first land speed record of 65 km (40 miles) per hour.

His record was soon broken by an electric car... ...and then, surprisingly enough, by a steam-powered one.

While some drivers chased speed records, others were chasing the car in front. Racing became an exciting new sport and inventors worked hard to design the best racing car. Maybe a longer car will finish first... I was inspired by a chunk of cheese!

In 1911, Panhard Levassor built a car for the racing driver, René de Knyff. They made a boat shape from plane materials and added wire-spoked wheels. The result was a stylish, lightweight sports car. Does it float? We'll soon find out, sir.

After World War 1, a plane engineer named Walter Bentley decided to switch to racing cars- with huge success. At the 24-hour race held in Le Mans every year, his cars won five times. In the 1927 race, a Bentley car was damaged in a big crash, but still crossed the finish line first.

Over the decades, racing cars became lower, sleeker and much faster. By the 1960s, they needed an extra frame at the back to stop them from taking off.